The Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government held a flag-raising ceremony and a reception this morning to celebrate the 26th anniversary of its return to the motherland.
Speaking at a reception at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex, MSAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai vowed to further align Macao with national development strategies, formulate and implement better policies for the Third Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic Development of the MSAR, embark on a new journey of building a great country and advance national rejuvenation, and strive for greater achievements for Macao.
Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR Zheng Xincong, former chief executive of the MSAR Ho Iat Seng, and Commissioner of hen Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the MSAR Liu Xianfa, together with approximately 1,000 guests, attended the reception.
Sam noted that the fundamental objective of development is to ensure people's well-being and prosperity. In the coming year, the MSAR will continue to protect its residents' employment opportunities and rights, improve social security and welfare services, and refine housing policies and distribution of medical resources, to satisfy people's desire for stability and contentment, the chief executive underlined.
He called for concerted efforts to build a city with more efficient governance, sounder democracy and rule of law, a more dynamic economy, more prominence for the charm of its culture, greater refinement in social governance, and better public welfare services. Earlier in the morning, around 550 guests attended a solemn flag-raising ceremony held at Golden Lotus Square.
China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macau on December 20, 1999 when Portugal relinquished its temporary administration of the historic East-meets-West entrepot.
- Xinhua, MPD
A flag-raising ceremony marking the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland is held at the Golden Lotus Square in Macao's Outer Harbour Land Reclamation Zone (Zape) this nmorning. Photo: Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka
