Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai hosted a dinner last night for Macau deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Macau members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), where he underlined in a speech that his government is steadily advancing its administration and governance and vigorously drawing up Macau’s third five-year socioeconomic development plan, urging the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members to, due to their profound insights, help Macau open new horizons and reach new heights, and to work together with the local government to bring its various initiatives to a new stage, according to a statement released by the Government Information Bureau (GCS) last night.
The statement did not mention where the dinner took place.
In his speech, according to the statement, Sam underlined that over the past year, under the central government’s strong leadership, and through the united efforts of the MSAR government and all sectors of Macau’s civil society, Macau has achieved stable economic and social progress with advances on various fronts.
Sam, who took office as the MSAR’s chief executive on December 20, 2024, said that over the past year, his government’s main policy objectives have largely been met, while its inaugural year of administration and governance has been smooth and steady, marked by innovation, breakthroughs, and tangible results, making a good start.
These achievements, Sam said, would not have been possible without the strong support and dedicated efforts of the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members, to whom Sam extended, on behalf of the MSAR government, the highest respect and sincere gratitude, according to the statement.
Sam noted that the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members are the elite leaders across various fields and sectors in Macau. They are key participants representing the MSAR in national governance at the highest level, and constitute the core force in ensuring the implementation of the “patriots governing Macau” principle, Sam said, acknowledging their glorious mission and the magnitude of their responsibilities.
Sam raises 3 points of view
According to the GCS statement, Sam raised three points of view for the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members in combination with the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s various important instructions concerning Macau’s development.
First, Sam urged the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members to help foster social consensus through ideological guidance. He suggested that they should further expand the forms, models and ways of engaging with members of the public, strengthen unity and communication, and fully leverage their role as a bridge between residents and the authorities, focusing on residents’ concerns and reflecting public sentiment.
Sam urged the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members to skilfully integrate the central authorities’ fundamental policies with Macau’s specific situations, translating these into concepts and actions widely recognised by Macau’s civil society.
Sam said that they should cultivate a sense of big-picture thinking, build social consensus, vigorously promote the core value of patriotism and love for Macau, jointly safeguard national security and social stability, and continuously break new ground in the high-quality development of the cause of “One Country, Two Systems”.
Second, Sam urged the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members to drive progress by setting examples, pointing out that they enjoy high visibility and extensive connections, where their words and actions carry influence and exemplary effect.
Sam said that they should take a leading role in their respective occupations and work, firmly uphold the MSAR’s executive-led governance, and support and assist the MSAR government in exercising law-based governance and advancing the integrated development of Macau and Hengqin in close alignment with its two main pillars, namely appropriate economic diversification and public administration reform.
On matters of principle, Sam said, they should take a clear stand and remain resolute. In the exchange of diverse ideas, Sam said, they should keep to the correct direction, build the broadest possible consensus, and forge a powerful synergy for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability.
Third, Sam urged the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members to offer insightful advice with a sense of responsibility, underlining that their participation in national affairs is an honour and, more importantly, a responsibility.
With the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC National Committee about to convene (next month), Sam said, the local NPC deputies and CPPCC members should, as always, fulfil their duties for the country and their responsibilities for the people, speak frankly, offer candid advice, and present sound proposals, fully demonstrating Macau’s sense of mission and responsibility and showcasing Macau’s wisdom and strength.
Looking ahead to this year, Sam pledged that his government will unite and lead all sectors of Macau’s civil society in thoroughly implementing the spirit of Xi’s various important speeches concerning Macau’s development, proactively align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and ensure the effective implementation of the MSAR’s third five-year socioeconomic development plan.
Sam underlined that his government will uphold and improve the MSAR’s executive-led governance, resolutely safeguard national security and social stability, solidly advance Macau’s appropriate economic diversification, accelerate the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, strengthen the local forces promoting patriotism and love for Macau, and effectively enhance governance effectiveness.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai delivers a speech during yesterday’s dinner with local NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members. – Photo: GCS
