A ceremony was held yesterday at the local garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) marking the upcoming opening of a new exhibition on the history of the PLA, where Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said in a speech that the exhibition must be fully utilised as a platform for patriotic education, enabling the broad masses of Macau residents, particularly young people, to experience first-hand the PLA’s glorious history, immense strength, and exemplary spirit, thereby deepening their understanding of the principle that safeguarding national security is everyone’s responsibility, helping them foster a correct view of history and the nation, and further consolidating a powerful sense of unity in patriotism and love for Macau, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) yesterday.
The garrison’s barracks in Taipa includes a military exhibition pavilion showcasing the history of the PLA and its Macau garrison. In a reply to the Post over the phone yesterday, a GCS spokesperson pointed out that the exhibition pavilion has undergone renovation. Before its revamp, the spokesperson noted, the pavilion had been operating on a group-booking basis, or it was open to members of the general public during the garrison’s Open Day events.
According to the official WeChat account of the PLA Macau garrison, the exhibition pavilion is “currently under renovation”. After the completion of its renovation, the pavilion will be open to all members of the general public, who will be required to make an appointment before visiting, according to the WeChat account.
According to the GCS spokesperson, yesterday’s ceremony was held at the garrison’s barracks in Taipa.
In his speech yesterday, according to the GCS statement, Sam said that for nearly a century, under the firm leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the PLA has made indelible contributions to national independence, the liberation of the people, the prosperity of the country, and the happiness of the people. Sam underlined that the peace and prosperity that the people enjoy nowadays are hard-won, while the stable and happy life that the people enjoy is the result and fruit of the PLA’s protection, contribution, and dedication.
Sam said that the local garrison, since its deployment in Macau upon its return to the motherland, has firmly implemented the principles of “One Country, Two Systems”, “Macau people governing Macau”, and a high degree of autonomy, strictly adhered to the Macau Basic Law, the Garrison Law, and other relevant laws, faithfully fulfilled Macau’s defence duties and responsibilities, and resolutely safeguarded the nation’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, thereby playing a key and stabilising role in ensuring the steady and far-reaching implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle and Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability.
According to the statement, Sam also said that with sincere enthusiasm and a high sense of responsibility, the garrison troops have vigorously participated in Macau’s emergency rescue and disaster relief operations as well as public welfare activities, winning the trust and respect of Macau compatriots.
Through their concrete actions, Sam said, the garrison troops have upheld the PLA’s fine traditions, interpreted its glorious mission, and told a vivid story of love for Macau and its residents.
According to the statement, Sam noted that the dedication, perseverance, sense of duty, and sacrifices of military personnel represent the most precious spiritual wealth of any country and nation, and must be remembered and passed on by everyone. Sam underlined that the exhibition on the history of the PLA will provide the broad masses of Macau compatriots with a vivid lesson in patriotic education, enabling them to recall the PLA’s glorious history, appreciate its exemplary spirit, and gain a better understanding of the great achievements of the country’s military development in the new era.
Sam stressed that Macau must always remain mindful of potential dangers in times of peace, resolutely put into practice the central authorities’ holistic approach to national security, and further cherish its current stability and harmony. In this regard, Sam pledged the local government’s commitment to placing strong emphasis on boosting the local economy, pursuing development, advancing construction, cultivating new drivers of growth, and shaping new advantages, thereby promoting Macau’s high-quality development through high-level security.
Sam also noted that an important principle outlined in the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan is “Coordinating Development and Security”. Consequently, Sam said, Macau must strengthen thinking based on the assumption of worst-case scenarios, consolidating security in the process of development while pursuing development in a secure environment.
The Central People’s Government released the full version of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan on March 13 after the plan’s draft outline was passed by the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing on the previous day. The plan, officially known as 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, covers the period between 2026 and 2030.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai (front, right) listens to a briefing from a member of the local PLA garrison about the new exhibition on the history of the PLA, at the garrison’s barracks in Taipa. – Photo: GCS
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai delivers a speech during yesterday’s ceremony at the Taipa barracks of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Macau garrison. – Photo: GCS
