Yesterday marked the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr Sun Yat-sen, the great forerunner of the Chinese democratic revolution.
During yesterday’s opening ceremony of a photo exhibition commemorating the date, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai delivered a speech calling for Macau’s civil society to carry forward Sun’s patriotic, revolutionary, and enterprising spirit while underlining the local government’s commitment to promoting patriotism, telling good stories about China and Macau to the world, and forging the greatest possible consensus at home and abroad in support of the cause of “peaceful reunification and ‘One Country, Two Systems’” – the central authorities’ basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question.
In addition to the photo exhibition held at the Macao Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape, the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government – starting this month – is also hosting various other activities and events to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr Sun – an outstanding patriot and national hero.
Yesterday’s ceremony also marked the formal commencement of the various other commemorative activities and events.
Born on November 12, 1866, Dr Sun led the republican Revolution of 1911 more than a century ago to abolish the absolute monarchy that had ruled China for thousands of years. He died of gallbladder cancer in Beijing on March 12, 1925, aged 58.
In his speech, Sam noted that Dr Sun dedicated his life to the revolutionary cause, resolving to save the nation and its people. Dr Sun championed the cause of democratic republicanism, put forward the Three Principles of the People, and led the Revolution of 1911, which overthrew the autocratic monarchy, ushered in the modern national democratic revolution, and spurred the ideological emancipation of the Chinese nation, Sam noted, adding that his achievements are immortalised in the annals of history.
Sam said that revisiting the principles advocated by Dr Sun and learning from his noble spirit – characterised by his love for the motherland, his devotion to the people, his pursuit of truth, and his tenacity in the face of hardships – is of great and far-reaching significance for consolidating the great unity of the Chinese people both at home and abroad, developing the broadest possible patriotic united front, and advancing the great cause of national reunification.
Sam noted that Macau shares a deep and special historical connection with Dr Sun. Macau was an important starting point for his journey to the wider world, the first stop where he practised medicine to save lives and help the public, and the cradle where he orchestrated the republican cause, Sam noted.
According to historians, Dr Sun practised medicine in Macau for about one year, from autumn 1892 until late 1893. Facing regulatory barriers in Macau, he relocated his medical practice to Guangzhou in late 1893. During that period, Dr Sun partnered with his Macanese friend Francisco Hermenegildo Fernandes to launch the bilingual newspaper Echo Macaense (鏡海叢報) in July 1893, using its Chinese-language pages to publish his earliest reformist and anti-Qing writings.
Macau was, moreover, a safe haven where he sought refuge in times of danger and a spiritual home where he cherished his family ties, Sam said.
Dr Sun’s revolutionary career is inextricably linked with Macau while his presence adds to the richness of the city’s historical memory, Sam said.
Sam underlined that the best way to commemorate Dr Sun is to carry forward his precious legacy and strive for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
In his speech, Sam called for Macau’s civil society to carry forward the patriotic thoughts, revolutionary resolve, and enterprising spirit of Dr Sun and other revolutionary pioneers, thereby promoting the spirit of patriotism, ensuring the implementation of the “patriots governing Macao” principle, and building a more prosperous and stable Macau.
Sam underlined the local government’s commitment to leveraging Macau’s unique advantage as a bridge linking the Chinese mainland with the world and its role as a window for mutual learning among civilisations, with the aim of telling good stories about China and Macau to the world and forging the greatest possible consensus at home and abroad in support of the cause of “peaceful reunification and ‘One Country, Two Systems’”, thereby making new and greater contributions to building a strong country and achieving the great cause of national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernisation.
In addition to Sam, yesterday’s opening ceremony was also attended by other dignitaries including Central People’s Government Liaison Office in the MSAR Director Zheng Xincong, Foreign Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison Commander Chen Wensheng, Legislative Assembly (AL) President André Cheong Weng Chon, Court of Final Appeal (TUI) President Song Man Lei, and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Wallis O Lam.
After the ceremony, the dignitaries visited the exhibition and listened to a briefing about it.
Located at the Dot Art Space in the Macao Cultural Centre, the free-admission exhibition is open to the public between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily until November 27.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai delivers a speech during yesterday’s opening ceremony – Photo: Tony Wong
Dignitaries are about to cut the ribbon during yesterday’s opening ceremony of the photo exhibition commemorating the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr Sun Yat-sen, at the Macao Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape – Court of Final Appeal (TUI) President Song Man Lei (from left to right), People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison Commander Chen Wensheng, Central People’s Government Liaison Office Director Zheng Xincong, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai, Foreign Ministry Commissioner Bian Lixin, Legislative Assembly (AL) President André Cheong Weng Chon, and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Wallis O Lam. – Photo: Tony Wong
The dignitaries listen to a briefing about the exhibition yesterday. – Photo: Tony Wong
