Vice Premier Han Zheng yesterday urged the local government to administer Macau strictly in line with the guidelines laid out by President Xi Jinping during his visit for the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Han also said yesterday in Beijing he hoped that the local government remains committed to improving the lives of Macau people.
Han is one of the seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee – the nation’s top governing body, officially known as the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Community Party of China (CPC).
Han, who ranks the first among the four vice-premiers of the State Council, made the remarks yesterday during a meeting with Macau’s nine principal officials and Public Prosecutor-General Ip Son Sang, who attended a special training programme in the nation’s capital.
The 10 local officials went to Beijing on Saturday to attend intensive training sessions at the Chinese Academy of Governance, followed by a visit to Jiangsu province. The delegation’s five-day trip to the mainland ends today. The local government said that the training programme aims to deepen the officials’ understanding of the nation’s development strategy and its latest socio-economic development, which would help Macau integrate its own development into the overall national development.
The 10 local participants in the training programme in Beijing are Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan Hoi Fan, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosario, Commissioner Against Corruption André Cheong Weng Chon, Commissioner of Audit Ho Veng On, Unitary Police Service (SPU) Commissioner-General Ma Io Kun, Macau Customs Service Director-General Alex Vong Iao Lek, and Public Prosecutor- General Ip Son Sang.
Several other central government officials, including Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council Director Zhang Xiaoming and Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau Director Zheng Xiaosong, also attended yesterday’s meeting between Han and the local delegation headed by Chan at the Great Hall of the People.
Chan ranks first among Macau’s five policy secretaries under Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On.
In the meeting, Han said that the successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle has been recognised “all over the world” since Macau’s return to the motherland in 1999. He praised the current term of the Macau government for its dedication in planning for the city’s long-term development. He also said that the current government has consolidated Macau’s prosperity and stability.
Han said he hoped that the local government would continue to strictly follow Xi’s guidelines in administering Macau and fully and accurately implement the “one country, two systems” principle and the Macau Basic Law.
Han said he also hoped that Macau government remained determined to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
Han urged the local government to promote Macau’s integration into the overall national development.
Han also urged the local government to administer the city to ensure further improvements in Macau people’s well-being
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chan said that Han demanded four things during the meeting that the current leadership team of the local government needed to follow.
According to Chan, the first thing is to administer the city in full compliance with the Macau Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” principle.
The second thing is to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests. To achieve this, the local government’s senior officials need to respect the socialist system that is implemented on the mainland and the leadership by the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the nation’s governance, Chan quoted Han as saying in the meeting.
Chan went on to say that the local government needs to “organically” combine the upholding of the central government’s “overall jurisdiction” over the special administrative region with the safeguarding of a high degree of autonomy of Macau.
According to Chan, the third thing demanded by Han is for the local government to grasp opportunities for Macau’s development and diversify the city’s economy by making good use of its unique advantages.
Chan quoted Han as saying that Macau needs to integrate its own development into the overall national development, as well as participate in the nation’s Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Concerning the fourth thing, Han demanded that the current leadership team of the Macau government needs to carry out its work based on the well-being and happiness of Macau residents, urging the local government to always listen to residents’ opinions and suggestions and to review its work for possible improvements.
Meanwhile, Zhang held a meeting with the 10 local officials on Monday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Zhang praised the decision jointly made by Chief Executive Chui Sai On and the related entities of the central government for Macau’s principal officials and the chief prosecutor to attend the intensive training programme.
It was the first programme of its kind for Macau’s leadership team since 1999.
In the meeting, Zhang fully acknowledged the various efforts by the Macau government in administering the city.
Zhang said he hoped that the leadership team of the Macau government will strengthen its sense of belonging to the country and constantly improve its governance.
Two deputy directors of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Huang Liuquan and Feng Wei, also attended the meeting on Monday.
Vice Premier Han Zheng (center, front), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, poses with Macau’s 9 principal officials and chief prosecutor in Beijing yesterday. – Xinhua
Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HMAO) of the State Council Director Zhang Xiaoming (right) talks with Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan Hoi Fan during a meeting with the 10 members of the intensive training programme delegation headed by Chan at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Monday. – HMAO
