Macau will not let down the central government, nor will it fail civil society's expectations, in pressing ahead with the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said this morning.

Ho made the pledge in his speech at the National Day reception hosted by the local government. He promised that the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) will join hands with Guangdong province in writing a new chapter for the development of Hengqin island in the adjacent city of Zhuhai. 

The reception celebrating the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex. About 100 guests attended the reception. 

Macau will do its utmost to implement the measures and policies outlined in the General Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone, Ho said.

The general plan was released by the central government in Beijing early last month. Hengqin's 106-square-kilometre in-depth cooperation zone lies close to Macau's Cotai entertainment district. 

Ho added that Macau will advance its adequate economic diversification by creating new industries, building a new living space that offers convenient sources of livelihood and employment, creating a new setup in line with Macau's high-level and open system, and advocating a new model of mutual discussion, joint construction, joint administration, and shared benefits.

History and facts had proven that the motherland  is a staunch supporter of Macau's prosperity and stability, and this will be the impetus to foster Macau's development, Ho said. The fortunes of the motherland and Macau's prospects are intertwined, as is the fate of every citizen, he added.

The MSAR government will adhere to a "holistic approach to national security", enhancing awareness of risk posed by hardships and upholding the comprehensive implementation of national security, Ho pledged, adding that the local government will continue striving to safeguard national sovereignty and national security, as well as the country's development interests. Macau will constantly work to optimise its legislative system, and the measures implemented to uphold national security and the principle of "patriots administering Macau", he said. 

This year marked the beginning of the implementation of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan, and the nation has embarked on a journey of great rejuvenation, he underlined. Macau will follow in the nation's footsteps, and the local government has begun drafting Macau's 2nd Five-Year Development Plan, by initiating public consultations on it, the chief executive pointed out. 

Macau's 2nd Five-Year Development Plan will reflect the special administrative region's actual conditions and proactively engage with the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan, in order to advance Macau's adequate economic diversification, improve people's livelihoods, intensify the improvement of living conditions, enhance the capacity of public governance, and strengthen Macau's integration into the central government's development paradigm.

Notwithstanding unpredictable challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Macau government and the entire population of Macau will – with the strong support and generous assistance of the central government, Guangdong and Zhuhai – stand united, to overcome all difficulties, Ho said. 

The chief executive urged all those who have not yet been inoculated against COVID-19 to get vaccinated, in order to help create herd immunity for the whole community. Unpredictable challenges have crippled Macau's pace of economic recovery, as various sectors have been deeply impacted, and local residents' employment outlook has been heavily impacted by the situation, Ho admitted. 

Macau will monitor closely the challenges and the accumulated problems caused by the pandemic, and employ economic recovery measures to help improve residents' livelihoods. By standing united, the community will be able to break new ground for Macau's development, Ho said. 

Guests attending the  National Day reception included the vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Edmund Ho Hau Wa, the deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR Zhang Rongshun, the commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the MSAR Liu Xianfa, the deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison Dai Jinsong, the president of the Legislative Assembly (AL) Kou Hoi In, and the president of the Court of Final Appeal (TUI), Sam Hou Fai.

Earlier this morning, Ho and about 100 guests attended the annual National Day flag-raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square on the peninsula. 

Photos: GCS