Xia praises local govt for 5 ‘breakthroughs’

      On the first day of his four-day working visit to Macau, Xia Baolong, the director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO), yesterday raised six requirements for Macau’s development during a meeting with Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, four policy secretaries, as well as heads of the city’s legislative and judicial organs, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) last night.

Xia arrived in Macau yesterday afternoon for his fact-finding visit through Friday.

The meeting was held at Santa Sancha Palace on Penha Hill, Ho’s official residence, yesterday evening.

According to last night’s GCS statement, Xia said during the meeting that since the current government of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) led by Ho took office about three years ago, it has made various “breakthrough” achievements in the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle in Macau.

5 ‘breakthrough’ achievements

Firstly, Xia said, the MSAR government has improved its legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security. Xia pointed out that recently the Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) unanimously passed a local government-initiated bill amending the national security law of the MSAR, which he said will consolidate the institutional foundation for Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability, according to the GCS statement.

Secondly, Xia said, the MSAR government has strengthened its management of Macau’s gaming industry. Macau has enacted amendments to its gaming law, Xia noted, adding that the local government has completed the granting of new gaming concessions and rolled out various measures to promote the sound development of the city’s gaming industry, according to the statement.

Thirdly, Xia said, the MSAR government has taken new steps in its drive to appropriately diversify Macau’s economy by rolling a new model known as “1+4”, the statement quoted Xia as saying.

Fourthly, Xia said, the MSAR government has rolled out various measures to tackle the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy, such as those aiming to stabilise the economy, ensure the protection of employment, and relieve residents’ financial burdens, according to the statement.

Fifthly, Xia said, the MSAR government has made new progress in integrating Macau’s development into the nation’s overall development.

In addition, according to last night’s GCS statement, Xia raised six requirements for Macau during yesterday’s meeting.

Xia’s 6 requirements

According to the statement, Xia urged Macau to make “greater achievements” in six aspects.

Firstly, Xia said during the meeting that Macau needs to make greater achievements in fully, accurately and unswervingly implementing the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. Xia said that the central authorities will continue adhering to the “One Country, Two Systems” principle and ensuring that the implementation of the principle will not be distorted.

Xia urged Macau “compatriots” to cherish “One Country, Two Systems” and to stick to the bottom line of the “One Country” component. Xia also urged them to always safeguard the MSAR’s constitutional order established by the nation’s Constitution and the MSAR Basic Law.

Secondly, Xia said, Macau has to make greater achievements in safeguarding national security. Xia said that the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle requires the safeguarding of the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests.

Xia urged the MSAR’s administrative, legislative and judicial organs to fully and accurately enforce the newly amended national security law of the MSAR. Xia also said that Macau needs to strengthen its national security education.

Xia also urged Macau’s civil society to “resolutely” fight any forces that attempt to undermine Macau’s prosperity and stability.

Thirdly, Xia said, Macau has to make greater achievements in strengthening its traditional values of “Loving the Country and Loving Macau”. Xia said that Macau needs to resolutely implement the “patriots governing Macau” principle, urging Macau’s civil society to firmly support the local government in proposing amendments to the city’s election system with the aim of ensuring that Macau’s ruling powers will always only be grasped by patriots.

Fourthly, Xia said, Macau has to make greater achievements in promoting its appropriate economic diversification drive. Xia said that an appropriately diversified economy is needed to ensure Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability and necessary for Macau to increase its economic resilience and its ability to counter potential risks.

Fifthly, Xia said, Macau has to make greater achievements in participating in Hengqin’s development. Xia said that Macau needs to firmly grasp the precious opportunities created by the ongoing development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Xia urged Macau to strengthen its communication with Guangdong with the aim of rolling out effective measures to tackle the ongoing difficulties that are hindering the zone’s development.

Xia said that he expects Hengqin to become a new platform that promotes Macau’s appropriate economic diversification.

Sixthly, Xia said, the MSAR government has to make greater achievements in improving its governance ability. Xia urged the local government to push ahead with its drive to reform the public administration and to make full use of IT technology with the aim of raising its governance effectiveness.

According to a separate GCS statement about the meeting, Ho said that the local government will ensure the implementation of the six requirements laid out by Xia. The chief executive also said that the local government will make new progress in promoting Macau’s development, with the aim of paving a good foundation for celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of the MSAR next year. 

State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) Director Xia Baolong (right) waves to media workers upon his arrival in Macau yesterday. He arrived in Macau yesterday afternoon via the joint Macau-Zhuhai checkpoint on Hengqin Island. – Photo courtesy of TDM