The second session of the 14^th National People’s Congress (NPC) closed yesterday afternoon, and Lao Ngai Leong, one of Macau’s 12 NPC deputies, said that the local delegation participated in three plenary sessions and 11 group meetings, during which it put forward a total of 96 proposals.

The weeklong second plenary meeting of the 14^th NPC was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Lao talked to the media on behalf of Macau’s NPC delegation.

According to a report by local Chinese-language newspaper Macao Daily News, Lao said during a press briefing in Beijing that the proposals cover a wide range of topics, including the national policy framework, as well as issues of great concern to local residents, such as the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, in the hope of facilitating the implementation of the central government’s policies and measures benefiting Macau and its support for the development of the in-depth cooperation zone.

Quoted by Macao Daily News, Lao said that all his fellow deputies from Macau performed their duties seriously, fully concentrated on each meeting, strictly abided by the meeting etiquette and discipline, and showed great team spirit.

The local delegation’s suggestions at the meetings were promptly responded to by the attending ministries and commissions, and their replies were even followed up through messages and calls afterwards, said Lao, adding that, according to the report, the attitude of the relevant ministries and commissions was “serious, efficient and responsible”.

Lao was quoted by the report as pointing out that his delegation was visited by Xia Baolong, the director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) and Li Hongzhong, vice-chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, with Ding Xuexiang, first vice premier of the State Council, having addressed one of the Macau delegation’s meetings, which “demonstrated the importance, concern and support of the central government for the Macau delegation”.

Apart from Lao, a businessman and community leader, the local delegation comprises Kou Hoi In, president of the Macau Legislative Assembly; Ng Siu Lai, president of the General Union of Macau Neighbourhood Associations (Kai Fong); Wan Nang Hon, deputy director and general manager of Macao Daily News; lawyer and lawmaker Vong Hin Fai; lawmaker and school principal Chan Hong; businessman Kevin Ho King Lun; community leader Si Ka Lon, urban planner José Chui Sai Peng; Ho Sut Heng, chairwoman of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (Gung Luen); businessman Dominic Sio Chi Wai; and Iong Weng Ian, chief supervisor of the Macau General Women’s Association (Fu Luen).

The 12 deputies were elected by an electoral conference in Macau in December 2022. The conference has 517 members.

Local deputies Lao Ngai Leong (right) and José Chui Sai Peng pose during a press briefing yesterday after the closing meeting of the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing. – Photo courtesy of TDM