New Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng yesterday pledged that he will pursue the development of a “service-orientated” government and improved public administration efficiency.
Ho made the remarks in his speech at a reception hosted by the local government at Macau Tower yesterday evening to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR). The reception was attended by some 1,100 guests. In addition to Ho, the other eight main guests on the stage were Ho’s predecessors Fernando Chui Sai On and Edmund Ho Hau Wah, who is now a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau Director Fu Ziying, Foreign Ministry Commissioner in Macau Shen Beili, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison Commander Xu Liangcai, PLA Macau Garrison Political Commissar Sun Wenju, Legislative Assembly (AL) President Kou Hoi In, and Court of Final Appeal (TUI) President Sam Hou Fai.
The other guests included local government senior officials, members of the government’s top advisory body the Executive Council, lawmakers, local deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC), local members of the CPPCC National Committee and civic leaders.
Ho noted that during his three-day working visit, which ended shortly before the reception, President Xi Jinping made profound remarks about the characteristics, highlights and important experiences in Macau’s implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. Ho said Xi’s remarks had drawn a new blueprint for Macau’s development and demonstrated the central government’s “heartfelt care and sincere support” for Macau. “This has brought about new development opportunities for Macau and added new impetus to its development,” the newly-sworn chief executive said.
Ho mentioned the five highlights in Macau’s practice of “One Country, Two Systems” that were commended by Xi during the welcome banquet hosted by the local government on Thursday, namely: 1) “loving the motherland and loving Macau” becoming a core value of the whole community, 2) the authority of the Constitution and the Basic Law being firmly upheld, 3) the executive-led system functioning smoothly, 4) Macau actively integrating itself into the national development, and 5) social inclusiveness and harmony creating great power to unite the people of Macau.
Ho also mentioned the four hopes for Macau that Xi raised during yesterday morning’s gathering in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland and swearing-in ceremony for the fifth-term MSAR government, namely: 1) keeping abreast of the times and further elevating the MSAR’s governance level, 2) breaking new ground and innovating to achieve sustained and sound economic development, 3) continuing to put the people first and better safeguarding and improving their well-being, and 4) persisting in an inclusive approach and further promoting social harmony and stability.
Ho also reiterated Xi’s remarks during yesterday morning’s gathering stressing that with the return of Hong Kong and Macau to the motherland, the handling of affairs in the two special administrative regions (SARs) is “strictly China’s internal matter” so that “there is no need for any external forces to dictate things to us”. After Ho made the remarks, guests applauded.
Ho also acknowledged the leadership of his two predecessors – Edmund Ho and Chui – which “created”, he said, the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics.
Ho pledged that his new government will fully and accurately implement the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, govern Macau in strict compliance with the nation’s Constitution and the Macau Basic Law, firmly uphold the central government’s “overall jurisdiction” over the city, and steadfastly uphold the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
Ho said that his new government aimed to set up a “service-orientated” government, namely by strengthening the management capabilities of public servants, enforcing officials’ accountability, building a clean government, enhancing public administrative efficiency, making wise use of public money, improving e-government services, strengthening communication between officials and residents, and “steadily” streamlining the public administration system.
Ho also said that his new government will strengthen promotional campaigns for the nation’s Constitution and the Macau Basic Law, and improve the mechanism in relation to their implementation. He also said that the new government will improve Macau’s legal system with the constitutional foundations jointly set up by the Constitution and the Macau Basic Law.
Ho also pledged that his new government will push ahead with diversifying the city’s economy. He also said that the new government will continue to promote Macau’s role as a hub for trade and economic relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
Ho also said that the new government will safeguard and consolidate Macau’s social landscape of harmony and stability.
Ho said that the new government will “more quickly” push ahead with urban planning, urban renewal, the development of public housing projects, the improvements in the traffic condition, and the development of a smart city.
