Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has thanked Macao’s Portuguese- and English-language media for their work during the “extraordinarily challenging” Covid-19 pandemic and praised their role in boosting the city’s multi-culturalism.
Ho said that his government wanted to strengthen cooperation with the Portuguese- and English-language media “to fulfil our respective responsibilities regarding Macao’s diverse development, harmony and stability, and continue joining hands to advance the successful practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in the Macao Special Administrative Region .”
The past year had “proved extremely difficult and extraordinarily challenging for all of us,” said Ho.
“The sudden outbreak of Covid-19 was a tremendous challenge to all mankind, and an ongoing test of the government’s resilience and ability to adapt to changes.”
The chief executive added that “throughout the pandemic, the Portuguese- and English-language media have reflected the views and aspirations of the public, and provided us with sincere comments and suggestions, enabling the government to better serve the public and respond to the needs of society.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to your efforts,” he said.
The chief executive noted that “as an international city, Macao has a unique historical and multi-ethnic background,” adding that with its various languages and culture as bridge, “media reporting in Portuguese and English leverage their functions to link communities, enhance mutual understanding between Macao and the world, and promote harmony and inclusion in Macao’s society.”
Ho underlined that Macao’s Portuguese- and English-language media “are in fact the key witnesses and contributors to Macao’s multiculturalism.”
The chief executive pointed out that “During the pandemic that has lasted for more than a year, the Portuguese- and English-language media have also demonstrated their important role in maintaining communication between overseas Macao residents, foreign-language communities and the MSAR government, enabling these communities to understand the government’s policies and measures.”
Ho said that in the year ahead he hoped that “you [Macao’s Portuguese- and English-language media] will maintain your professionalism, play a bridging role to objectively report on society and people’s lives, support and monitor the government’s administration, and make use of your functions to introduce Macao’s development to the world, and facilitate international exchanges and cooperation.”
The chief executive pledged to further “enhance constructive communication and interaction with the media, facilitate media reporting and the provision of information, and ensure that journalists can better fulfil their responsibilities and functions.”
Ho’s speech ended on an upbeat note: “The pandemic will be eventually over, and a new spring will finally come.”
(The Macau Post Daily/Macao News)
*last updated 3 February 2021 at 7:00 am
