Macao will not disappoint the central government, nor will it fail civil society’s expectations, in pressing ahead with the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said today.
Ho made the pledge in his speech at the National Day reception hosted by the local government.
He promised that Macao will join hands with Guangdong province in writing a new chapter for the development of the 106-square-kilometre Hengqin island in the adjacent city of Zhuhai.
Macao will do its utmost to implement the measures and policies outlined in the General Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone, Ho said.
The general plan was released by the central government in Beijing early last month.
Ho added that Macao will diversify its economy by creating new industries, building a new living space that offers convenient sources of livelihood and employment, creating a new setup in line with Macao’s high-level and open system, and advocating a new model of mutual discussion, joint construction, joint administration, and shared benefits.
The Macao 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, national security, and the country’s development interests.
Macao will also continuously work to optimise its legislative system, and the measures implemented to uphold national security and the principle of “patriots administering Macao”, 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. Macao will follow in the nation’s footsteps, and the local government has begun drafting Macao’s second Five-year Development Plan, by initiating public consultations on it, the chief executive pointed out.
“Notwithstanding unpredictable challenges posed by the pandemic, the Macao government and the entire population of Macao 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 Macao’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.
Macao will closely monitor 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 Macao’s development, Ho said.
Earlier this morning, Ho and about 100 guests attended the annual National Day flag-raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square on the peninsula, reported The Macau Post Daily.
