Macau, China 27 July – Macau’s new Chief Executive, Fernando Chui Sai On said Sunday that one of the priorities of his government would be overcoming the effects of the global financial crisis.
Chui Sai On said, during a press conference straight after being elected Chief Executive of Macau, that he would “be attentive” and “take steps” in order to reduce the effects of the crisis upon the people of Macau.
“The Macau Government will have to be prepared to ensure that the interests of the people of Macau are safeguarded,” he said.
Referring to future relations with Taiwan and the possibility of creating a special body for overseeing the relationship with Taiwan, Chui Sai On recalled the policy of ‘one China’ and ‘the unity of the Chinese nation’ as the underlying political idea, though he stressed the autonomy of Macau on issues such as tourism, culture and commerce.
Chui Sai On recalled that the role of Macau in connecting Taiwan and mainland China was no longer as a connection “point” given that there were already direct flights between both sides of the Taiwan Strait, which meant there was a need to promote Macau as a destination in itself for the people of mainland China and Taiwan who travel between both side of the Strait.
Chui Sai On also said that he envisaged no alterations to government policy regarding the gaming sector in the near future, but recalled regional competition to emphasise “the sector’s constant need to adapt, develop and improve.”
The future Chief Executive also said that it was not only the gaming sector which merited the attention of the Executive in order to develop, but that attention would also be given to “other sectors with potential,” to the “transformation and boosting of traditional sectors,” to “diversification of the economy” and “learning from the main development guidelines of the Pearl River Delta region” where Macau is situated along with Hong Kong.
“New opportunities are ahead with Hong Kong and other regions of the Pearl River Delta, particularly for certain sectors already identified such as conventions, Chinese medicine, education and tourism,” he said.
At the press conference Chui Sai On also stressed that he was ready “for criticism and comment,” but warned that these must be well-founded, and said that he would carry out his office with “integrity.”
Chui Sai On also referred to the “great number” of votes with which he had been elected and said that he would respect the position of those members of the electoral college who had made protest votes and stressed that throughout the electoral campaign he had listened to “many opinions” and intended to try and address them once he took office on 20th December.
Chui Sai On, 52, former secretary for Social and Cultural Affairs in Edmund Ho Hau Wah’s government, has also taken office in the areas of health, social affairs, education and youth, sport, tourism and culture of Macau.
(MacauNews)
