The University of Macau (UM) on Saturday held its first flag-raising ceremony to celebrate its congregation day, becoming the first public university in Macau to have held a flag-raising ceremony on campus.
According to a UM statement, senior officials from the central and local governments, civic leaders and more than 800 faculty members and students attended the ceremony.
The statement quoted students as saying that the ceremony increased their sense of national belonging.
Guests of honour who attended the ceremony included Zheng Xiaosong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau, Liao Zhengrong, commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison, and Zheng Xinyou, head of the Department of Public Diplomacy and Information of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Commissioner in Macau. UM Rector Song Yonghua also attended.
The flag-raising team was formed of 21 UM students, comprising 15 males and six females. The director general of UM’s Students’ Union served as the standard bearer. The team received training at the PLA Macau Garrison barracks in Taipa, and practised on campus for several days with an instructor from the garrison, the statement pointed out.
MC Ouyang, a member of the flag-raising team and director general of the Students’ Union, said he felt honoured to be the standard bearer in the first flag-raising ceremony at UM, saying that it increased his sense of belonging to the motherland and he now understands that the flag-raising ceremony is a solemn affair and every part of the ceremony needs to be meticulously planned and executed. He added that the ceremony further enhanced his patriotism and strengthened his national identity.
Another flag bearer, Chen Si Han, was quoted as saying he had hoped to become a flag bearer when observing the flag-raising ceremony as a child, and he was very happy to have had the opportunity to make his childhood wish come true. He also said that the flag-raising training helped improve his self-discipline and team spirit, enabled him to learn more about the motherland’s history, and increased his patriotic sentiments towards his country.
In the future, the statement said, the university will hold flag-raising ceremonies on days with important ceremonies and days of significance, including the congregation day, the convocation day, Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Establishment Day, and the first day of the new year.
The flag-raising ceremony comprises the national flag, MSAR flag and UM flag.
