Government and Policy

‘One country, two systems’ a success, says Ho

By Zhang Jin (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-12-19 01:00

MACAO: The outgoing Chief Executive of Macao, Edmund Ho, said the “one country, two systems” policy has won initial success.

The achievements Macao has made in the past decade sheds light on the strong “vitality and creativity” of the policy, a creation by late State leader Deng Xiaoping, Ho said on Friday.

He made the remarks in a meeting with representatives of civil servants.

The 54-year-old also urged government officials at all levels to continue working hard under the leadership of incoming Chief Executive Chui Sai-on for a better Macao.

Ho, who took the top job in Macao since 1999, was busy meeting with various groups at the government building these days, sources said.

Also on Friday, he had a photo session with about 100 members of the consultative committee, a government-appointed organization that helps bridge neighborhoods and the government.

“I think Ho did a good job as the chief executive, and he is humble to listen to the voices of the people,” a committee member told China Daily on condition of anonymity.

He also said the government is keen to solve new problems resulting from the fast economic expansion of Macao, but he didn’t elaborate.

President Hu Jintao will arrive in Macao on Saturday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. He will attend the inauguration ceremony of the Macao’s third-term government, on Sunday.

Macau Post Daily, a local English-language newspaper, said the president’s “tight schedule” includes a visit to a local household and the foundation-laying ceremony of University of Macau’s new campus on the island of Hengqin.

Hu’s last visit to Macao as the president was in 2004 to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland.

With a population of half a million, the 30-sq-km enclave was under the Portuguese rule for four centuries. In 1999, the Chinese government resumed its sovereignty over the enclave, the only Chinese place where gambling is legal.

‘One country, two systems’ a success, says Ho

A view of Macao government building, where outgoing Macao Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah poses for a photo with members of Macao’s consultative committee, a local organization that helps bridge neighborhoods and the government, on Friday.[Dong Wei/chinadaily.com.cn]