China's October 1 National Day celebrations in Macao from this year will be organized by the special administrative region government, local media reported Monday.

The 55-year Preparatory Committee for the National Day Celebrations of Macao Compatriots, that has hosted the celebrations since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, disbanded itself over the weekend, the Macao Post reported.

Ma Man Kei, leader of the civic group, told the newspaper that the members of the committee have long been considering to hand over the celebration hosting to the government since the region returned to the motherland in 1999.

Ma, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee as well, said the groupis to publish a book to review its history.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2005)