Bai Zhijian, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), praised Tuesday the glorious achievements scored by Macao since it returned to the motherland at the end of 1999.
The SAR government has ensured smooth operation of the Basic Law and the Macao people have now even greater confidence in the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, the official said here at a preparatory committee session for National Day celebrations.
Public order has improved notably in the SAR, making Macao "one of the places with best security conditions in the world," he noted.
The Macao economy has reversed negative increases for four consecutive years before the hand-over, growing moderately in 2000 and 2001, he said, adding that this year's economic growth rate is expected to reach 5 percent, representing the biggest jump since 1994.
Bai said the SAR government showed the spirit of innovation in handling the issues of liberalizing the gaming industry and setting a framework for economic expansion.
Capitalist living style remains unchanged in Macao and different ethnic people live now together in a harmonious manner, he said.
People of various social quarters in Macao have set up a preparatory committee to manage celebration activities for the upcoming 53rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
(Xinhua News Agency Septembert 4, 2002)
