Li Keqiang highlights patriots governing Macau and HK principle

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has highlighted the ‘patriots ruling Macau’ principle in his speech at the opening of the Fifth Session of 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) annual plenary sessions in Beijing on Saturday, held at the Great Hall of the People.

Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC.

Li presented the government’s work report, which for the first time included ‘patriots ruling Macau’ principle in the section of Hong Kong and Macau and mentioned the need to implement the central government’s full authority over the SARs.

The premier stated that the central government will continue to firmly implement the principles of “One country, two systems,” while also emphasizing “Patriots ruling Hong Kong; Patriots ruling Macau,” under which the people of Macau administer Macau, and the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong, both with a high degree of autonomy.

“Fully supporting the SAR government in its administration in accordance with the law, support Hong Kong and Macau in developing their economies and improving people’s livelihood, and better integrate with the overall development of the country, so as to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau,” Li listed as government intentions. 

Li said that the achievements of the past year were the result of the “strong leadership” of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with President Xi Jinping at its core, the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping’s thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and the unity and struggle of the whole Party, the whole army and all ethnic groups in the country.

“On behalf of the State Council, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all ethnic groups, all democratic parties, all people’s organizations and people from all walks of life,” Li expressed. 

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my compatriots [among] the Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas compatriots.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng is visiting Beijing from March 4 to 7 to attend the opening of the fifth session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing.

During Ho’s absence, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Cheong Weng Chon, will take the role of Acting Chief Executive, according to the Government Information Bureau.

Proposals from Macau members

During the session, Macau member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chui Sai Cheong, proposed that the relevant state departments should cooperate with the SAR Government to include the promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law in its outline of the five-year national plan for legal literacy. He also called on to support Macau universities to conduct in-depth academic research and exchanges so as to enhance the promotion and publicity of the Constitution and the Basic Law.

Another Macau member of the CPPCC, Leong Sio Pui proposed to promote “red culture” education in Hong Kong, Macau and throughout the Greater Bay Area. 

Leong hoped that the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau would jointly compile patriotic education textbooks, set up “red culture research and exchange bases” in various cities in the Greater Bay Area, and organize exchanges for young students in the Greater Bay Area, so as to consolidate the patriotic thinking of young people in Hong Kong and Macau.

Meeting with Senior Vice Premier

Three Macau members of the CPPCC spoke at the meeting with the Senior Vice Premier, Han Zheng, after the NPC. 

One such representative, Vong Hin Fai, said that the system of safeguarding national security in Macau should be further improved and that the political pattern of ‘patriots ruling Macau’ should be strengthened.

He suggested that the central government should strengthen its guidance on the work of safeguarding national security in Macau, give full play to its role as an advisor and technical advisor on national security affairs, and effectively coordinate the decision making on the work of safeguarding national security in Macau; study the amendment and improvement of Macau’s law on safeguarding national security, clarify the crimes that endanger national security and properly promote complementary legislation on national security, and so on. 

Meanwhile, more efforts should be made to cultivate patriotism among the young generation and expand the opportunities for young people to participate in politics.

In his speech, Chui Sai Cheong revealed that the impact of the pandemic on Macau’s various trades and industries has highlighted the adverse impacts on the economy, and that the Macau government may still face a fiscal deficit for a period of time in the short-term.

Chui proposed to expedite the development of the Cooperation Zone and the development of four emerging industries, so as to add new impetus to the promotion of Macau’s moderate and diversified economic development.

“To give full play to the “double positive role” of Macau members of the CPPCC, to strengthen the force of patriotism and love for Macau, to enhance the influence and recognition of CPPCC members in Macau society as a guide for action, and to take special care to collect Macau people’s views and suggestions on economic and social development and reflect them to the SAR Government and relevant mainland authorities in a timely manner,” Chui added as priorities.

Another CPPCC member from Macau, Sun Enguang, suggested that the development and opening-up of the Cooperation Zone should be accelerated, especially in terms of rules and regulations, strengthening the integration of industry and research and the cultivation of a reserve of high-quality talent, formulating precise industrial planning and industrial policies with regard to the preferences of the region, and setting up an industrial guide fund in the Cooperation Zone to attract a number of platform enterprises and backbone enterprises to the Zone as soon as possible to form an industrial ecology.

Macau currently elects 12 deputies to the National People’s Congress every five years through an electoral committee, which comprised 481 members at the December 2017 election.

Support pledged to help SARs develop economy, improve people’s wellbeing

A Chinese government work report has pledged efforts to help Hong Kong and Macau develop the economy and improve the people’s wellbeing, see that the two regions better integrate themselves into the country’s overall development, and maintain their long-term prosperity and stability. The report was submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation.

Chinese lawmakers review draft method to elect deputies to 14th NPC

The National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, on Saturday deliberated a draft method for the Macau Special Administrative Region to elect deputies to the 14th NPC. Wang Chen, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered an explanatory speech on the draft at the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC.