Macao celebrates National Day

The Government would push forward with the development of the society by enhancing its governance and uniting people from all walks of life. This was stated by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, when he addressed more than 1,000 guests during the National Day reception hosted by the Government this morning. Reviewing China’s achievement in the year, Mr Ho said the Mainland showed profound vigour after Central and Southern China suffered from snowstorms in January and Sichuan was struck by earthquakes in May. Moreover, we witnessed the successful completion of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut. In the year, Macao continued to work with the Mainland, taking part in the relief efforts of Sichuan earthquake and in the organisation of the Olympic Games. As we would celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding People’s Republic of China and 10th anniversary of the founding of the Macao SAR next year, Macao would continue to build the society by enhancing its governance and uniting people from all walks of life, said Mr Ho. In the morning, Mr Ho officiated a flag-raising ceremony at Lotus Flower Square. The ceremony was attended by the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR, Mr Bai Zhijian; Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the MSAR, Mr Lu Shumin; Commander of the Macao Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army, Major General Wang Yuren, President of the Legislative Assembly, Ms Susana Chou; President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai, and Macao’s principal officials and community leaders. After the ceremony, Mr Ho met more than 40 young people from Sichuan who had taken part in the rescue of victims of the Sichuan earthquake. Mr Ho said that they risked their lives to save their teachers and schoolmates and the example they set was not only for Macao’s young people but for everyone. Several government departments would also hold celebratory events today, including the three-kilometre National Day Fun Run starting at Lotus Flower Square, and a concert at Macao East Asian Games Dome at 2:30 pm. At 8 pm, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and Liaison Office would hold a concert at Macao Forum:, two firework displays would be held on the waterfront near the Macau Tower at 9 pm and 10 pm.