Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Today is a great day as we celebrate the eleventh anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. First of all, I would like to extend a warm welcome and offer my festive greetings to all our honoured guests and friends.

Since its inauguration, the third Macao Special Administrative Region Government has been doing its best in terms of continuity and innovation, promoting scientific governance, and building an open and transparent government. With the full support of the central government and the contribution of the Macao people, we have successfully overcome the global financial crisis and achieved a significant recovery.

Upholding the principle of working and sharing together, we have doubled our efforts to further improve people’s employment and quality of life. The SAR Government has also provided support for the sustainable development of small and medium-sized enterprises, sped up the adequate diversification of the economy, and enhanced the development of culture, education and healthcare to ensure fast but harmonious economic and social development. Macao’s progress is in fact the result of its people’s solidarity and hard work.

From our years of experience in administration, we know that it is critical to focus our efforts on economic development and livelihood improvement. Only when people’s quality of life improves can we stand united and bring together our ideas and initiatives to jointly build a better home.

On the ground, we spare no effort in caring for and helping the elderly and the disadvantaged. To provide a better retired life for senior citizens, the Government has implemented a variety of schemes, including pensions, financial aid, old-age allowances, free medical services, senior homes, a senior academy, residential services and community nursing and support.

To care for the disadvantaged, the Government offers regular financial aid, special living allowances and short-term food assistance programmes. However we put even more emphasis on assisting the disadvantaged to find employment and empower them to stand on their own feet. Detailed research is now underway for an appropriate adjustment to the living index and optimisation of our assistance provision policy. At the same time, we will establish a more thoroughly planned supporting system for the elderly and disadvantaged through improving the social security system and the relevant legislation. Of course, the Government will also strive to improve the services for others, including the middle-classes.

Through my recent series of visits and public consultations, I am especially inspired by those young friends and entrepreneurs that urge the government to support them in enhancing their qualifications and competitiveness. Their eagerness for self-improvement is the driving force of the sustainable growth and improvement of the region. We hope that such spirit can be spread widely and deeply in Macao starting from our fellow civil servants. In the coming year, the SAR Government will initiate its 5,000-pataca continuing education subsidy programme which is our positive response and support to the demand of the public for self-improvement.

About one month ago, Premier Wen Jia-bao paid a visit to Macao. People in Macao were so impressed by the Premier’s concern about our home city and our livelihoods. The important advice he gave us during his visit provided a clear future guide to our administration. And the day before yesterday, the lovely giant pandas Kai Kai and Xin Xin arrived and became one of us.

These happy events are evidence of the central government’s concern and expectations for Macao and each one of us. Looking forward to the coming years, we will strengthen our governance and efficiency, promote interaction between the government and the people, and together develop Macao into a world travel and leisure hub. It is our vision to establish a special administrative region with sustainable and coordinated development, achieving the successful realisation of “One country, two systems”.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to extend, on behalf of the Macao SAR Government, our sincere respect and gratitude to the Central People’s Government and its various organisations based in Macao for all their support, and our sincere appreciation to all our dedicated civil servants and the public for their contributions in building a better Macao.

Honoured guests and dear friends:

Let’s make a toast.

To the prosperity and success of our motherland, and to the bright future of the Macao SAR!

Cheers!