Xia Baolong (left), director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, listens to the introduction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, in Hengqin, Zhuhai city, China’s Guangdong province, on May 23, 2023. (PHOTO / HMO.GOV.CN)
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, expressed the central government’s recognition of the work done by the Macao Legislative Assembly during the second day of his inspection tour of Macao.
Xia commended the legislative body for fulfilling its lawmaking duties and supporting the Macao Special Administrative Region government and the chief executive in their law-based governance work.
During his 30-minute visit to the legislature on Wednesday morning, Xia listened to the report of the Legislative Assembly’s work and lawmakers’ plans for future legislative work.
After Xia’s departure, Kou Hoi-in, president of the Macao Legislative Assembly, told reporters that Xia recognized legislators’ efforts in maintaining a healthy relationship with the executive branch and their support for the SAR government and the chief executive’s law-based governance.
Xia conveyed President Xi Jinping’s cordial care to all Macao compatriots, saying he hopes that the SAR can make greater achievements in upholding the “one country, two systems” principle, safeguarding national security, strengthening local people’s affirmation to the country, and promoting the city’s economic diversification
Xia also thanked lawmakers for approving amendments to the SAR’s Law on Safeguarding National Security and encouraged them to make greater efforts to promote the city’s economic diversification, according to Kou.
ALSO READ: Xi congratulates Macao faculty, students on launch of satellites
Before visiting the Legislative Assembly, Xia met with the SAR’s principal officials, including Chief Executive Ho Iat-sing, at the Macao government headquarters.
Xia also toured the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies and visited the city’s Court of Final Appeal in the afternoon.
The central government official arrived in Macao on Tuesday afternoon on a four-day inspection tour of the SAR.
He first inspected the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin of Zhuhai city, then entered Macao SAR via the Hengqin checkpoint.
On Tuesday evening, after attending a dinner reception at the government guest house Santa Sancha, Xia met officials and representatives from the SAR’s administrative, legislative, and judicial bodies.
Xia conveyed President Xi Jinping’s cordial care to all Macao compatriots, saying he hopes that the SAR can make greater achievements in upholding the “one country, two systems” principle, safeguarding national security, strengthening local people’s affirmation to the country, and promoting the city’s economic diversification.
READ MORE: Xia has great hopes for Macao’s future
During his inspection tour, Xia is also expected to hold symposiums with the city’s deputies to the National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
In mid-April, Xia embarked on a similar inspection tour of Hong Kong SAR. During his six-day stay, he met with local political leaders, members of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, industry leaders, and grassroots residents.
He also visited district medical and elderly care facilities, the Science Park, universities and schools, as well as other significant sites for Hong Kong’s economic growth and integration into the country’s overall development.