President Hu meets Macao officials

MACAO: Chinese President Hu Jintao met here Saturday with principal officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), and urged those who will remain in the third-term SAR government to continue their efforts to ensure a full and effective implementation of "one country, two systems."

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with principal officials  from Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR)'s executive, legislative and judicial arms in Macao SAR, South China, December 19, 2009.[Xinhua]

Hu arrived in Macao on Saturday to attend the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland and the inauguration of the third-term government of the Macao SAR scheduled on Sunday.

In the meeting with principal officials from Macao SAR's executive, legislative and judicial arms, President Hu spoke highly of their efforts over the past decade.

Hu said that over the past 10 years, the officials, under the leadership of Macao SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah, have performed their duties and played their respective parts in keeping good governance and promoting development in all sectors in the Macao SAR.

The officials have helped ensure the full implementation of "one country, two systems" and "Macao people governing Macao" with a high degree of autonomy in the Macao SAR, Hu said.

The president, on behalf of the central government, expressed his sincere gratitude to the officials for their unremitting efforts in sustaining prosperity and stability in the Macao SAR.

The new Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR has recently been formed and the third-term Macao SAR government will be sworn in on Sunday.

Hu expressed his hope that the officials who will remain at their posts will continue to do their work well in a conscientious way to ensure the full and effective implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle.

He also hoped that those who will no long hold their posts take good care of their health and continue to make their due contributions to the prosperity and stability of the Macao SAR.

Present at the meeting were Hu's entourage Liu Yandong, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning, Li Jianguo, Liao Hui and Chen Bingde.

Macao SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah was also present at the meeting.