On Monday, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai attended the reception marking the 18th anniversary of the Macau Citizens Alliance and witnessed the swearing-in of the members of the 7th Executive Committee and the Audit Committee.
In his speech on the occasion, Sam Hou Fai expressed his hope that local associations, including the Macau Citizens Alliance, would continue to promote the values of love for the motherland and for Macau, contributing to social harmony and stability.
He also called on these organizations to strengthen diverse community services and enhance the role of civic associations, supporting the Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) in governing according to the law and improving administrative efficiency.
The Chief Executive emphasized that, since the beginning of the year, Macau has made steady progress in various sectors, thanks to the strong support of the Central Government and the joint efforts of society.
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Macau’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached a preliminary figure of 108.01 billion patacas in the first quarter of this year, representing real year-on-year growth of 7.1%, according to Sam Hou Fai. The official stated that this result “was not easy to achieve” and attributed it to the support and collaboration of residents and civic associations.
Sam Hou Fai also recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping had emphasized last December, during the presentation of the Chief Executive’s work report, the need for Macau to continue improving the efficiency of governance.
The head of the Macau SAR Government stated that the current administration maintains the philosophy that Macao’s affairs should be “resolved through joint consultation and managed jointly,” in cooperation with local patriotic associations. In this regard, he advocated strengthening the grassroots governance system and community response capacity by broadly soliciting the opinions of different sectors of society.
Sam Hou Fai also praised the work carried out by the Macau Citizens Alliance since its establishment, highlighting the results achieved in areas such as community services in residential buildings, support for youth, and services for the elderly. In light of the new challenges associated with the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, the Chief Executive outlined three expectations for local associations.
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First, he called for the continued promotion of patriotic values and the consolidation of the sociopolitical foundation of the “one country, two systems” principle, while also advocating for the promotion of social dialogue and the strengthening of training programs for young talent to ensure the renewal of community organizations.
Second, he asked associations to continue providing diverse community services targeted at the most vulnerable groups, in line with the government’s strategy of “targeted support and decentralization of resources.” The official also encouraged the modernization and professionalization of community services, as well as the active participation of associations in grassroots governance and in resolving the problems faced by the population.
Finally, Sam Hou Fai called for continued support for the Macau SAR Government in governing in accordance with the law and in upholding the system of executive dominance.
The Chief Executive also stated that the public consultation on the Macau SAR’s 3rd Five-Year Plan will be launched shortly and expressed his hope that associations and various sectors of society will submit contributions and suggestions to refine the strategic document.
