Chui Sai On (3rd R F), chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region, Wang Zhimin (3rd L F), head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao, and Ye Dabo (2nd R F), commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao, attend a flag-raising ceremony held to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in Macao, south China, Dec. 20, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)
Tens of thousands of Macao people participated in a series of activities and events to celebrate Macao's 17th anniversary of returning to China and the establishment of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Tuesday.
The SAR government started a flag-raising ceremony at 8:00 a.m. local time at the Golden Lotus Square, with Macao's discipline forces and local residents participating in the event.
An honor guard of police officers took the national flag and the Macao SAR flag to the two flag poles. Then the two flags were hoisted to the national anthem.
A tourist from the Chinese mainland told Xinhua that he changed the plan of visiting the Ruins of St. Paul in the morning for this special moment.
Macao citizen Xu said she brought her son to watch the flag-raising for this holiday. "Today is a big day for Macao, I want my son to feel what does it mean for us and remember the day," Xu added.
People's Liberation Army Macao Garrison at NAPE region also held a flag-raising ceremony in the morning.
Following the ceremonies was a reception held at Macao Tower exhibition hall which was freshly decorated by red and yellow ribbons. About 1,000 representatives from all walks of life in Macao attended the reception to celebrate the 17th anniversary of establishment of Macao SAR.
SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On said in his speech that 17 years' practice after Macao's return to China proved that Macao's prosperity and stability is closely related to its participation in China's development. He hoped the Macao people would remember the commitment and the love to China and Macao, build the homeland with joint wisdom and effort, and further develop the great cause of "one country, two systems".
During the day, Macao also held a dancing and singing show in Macao Olympic Stadium, with famous stars from Macao and Hong Kong bringing their best performances to the audience.
At 9:00 p.m. local time, a fantastic firework show was put up in the waters between Macao peninsula and Taipa island, with Glittering sparks and colorful flares lighting up Macao's peaceful sky. Thousands of tourists and local people went to the beach to watch the show.
