PROMOTING MODERATE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION
Scheduled to be sworn in as the new chief executive on Dec. 20, Ho has vowed to continue pushing forward the moderate diversification of Macao's economy by investing more in scientific and technological research to develop high value-added industries.
The average monthly salary in Macao has reached about 2,400 U.S. dollars, much higher than some developing economies in Southeast Asia. As a result, developing high value-added industries such as traditional Chinese medicine industry, instead of labor intensive industries, should be the right direction in the economic diversification, Ho said.
The SAR government has invested a lot to develop the traditional Chinese medicine in Hengqin. In the future the government will continue to promote the setting up of more enterprises and supporting industries and increase exports to Portuguese-speaking countries and Southeast Asian countries.
Ho stressed the importance to continue developing the industry of gambling in a healthy and proper manner as it is Macao's pillar industry and the most important source of revenue, sustaining the region's medical care, education, elderly care and other social welfare services.
Ho has also pledged to make efforts in improving public management, boosting people's livelihood, cultivating more talents and developing cultural cooperation. The government will also invest more in infrastructure and increase the supply of housing to better meet the people's needs.
After 20 years' development, Macao has reached a high level in social welfare expenditure. In the future the government should pay more attention to optimizing the resources and spend the money in a more reasonable and efficient manner, he stressed.
INTEGRATING INTO OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRY
In the outline development plan of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) unveiled earlier this year by the central government, Macao, listed as one of the four core cities in the GBA, should play the role of core engines for regional development. Ho said this arrangement is a great opportunity for Macao and will greatly boost its future development.
Given the tiny land and population, Macao needs to leverage its own advantages and achieve mutual benefit and win-win with other GBA cities, Ho said.
"Macao needs to make the best of its position of 'one center, one platform, one base' and actively integrate itself into the overall development of the country," he said.
As for building Macao into a world center of tourism and leisure, Ho said Macao is actively pushing forward tourism exchanges and cooperation with cities in the GBA and exploring multi-destination tourism.
On setting up a service platform for trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Ho said Macao's cultural background and legal system are similar with that of some Portuguese-speaking countries and it also enjoys close economic and trade ties with these countries. Macao will take advantage of these ties and help boost China's exchanges and cooperation with these countries.
Ho expressed confidence in building Macao into a cultural exchange and cooperation base with Chinese culture as the mainstream and the coexistence of different cultures. Different cultures have always co-existed harmoniously in Macao and seniors in families can also live peacefully with younger generations although they may have different religious beliefs, he said. "Macao will improve protection and management of its cultural relics and make more contribution to cultural exchanges between China and the West."
Talking about the National People's Congress' decision in October to authorize Macao SAR's jurisdiction to be applied to Hengqin port and adjacent areas, Ho said this move fully demonstrated the central government's strong support for Macao to integrate into the overall development of the country, and will greatly promote the construction of the GBA as well as the infrastructure connectivity, smooth flow of personnel and goods between Macao and the mainland.
"We hope the central government and all departments will continue to provide proper help to Macao SAR for it to maintain prosperity and stability. Macao will also try its best to make greater contribution to the overall development of the country," he said.
