"One country, two systems" ensures Macao's long-term prosperity

As a festive air looms for the celebration of the fifth anniversary of Macao's return to China, it is a memorial moment to evaluate the implementation of China's principle of "one country, two systems" in Macao.

As one of China's two special administrative regions (SARs), Macao has practiced the principle of "one country, two systems" upon its founding on Dec. 20, 1999. It is generally acknowledged that Macao has become more open and vibrant since the rule of law with the great concept of "one country, two systems" has ensured astable transition period and the formation of a government administrated by Macao people during the past five years.

Macao's gaming industry branded by horse racing and casino business has been able to keep running after Macao's return to China, which has been a typical symbol denoting the meaning of "one country, two systems." Macao is dubbed as "Oriental Monte Carlo." The century-old gaming industry is still the mainstay of the SAR's economy.

The SAR government's policy towards the gaming sector is pragmatic. On the one hand, it broke a 40-year monopoly on the industry to introduce competition mechanism in 2002, while on the other hand, it pushed forward legislation to regulate the sector.

The SAR government earned 10 billion patacas (1.25 billion US dollars) in gaming tax in 2003. The thriving gaming industry has boosted the market confidence so as to activate the overall tertiary sector.

Yang Yunzhong, one of Macao's 12 deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), said that the principle of "one country, two systems," which is one of the most glorious concepts in Deng Xiaoping's theory, enables the SAR a power to seek common grounds while reserving differences.

During the past five years, the Macao SAR has retained its existing administrative, legal and judicial structures, people's life style and the economic mode, while the economy took off in a harmonious social atmosphere.

The legal framework under the concept of "one country, two system" has guaranteed Macao's status as an independent tariff area under the World Trade Organization and a free-wheeling port after its return to China. Under the name of China Macao, the SAR has retained a relatively independent status in 11 inter-governmental and dozens of non-governmental organizations.

Confined by geographic limit and natural resources, the 27-square-km city depends on its external connections to broaden its economic horizons. The Central Government has fully respected the SAR government's ability in handling international exchanges.

Carlos Marreiros, a prestigious architect, who is a Portuguese working in Macao for 21 years, said that having witnessed Macao's progress for the past five years, he has gained sufficient confidence in the practice of "one country, two systems."

"The SAR government is doing well, and has won a full support from the communities. The Portuguese community has received equal treatment with the locals. My choice of staying in Macao has proved to be absolutely right," he said.

Macao residents have been fully aware that as a member of the Chinese nation, Macao enjoys a reliable backup from the motherland.

The Central Government has offered timely supports whenever Macao is in need during the past five years. In bolstering Macao'stourist market, the mainland lifted its restrictions on individualtravel to Hong Kong and Macao in July last year, which followed the signing of the Mainland/Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. The two preferential treatments helped open the mainland's commodity, service and tourist markets to Macao.

Macao residents would never forget that when severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) broke out in Macao's surrounding regions last year, the Central Government sent epidemic-relief goods to Macao, although many regions in the mainland were fighting hard against the epidemic.

Macao clinched an all-round cooperation agreement with all the other 10 members in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region in Maythis year. Its characteristic status of exercising "one country, two systems" has given it an advantage in the regional cooperation.

It has been in Macao residents' ideology and experience that "one country, two systems" is the ultimate guarantee to the stability and prosperity of Macao.

Source: Xinhua