On the anniversary of Macau's handover to China, President Jiang Zemin (
"We must never allow a small number of people in Macau to carry out activities that are against the central government and split the country," he told a large gathering of officials from China, Macau and Hong Kong.
His blunt warning punctuated an otherwise cheerful speech to mark the first anniversary of the handover of Macau from Portugal, which ran the territory for 450 years.
PHOTO: AP
The economy of the tourist and gambling mecca has revived under Beijing's control. Armed gangs have been subdued, ending a wave of shootouts, carjackings and bombings that once terrorized the population.
Even as Jiang spoke, police swooped on some 20 Falun Gong members practicing their slow-paced exercises in a remote park.
"Falun Dafa is great! Falun Dafa is great!" a man shouted as police frog-marched him to a police van. Others, all dressed in yellow T-shirts, kicked and screamed as police carted them off.
Hong Kong's Cable Television reported they were later released and allowed to carry on with their exercise.
Beijing has banned Falun Gong but the group is legal in Macau and nearby Hong Kong, both of which retain a degree of autonomy following their handovers to China.
Britain returned Hong Kong to China in July 1997, ending more than 150 years of colonial rule.
Police have been on alert to control pro-democracy activists or Falun Gong members who threatened to mar the Macau party. They turned back some 20 Falun Gong and pro-democracy activists on Tuesday, trying to reach the enclave by ferry from Hong Kong.
Jiang, who presided over Macau's handover, also used his speech to lecture the media.
"The media has a big influence on the people. Not only must the media be mindful of press freedom but it must also be mindful of social responsibility," Jiang said.
Mass media "must play a more active role in anything related to Macau's stability and prosperity, the country's interests and the good of the nation", he said.
Jiang praised Macau leader Edmund Ho (
He lauded the success of a crackdown on triad gangs involved in everything from prostitution to loan-sharking, saying "evil forces" had been dealt a heavy blow.
"Since the handover and under the support of the central government, the Macau government has cracked down on gangs. Social order has improved significantly. And so has the economy," Jiang said.
"The central government is satisfied with Edmund Ho's administration. I hope everyone will support him," he said.
Falling crime has allowed the enclave's mainstay gambling and tourism industries to revive. The economy is expected to grow 4 percent in 2000, the first rise after four consecutive years of recession.
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