Macau yesterday celebrated 20 years since the former Portuguese colony was returned to China, with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) praising the pliant gambling hub for its patriotism, a stark contrast to protest-ravaged Hong Kong.
The day’s festivities centered on the inauguration of a new leader for a territory that Xi described as a “shining chapter” of Beijing’s “one country, two systems” model.
Ho Iat-seng (賀一誠) won a one-horse race this summer to become Macau’s new chief executive — a position that is chosen by a 400-member committee stacked with Beijing loyalists.
Photo: Bloomberg
Throughout his three-day visit, Xi has seized on Macau’s comparative political calm, a theme he continued in a landmark speech yesterday as he presided over Ho’s swearing-in ceremony.
“A sense of nation and patriotic spirit has deeply taken root in the hearts of young people,” Xi told delegates, adding that loyalty toward Beijing was the “most important reason” for Macau’s success.
He also warned against any foreign powers taking a stance on Hong Kong, which has been shaken by six months of huge and increasingly violent protests against Beijing’s rule.
“We will definitely not allow any foreign forces to interfere with Hong Kong and Macau affairs,” Xi said.
China has repeatedly portrayed Hong Kong’s huge protests as a foreign-backed revolution designed to destabilize the motherland, rejecting any suggestion that Hong Kongers have legitimate political grievances.
Hong Kong and Macau are run on Beijing’s “one country, two systems” model that allows them to retain certain liberties, such as an independent judiciary, a free market and a separate currency.
However, while Hong Kong seethes with popular resentment toward Beijing, Macau has steadily become more like the mainland.
Macau has witnessed little dissent and has become hugely wealthy thanks to being the only place in China where gambling is allowed — although Xi omitted any reference to the gaming industry during his visit.
China’s leadership has used Macau’s handover anniversary to showcase the benefits of deference to authoritarian rule, a pointed signal to protesters across the Pearl River Delta in Hong Kong.
Macau’s fortunes have risen in lockstep with China’s huge economic growth, Ho said.
“Macau and the motherland are intertwined and destined to develop as one,” he said in his inauguration speech.
Xi also singled out mainland style anti-sedition laws in Macau that have been bitterly opposed for years in Hong Kong.
There had been speculation that Xi might unveil a series of economic measures rewarding Macau for its loyalty, but none were announced in his speech.
When Xi visited Hong Kong in 2017 for the territory’s handover celebrations, he delivered a tough speech warning that any challenge to the authority of the central government was a “red line and absolutely impermissible.”
Shortly after Xi finished his speech yesterday, office workers went out in Hong Kong’s main commercial district during their lunch break to protest.
The rally was sparked by police freezing HK$70 million (US$9 million) the day before from a fund that collects donations to help arrested pro-democracy protesters.
STILL DANGEROUS: The typhoon was expected to weaken, but it would still maintain its structure, with high winds and heavy rain, the weather agency said One person had died amid heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon, while 70 were injured and two people were unaccounted for, the Central Emergency Operation Center said yesterday, while work and classes have been canceled nationwide today for the second day. The Hualien County Fire Department said that a man in his 70s had fallen to his death at about 11am on Tuesday while trimming a tree at his home in Shoufeng Township (壽豐). Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Fire Department received a report of a person falling into the sea at about 1pm on Tuesday, but had to suspend search-and-rescue
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
‘EXTREME PRESSURE’: Beijing’s goal is to ‘force Taiwan to make mistakes,’ Admiral Tang Hua said, adding that mishaps could serve as ‘excuses’ for launching a blockade China’s authoritarian expansionism threatens not only Taiwan, but the rules-based international order, the navy said yesterday, after its top commander said in an interview that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could blockade the nation at will. The object of Beijing’s expansionist activities is not limited to Taiwan and its use of pressure is not confined to specific political groups or people, the navy said in a statement. China utilizes a mixture of cognitive warfare and “gray zone” military activities to pressure Taiwan, the navy said, adding that PLA sea and air forces are compressing the nation’s defensive depth. The navy continues to
RSS