| The Buddhist Association of Macao Pray for MSAR |
|
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" align=center><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>By Zhang Ning, Xinhua, December 21, 2006</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Macao</SPAN></st1:State><SPAN lang=EN-US>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> -- <st1:State w:st="on">Macao</st1:State> celebrated the seventh anniversary of its return to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> Wednesday with fireworks brightening up the deep blue evening sky.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>The 15-minute huge fireworks display was launched at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Macao</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Tower</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, the highest building in the city, by the Macao Government Tourist Office, which was presented with synchronized music.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Thousands of people gathered at the Tower and the neighboring areas to watch the display while enjoying the traditional Chinese music.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Early in the morning, a flag-raising ceremony was held to mark the anniversary.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Red five-star Chinese national flag and emerald green lotus-featured <st1:State w:st="on">Macao</st1:State> regional flag were hoisted in the music of the Chinese national anthem at the <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Golden Lotus Square</st1:address></st1:Street> downtown <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Macao</st1:place></st1:State>.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR), led the ceremony.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Those witnessed the flag-hoist included officials from the central government's liaison office and foreign affairs commission in Macao as well as the MSAR government and hundreds of local residents.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>The chief executive afterwards attended a blessing ceremony, organized by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Buddhist Association of Macao and other groups, to pray for the well-being of the MSAR.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>A cocktail reception marking the seventh anniversary of the establishment of the MSAR was hosted by the MSAR government in the afternoon, drawing hundreds of celebrities and people from all walks of social life.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>The chief executive told the gathering that his government pledges to build a more harmonious society with "solid belief and practical attitude."</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>He noted that the region has been in a period of progress since it returned to the motherland in 1999 and has witnessed its gradual integration into the regional and international communities.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>The MSAR owes much of its success to the capability to maintain harmony amid the rapid social changes, with the full support of the central government, he stressed.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>"In a harmonious environment, we should mitigate conflicts to promote the self-improvement," he said.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Ho also vowed to improve public services to meet society's needs in the coming years.</SPAN></P>
|
|
|
|
