The banquet was held at the Forum where Jiang, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), announced the establishment of the country's second SAR on December 20, 1999.

Macao SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah addressed the feast and extended, on behalf of the SAR government, "the warmest welcome and highest regards" to the president and his entourage from the central government.

"Over the past year since the establishment of the Macao SAR, we have attained fairly good social order and solidarity, overcome some problems and challenges, and have achieved overall stability and healthy growth," Ho said.

In accordance with the Basic Law and in consideration of the reality, the Macao SAR government has adopted the policy strategy of "Consolidating the Foundation and Developing Steadily" and made some achievements, the chief executive said.

On the whole, the people of Macao, with hard work and dedication, have made this historic first year of the Macao SAR rich and fulfilling, he said.

"It is important for me to stress that the smooth and successful implementation in Macao of the 'One Country, Two Systems' policy is a manifestation of the great wisdom of Mr. Deng Xiaoping's concept, the strong leadership of the third generation of leaders of our country headed by President Jiang Zemin, and the achievement of unity of the Chinese nation.

"We must have a strong sense of commitment to our country and to history, carry on our patriotic tradition by loving our motherland and Macao, truthfully perform our duties well, and scale another height of success in the practice of 'One Country, Two Systems', 'Macao people administering Macao' and of the high degree of autonomy of the MSAR," he said.

Speaking at the banquet, Qian Qichen, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice-premier, on behalf of the president and the central government, extended warm congratulations and cordial greetings to the Macao SAR government and Macao people from all walks of life.

Since the establishment of the Macao SAR a year ago, a gratifying and inspiring atmosphere has emerged in the social, economic and many other fields of Macao, Qian said.

The SAR government is full of vitality, Macao's public order has shown marked improvement and its economic growth has resumed, the vice-premier said.

Facts have proved and will continue to prove that Macao people are fully capable of administering Macao well, Qian said.

He said he believed that with the strong support from the central government and the entire nation, and the concerted efforts of Macao people from all walks of life, the Macao SAR government, headed by Ho, will surely be able to unite all the Macao compatriots to continue to make new, greater achievements in the new century.

About 700 guests attended the dinner.

Present at the dinner were Jiang's wife Wang Yeping, CMC Member and Director of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Yu Yongbo, Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Gang, and Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the State Council Liao Hui.

Macao celebrities attending the banquet were Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ma Man Kei, President of the Legislative Assembly Susana Chou, President of the Court of Final Appeal Sam Hou Fai, Secretary for Administration and Justice Florinda Da Rosa Silva Chan, and other senior SAR government officials.

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and other senior Hong Kong SAR officials attended the dinner.

Also present were Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Macao Wang Qiren, Special Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao Yuan Tao, and Commander of the PLA Macao SAR Garrison Liu Yuejun, and foreign consuls-general and honorary consuls in Macao.

(Xinhua 12/19/2000)