Qia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told NPC deputies from Macao that Macao compatriots are important members of the big family of the Chinese nation, and the future of Macao is always closely tied to that of the Chinese nation.

Under the leadership of the government of the special administrative region headed by Mr. Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the Macao compatriots have created a good situation characterized by economic and social prosperity and stability, he said.

This fully testifies to the correctness of the policy of "one country, two systems," "Macao people governing Macao" and a high degree of autonomy, said Jia.

Joining NPC deputies from Qinghai and Chongqing in their discussions on separate occasions, Zeng Qinghong, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, expressed the hope that the people of Qinghai and Chongqing, both in western China, would seize the opportunity of the implementation of the western China development drive to bring about a leap in local development.

Wu Guanzheng, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, joined a group discussion with NPC deputies from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He told the deputies to place education and prevention first in combating graft and building a clean government so as to reinforce the mental defense line of the majority of cadres and Party members.

He told the deputies to make a point of having an orientation talk on anti-corruption and clean government with officials before they are appointed.

Luo Gan, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, said during a panel discussion with NPC deputies from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region that the rising momentum of criminal cases across the country had been curbed after two years of the massive "strike hard" campaign. Consequently, social order has been improved and people have felt more secure.

However, the social security situation brooks no optimism and it requires no letup in the "strike hard" campaign in order to safeguard a smooth operation of reform and development and create an environment for the people to live and work in peace and contentment, Luo Gan stressed.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2003)