The annual policy address delivered by Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), has been warmly welcomed by local residents, a survey shows.
According to a survey conducted by telephone by the University of Macao, a total of 1,249 respondents gave an average mark of 76.1 out of a full 100 for the performance of the SAR government and 78.7 for the chief executive this year.
Laws and public order became the area that the Macao people are “most satisfied" with.
Answering the question "Which area do you concern most in the policy speech?", 42.9 percent of the surveyed cited "economic development", while 44.8 percent of them noted that lowering the unemployment rate should be a priority for government administration in the coming year.
The majority -- 74.3 percent -- of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the measures to be taken by the government for reducing taxes.
Edmund Ho delivered the new policy address on Nov. 20, saying that Macao is enjoying social harmony and the economic growth rate is expected to reach above 5 percent this year and 4 percent for 2003.
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2002)
