People from all walks of life in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) hold high hopes for a brighter future under the leadership of Sam Hou Fai who has been elected by an overwhelming majority as the sixth-term chief executive designate of the Macao SAR.
Sam won the election with 394 votes in favor out of 398 valid ballots.
Ho Sut Heng, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and president of the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, highlighted the strong anticipation of the public for the realization of Sam's promises with a focus on law-based governance, effective leadership and unity.
"Mr. Sam Hou Fai's platform has garnered high recognition from the public, so his sweeping election victory today is well-deserved. His policies aim to unite all social sectors, and I believe he will successfully lead Macao in better integrating into the overall national development and build Macao into a better place," Ho said.
"I think the election plays an important role in fully implementing the principle of 'patriots administering Macao'. Each vote for Sam represents the hopes of all sectors in Macao for a brighter future. I firmly believe that the new government of the Macao SAR will steer the region's society towards broader development prospects," said Wong Chi Choi, president of the Macao New Chinese Youth Association.
Young residents of Macao have underlined the significance of the election for the youth, hoping that the new chief executive's platform will create more opportunities for them in the future.
"What resonates with me most from his platform is his commitment to better integrating Macao into the country's overall development, and what's more, how we young people can better contribute to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin. I hope the new government will put up more favorable policies in this regard," Fong Cho Ho said.
"Young people have been paying close attention to the election. After reviewing Mr. Sam Hou Fai's platform, I knew that he has responded to our needs. I hope that under his leadership, the new government of the Macao SAR will create more opportunities for young people and build a better Macao for all," Ou Wing Yan said.
Macao residents hold high hopes for brighter future under leadership of new government
To meet the timeline of starting independent customs operations by the end of 2025, the government of south China's Hainan province issued a series of regulations to stipulate import and export management of Free Trade Port (FTP), with two major documents on environmental safety and medicine import put into effect recently.
To further explain the effects and scope of the two documents, the local government held press conferences on Monday and Tuesday.
The "Several Provisions on the Management of Entry Environmental Safety Access in the Hainan Free Trade Port" took effect on Wednesday, which clarified the scopes and responsibilities regarding potential environmental issues of vessels and import products.
"The document regulates the access management of special items such as hazardous waste, remanufactured products, carry-on items of entry personnel, and radioactive materials. Meanwhile, it clarifies that the storage sites for transit goods should meet environmental safety management requirements, to avoid environmental pollution," said Di Weijie, deputy director of the Department of Ecology and Environment of Hainan Province.
In addition, the administrative rule on zero-tariff import of medicines and medical devices in Hainan Free Trade Port was put into effect on Tuesday, stipulating that before Hainan FTP starts independent customs operations, medical institutions, higher medical education institutions, and pharmaceutical research institutes registered in the Hainan's Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone with independent legal status and approved eligibility can import designated pharmaceuticals and medical devices under the zero-tariff policy.
"The scope [of medicines and medical devices imported under 'zero-tariff' policy] consists of two categories: imported pharmaceuticals and medical devices already approved for registration in China, and specially licensed pharmaceuticals and medical devices for the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone," said Jia Ning, director of Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration, during the press conference.
With policy supports and related efforts like the Ever Lasting International Innovation Medicine Exhibition held in the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone, medicine and health care is expected to be a new pillar industry for Hainan.
New regulations clarify environment, medicine import issues in Hainan Free Trade Port
