The Government would continue to ensure freedom of the press and support development of the news media, said today the Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, at a lunch reception with Chinese-language local news organisations.

Mr Ho called on the Chinese-language media to continue to: adhere to a correct approach and to maintain their integrity; fulfil monitoring and guiding functions via their editorials; objectively report on society and people’s lives; and convey positive energy. These approaches would help the Government to implement its policies more effectively, Mr Ho added.

In a speech at the lunch reception, Mr Ho noted Macao life had been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Confronted with serious and complicated challenges, all members of the community in Macao had united and joined hands in order to overcome a difficult time. With the full support and guidance of the Central Government, coupled with the united efforts of all sectors of society, Macao had achieved preliminary success in fighting the pandemic, Mr Ho said.

Macao’s overall economic and social development remained stable, and the Government had maintained steady progress over the course of the administration, Mr Ho said.

The Chief Executive praised news organisations for demonstrating – especially during the beginning of the COVID-19 alert in 2020 – courage and commitment in fulfilling their social responsibility, in order continuously to provide the public with timely and accurate information on the pandemic. Such effort had helped the Government effectively to deliver and implement its disease prevention policies and measures, Mr Ho added.

Looking ahead, Macao would in likelihood continue to be affected by the pandemic, and by external political and economic fluctuations, Mr Ho said. The Government would nonetheless strictly follow its strategy of “preventing imported cases and a rebound of the epidemic”, and prudently introduce epidemic control measures. These steps aimed to create favourable conditions for restoring normal social and economic order, and ensuring the forthcoming Legislative Assembly election proceeded smoothly.

The Chief Executive went on to say that Macao would dedicate further effort in integrating into the country's 14th Five-Year Plan and into the country’s new “dual circulation” development pattern, which would bring new and historic opportunities and broaden the development horizons for Macao.

Macao would pragmatically formulate its second Five-Year Development Plan, to align with national development strategies, to promote adequate economic diversification, and to facilitate advancement of the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, while actively participating in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and “Belt and Road” initiative, Mr Ho said.