Macao SAR Preparatory Committee Issues Communique ����The Preparatory Committee for the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) issued a communique in Beijing January 16 after concluding its fifth plenary meeting. ����According to the communique, the meeting has decided that people who wish to be chosen for the Selection Committee can register from January 26 to February 14, 1999. ����The meeting opened on January 15 in Beijing to discuss three documents for the handover: Methods of choosing the candidates for the first chief executive of the Macao SAR; Implementing the Clause 2 of Article 24 of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR; and Provisional methods for using the regional flag and emblem of the Macao SAR. ����Vice-premier Qian Qichen, chairman of the Preparatory Committee, speaking on behalf of the State Council, outlined the basic principles and policies for handling relations between Macao and Taiwan after Macao's handover. ����Members of the Preparatory Committee said that these principles and policies will help the development of relations between Macao and Taiwan, and expressed support for them. ����The method of choosing candidates for the first chief executive reflects the principle of fairness, impartiality, openness, democracy, and honesty, the Preparatory Committee members say, and they believe that the document provides a firm basis for the election. ����The members said that the Clause 2 of Article 24 of the Basic Law conforms to the Basic Law of the Macao SAR and that it takes Macao's history and individual situation into consideration. ����The members also decided that the 6th plenary meeting of the Preparatory Committee will be held March 1-2 in Beijing. ���� HomeNews 1999-01-17 Page2 Full Story in Chinese