An interview with MSAR Executive-designate Edmund Ho Hau-wah: what is to be "fully engaged" to signify? I find the answer in the office of Edmund Ho Hau-wah, the first executive-designate of Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR).

What is to be "fully engaged" to signify? I find the answer in the office of Edmund Ho Hau-wah, the first executive-designate of Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). Macao is going to return to the embrace of the motherland. This involves without doubt a multitudinous amount of preparatory work that has to be done and these finally have to gather in one place, the executive's office. Still, Executive-designate Ho attends to all his work completely in a calm orderly manner though a busy schedule seems to give him not a minute or a few seconds off. "You've got more white hair now" was the way the reporter inquired after the health of Executive-designate Ho. "One can't go with no white hair but for Macao to have a happy future is worth it" was his reply. Ho smiled and then answered my questions in a succinct straightforward manner.

Q: Will you say something about the government set-up of MSAR and the main tasks facing it?

A: In the past half a year from having been made designate-executive, the organizational work of MSAR, according to Basic Law and other documents of the Preparatory Committee, has been smoothly carried out and is going to be drawn to a successful conclusion. Within the limits of my functions and powers, I have accomplished a series of work appointments. These include recommending and submitting for approval by the Central Government chief appointments of officials and prosecutor-general; appointments to the Independent Committee; appointments of presidents of courts at various levels; appointments of inspectors recommended by prosecutor-general, legislators and councilor members of the MSAR government and officials to the Administrative Committee. Meanwhile, with approval from the Preparatory Committee to related appointments and supplementary procedures, in addition to appointments made of council members, the MSAR legislature Committee will also be founded. The executive-designate and the offices of chief officials, executive Committee and the Legislature all will start work and the whole MSAR power framework will be completed. For the present, a more important work item is that preparations must be well made to see necessary laws and financial budgets following the founding of the MSAR government be worked out. Smooth work with the incumbent government will have to be guaranteed up to the formal inauguration of MSAR.

Q: As Macao is on the point to be returned to the motherland, what do you think about it since you have been made executive-designate?

A: I hope for the return of Macao. This is a feeling shared by all in Macao. But time is a bit "contradictory" to me: I hope I will have more time and more and better work I can do before Macao's return to the motherland. I feel excited for the return and am also calm when attending to my work. This is because the two are complementary and irreplaceable. Excitement strengthens my sense of responsibility to work for the future of Macao and calmness compels me to take care that good work be done for the return. This is to say I am still cool-headed to perform my mission after the return of Macao. I know I will meet difficulties ahead but I will not let them bear upon me in the way of unnecessary pressure; I am full of confidence to be sure that I do more down-to-earth practical work.

Q: By Macao's return will be meant new opportunity and challenge on your way ahead. How are you going to lead the Macao people in overcoming the difficulties and seize on the good chance offered to enter the new century"

A: The main difficulties and problems lie in doing a good job of security work and efforts have to be made for new economic advances to be achieved. Good solutions to problems must be sought and we have to find out all the underlying causes and see to it that necessary measures are taken and that things be solved in the way "a disease is to be treated by looking into both its root cause and symptoms". When speaking of security affairs, problems relating to public security will involve the causes of criminal cases, the criminal cases themselves and the way to crack down on them. We cannot concern ourselves merely with one particular aspect while neglecting the other two. To find a thorough solution to security problems of Macao, the said three aspects must be treated at the same time. But the first priority must be placed on the crackdown (including detection) of the criminal cases. Only in so doing can the administrative authorities have full political authorities and management resources to find a successful solution to the other two. As to economic development, powerful means must be provided to help guide the development of economy and bring the full role of markets to play. Any market must have a necessary amount of consumption force backed by a certain number of people in the way investors and outside investments are attracted. The reason why China's markets pose great attraction to the outside world is because it has a large force of as many as over 1.2 billion consumers. To overcome economic difficulties facing Macao, the following two steps we must take. The first is to make full use of the existing favorable conditions available to make it sure tourism will be well developed in putting a stop to our economic decline we have suffered from. The second step is to reinvigorate the economy. On the basis of making most existing conditions in Macao, we have to introduce various types of personnel and resources we need and see to it that the society be expanded to a proper scale and that the whole economy be developed in a ration normal way.

"One country, two systems" and a high degree of autonomy to be enjoyed by Macao people "running affairs on their own" will represent in a concentrated way the biggest opportunity and challenge before us. We Macao people will be empowered to give a full play to their wisdom and their abilities. This is the opportunity we are going to be offered for an all-round development of Macao. As to challenge, as we are undertaking an entirely new cause and have no past experiences to learn from. But we have to do all possible competent work to raise the quality of various social conditions. Since Macao is going to enter the high-level political system of "one country, two systems" and to enter into the world community with a new look, such an adaptation process will be by itself a great challenge to us. This demands on our part to have a good grasp of this centennial opportunity. We must stand on a high plane and have a farsighted view in doing things. We must get ourselves familiarized with things unfamiliar and all new ideas as well. Only thus can we succeed in developing and carrying forward the traditional precious asset of Macao and its cordiality and down-to-earth spirit.

Q: The whole Chinese people and all Chinese descendants of the nation throughout the world are very much concerned with this great event of Macao's return to the motherland. As representative of the Macao people, have you got some more words to say to them?

A: I want to say Macao's return to the motherland will provide us the golden opportunity to let Macao to be developed into a place of China we will pride ourselves in. We need time and stamina and all the more your encouragement and support to go after our great goal. We will extend our warmest welcome to you all at all time. I hope you will come not as guests but make Macao your home in the way we do. We hope you will give the fullest play to your specialties and be a part to us in developing Macao. No matter whether you have ever been in Macao or not you are always welcome to be with us. Whatever criticism you may make, either air your views or put forward suggestions on policy making or give a piece of your mind about some other things, we will always regard you as our think-tank and prize your contributions as assets of our Macao. (By People's Daily Staff Reporter Wang Rongjiu)