A six-meter high gold-coated bronze sculpture, "Flower of Lotus", a gift from the Chinese Central Government to the newly founded Macao Special Administrative Regional government, was unveiled at noon of December 20 at the Lotus Park next to the Macao Forum.

Chinese vice-premier Qian Qichen, on behalf of the Central Government, presented a certificate of the gift to Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the first chief executive and representative of the Macao SAR government prior to an unveiling ceremony.

The 6.5-ton sculpture is erected on a three-step base made of 23 pieces of red granite slabs, which represents the three parts of Macao, the peninsula and the two islands.

The bronze sculpture consists of 16 shapes of stem, petals and pistils. The diameter of the flower is 3.6 meters.

Shining brightly under the sun, the blossoming lotus symbolizes the ever prosperity of Macao.