The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops who have just come to station here in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) received a rousing welcome from some 30,000 Macao residents when they marched in Macao streets on their way to their barracks.

The PLA troops entered Macao through the Gongbei control checkpoint at 12:00 at noon today. Macao residents, who lined the streets on the Macao side of the control line, beat drums and gongs, set off firecrackers and waved national flags and Macao SAR flags to greet the PLA soldiers and officers.

Although Macao has a population of only 430,000, some 30,000 of them turned out to welcome the PLA Macao Garrison troops, demonstrating their joy for Macao's return to its motherland.

Macao people have been well known for their great love for their motherland.

"The hearts of the Macao people have always been linked to their motherland," said Ms Ho, deputy secretary general of the Macao Federation of Neighborhood Committees.

Ho, who participated in welcoming the PLA, said, "We're filled with joy to see the troops of our own country stationing in Macao. People can imagine what we felt like under the rule of foreigners."

The PLA is a symbol of state sovereignty. When they see the garrison troops on Macao soil, the local people have truly felt that they have come to the embrace of their motherland.

During the liberation of Zhongshan County of south China's Guangdong Province half a century ago, many Macao residents of Zhongshan origin made trips home to greet PLA soldiers. Some of them, who are old now, turned out again to greet the PLA troops, this time in Macao.

"In such an event which makes Macao people feel proud and joyous, how can we keep away?" said a senior Macao citizen.

The successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle in Hong Kong in the past two years and the model behavior of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison there have greatly enhanced the trust of Macao people in the PLA. This is another reason why Macao people have so enthusiastically welcomed the PLA.

Many Macao people have learned about the moral hight standard of PLA soldiers rescuing flood victims in the Yangtze valley last year. They have also seen the strength and dicipline of the PLA during the military parade past Tiananmen Square on National Day this year.

Anticipation of social stability is another reason Macao people have extended a warm welcome to the PLA troops.

The PLA Macao Garrison is responsible for the defense of the region, but it will not interfere in any matter that the Macao SAR shall administer on its own, according to the Garrison Law.

However, if there should be a serious security problem or natural disaster, the PLA Macao Garrison can take action to exercise such powers as are performed by relevant law enforcers upon application by the Macao SAR government and approval by the Central Government.

The PLA Garrison is not the police and its responsibilities do not include the regular maintenance of public security in the Macao SAR, but Macao people believe that the presence of the PLA Garrison is a strong deterrent against local mobsters.

The temporary barracks of the PLA Macao Garrison is located at a building in downtown Macao. A big number of Macao residents came to the site when the PLA troops arrived.

Many people said that they are not worried at all about the so-called "disturbance" by the garrison troops but that they have

been eager for the stationing of PLA troops in Macao for a long time and believed that the PLA garrison would play an important role in maintaining social order and stability in Macao.