The First Legislative Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) held its first plenary meeting here in the wee hours of December 20 and passed the Macao Reunification Law right after the founding of the SAR.

This was the first law that the SAR Legislative Council has passed. It guarantees a smooth operation of the Macao SAR government since its establishment.

The first meeting of the legislature began at 3:15 this morning in the new office building of the Legislative Council with participation of its 23 members.

Susana Chou, president of the Legislative Council, presided over the meeting. Prior to voting on the Macao Reunification Law, 14 legislators made short speeches and expressed confidence in the future of Macao.

All the legislators then voted for the draft of the Macao Reunification Law. Chou announced the law consisting of 17 articles and five appendices was passed.

The law makes clear the principles and specific measures in adopting the former laws of the Macao SAR as well as rules in interpreting legal terms and expressions. The law confirms the continuity of public administration, human administration, public behaviors, documents, and legal procedures.

It also recognizes the validity and effectiveness of all actions performed by the SAR government and the chief executive, and legislative council, the independent committee recommending judges, and the chief procurator in accordance with the Basic Law of the Macao SAR and other effective laws before December 20, 1999.

Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the SAR chief executive, will sign and order to promulgate the law later today.

The SAR legislature had completed deliberations on the drafts of 11 laws vital for the smooth operation of the Macao SAR, as well as rules of debate for the Legislative Council.

According to the Macao Basic Law, the Macao SAR Legislative Council is the law-making body of the Macao SAR, which enjoys a high degree of autonomy.

The 23-member First Legislative Council of the Macao SAR was formed at the end of September.

The first Legislative Council meeting was held immediately after the establishment of the Macao SAR to avoid a "legal vacuum.