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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (Saturday) extended his congratulations to Mr Edmund Ho Hau-wah on his election as the first Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region.

Mr Tung said that 1999 was an important and significant year for China and the Chinese people as the People's Republic of China celebrated its 50th anniversary and with Macau's return to China at the end of the year.

The Chief Executive said that since Hong Kong's return to China, we had received strong support from our Country and had fully implemented the "One Country, Two Systems" concept. Mr Tung noted the prosperous development in China. He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government had further strengthened its relations with the Mainland, and had increased communication and mutual cooperation in various areas.

Mr Tung said he firmly believed that with strong support from China and under the brilliant leadership of Mr Edmund Ho, compatriots in Macau would work towards the future, fully implement the "One Country, Two Systems" concept and contribute to the prosperity of our Country.

End/Saturday, May 15, 1999

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