On December 25, Chief Executive Edmund Ho traveled to Beijing for his duty visit to report on his work over the past year and to explain the key points in his 2002 policy address.

Mr. Ho said before his departure that the liberalization of the gaming industry was and would be a priority of the Government. During this visit, he planned to report to the Central Government on the gaming operation concessions and the management of the liberalization of the gaming industry. He added that he would not reveal detailed information about the 21 tenders, emphasizing that the Macao SAR had the responsibility to manage and to develop the gaming industry.

On the question as to whether or not Mr. Ho would seek support from the Central Government to help develop Macau, he replied that based on Macao's economic framework, there was a consensus that Macao should be developed as a gaming, tourism and convention center. Mr. Ho did intend to formulate some feasible programs with the Central Government to support the development of tourism in Macao.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ho said that the Central Government would definitely support Macao's economic development, but that the people of Macao should not expect the Central Government to take measures to solve Macao's economic problems. He said that global recession had affected Macao's economic downturn, but that support from the Central Government and effort by the citizens of Macao would improve Macao's economy.

While in Beijing, Edmund Ho will be received by President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji on December 26. On the 27th, he will be received Vice Premier Qian Qichen.