The Central Government would continue to support the administration of the Macao SAR Government, said Chief Executive Edmund Ho after his meetings with President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji in Zhongnanhai compound on Wednesday (26 Dec.)

The Chief Executive who is on his working visit in Beijing, reports to the state leaders on the work of the SAR Government in the past year and the plan for the coming year.

Mr. Ho said that the state leaders have assured that the Central Government would continue to support the Macao SAR Government, adding that this would provide the SAR Government with confidence to solve all problems that might arise in the future.

Mr. Ho has reported in details to the Central Government concerning the progress of gaming operation concessions. He stated that the Central Government had agreed on the procedures of the concession, adding that the Central Government's position of full support and no interference would enable the SAR Government to balance different interests concerning this aspect. Mr. Ho also said that Mr. Jiang and Mr. Zhu had reassured the strict ban on Chinese companies from participate in the gaming industry in any form.

Concerning the issue of "free trade zone" in the Pearl River Delta, Mr. Ho said that it was a positive concept, which would eventually, benefits the development of Macao, Hong Kong and the Mainland, adding that a task force including representatives from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao would follow up on the issue.

He also said that it is already a consensus that Macao's economic development would be headed by gaming and tourism industries, at the same time looking into the role of a service platform for small and medium enterprises, thus under the scope of the "free trade zone", Macao would eventually find its own niche.