The 500 officers and enlisted men, led by Commander Major General Liu Yuejun and Political Commissar Major General He Xianshu, are the first troops to be sent into the region by the Chinese Government in more than a century.

Officers and soldiers responded to the enthusiasm from their trucks and vans, and their professional solemn expressions gave way to timid smiles.

A ceremony to present a gilded inscribed board and a brocade banner to the PLA Macao Garrison was held at a circular site in downtown Macao. Ma Man Kei, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, presented the gifts to the PLA Macao Garrison troops who had just arrived.

Wild with joy (PI DAWEI)

The board bears the legend: "A Mighty and Civilized Force" and the brocade banner bears the words: "A Mighty Force, a Civilized Army." Liu Yuejun and He Xianshu accepted the gifts on behalf of the garrison troops. In acknowledgment of the gifts, He said the garrison would fulfill its sacred mission by carrying out Macao's defense duties in accordance with the law.

Some MSAR residents hope the PLA would play a more active role in the region. Teresa Dias, a Macanese who joined her husband in welcoming the troops, said the couple hopes the garrison will bring a more peaceful society to the SAR.

Solid Governmental Pledges

The warm and hospitable feeling continued through the first day of Macao's return to the motherland. On the night, a cultural extravaganza, Sun and Moon Brighter Over the Chinese Land, was held at the Capital Stadium. Enthusiasm despite the freezing temperature accompanied a crystal-clear December night.

President Jiang Zemin, who had just returned from Macao a few hours prior to the show, told celebrants that the smooth return of Hong Kong and Macao indicated the "one country, two systems" policy is the best way to address the Taiwan issue.

Hailing the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region as "another great event for the Chinese nation following the return of Hong Kong," Jiang said the event has become "another important milestone in our march toward complete national reunification".

The Chinese Central Government will do everything possible to support the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Premier Zhu Rongji also said when delivering a speech at a grand State Council reception to mark Macao's return held in the afternoon at the Great Hall of the People.

As it embraces the great motherland, Macao will implement the policies of "one country, two systems" and "Macao people administering Macao" and will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, the Premier told an audience of more than 4,000.

Time to celebrate in Macao (WANG YUGUO)

The MSAR, directly under the authority of the Central Government and ruled by the MSAR Basic Law, will be vested with independent executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, he said. He re-emphasized that the return of Macao will "facilitate a final solution of the Taiwan issue, and the complete reunification of China".

Cheers From International Friends

As people in every corner of the country are celebrating Macao's return to China, leaders and diplomatic envoys of countries from Canada to Cambodia have sent messages of congratulation, sharing the exciting moment with China.

In a message delivered to his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin, Russian President Boris Yeltsin hailed Macao's return as the end of foreign rule in the Chinese territory.

"The successful practice of the 'one country, two system' policy initiated by Deng Xiaoping will be sure to promote Macao's stability and allround development in the future, and help strengthen Macao's traditional function as the bridge between Western and Eastern cultures," said Yeltsin.

Stressing that Taiwan also is an inalienable part of China, Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk sent a letter to say he hopes China completely reunifies.

Party and government leaders of Viet Nam also portrayed Macao's handover as a big event marking the end of foreign rule over Macao and with it the end of colonialism in Asia.

Michael Klosson, US Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao, said the United States wants to maintain relations between the American and Macanese peoples, especially in expanding trade.

The consul general of France in Hong Kong and Macao, Jerome Pasquier, underlined investment possibilities, and the Canadian special envoy Raymond Chan made similar statements of support in Ottawa.

V.K. Nambiar, Ambassador of India to China, said in a message of congratulations that the return of Macao to China is an event of historic significance. It marks the end of the era of colonialism in this part of the world. The MSAR joins the HKSAR as a part of the People's Republic of China under the "one country, two systems" formula and serves as an important pointer of the wisdom and success of this principle.

Macao, a reminiscence of history of changes, where East and West met through the trade and exchanges amongst the peoples, will take the path of history that belongs to itself, noted Jocelyn Henriquez, Ambassador of Venezuela. Portugal and China are demonstrating to the world that peaceful negotiations can overcome historical differences and that the policy of "one country, two system" is valid, he said.

Moustapha Saphariny, Ambassador of the State of Palestine and Chairman of the Arabic Publicity and Culture Commission, hailed the "one country, two systems" as a brand-new step on the road of national reunification, and believed it provided a model for peaceful resolution of some international conflicts. He also expressed full confidence in the day when China celebrates its full reunification.

Message from Mihaly Bayer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Hungary, said, "On the occasion of the return of Macao I congratulate the people of China and its government. Let me praise this achievement which has been reached through means of peaceful consultations."

H.E. Mr Riazh Khokhar, Ambassador of Pakistan, said in his message that with the resumption of sovereignty over Macao by China, the remnant colonization of a part of China has come to an end forever. Now, Macao is geared to usher in a glorious era of broad-based social and economic development, in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems". The international community has already witnessed the enviable success of this sagacious policy in Hong Kong. We are confident that the day is not far off when Taiwan would also return to the warm embrace of its motherland, China, to which it has always belonged.

(Beijing Review No. 52 December 27, 1999)