Concerted Effort for Constructing the
Special Administrative Region
--Some Thoughts on the Preparatory
Work for Macao SAR

　　Yang Yi
　　1.The Macao Special Administrative Region Preparatory Committee was formally established in Beijing on 5th May 1998, which was more than one month ago. The Committee comprises a total of 100 members, with sixty of them selected from Macao. It makes up 60% of all the Committee Members, and they represent the major industries and sectors that have a high degree of representation of the society. There are a total of 25 key influential persons selected from the business and financial sectors, which constitute 41.66% of all members from Macao. The grass-root organizations and religious groups have 13 representatives, or 21.66% of the total members from Macao. Representatives from academic,professional, mass media, education, and cultural sectors aggregate to 20, that is 33.33% of all members from Macao. The balance of 3.33% comes from other sectors. The composition of members in the Preparatory Committee has a close resemblance of the current actual status of the Macao society. Such a formation can thus be regarded as highly reasonable. We can trust that the Preparatory Committee can effectively and efficiently fulfill its sacred historical mission.
　　2.The Preparatory Committee has been assigned with nine items of tasks, which are the latest policy determined by the highest authority of China. There are different levels of importance and priority among these nine tasks. However, each of them has to be completed in an utmost serious manner,and it requires the collected wisdom of the Preparatory Committee and all citizens. The most critical and imperative task is to follow the decision made by the National People's Congress to establish an election committee that consists of 200 members, who have a high degree of representation and are all permanent residents of Macao. The formation of such committee is for the election of the first Chief Executive, by way of consultation or nomination for election after consultation for official appointment by the Government of China. The Chief Executive shall then start to form the first government for Macao Special Administrative Region according to the stipulations in the Basic Law, which shall include the nomination of key officials for appointment by the Government of China. The Preparatory Committee shall also work out proper procedures for the formation of the first Legislative Council and the judiciary. They shall formulate measures for resolving critical legal issues for the smooth transition, which include conflicts between existing laws of Macao and the Basic Law.They shall work out policy for the transition of municipal departments, and make proposals for the implementation of the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China in Macao. Suggestions on activities celebrating the establishment of the Macao Special Administration Region also fall under the responsibility of the Preparatory Committee.It is noteworthy that the Committee is responsible for the study of various economic, social, and cultural issues in connection with the smooth transition of Macao. This binding stipulation was not seen during the formation of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. Moreover, such specific stipulation fully reflects that China places a high degree of emphasis on the smooth transition of Macau and its development during the transition period.
　　3. There are some new ideas in the recent speech delivered by Chairman Jiang Zemin. In the meetingwith the Preparatory Committee of the Macao Special Administrative Region on 6th May, Chairman Jiang stated, "After reunion with China, Macao will enjoy high autonomy under the policy of 'One Country, Two Systems'. The internal affairs of the Special Administrative Region will be governed and administered by Macao people in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law for Macao. This is a long-term unchanged policy. We trust that Macao citizens are capable of properly administering this region, with the upkeep of the stability and prosperity. There will definitely be a better tomorrow for Macao. The reunion of Macao with the motherland will demonstrate again an excellent example of the policy of 'One Country, Two Systems', which will strongly facilitate the ultimate resolution of the Taiwan issue for the final reunification of China". Chairman Jiang has explicitly remarked that it is "a long-term unchanged policy" for the high autonomy under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems". This clearly demonstrates that China has the determination to implement the policy of "One Country, Two Systems". It also reflects that China is fully confident towards the high autonomy of Hong Kong and Macao with the principle of "Hong Kong People to Govern Hong Kong" and "Macao People to Govern Macao".
　　4. The Preparatory Committee operates in a standardized and legalized manner. However, as it is an organization that is empowered with both authority and working functions, it is necessary to formulate the work codes to ensure the proper performance of the duties of the committee members. The work codes passed in the first general meeting state that: "The Preparatory Committee shall function in a democratic manner and consider views and suggestions from all sectors." (Article Two), "The Preparatory Committee shall adopt the collective responsibility system and implement the principle of confidentiality." (Article Three). These two articles in fact represent the two sides of dialectical unity.On one hand, the Preparatory Committee will not be able to make any reasonable decisions without the extensive process of consultation in a democratic manner. On the other hand, the preparatory work for the Special Administrative Region will not be completed in a timely manner with the targeted quality and quantity, if prompt and resolute decisions cannot be made. It is exactly what has been remarked by Executive Committee Member Qian Qishen, "During the formation of the Special Administrative Region, there are numerous specific critical issues that require investigation and resolution. Therefore, we have to voice out our opinions freely, and collect views and suggestions from all sectors. At the same time,we need to discuss and solve the problems. We need to put equal emphasis on these two aspects,"
　　5. There is equal concern on the functioning of collective wisdom and the proper role of the Preparatory Committee. The Committee has a very important historical mission. The performance of its multiple functions has a direct impact on the smooth transition of Macao and the resumption of sovereignty by China. It also has direct effect on the authority, effectiveness and recognition of the executive, legislative and judicial structure of the Special Administrative Region formulated by the Committee. Not only taken into consideration of different sectors that each Committee Member represents, the Preparatory Committee has established in accordance with the working codes a multi-level decision-making mechanism separately exercised at the general meeting, the executive committee meeting, and the general secretary working meeting. Different function units are responsible to conduct professional and specific studies for the discussion of government structure.Independent Committee Members are designated to make comments and recommendations on each task that fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee. They should make extensive consultation and collect views from all sectors to report to the Committee. This means each Committee Member is free to exercise and devote his or her wisdom. They should not be regarded as just representing one specific class or sector, or a particular interest party. Instead, they are collectively responsible to the Committee, the country, the history, and the time. We can hardly say that the sixty members have definitely included all the elite of Macao, but at least we can say that they represent the general public of all sectors for their major expectations, demands and interests. If each of them can fully perform their duties without failing the public expectation and the requirement of their missions, the Committee will definitely be able to achieve the synergy effect of " 1 +1 >2".
　　6. Just like constructing a building, we need to lay a solid foundation with proper design and multiple intelligent functions for the Special Administrative Region of Macuo. The blueprint for the development of Macao was sketched as early as in mid 1980s by the Government of China in the "Joint Declaration of China and Portugal", based on Chairman Deng Xiaping's concept of "One Country,Two Systems". Under such policy, it will place the Special Administrative Region of Macao directly under the Central Government after reunion that will enjoy high autonomy by the implementation of "Macao People to Govern Macao". In addition, with the enforcement of the principal policy consisted of 12 items of concrete statements, it has provided solid guarantee and clear guidelines for the longterm development of Macao. The successful stipulation of the Basic Law of Macao has legalized and crystalized a self-contained system for the aforesaid principles and policies. It also provides a new convincing example for practicing the concept of "One Country, Two Systems". With the commencement of the work of the Preparatory Committee, the actual construction of the Special Administrative Region will start. We will know from our actual experience that the reunion does not only imply the resumption of sovereignty. It indeed marks a new page for Macao for implementation of a development model with high degree of autonomy that has specific features of China and Macao. Longterm unchanged policy does not mean a mechanical extension of the original government structure.Instead, it should grow new organic elements from the internal body, by maintaining the existing skeleton. It thus illustrates that reunion with China is not the same as performing some renovation work for a returned house. It is instead to construct a new building, under the principles of high autonomy, "One Country, Two Systems", and "Macao People to Govern Macao". This meticulously designed and carefully constructed building should be a multiple intelligent architecture that can be a new representation of the whole country, or even the entire world. This building of Special Administrative Region does not only belong to the country, but also all residents of Macao. As the structure of this building is to serve and protect the interest of all the people in Macao, it requires constant monitoring and supervision by the public.Due to the urgency and difficulties of this task, the Preparatory Committee should devote its entire efforts at all times for supervising the construction of this building. Every Macao citizen should contribute his or her ideas for the completion of this building. Macao has been chosen by the history,and in certain sense the work of the Committee is a rehearsal and premiere of high autonomy under the policy of "Macao People to Govern Macao".Being the witnesses of this historical moment,Macao citizens should also actively participate and contribute during the transition period.
　　7. We need to understand the complexity of concerns and the effectiveness of participation. Long before the establishment of the Preparatory Committee, there were proposals from some organizations for setting up some concern groups.In a month after the formation of the Committee,there are dozens of concern groups established which have pushed the work of the Committee to a new stage with a more extensive foundation.However, we should study and think about the issues and the way we should concern ourselves.With the commencement of the preparatory work for the Special Administrative Region, the Committee and the concern groups will continue to introduce and implement various practicable measures. However, in view of the essence of the issue, the formation of the administrative, legislative and judicial structure for the Special Administrative Region is not only a requirement for resumption of sovereignty, but also for assurance of long-term stability and prosperity. It marks an end of a chapter of history, but at the same time opens up a new page of development for a new era. It realizes high autonomy under the state policy of "One Country,Two Systems" and "Macao People to Govern Macao", while involving Macao citizens to undergo a process of self-education, self-participation and self-enhancement. Therefore, to support, assist and cherish the new establishments and to motivate and utilize the wisdom of the general public will be a key success factor of the Preparatory Committee.The concern groups and all Macao citizens should take hold of this opportune time to monitor,investigate, and study in a positive, systematic and persistent manner the issues that fall into their areas.We should collect intelligent ideas and explore essential views for active participation. We should also contribute our experience, knowledge, and wisdom to provide recommendations to the Preparatory Committee for the construction of the Special Administrative Region, which is closely related to our own benefits.
　　(The writer of this article is a member of the Macau Development Strategy Research Centre)