STORY: Macao sees great changes after return to motherland: Former civil group leader 
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Dec. 9, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:04
LOCATION: MACAO, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Macao, China
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): IO HONG MENG, Former president of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao  

STORYLINE:

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Io Hong Meng, former president of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao, said Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has undergone remarkable changes in the past 25 years, and will embrace an even brighter future ahead. 

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): IO HONG MENG, Former president of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao
"Social security has greatly improved (since Macao's return to the motherland). Now Macao can be said to be one of the safest places (in the world). So even though we have tens of millions of tourists coming to Macao every year, they can walk on the streets even late at night and still feel safe. 
In terms of the economy, the growth of GDP is more obvious. The Macao SAR's GDP has soared from just over MOP 50 billion in the year of its return in 1999 to MOP 300-400 billion in 2023 (1 MOP=0.12 USD). As for the average monthly income of Macao citizens, in 1999, it was around MOP 4,900 per month, and jumped to over MOP 17,000 in 2023, reaching MOP 18,000 this year. So the changes have been substantial. 
People have been happy about the return to the motherland, and the administration of the SAR government is particularly good. This is largely credited to the support of the central government to Macao. With the country's reform and opening up, a growing number of mainland tourists have come to Macao, which is why Macao has prospered. Moreover, many preferential policies provided by the central government to Macao have promoted the SAR's development. The future development of Macao has brighter prospects. I believe Macao will make even greater achievements."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Macao, China.
(XHTV)