Ho Teng Iat: Giving Full Play to Women's Roles in Promoting the Motherland, Macao's Overall Development

 December 16, 2019
Ho Teng Iat: Giving Full Play to Women's Roles in Promoting the Motherland, Macao's Overall Development
Ho Teng Iat [For Women of China]

 

Ho Teng Iat is Deputy Director of the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese, under the CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference)'s National Committee. She is also Member of the Standing Committee of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and President of the Women's General Association of Macao (WGAM). In addition, she is president of the preparatory committee for the celebrations to commemorate both the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China. The committee is composed of more than 20 social organizations, including women's organizations, in Macao. To mark the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China, she discussed with Women of China (WOC) how to give full play to Macao women's roles in promoting both their motherland and Macao's overall development.

WOC: What celebrations did WGAM organize, this year, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China? What impressed you most during the activities?

Ho: Events as part of the celebrations included a forum, an evening gala, a singing competition and a painting activity. In the latter half of 2019, an exhibition, which showcased the achievements of Macao women and children's development during the past two decades, was held in various communities in Macao. The exhibition will soon open at the China National Museum of Women and Children (in Beijing). Many women in Macao participated in the above-mentioned events, to express their sincere wishes that their motherland and Macao will become increasingly prosperous. Through the activities, I can feel Macao people's deep love for both their motherland and Macao. It has been proven that implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle can ensure Macao's stability and prosperity. Implementation of the policy will also create a better tomorrow for Macao people. Therefore, we should make concerted efforts to promote the region's stability and prosperity. Moreover, social organizations (in Macao) should continue working hard to inspire the spirit of "loving the motherland and loving Macao," and to promote the successful practice of "one country, two systems" in the region.

WOC: The CPC (Communist Party of China) Central Committee and State Council (the central government's cabinet) in February promulgated the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Given promulgation of the plan, what opportunities will Macao and women in Macao have in their overall development?

Ho: Promulgation of the plan has not only marked a new lease on the integration of Macao's overall development into the national development plan, it has also offered more opportunities to women in Macao to use their wisdom to promote the overall development of both their motherland and Macao. To encourage and help women to play greater roles in promoting national development, WGAM has conducted the following activities during the past few years:

Organized various activities (in the Greater Bay Area), including forums, lectures, exchange visits, and cultural and recreational activities, to encourage women to integrate their personal growth into the overall development of the country;

Hosted a forum (to mark the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up and to promote the overall development of women in GBA). During the event, held in Macao last year, representatives of women's organizations (in GBA) signed a declaration to strengthen cooperation and exchanges among women's organizations in the area; and Hosted a forum (in Macao in July), during which representatives from women's organizations (in GBA) discussed how to strengthen cooperation among them to promote women, children and families-related work.

WOC: What roles do Macao women play in social development and family lives?

Ho: With the vigorous support of the region's government, Macao women, from all walks of life, have had more opportunities to promote their overall development since Macao's return to China. Given their advantages, such as their brilliant minds and their practical, down-to-earth work style, many women have participated in social life, have paid close attention to issues related to the economy and people's livelihoods, have encouraged more women to participate in politics, and have made contributions to the promotion of social harmony and stability. The women have also played important roles in promoting international people-to-people exchanges.

Given their unique roles in promoting both family virtues and good family traditions, the women have made great contributions to the promotion of harmony within families and the enhancement of social stability.

Ho Teng Iat: Giving Full Play to Women's Roles in Promoting the Motherland, Macao's Overall Development

More than 1,000 Macao residents participated in a painting activity in 2019 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. [For Women of China]

 

WOC: How can gender equality and women's development best be promoted?

Ho: Women "hold up half the sky" in promoting social development and progress. The degree to which a country has achieved gender equality is an important indicator in measuring the country's social progress and human development. Therefore, people from all segments of society, across the country, should make concerted efforts to promote gender equality and women's development. More importantly, regulations and policies should be promulgated to promote gender equality and women's development. I suggest the following should be done to achieve the goal:

Strengthen regional cooperation among women's federations (in GBA), as the organizations encourage women to integrate their personal growth into the overall development of the country, so the women can make greater contributions to helping achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation;

Unite Macao people, from all segments of society, to make concerted efforts to achieve Macao's women's development goals, to promote gender mainstreaming, to promote promulgation of laws and regulations, to protect women and children's legal rights and interests, and to promote gender equality, to create a favorable environment for the promotion of women's development;

Improve Macao's social services, including those related to caring for the aged and children, so women can better balance work and life, and provide training to women, to help them improve their professional skills;

Provide platforms, so women can participate in more international, diversified exchanges and training programs, and create more opportunities for women to get involved in international affairs. That will help the women broaden their vision. Efforts should also be made to bring Macao's gender-related issues more in line with relevant issues in the global arena, and to tell stories about Macao women's development well to the world; and

Give full play to women's unique roles in families and society. Chinese President Xi Jinping in recent years has repeatedly stressed the importance of taking advantage of women's unique roles in promoting family virtues and good family traditions, which matters a great deal to both the promotion of harmony within families and social harmony, and to the healthy growth of the next generation. Therefore, we should make efforts to improve family education and to promote good family traditions. We should also encourage women to take advantage of their roles in strengthening family construction and promoting social development, and in promoting the core values of "loving the motherland and loving Macao" among the younger generation.

WOC: What role does WGAM play in inspiring the spirit of "loving the motherland and loving Macao" among Macao people?

Ho: Since its establishment in 1950, WGAM has attached great importance to inspiring the spirit of "loving the motherland and loving Macao" among Macao people. During the past several decades, the association has organized various activities, to help workers with women's organizations and women's federations, at all levels in Macao, and residents of the region better understand China's historical development and the nation's brilliant achievements in all spheres of society, so Macao people can have a stronger sense of national identity, of pride for being Chinese, and of belonging to the Chinese nation. The association has also served as a bridge in promoting various work of the region's government, and in inspiring the spirit of "loving the motherland and loving Macao" among Macao people.

The WGAM has attached great importance to promoting the core values of "loving the motherland and loving Macao" among the younger generation. The association in recent years has conducted various activities to inspire patriotism among minors, and to deepen their love for Macao. For example, eight kindergartens (affiliated with WGAM) play the national anthem every day. Fu Luen School (under WGAM) organizes its students to attend the weekly national flag-raising and national anthem-singing ceremony in the campus.

The WGAM's workers will remain true to their original aspiration, keep their mission firmly in mind and make continuous efforts to foster the spirit of "loving the motherland and loving Macao" among Macao's residents. In particular, the association will promote the "one country, two systems" principle among the younger generation, to maintain Macao's long-term stability and prosperity. The workers will also continue to work hard to help women protect their legal rights and interests, to promote harmony within families, and to provide various services to the residents. In addition, the association will encourage women in Macao to do their parts to make their hometowns better places, and to build their motherland into a prosperous, powerful country. The association will also encourage the women to make greater contributions to help achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Ho Teng Iat: Giving Full Play to Women's Roles in Promoting the Motherland, Macao's Overall Development
Ho Teng Iat participates in an activity with women and children. [For Women of China]

 

(Women of China)

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