By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-12-20 01:36:36 | Updated at 2024-12-20 08:25:18
7 hours ago
This article was first published on December 20, 1999.
By Niall Fraser and Stella Lee in Macau
China reclaimed Macau after four centuries of Portuguese rule last night, with President Jiang Zemin saying the return was a significant step towards the early completion of reunification.
In an emotion-charged midnight ceremony, some 2,300 guests heard Mr Jiang say Macau’s return, following that of Hong Kong, was crucial to the settlement of the Taiwan issue.
“The implementation of the concept of ‘one country, two systems’ in Hong Kong and Macau has played and will continue to play an important exemplary role for our eventual settlement of the Taiwan question.
“The Chinese Government and people are confident and capable of an early settlement of the Taiwan question and the complete national reunification,” Mr Jiang said.
