Macao's 15 years of examplary progress(2)

Third, democracy has developed in Macao according to its real conditions. Macao's first chief executive was nominated and elected by Macao's first chief executive selection committee and appointed by the central government. Macao's first chief executive selection committee consisted of 200 members. But its second and third chief executive selection committee comprised 300 members, while the fourth consists of 400 members.

The election of Legislative Council members, too, has made democratic progress. Macao's first Legislative Council consisted of 23 members - eight each directly and indirectly elected, and seven appointed. The second Legislative Council comprised 27 members - 10 directly elected, 10 indirectly elected and seven appointed. The third consists of 29 members - 12 directly elected, 10 indirectly elected and eight appointed.

Apart from the support of the central government and Chinese mainland, Macao's prosperity over the past 15 years owes much to the efforts of the SAR government, which has successfully linked economic development with democratic development. Although Macao's Basic Law does not stipulate universal suffrage, Macao has found a democratic path that is in accordance with its real conditions.

The Macao SAR government has dealt with the relationship between economic development and social welfare well. After achieving rapid economic growth, Macao has spent a considerable part of its revenues to improve people's livelihoods in order to solve their real problems.

The Macao government has also dealt well with the relationship between democracy and the rule of law. The revision of Macao's chief executive and Legislative Council elections abide by the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and is in accordance with the Basic Law and relevant decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The SAR government has also made an example of the way it has dealt with the relationship among reform, development and stabilization. And by remarkably reducing the gap between the rich and poor, it has avoided social fluctuations.

Macao's achievements in the 15 years show that it has explored a development model that not only is in line with its actual condition, but also follows the "One Country, Two Systems" policy.

The author, Wang Lei, is a professor of law at Peking University.