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    MACAO, Dec. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese National Flag and the emerald green lotus-design regional flag of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) were hoisted to the tune of the Chinese national anthem here Monday morning to kick off a day-long anniversary celebrations of the Macao SAR.

A grand flag-raising ceremony to mark the 5th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland is held in the Macao Special Administrative Region, south China, on Dec. 20, 2004.  (Xinhua Photo/Li Peng) Over 300 principal officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and representatives from all circles attend a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 5th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland in Macao, south China, on Dec. 20, 2004. Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, presides over the ceremony. (Xinhua Photo/Li Peng)  (Xinhua Photo/Li Peng) Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah and principal officials of the Macao SAR government at the ceremony. (Xinhua Photo)

    The ceremony held on the Golden Lotus Square to mark the 5th anniversary of Macao' return to the motherland was presided over by Macao's Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah.

    Principal officials from the Central People's Government's Liaison Office and Foreign Affairs Commission in Macao as well as the SAR government and residents witnessed the beautiful scene of two flags rising and flying against the background of the Golden Lotus Flower, a statue presented by the central government to Macao as a gift upon its return to the motherland in 1999.

    Bai Zhijian, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Wan Yongxiang, commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in the Macao SAR, Liu Lianhua, commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison Troops in the MacaoSAR, President of the Macao Legislative Assembly Susana Chou, and President of the Macao Court of Final Appeal Sam Hou Fai attended the ceremony.

    Over 300 celebrities and Macao citizens witnessed the flag-hoisting ceremony.

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