Chinese troops arrive in Macau

Many Macau people hope they will help deter warring triad gangs that have scared away tourists and killed at least 37 people during the past year alone in this former Portuguese gambling enclave 8211; the last European colony in Asia.

quot;We feel safer when we know the PLA soldiers are here, especially for night workers like myself,quot; said Ho Oi-Ho, a 55-year-old restaurant employee.

The return of Macau to China at midnight on Sunday moved the Beijing leadership closer to unifying the country of 1.2 billion people 8211; a grand goal that has defined the great Chinese dynasties but has eluded the communist government since it took power 50 years ago.

Like Hong Kong, Macau has become a quot;special administrative regionquot; of China, with considerable local autonomy for at least 50 years under a quot;one country, two systemsquot; arrangement.

Less than two hours after the Chinese flag was hoisted, the man whose most pressing job will be to rid Macau of the gang violence was sworn into office. After taking his oath, chief executive Edmund Ho, a banker favoured by Beijing to be Macau8217;s top leader, said the territory quot;will become more stable, more progressive and prosperous.quot;

Meanwhile, Taiwan has rebuffed overtures by China towards getting the country to be united with the mainland. Vice President Lien Chan today dismissed China8217;s latest offer of reunification as quot;ridiculousquot; because the formula for Macau and Hong Kong was only suitable for colonies.

Responding to president Jiang Zemin8217;s remarks on reunification with Taiwan at the handover of Macau to Chinese rule early today Lien said there was a crucial difference between Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

quot;Macau is a colony, and so is Hong Kong. But we are not acolony,quot; Lien told a meeting of supporters.

quot;Wasn8217;t it ridiculous,quot; he asked, referring to Jiang8217;s comments on Taiwan8217;s future at the Macau handover ceremony.

He said the quot;soveriegn statequot; of Taiwan was founded by Dr Sun Yat-Sen. The Nationalist Kuomintang government fled to the island after communist forces led by Mao Zedong defeated its troops in 1949.

Lien is a presidential candidate for the ruling Kuomintang in the island8217;s second direct presidential polls scheduled for March.

Jiang today vowed Taiwan would soon be reunited with China under the quot;one country, two systemsquot; formula guaranteeing autonomy for Macau, a former Portuguese territory, and Hong Kong, which was a British territory until 1997.