PLA gets warm welcome from Macau residents

"We feel safer when we know the PLA soldiers are here, especially for night workers like myself," 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 – 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 "special administrative region" of China, with considerable local autonomy for at least 50 years under a "one country, two systems" 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 Macau’s top leader, said the territory "will become more stable, more progressive and prosperous."

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

Responding to president Jiang Zemin’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.

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