Presidential reply surprises pupils
When a group of Secondary One students in Macau wrote a letter to Hu Jintao, sending their Lunar New Year greetings to him, they did not expect him to reply. But a 450-word response from the president arrived two weeks later.
In his letter, Mr Hu encouraged Macau to persist in upholding 'one country, two systems' and urged Macau's young people to develop a patriotic spirit.
'The tomorrow of Macau will surely become better and better,' the president wrote.
'I believe [so] as we hold fast the basic policies of 'one country, two systems', 'Macau people governing Macau' and high autonomy, as the central government provides its support and when the people of Macau closely unite and diligently work,' the letter read.
During Mr Hu's two-day visit to Macau for its fifth handover anniversary in December, he spent an hour at the Secondary School for the Sons and Brothers of Workers, chatting with students about their science projects and about Macau.
'You are in the prime of life,' President Hu said in his letter.
'I hope you and Macau's youths can carry forward the spirit of loving China, loving Macau. Prepare to contribute your talents and power to build Macau and the motherland into an even better and more beautiful place.'
Secondary One student Jong Ching-ching, who spoke briefly to Mr Hu during his visit last year, took the lead in writing a 650-word letter sent to the president on February 3.
She and her classmates also created a hand-made Lunar New Year greeting card for the national leader.
