Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday praised Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah for having done a good job but officials last night clarified that Mr Wen had not told Mr Ho 'to stay on for a few more years'.
The clarification followed a television report that Mr Wen had given the Macau leader implicit endorsement for another term. Mr Ho's first term ends in December. Mr Ho has not yet declared his intention to stand for re-election.
Speaking during a photo session before a private meeting with Mr Ho in Beijing, Mr Wen asked about the budget, economy and job situation in Macau.
Mr Ho told the premier that the city had an impressive economic growth rate of 14 per cent last year, while unemployment was down to 5.4 per cent.
Unlike Hong Kong's $68 billion budget deficit in the 2003-04 estimates, Mr Ho boasted a budget surplus of $2.6 billion, thanks to a windfall in revenue and reduced spending.
A report on TVB news quoted Mr Wen as saying: 'The revenue has increased and the expenditure has been reduced.
