*  *  *  The Honourable Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr. Francis Tam, The Honourable Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR, Mr. Zhou Zhikui, The Honourable Chairman of the Macau Association of Banks, Mr. Ye Yixin, The Honourable President of the Macau Insurers’ Association, Mr. Si Chi Hok, The Honourable President of the Macau Insurance Agents and Brokers Association, Mr. Tou Kam Seng, The Honourable President of the Federation of Macau Professional Insurance Intermediaries, Mr. Frank Ip, The Honourable President of the Macau Financial Markets Association, Mr. Chan Kam Chun, The Honourable President of the Association of Macau Financial Employees, Mr. Ng Chi Peng, Distinguished guests, friends of media, dear colleagues, Good afternoon, First of all allow me to give a warm welcome on behalf of the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM), to Mr. Francis Tam, Mr. Zhou Zhikui and the honoured guests who attend this cocktail reception.
At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude for all the help and support you have rendered to AMCM in the past year. Only those who have survived the harsh winter appreciate the warmth of spring. After a severe winter which can happen only once in half a century, we gather gaily today when flowers bloom in the mellow March air.