All preparations have been accomplished for the transfer of government in Macao, the inauguration of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and celebrations, Vice Premier Qian Qichen said. Qian, who is chairman of Macao SAR's preparatory committee, said the Chinese PLA has also formed the garrison to be deployed in the territory after the handover on the midnight of December 19.

Preparations for the resumption of sovereignty over Macao by China are also going smoothly, Qian was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency today. Macao, well-known for its gambling industry, will also enjoy the same "one country, two systems" model that is being implemented by China in Hong Kong.