Wen Jiabo yesterday delivered a stern lecture to Macau's ruling elite on their responsibility to the public, especially the poor.
Speaking ahead of Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai-on's policy address tomorrow, the premier said officials must be clean and government transparent.
'Power must operate under the sun,' he told the community leaders on the second day of his first visit to Macau. 'It is important to build a clean, transparent, efficient and people-centred government. It is also important the government works hard to improve the people's standards of living and let the fruits of development be shared by people from all walks of life, especially the poor.'
The tough message contrasted sharply with a charm offensive as he toured the city and mingled with ordinary people. Wen showed off his tai chi skills in the morning with a group of middle-aged women at Mount Fortress and invited them to visit him in Beijing. Saying he was left-handed, he shook hands with the crowd visiting the ruins of St Paul's. Wen also visited several community facilities and an 11-member family.
But speaking to the elite, Wen said the administration must pay attention to the widening wealth gap between the rich and poor.
'The people's biggest concerns are housing and high consumer prices,' he said. 'The government should take advantage of its robust financial status and spend more money on livelihood issues, such as building more public housing and transport projects.'
Chui has been criticised for failing to build more public housing units.
