Due to space limitations, access of the press to the locations of the actual ceremonies and events will be determined through a pool system. This system shall be observed in all ceremonies and events related to the Handover Ceremony according to international regulations.

Media representatives are invited to attend separate media sessions to work out the pooling arrangements within their particular countries or regions for covering the Handover Ceremony and other related main official events.

The sessions will take place at the Conference Room (9th floor of the Handover Ceremony Coordination Office, Zhu Kuan Building) on the 16th - 17th of December, according to the attached schedule.

At these sessions, the media will be informed of the number of places which has been allocated to media organisations from their respective countries or regions. They are invited to follow a pool system whereby they select among themselves various representatives to cover the events. The news material collected will be shared by all who have a need for it. In the event the media representatives cannot come to a consensus, a lottery will be held.

We would like to inform all media entities that the poo system will be applied to all the following official events during the Handover:



December 18, 1999

12:15	Arrival of the President of Portugal at the main entrance of the venue - Preservation of time capsule ceremony
19:00	Conferment ceremony at the Macau Cultural Centre by the President of Portugal

December 19, 1999

10:00	President of Portugal receives country representatives at the Government Palace, Praia Grande
11:30	Arrival of Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the Macau International Airport Arrival of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji at the Macau International Airport
16:30	Departure of Macau's Governor from his residence of Santa Sancha.
17:00	Flag lowering ceremony at the Government Palace, Praia Grande
17:15	Country representatives pay courtesy visits to the President of Portugal at the Museum, 4th floor, Macau Cultural Centre
18:00	Cultural events
21:00	Official banquet
22:45	Meeting between Portuguese and Chinese Presidents at the Macau Cultural Centre
23:30	Handover Ceremony

December 20, 1999

01:30	Inaugural ceremony of the Macau Special Administrative Region at Forum
01:30	Departure of Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio from the Macau International Airport
10:00	Celebration ceremony for the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region at Forum
Morning Time	Departure of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji from the Macau International Airport
Noon Time	Departure of Chinese President Jiang Zemin from the Macau International Airport
12:00	Arrival of PLA garrison (ceremony held near the Oriental Pearl Statue)
16:00	Reception at Macau Landmark

December 21, 1999

08:00

Flag hoisting ceremony at the PLA garrison camp (Long Seng Building - Goa Street, Outer Harbour)