Over 30,000 Macao citizens hit the street Sunday morning in the Special Administrative Region's (SAR) largest annual parade to raise fund for the needy.

The parade, which has entered the 20th year, was headed by Macao's Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah and other senior officials from the SAR government Sunday, all in casual clothes or sportswear. Donations raised for this year from the activity have accumulated to over 5.8 million patacas (US$725,000), which included Ho's personal offer of 100,000 patacas  (US$12,500).

Founded by the Macao News Daily Readers' Fund in 1984, the parade was held annually in a fund-raising promotion for the needy who suffer from poverty, natural or accidental disasters. The endeavor has been strongly supported by the SAR government since its founding in 1999 with many senior SAR officials and public organizations taking part in the charity parade every year to help call on public participation.

The route of the parade covered three kilometers along Macao's seaside avenue to end at the Ama Temple, Macao's oldest temple of fishermen's tutelary -- the Goddess Ama, which is called A-ma-gao in local dialect. The English name of Macao was derived from the pronunciation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2003)