Over 30,000 Macao citizens hit the street Sunday (Dec 12th) morning in the Special Administrative Region's (SAR)largest annual parade to raise fund for the needy.

The parade, which has entered the 21st year, was headed by Macao's Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah and other senior officials from the SAR government. Donations raised for this year from the activity have accumulated to over 7 million patacas (875,000 US dollars).

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 km along Macao's seaside avenue to end at the Ama Temple, Macao's oldest temple of fishermen's tutelary -- the Goddess Ama.

According to the foundation, the rosy economic situation this year has helped boost the fund-raising, which increased significantly from last year's record of 5.8 million patacas (725,000 US dollars).

Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR Xu Ze, Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in the Macao SAR Wan Yongxiang and members with the foundation joined the activity.

Editor: Wing