The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, discussed the impact of the Sino-US trade war on Macau with the SAR's officials on Sunday.

That's according to Macau's delegates to the national legislature who met him during a seminar, which was also attended by the SAR's Chief Executive, Sam Hou-fai.

A delegate, Domonic Sio, quoted Xia as saying Macau should stay confident in light of the trade war.

"The director told us that the tariff war will likely continue for a period of time, having a major impact on the entire world," Sio told reporters.

"He said it'll certainly be painful. We may not know how long the pain will last, but we all have to face it, that's for sure."

Others said Xia spoke about speeding up the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, as well as diversifying Macau's economy.

The senior Beijing official spoke to Macau lawmakers in a separate seminar at the legislature.

There, he was said to have affirmed the work of the SAR's government as well as its legislature.

"He particularly praised us for enacting laws on gambling and national security, as well as major bills such as that on electoral reform," the head of Macau's legislature, Kou Hoi-in, said.

"On the other hand, the director stressed that we must diversify the Macau economy."

Kou also quoted Xia as saying that Sam, who began his term in December, has started off well.