Seal of Macau Special Administrative Region

The transfer of the sovereignty of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China (PRC) occurred on December 20, 1999. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Seal on envelope A seal is an impression printed on, embossed upon, or affixed to a document (or any other object) in order to authenticate it, in lieu of or in addition to a signature. ... Special administrative region may be: Peoples Republic of China Special administrative regions, present-day administrative divisions (as of 2006) set up by the Peoples Republic of China to administer Hong Kong (since 1997) and Macau (since 1999) Republic of China Special administrative regions, also translated as special administrative... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

Background

The Portuguese merchants began to settle in Macau as early as during the Ming Dynasty. In 1583, the Portuguese residents established its own assembly to enforce autonomous rule without the permission of the Chinese government. However, Portugal still obliged to pay the Ming Dynasty (later the Qing Dynasty) 25 kilograms of silver as the token of annual lease. Because of the Portuguese settlers and the activities of Japanese Wokou, the Ming Dynasty tightened its control over Macau between 1608 to 1614. On 1623, the Portuguese Government appointed D. Francisco Mascarenhas as the Governor of Macau. At first, it was only responsible for the defense of Macau, and Fortaleza do Monte was constructed. In 1749, the Qing Government of China issued the complete guideline and carved the Portuguese version on a stela in the Edifício do Leal Senado. However, the Governor of Macau, the representative of Portugal, gradually took over the power of the Senado. For other uses, see Ming. ... 1583 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun; Mongolian: Манж Чин), occasionally known as the Manchu Dynasty, was the ruling Chinese Dynasties. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Standard atomic weight 107. ... Sixteenth century Japanese pirate raids. ... Events March 18 - Sissinios formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia May 14 - Protestant Union founded in Auhausen. ... Events April 5 - In Virginia, Native American Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. ... Year 1623 (MDCXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Governor of Macau (Chinese: 澳門總督; Portuguese: Governador de Macau) was a Portuguese colonial official who headed the colony of Macau. ... The Governor of Macau was a Portuguese colonial official who headed the executive branch of the colony of Macau. ... Fortalezo do Monte Fortaleza do Monte (Portuguese for Mount Fortress, also Monte Forte, officially Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora do Monte de São Paulo, in English: ; Chinese: ) is the historical military centre of the former Portuguese colony of Macau, in the Peoples Republic of China. ... Events While in debtors prison, John Cleland writes Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure). ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; pinyin: qīng cháo; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of...

When the Treaty of Nanking was signed in 1842 between Britain and China, the Portuguese Government requested the Qing Government to exempt them from the ground rent. The Qing authorities refused the request, but remained the preferentials that was already given to Portugal. However, on November 20, 1845, Maria II of Portugal unilaterally declared Macau as a free port, in which they refused to pay ground rent and allowed merchant vessels of other countries to interact freely in Macau. After the new Governor of Macau Joao Ferreira do Amaral arrived in 1846, a series of colonial policies were enforced in Macau. On May 1846, Amaral demanded that all Chinese residents in Macau to pay ground rent, poll tax and property tax, which broaden the Portuguese rule in Macau over to the Chinese residents. The Qing authorities in Macau immediately protested against Amaral's action and attempted to negotiate. However, beginning from 1849, Amaral expelled all Qing officials out of Macau, destroyed the Qing Custom and stopped paying the ground rent to the Qing Government. Amaral's action enraged the Chinese residents furthermore, and was assassinated in August 22. The Treaty of Nanjing (Chinese: 南京條約, Nánjīng Tiáoyuē) is the agreement which marked the end of the First Opium War between the United Kingdom and China. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Maria II, Queen of Portugal, (pron. ... A free port (porto franco) or free zone (US: Foreign-Trade Zone) is a port or area with relaxed jurisdiction with respect to the country of location. ... The Governor of Macau was a Portuguese colonial official who headed the executive branch of the colony of Macau. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1846 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... A ground rent is a form of lease in which unimproved land is leased for a long term for purposes of improvement by the tenant. ... A poll tax, head tax, or capitation is a tax of a uniform, fixed amount per individual (as opposed to a percentage of income). ... Property tax, millage tax is an ad valorem tax that an owner of real estate or other property pays on the value of the property being taxed. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1862, the Portuguese and the Qing Government signed the draft of Sino-Portuguese Peaceful Trade Pact. However, the Portuguese had the intention of annexing Macau with this pact.^{[citation needed]} The intention was discovered and the negotiation was stopped. The topic was not brought up again until 1886, when the Portuguese representative along with the British representative negotiated with the Qing Government once again. Promising that they will cooperate on the anti-smuggling of opium, the Qing Government signed the Sino-Portuguese Lisbon Agreement and the Sino-Portuguese Peaceful Trade Relation Pact. These treaties stated that "Agreed by China, Portugal will remain in Macau and administer its land the same way Portugal administer other places"^{[citation needed]}. However, to avoid the total loss of sovereignty, the Qing Government reserved the right to prevent Portugal from transferring Macau to another country. If Portugal is going to transfer Macau to another country, they will require the permission of the Chinese Government. 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article does not adequately cite its references. ...

The flag of Macau during the Portuguese colonization

When the Government of People's Republic of China obtained their seat in the United Nations as a result of the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971, they began to act diplomatically on the sovereignty issues of Hong Kong and Macau. The Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai was especially concerned with the issues, and the Chinese UN representative Huang Hua mailed the United Nations De-colonization Committee to state the standpoint of the Chinese Government: "Hong Kong and Macau were Chinese territories captured by Britain and Portugal, and the act to solve the issues of Hong Kong and Macau is within the range of Chinese sovereignty. These issues are about China as a sovereign state on restoring its sovereignty in the territories that was captured, and is different than the regular issues within the range of colonization, and is definitely not about granting independence."^{[citation needed]} The same year on November 8, the United Nations General Assembly passed the resolution on removing Hong Kong and Macau from the official list of colonies. This created the conditions for the Chinese Government to solve the sovereignty issues of Hong Kong and Macau peacefully. Image:Oldmacauflag. ... Image:Oldmacauflag. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted on October 25, 1971, replaced the Nationalist Republic of China (Taiwan) (ROC) with the Communist Peoples Republic of China (PRC) as the sole representative of China in the United Nations. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... The Premier ( Chinese: 总理 pinyin: zŏnglĭ), sometimes referred to as the Prime Minister, is the Chairman of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China and head of Central Peoples Government. ... Zhou Enlai (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chou En-lai) (March 5, 1898 – January 8, 1976), a prominent Communist Party of China leader, was Premier of the Peoples Republic of China from 1949 until his death in January 1976, and Chinas foreign minister from 1949 to... Huang Hua (born 1913) was the foreign minister of China. ... This article discusses states as sovereign political entities. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ...

In April 25, 1974, a group of low-ranked Portuguese officers organized a coup d'état overthrawing the right-wing ruling government that was in power for 42 years. The new government began the democratization process. The new Portuguese Government carried out de-colonization policies, and recognize Macau as a Chinese territory instead of a Portuguese colony. April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (116th in leap years). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... // A coup dÉtat (pronounced ), or simply coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, often through illegal means by a part of the state establishment — mostly replacing just the high-level figures. ...

On December 31, 1975, the Portuguese Government withdrew its remaining troops in Macau. President António Ramalho Eanes attended the General Assembly of the United Nations a year later, and discussed with the Chinese representative Huang Hua about the establishment of diplomatic relations between Portugal and China, and issues of Macau. After two years of discussions, the Portuguese Government decided to break off diplomatic relations with the Republic of China on February 8, 1979, and established diplomatic relations with People's Republic of China the next day. Both Portugal and People's Republic of China recognized Macau as the territory of China, and the exact time for its return and other details will be discussed later by the two sides. December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes GColTE, GCL, KE (pron. ... General assembly could be: The United Nations General Assembly General Assembly (presbyterian church), a supreme governing body, such as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland See also List of Christian denominations#Presbyterian and Reformed Churches The General Assembly of Unitarian... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Motto Three Principles of the People (三民主義 San-min Chu-i) Anthem National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei (formerly and de jure Nanking) Largest city Taipei Official languages Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  -  President Chen Shui-bian  -  Vice President Annette Lu  -  Premier Chang Chun-hsiung Establishment... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...

After Portugal and the People's Republic of China formally established diplomatic relations, the officials between the two countries began to visit each other. On March 1980, the Governor of Macau Nuno Viriato Tavares de Melo Eqídio accepted the invitation from Beijing and visited China. As the relationship between Portugal and China developed, their head of state began to visit each other also. On November 1984, the President of the People's Republic of China Li Xiannian made an visit to Portugal and met the President of Portugal António Ramalho Eanes to exchange opinions on the issues of Macau. On May 1985, Eanes returned the favor by visiting China and met the de facto leader of China Deng Xiaoping, and expressed his desire on solving the issues of Macau friendily. March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... The President of the Peoples Republic of China (Simplified Chinese: 中华人民共和国主席; Pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó ZhÇ”xí, or abbreviated Guójiā ZhÇ”xí 国家主席) is the head of state of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Lǐ Xiānniàn (1902–June 21, 1992) was President of the Peoples Republic of China between 1983 and 1988 and then president of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference until his death. ... António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes GColTE, GCL, KE (pron. ... May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Deng Xiaoping   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904–February 19, 1997) was a leader in the Communist Party of China (CCP). ...

Britain and China met various common consensus on the sovereignty question of Hong Kong, which was more complex in its nature. The consensus included the draft of Sino-British Joint Declaration. Sino-Portuguese relations developed steadily also in contrast, and solving the question of Macau through negotiation was gradually made possible. The Sino-British Joint Declaration, formally known as the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Peoples Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong, was signed by the Prime Ministers of the Peoples...

The talk

On May 20, 1986, the People's Republic of China along with Portugal officially announced that the talk on Macau affairs will begin on June 30 in Beijing. The Portuguese delegation arrived Beijing in June, and was welcomed by the Chinese delegation led by Zhou Nan. In the welcoming speech, it was stated that the "Negotiation between China and Portugal on Macau affairs is going to be a talk between two partners, not two opponents." The negotiation between China and Portugal on Macau officially began. May 20 is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Beijing (Chinese: 北京; pinyin: BÄ›ijÄ«ng; IPA: ;  ), a metropolis in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ...

All the four sessions were held in the Chinese capital Beijing, and were held separately in: This article is about a city that serves as a center of government and politics. ... Beijing (Chinese: 北京; pinyin: BÄ›ijÄ«ng; IPA: ;  ), a metropolis in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ...

• The first conference: June 30 - July 1, 1986
• The second conference: September 9 - 10
• The third conference: October 21 - 22
• The fourth conference: March 18 - 23, 1988

On April 13, 1987, the "Declaration on the Question of Macao by the Governments of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Portugal" was formally signed by the Prime Ministers of both governments in Beijing. In the same year, the joint declaration was ratified in both sides. June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the Gregorian calendar (254th in leap years). ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The transition

The twelve years between the signing of "Sino-Portuguese Declaration" on April 13, 1987 to the transfer of sovereignty on December 20, 1999 was known as "the Transition". April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

On January 15, 1988, the Chinese Foreign Affairs Department announced the Chinese members of the groups that will be begain the talk on the issues of Macau during the transition. On April 13, the Draft of the Basic Law of Macau Special Administrative Region Committee was established during the seventh National People's Congress , and on October 25, the committee convenned the first conference, in which they passed the general outline of the draft and the steps, and decided to organize the "Draft of the Basic Law of Macau Special Administrative Region Information Committee". On March 31, 1993, the National People's Congress passed the resolution on The Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, which symbolized the beginning of the latter part of the Transition. January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Great Hall of the People, where the NPC convenes The National Peoples Congress (全国人民代表大会 in Pinyin: Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì, literally Pan-Nation Congress of the Peoples Representatives), abbreviated PNCOTPR, is the highest... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

The transfer

In the afternoon of December 19, 1999, the 127th Portuguese Governor of Macau Vasco Rocha Vieira lowered the flags in Macau, which sets for the prelude of the ceremony. The official transfer of sovereignty was held in the midnight that day at the Cultural Center of Macau Garden. The ceremony began in the evening and was ended in the dawn of December 20 in the ceremony for the establishment of Macau Special Administrative Region. December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Vasco Rocha Vieira (born 1940) is a Portuguese administrator and army officer. ...

The evening of December 19 began with dragon and lion dance. The slideshow of the historical events in Macau was then displayed, which included the mixture of the religion and race between the East and the West, and society of the unique native Portuguese born in Macau. The last performance led the audience to Macau in the modern era. At last, 422 children that represents the 422 years of Portuguese history in Macau was presented along with several international stars to perform "Praise for Peace". This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Lion dance (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lions movements in a lion costume. ...

Influence

The transfer of the sovereignty of Macau was a significant historical event of Macau, as it symbolized the return of Macau to the People's Republic of China. Because of the transfer and the One country, two systems was considered to be successful, the Macau Special Administrative Region, Legislative Assembly and the Judiciary were all put into practice accordingly under the regulation of the Basic Law. One country, two systems (Simplified Chinese: 一国两制; Traditional Chinese: 一國兩制; pinyin: yì; guó liǎng zhì; Jyutping: jat1 gwok3 loeng5 zai3; Yale: yāt gwok leúhng jai), is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), for the unification of China. ... This is a list of articles about the fundamental constitutional laws, known as Basic Laws, of various jurisdictions. ...

The steady growth of the Macau Special Administrative Region benefited from the support of the Government of China. Since the establishment of the region, the public security have been improved, and the central government even designated Macau as the city to expand gambling-related tourism. The introduction of Individual Visit Scheme policy made it easier for Chinese inland residents to travel back and forth; in 2005 alone, there were more than 10 million of Chinese tourists, which made up 60% of the total number of tourists in Macau; the income of the gambling houses in Macau reached up to 5.6 billion USD.^[1] On July 15, 2005, the Historic Centre of Macau was listed in the World Cultural Heritage. The increasing development of tourism became a major factor on the rapid development of the economy of Macau. Ever since Republic of China founded in January 1st, 1912, China has had several regional and national governments. ... The Individual Visit Scheme (Chinese: 自由行 (Mandarin Pinyin: zì yóu xíng; Cantonese IPA: ) in Hong Kong and Macau; 个人游 (Pinyin: gè rén yóu) in Mainland China) was begun on July 28, 2003, to allow travelers from Mainland China to visit Hong Kong and Macau on an individual basis. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... July 15 is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The ruins of the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Macau A view of Largo do Senado (Senado Square), part of the Historic Centre of Macao The Historic Centre of Macao (Portuguese: ; Traditional Chinese: ), on Macao Peninsula, is composed of sites that showcase the unique cultural heritage of Macao. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain range, lake, desert, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated for the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. ... The economy of Macau is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. ...

See also

• Transfer of Hong Kong
• One country, two systems

The transfer of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), often referred to as The Handover, occurred on June 30, 1997. ... One country, two systems (Simplified Chinese: 一国两制; Traditional Chinese: 一國兩制; pinyin: yì; guó liǎng zhì; Jyutping: jat1 gwok3 loeng5 zai3; Yale: yāt gwok leúhng jai), is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), for the unification of China. ...

References

External links

• Official website
• (Chinese)The Chinese garrison in Macau