Special Report – Portugal in Macau

By
João Paulo Meneses

Macau Business | December 2023 | Special Report | Portugal in Macau

Distinctive Feature

As Macau edges closer to the halfway point of the 50-year special period, we take stock of what remains of Portugal, a country that administered Macau for over four hundred years, and the future prospects for development and cooperation.

Unsurprisingly, with Macau returning to the full exercise of Chinese sovereignty, integration with mainland China deepens, with the city organically becoming “more Chinese.”

Amid this, Portuguese features equip the SAR with assets that differentiate it and, in fact, are an important component of its identity, while also embodying the practice of One Country Two Systems.

This also brings into the picture how to strike a balance between distinctive features and integration as we move further down the road.

Twenty-four years after the handover, we review the role of remaining prominent Portuguese individuals and companies hailing from Portugal, while providing an overview of a waning presence in the judiciary, a generally positive sentiment regarding Portuguese legacy and heritage, and the new momentum arising from the increasing interest and focus by the SAR and Beijing in the Portuguese language.

Our readers will certainly come across some surprises in these pages. One of them is that when mainland Chinese tourists come to Macau, they value Portuguese cultural heritage more than Chinese cultural heritage.

As Macau embraces the “1+4” diversification strategy, Portuguese companies and skilled professionals can play a renewed valuable role, as stressed by the Consul General of Portugal in an in-depth interview for this Special Report.

Co-ordinated by João Paulo Meneses [email protected]

“We see obvious opportunities for Portuguese companies in Macau’s push for economic diversification”

Almost one year after taking office as Portugal’s representative in the SARs, Alexandre Leitão takes stock of the tasks, achievements, opportunities and challenges he has been dealing with as Consul General, serving some 154 thousand citizens, 90 per cent of whom are based in Macau.

The tourist allure of Portuguese cultural heritage

Several  academic studies substantiate that, alongside gaming and hotel amenities, the Portuguese cultural tradition stands as a pivotal factor for tourists opting for Macau.

“A very positive attitude towards Portugal and its legacy”

While Portuguese may feel that their cultural identity is fading away in Macau, several studies suggest otherwise

Portuguese, the language of status

The conclusions of a recent study may come as a surprise to many. It turns out that the language with the highest status in Macau is Portuguese

The legal pillar

Bilingualism in the judiciary has always been a demanding task before and after the handover. As time goes by, Portuguese is less used in the city’s courts

Government: words and deeds

The government has praised the role of the Portuguese community and authorities have been continuously supporting Portuguese-related institutions and initiatives over the years. However, a recent change of policy regarding new residency permits raised some eyebrows

Between ‘orphanhood’ and ‘integration’

Some researchers argue that the feeling of being “orphaned” is stronger than ever, while others suggest that the Portuguese in Macau are increasingly more integrated into the local community.

Two young Macanese share their experiences and feelings of belonging to this community

The Macanese community is often likened to bamboo, given the instability it faces without breaking.

Business foothold

The presence of companies hailing from Portugal has dwindled over the past 24 years. Just over a dozen major Portuguese companies currently operate in Macau, with the largest being BNU and Hovione. On the other hand, many Portuguese individuals have established and joined local business activities since 1999