Macau – the Merging of Two Worlds

Macau is a Special Administrative Region located in southern China, near Hong Kong, that was under Portuguese administration from 1557 to 1999. The Macanese who arrived in Canada from the 1950s (the early stages of immigration) to the end of the 20th century, did so with a Portuguese passport. Thus, their story is part of the Luso-Canadian story and we intend to tell it in lusocanada.com.

Portugal is often referred to as the oldest country in the world with unchanged borders. While this may be true for its boundary line with Spain, we must take into account the discoveries of the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores, and acknowledge the role of our colonies and controlled territories in the argument. Until 1975, African colonies such as Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and St. Tome and Principe were part of Portugal, as was East Timor in Asia. Before that, until 1961, Goa was also part of Portugal, as was Brazil until 1822. As such, Portugal’s borders extended well beyond Europe for nearly 500 years, and only reverted solely into European territory after the surrender of Macau to China, in 1999. Therefore, the ‘unchanged borders’ argument falls flat considering this evidence. As such, the people who hail from these former colonies and controlled territories are also part of our Luso-Canada.  

Macau was the last territory controlled by Portugal outside of Europe, up to the cusp of the new century. The relationship began in 1557 when the Ming Dynasty leased the territory to Portugal for an annual fee of 500 taels (19 kg) of silver. Although the region belonged to China, it was administered by Portugal for the next three centuries and served as a crucial port during the spice trade. On December 1, 1887, the Kingdom of Portugal and the Qing Dynasty signed the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Peking which afforded Portugal total sovereignty of the territory, naming it a colony. The republican revolutions of Portugal and China, in 1910 and 1911 respectively, resulted in controversy over the treaty, but status quo persisted until 1999, although Portugal unsuccessfully attempted to hand the territory over to China in 1975. In 1976, Portugal changed Macau’s designation from colony to ‘territory under Portuguese administration and, in 1987, to ‘a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration’ after agreeing to the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration, which also resulted in the permanent surrender of the territory to China, in 1999.

Once under Chinese rule, Macau enjoyed the status of a Special Administrative Region under the system of ‘one country, two systems’, affording Macau control of its own affairs for a minimum of 50 uninterrupted years. As such, Macau does not pay tax to China, does not need to surrender to its socialist government, and has control over its borders.

Portugal’s influence in Macau remains relevant to this day, making the territory an exceptional mixture of both western and eastern influences. On store fronts, signs are in both Chinese and Portuguese, many streets are paved in cobblestones, catholic churches appear all over the territory, facades bear the traditional azulejos, streets and monuments carry Portuguese names, and the food is an immensity of delicacies mingling flavours from two separate geographical and cultural worlds.

This influence makes Macau a unique place in the world, for it is neither European not Asian, although it is a neighbour to China and Hong Kong, and even though it was also once Portuguese. Macau is simply Macau, a country with its own identity. A world of two worlds, a place of centuries-old traditions and a rich history that embodies the relationship between distinct civilizations, with people of many influences but of one land. The Macanese!

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IMMIGRATION TO CANADA      

The first Macanese to arrive in Canada did so with a Portuguese passport, in the early 1950s. Naturally, those newcomers of Portuguese descent began to integrate into the Portuguese community while those with a Chinese background integrated with the Asian community. There were, however, many who assimilated into both. Nevertheless, the Macanese experienced unique challenges in the process of adjusting to Canadian life and fitting into a cultural and social group. It is paramount that further research be done into the topic, and we intend do so.

Even amidst all the challenges, the Macanese were able to assemble and organize, particularly in the 1980s when Casa de Macau was formed and eventually became a member of the Alliance of Clubs and Associations of Ontario (ACAPO), which it remains to this day. Later, the organization Amigo di Macau was also formed and became part of ACAPO.

Casa de Macau has been instrumental in the maintenance of the Macanese culture and the preservation of relationships. It presently occupies a modest facility that is active most of the year by implementing various social and cultural events for its members and friends. It also maintains a relationship with the larger Portuguese and Chinese communities, which remain important elements in the Macanese cultural background and value system.

Recently, a group of young Macanese, led by Lias Cheong and Harris Rong, created a movement called Sino-Luso Connection. It intends to facilitate cultural exchanges between the Portuguese, Chinese, and Macanese in Canada, and strengthen the bonds between these communities.

This initiative encourages established Portuguese organizations and individuals to collaborate with entities outside our cultural reach and foment an enriching exchange with communities that are influenced by crucial pieces of our heritage. The approach may provoke further interest from our youth who are gradually integrating into the general society and naturally neglecting involvement in our community organizations. Perhaps, this is a model that could be critical for the maintenance and preservation of our relevance as a community in Canada as we definitely become stronger in collaboration with other communities.

In subsequent articles, we will provide you with a detailed profile of both Casa de Macau, Amigo di Macau and the Sino-Luso Connection movement, as well as more information on the general Macanese community established in Canada, including its history, challenges and success since its arrival in this great country.

If you believe that you have information or contacts that can help us tell the story, please let us know. As our motto states, Let’s write history together!

Meanwhile, we leave you with a video that clearly exposes the influences of Portugal and China in Macau and that, perhaps, will provoke a sudden interest in you to visit: