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Macao (Macau) as a commercial port attracted both Portuguese and Chinese for work and settlement. They in turn made the island a prosperous city. The Ming dynasty (明朝) took various measures to administrate Macao, including establishing borders and imposing various bans. Following, the Qing dynasty (清朝) tightened regulations by sending Macao Subprefects and the Governor of Xiangshan County (香山縣) to Macao. The Chinese officials oversaw the Chinese residents in Macao and kept regular contact with the Portuguese autonomous governing body the Municipal Council of Macao (Senado) to resolve disputes between the Chinese and the Portuguese. Each year, the Council paid land rent (500 taels of silver for land rent and 15 taels of silver as a surcharge to the Chinese officials to prevent corruption) to the Governor of Xiangshan County. Under these circumstances, Macao became a unique city where Chinese and foreigners resided amid disputes and cooperation.

Who are the Macanese?

See answer below.

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                             A picture of the old tower of the Border Gate painted sometime between 1838 and 1839.

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Aomen Jilüe (A Brief on Macao, 《澳門記略》) compiled by Yin Guangren (印光任) and Zhang Rulin (張汝霖) in the Qing dynasty. It mentioned that the Qianshan Fortress (前山寨) outside the Border Gate was the office of the Macao Subprefects who oversaw Macao’s political, military, and civil affairs. Troops stationed there.

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The Ming dynasty formulated a series of administrative policies for Macao after it opened to foreign trade.

As Macao was a trading port situated in Xiangshan County, Guangdong (廣東), its governance involved officials from various departments, including the provincial administration commissioner, the surveillance commissioner, the maritime trade commissioner of Guangzhou (廣州), the commissioner of coastal defence, and the governor of Xiangshan County, with the guarding officials of Macao working as their subordinates. According to Aomen Jilüe, the guarding officials of Macao in the Ming dynasty were responsible for coordination, patrolling, and defence against Japanese pirates. They were unranked officials working in local governments, and also the first Chinese officials to work with the Portuguese.

In 1574, the Xiangshan County government built the Border Gate on the road Istmo de Ferreira do Amaral leading to Macao. Soldiers stood guard to intimidate the Portuguese and to inspect the supplies and goods traded with Macao. The heavily fortified Qianshan Fortress was established nearby as reinforcement in 1621.

Apart from the new posts and garrisons, the Commissioner of Coastal Defence Yu Anxing (俞安性) drafted a prohibition law on the Portuguese residence in Macao. The notice, consisting of five bans, was the first of its kind launched by China regarding Macao.

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The Xiangshan County government was originally located in Mong-Há Village (望廈村), Macao, according to Aomen Jilüe. Unfortunately, the office building collapsed and the government moved to Cuiwei Village (翠微村), Zhuhai (珠海), before being relocated to the Inner Harbour of Macao.

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                              An illustration of Macao in Aomen Jilüe drawn in 1751.

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The Chinese and Portuguese co-existed in Macao in the 18th century. Disputes were frequent, such as two murder cases where Chinese people were killed. This forced the Qing court to adjust its governing strategy for Macao.

A Chinese Chen Huiqian (陳輝千) was murdered in Macao in 1743. Celeng (策楞), the Viceroy of Liang-Guang (兩廣總督) proposed the establishment of a new position: the Macao Subprefect (upper fifth rank). He also moved the Governor of Xiangshan County (upper eighth rank)’s office to Mong-Há Village so that the governor and the subprefect could jointly administer the city. The Macao Subprefect’ office was located in Qianshan Fortress and responsible for the maritime defence of counties including Panyu (番禺), Dongguan (東莞), Shunde (順德), and Xiangshan as well as the Portuguese affairs in Macao. The Deputy Governor of Xiangshan County was in charge of the Portuguese affairs and the contact with the Municipal Council of Macao.

Yin Guangren took up the position of the Macao Subprefect in 1744 and formulated the seven-point Regulations on the Management of Foreign Vessels and Residents in Macao. In 1748, two Chinese were killed by Portuguese soldiers. Then Macao Subprefect Zhang Rulin issued the document On the Dealings with Foreigners in Macao in 1749. It included 12 provisions, which could be found on a stele erected in the Xiangshan County government office. Another stele with the provisions engraved in Portuguese stood in the Municipal Council of Macao.

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A picture of the Municipal Council of Macao from Aomen Jilüe. The Council, also known as the Senado, was an autonomous Portuguese governing body.

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In 1583, the Portuguese in Macao formed their self-governing body, the Municipal Council of Macao, following bishop D. Leonardo de Sá’s proposal. Members of the Council were elected by the Portuguese and subject to approval by the Governor of Portuguese India, who represented the Portuguese court. The Council played a key role in managing Portuguese in Macao. One of its members, the procurator (procurador) , would be in liaison with Chinese officials for instructions and negotiations.

In 1623, the Governor of Portuguese India dispatched a Governor of Macao (Governador de Macau), who was responsible for the defence and management of Macao on behalf of the Portuguese court. Disagreements then arose between the Council and the governor, even on major issues such as the implementation of orders from the Qing court. As a result, Portugal issued a number of decrees (Providências Régias) in 1783, granting more authority to the Governor of Macao, while the Council objected in vain. In 1844, the Provincial Government of Macao was formed and the Council was transformed into a municipal department until Macao’s handover to China in 1999.

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      A depiction of the delis near St. Dominic’s Church in Macao by the French painter Auguste Borget in 1839. (Collection of the Macao Museum of Art)

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              Fishermen’s boathouses in the Inner Harbour of Macao painted also by Auguste Borget in 1839. (Collection of the Macao Museum of Art)

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           A fisherwomen from Macao painted by the British painter George Chinnery. (Property of Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation)

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An illustration of foreign male (left) and female (right) in Aomen Jilüe.

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A portrait of Miguel António de Cortela, a Macanese, allegedly painted by Kwan Kiu Cheong (關喬昌, also known as Lam Qua﹝林官﹞in the Qing dynasty. (Collection of the Macao Museum of Art)

Who are the Macanese?

The Macanese, or Chinese-born Portuguese in Macao, formed a special community.

In the early 16th century, Portuguese women were banned from sea travel. Portuguese men abroad in such as India, Malaysia, and Timor at that time married local women, giving birth to a number of Eurasians. After the Portuguese arrived in Macao, they (ethnic Portuguese and people of mixed Portuguese and Asian ethnicity) married locals to form the “Macanese” community. Because of their Portuguese and Chinese language abilities, the Macanese came to play a key role in Macao’s foreign trade before the 19th century. When Hong Kong also opened to foreign trade, many Macanese moved there for work, with some even became civil servants.

The Macanese were born during a particular historic period, and gave birth to a mixed and inclusive culture. Their language for drama and literature, Padua, is Portuguese mixed with Chinese, English, Malay, and other languages. Their cuisine, a fusion of Portuguese, Chinese, Indian, and Southeast Asian dishes, is a legacy of the Portuguese marine explorations.

Photo courtesy of Mr Alex Lou, Vice Chairman of The Heritage Society, unless otherwise specified.