Macao People ruling Macao and A High Degree of Autonomy

The Government of the People's Republic of China resumed to exercise sovereignty over Macao on 20th December 1999 when the Special Administrative Region of Macao was established in accordance with the Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. In harmony with the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", the previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years.

Macao people ruling Macao means the people of Macao governing Macao. The executive organ and the legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be composed of local residents of Macao. According to the Basic Law, the definition of Macao people refers to the permanent residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region, including the Chinese, Portuguese and other people who meet the qualifications of the Basic Law.

The Chief Executive, principal officials, members of the Executive Council and the Legislative Council, the President of the Court of Final Appeal and the Procurator-General of the Macao Special Administrative Region must be permanent residents of the Region. Some of these posts can only be assumed by the Chinese citizens among the permanent residents in Macao.

A high degree of autonomy means that China National People Congress or NPC authorizes the Macao Special Administrative Region to exercise a high degree of autonomy in line with the Basic Law, and the Central Government will not interfere in the affairs that fall within the scope of autonomy of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The high degree of autonomy exercised by the Region includes the administrative power, legislative power and independent judicial power including the power of final adjudication. But a high degree of autonomy does not mean complete autonomy. To safeguard China unification and uphold state sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Central government retains necessary power over the Macao Special Administrative Region. For instance, the Central People's Government shall be responsible for the foreign affairs and defence relating to the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Executive Structure

The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region is the executive authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The Chief Executive is the head of the Government, and General Secretariats, Directorates of Services, Departments and Divisions are established in the Government of MSAR.

The principal officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the Region and have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than fifteen years.

The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region is responsible for formulating and implementing policies; conducting administrative affairs; conducting external affairs as authorised by the Central People's Government under the Basic Law; drawing up and introducing budgets and final accounts; introducing bills and motions and drafting administrative regulations; and designating officials to sit in on the meetings of the Legislative Council to hear opinions or to speak on behalf of the government.

The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region must abide by the law and be accountable to the Legislative Council of the Region: it shall implement laws passed by the Council and already in force; it shall present regular policy addresses to the Council; and it shall answer questions raised by members of the Council.

The Chief Executive

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region is the head of the Macao Special Administrative Region and is accountable to the Central People's Government and the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be a Chinese citizen of not less than 40 years of age who is a permanent resident of the Region and has ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than 20 years. The Chief Executive is selected by election or through consultations held locally and is appointed by the Central People's Government. The term of office of the Chief Executive is five years and may serve for not more than two consecutive terms.

The Chief Executive is responsible for leading the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region; implementing the Basic Law and other laws which apply in the Macao Special Administrative Region; signing bills passed by the Legislative Council and promulgating laws; signing budgets passed by the Legislative Council and report the budgets and final accounts to the Central People's Government for the record; deciding on government policies and issuing executive orders; formulating the administrative regulations and promulgating them for implementation; nominating and reporting to the Central People's Government for appointment the Secretaries, Commissioner against Corruption, the Director of Audit, the leading members of the Police and the Customs and Excise, and recommending to the Central People's Government the removal of the above-mentioned officials; appointing part of the members of the Legislative Council; appointing or removing members of the Executive Council; nominating and reporting to the Central People's Government for appointment of the Procurator-General and recommending to the Central People's Government the removal of the Procurator-General; appointing or removing presidents and judges of the courts at all levels, procurators, holders of public office and, under certain circumstances, dissolving the Legislative Council.

The Executive Council

The Executive Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region is an organ for assisting the Chief Executive in policy-making. The Executive Council is presided over by the Chief Executive and meets at least once a month. Its members are appointed by the Chief Executive from among the principal officials of the executive authorities, members of the Legislative Council and public figures. The Executive Council is composed of seven to eleven persons. The Chief Executive may, as he or she deems necessary, invite other persons concerned to sit in on meetings of the Executive Council.