The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) and the Tou Tei Mio Patane Mercy and Charity Association co-organized the establishment of the “Patane Night Watch House” located at No. 52-54, Rua da Palmeira. The “Patane Night Watch House” opened to the public on 18 December, Friday, at 3:30pm. The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Director of the Macao Government Tourist Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Representative and Assistant of the Chief of the Department of Education and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R., Shao Bin; the Vice-President of the General Union of Associations of Macao Residents, Ho Ion Sang; the Chairman of the Tou Tei Mio Patane Mercy and Charity Association, Vong Su Sam; and the Chairman of the Patane Mutual Aid Association, Wong Wa Keong.
The night watchers in ancient China served to report time and remind people to take precautions against fire and theft. However, this community service gradually vanished following the modernisation of the city. The Patane Night Watch House, the only one existing in Macao, reflects the night watch practice (night watchmen) of the city in the past. In order to revitalize the Patane Night Watch House, IC undertook a construction survey and mapping, structural recovery and façade renovation along other works. Thus the original layout of the night watch house was reinstated along with the reproduction of unique features like a large retaining stone and a fresco inside the house. In addition, IC commissioned a complete historical research on Macao’s night watch house and night watch system as the basis of the exhibition theme and space planning of the Patane Night Watch House.
The exhibition space of the renovated Patane Night Watch House is divided into two thematic exhibition halls, namely “Macao’s Night Watch Houses” and “Image of Night Watchmen”. In the exhibition hall “Macao’s Night Watch Houses”, there are pictures and documents which tell the story of the night watch house and introduce the regulations of the night watchman’s duties and the reporting time methods, etc. It also includes tools and objects related to the job of the night watchman, such as gongs, wooden beaters, fire hose nozzles, silver whistles and service receipts, among others. The exhibition hall “Image of Night Watchmen” features graphic images of night watchmen created by Macao artists and tells the story of night watchmen in the past such as time reporting, public safety, precautions against fire and their warning duties and contribution, through interviews with former watchmen. The exhibition is therefore lively in description and rich in information. The establishment of the “Patane Night Watch House” reveals the close relationship between night watchmen and the community in the past, allowing the citizens to understand the urban development, the promotion of traditional values of mutual assistance and the provision of community services.
The Patane Night Watch House opens to the public today. The House opening hours are from 10:00am to 6:00pm, including public holidays (no admission allowed after 5:30pm) and it is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. For enquiries, please call IC though tel. no. (853) 8399 6699 during office hours.