| History:
According to archaeologists, human life was discovered in Macao as early as the Neolithic Era (6,000 years ago). During the Qin Dynasty (248B.C- 206B.C), Macao belonged to the Panyu County of the Nanhai Prefecture. Later in the Jin Dynasty (265- 420), it became part of Dongguan County. During the Sui Dynasty (581- 618) it once again came under the administration of the Nanhai County and returned to the Dongguan County again in the Tang Dynasty (618- 907). In 1152, in the Southern Song period, during the reign of Emperor Shao Xing, the Guangdong Government joined the offshore islands of Nanhai, Panyu, Xinhui and Dongguan counties to set up the Xiangshan County and Macau became part of Xiangshan County.
In 1535, the Guangdong authority relocated the foreign trade taxation department to Macao and gave permission to foreign merchant ships to anchor there. Foreign trade between China and western countries started to develop in Macao since then. In 1554, the Ming Government granted permission to the Portuguese people to do business with China in Langbai and Haojing, which initiated the Portuguese influence in Macao over the following 400 years. In an attempt to occupy Macao and turn it into a colony, the Portuguese started a series of invasions in Macao after the Opium War. In 1887, the 54-article “Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce” was signed by the Chinese representative Sun Xuwen and the Portuguese representative Tomás de Sousa Rosa, confirming Portugal’s governance over Macao.
With the improving relations between China and Portugal in the last quarter of the 20th century, the issue of Macao’s return to the motherland was put into the agenda. When the two countries officially established diplomatic relations on February 8, 1979, the two governments agreed that Macao was part of China although it was currently under Portugal’s administration. The Issue was resolved through friendly negotiations by both sides and in April 1987, the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration was signed in Beijing, declaring China would resume its sovereignty over Macao on December 20, 1999.
The nationwide celebrations of December 20, 1999 marked the historic moment when Macao officially returned to the motherland. With its fast growing economy after the reunification, Macao, like a blossoming lotus, is developing towards prosperity and a bright future. |
|