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 （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 to be 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 Government shall be responsible for the foreign affairs and defence relating to the Macao Special Administrative Region.
