Published : 2025-12-20

At 00:00 on the 20 of December 1999, the world-acclaimed ceremony of Macao returning to its motherland between the governments of China and Portugal was grandly held at the Garden Pavilion of the Macao Cultural Centre. Macao officially returned to the motherland, becoming another Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China after Hong Kong.

Among the attendees on the day, the Chinese representatives included then-President Jiang Zemin (江澤民), then Premier of the State Council Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基), and the first Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Ho Hau-wah (何厚鏵), while the Portuguese representatives included then-President Jorge Sampaio and Prime Minister António Guterres, among others.

10 minutes before the 20 of December, the flag-lowering and flag-raising ceremony of the two countries began, and the flag bearers from both China and Portugal entered the venue. That night, to the sound of the Portuguese national anthem, the Portuguese national flag and the flag of the Macao Municipal Council began to be slowly lowered.

Subsequently, Jiang Zemin delivered a speech on behalf of the Central People's Government, stating that after Macao's return, the Chinese government would steadfastly implement the principles of "one country, two systems", "Macao people governing Macao", and "a high degree of autonomy", and would protect the economic interests of all countries and regions in Macao in accordance with the law.

He further stated that with the support of the Central People's Government and the people of all ethnic groups in the country, the government of the Macao SAR and the Macao compatriots would surely be able to administer, build, and develop Macao well.

Afterwards, the main representatives of both China and Portugal, including President Jiang Zemin and President Jorge Sampaio, came to the front of the rostrum, shook hands and posed for a group photograph.