‘W’ is for WEDNESDAY

Today is Macau SARE Day. Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment (SARE) Day (known as ‘Dia Commemorativo do Estabelecimento da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau’ in Portuguese) is celebrated on December 20th and commemorates the Chinese government assuming formal sovereignty over Macau on December 20th 1999. This day is an Obligatory holiday in Macau according to the Article 44th of the Law no. 7/2008 issued on August 18th 2008.

Macau first became a major settlement and trading post with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. In 1557, the Portuguese established a permanent settlement in Macau, paying an annual rent of Silver to the Chinese. Up to 1863, the Portuguese continued to pay an annual tribute to stay in Macau.

Following the Carnation Revolution of 1974 in Portugal, the new Portuguese government decided it would relinquish all its overseas possessions. In 1976, Lisbon redefined Macau as a “Chinese territory under Portuguese administration” and granted it a large measure of administrative, financial, and economic autonomy.

In June 1986, the Chinese and Portuguese governments commenced negotiations on the sovereignty of Macau. The two countries signed a Joint Declaration in 1987, making Macau a special administrative region (SAR) of China. The Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau on December 20th 1999.