Insight | Lusophony is not consensual in Macau

Paulo Barbosa

TThe idea of Macau serving as a platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries is politically correct, apparently blessed by Beijing, but faces resistance from unnamed local forces that use their pawns to stall projects linked to the promotion of the multilateral relationship.
There are those who oppose the lusophone project in Macau because they see in it remnants of “colonialism” (although many historians question if there ever was colonialism in Macau, stating that the concession to Portugal was in fact a mutual agreement), or even because they remain prejudiced against the “gwai lo” (Cantonese slang for foreigneirs, which means “ghost person”) in an attitude that arguably represents the opposite of the fair multicultural tradition of Macau. But that doesn’t matter for them, because they don’t cherish that local facet or simply ignore it. Like Raul Brandão wrote, referring to the grandeur of the Egyptian temples, “ignorance is pyramidal.”
There are also those in the administration who, when in doubt, not knowing exactly what Beijing thinks about certain projects focused on the multicultural side of the city (and perhaps not daring to ask) opt to use their bureaucratic powers to stall those projects, often contributing to the loss of the region’s identity.
Finally, there are those in the government that favor the lusophone project, because they understand that it is important for Macau to maintain a distinct identity. The word of the day for this government is cooperation, with more and more daily meetings about it. Cooperation with neighboring regions is positive if it doesn’t mean the obliteration of Macau by those larger regions… and that’s where we are headed.
Others, unconcerned with cultural aspects, see the “lusophone platform” as a way to do business with Africa and Brazil, or to train human resources capable of serving as intermediaries in those deals.
One example of a plan that could be included in a list of the abovementioned stalled projects is the Macanese House-Museum that the Macau Holy House of Mercy (SCMM) intends to build in two typically Macanese houses that they own in the St Lazarus district, close to Tap Seac. SCMM has been trying to develop it since 2011. The museum would showcase how old Macanese families lived, displaying furniture, pictures and objects that belong to the community. If well developed, this project could attract many tourists eager to have a taste of the old Macau. SCMM applied for funding from the Cultural Affairs Bureau and, according to its president, António José de Freitas, MOP20 million was promised one year ago but the support never materialized. After many contacts, Mr Freitas lost patience. “We have the will to do this, because it’s a good project for Macau, but we won’t make any more contact [with the government]. We are waiting,” he told newspaper Tribuna de Macau (JTM). He added that “there’s a lack of political will” to open the house museum. But why should there be a lack of political will to open a Macanese museum?
The same logic applies to another cultural project promoted by Casa de Portugal, although there are complex technical details involved. Built in Macau using Western and Chinese techniques, the ship “Lorcha” represented the region at Lisbon’s Expo 98. The ship is currently  dry-docked in the Algarve province and a recent study commissioned by the Orient Foundation indicates that it could be irrecoverable given the poor condition of the wood used to build it. However, Casa de Portugal proposes bringing back the ship to Macau and turning it into a tourist attraction, organizing historical cruises. Once again, there’s only silence on this and other Casa de Portugal projects.
In an interview also published by JTM, the association’s president Maria Amélia António criticizes the government’s inertia and points out “there are people who don’t understand that the value of Macau resides in its difference.” And she left a message for those with business-oriented minds: If that difference is not respected, it’s probable that in the next few years “Macau will lose any touristic interest and thus the goose that lays the golden egg will be killed.”