Lawyer Sérgio de Almeida Correia
In an opinion article published yesterday by major Portuguese daily Público, local lawyer Sérgio de Almeida Correia highlights the visit of the Chief Executive (CE) to Portugal starting on April 18th, and urges the Portuguese authorities to remember their commitment to Macau as per the bilateral international treaty, the Luso-Chinese Joint Declaration (DCLC), signed on April 13, 1987.
He emphasizes that while the visit is important, it should not overshadow the essential issues that need to be addressed.
Correia stresses the need for the Portuguese authorities to analyze the current situation in Macau in light of the changes that have been introduced in recent years, particularly with regard to points (4) and (5) of the second part of the DCLC.
In his Publico’s article, he calls for an evaluation of whether the social and economic systems, as well as the way of life, have remained unchanged since 1987, and whether and to what extent personal freedoms such as expression, press, assembly, association, movement, migration, and strike are respected.
The veteran lawyer also stresses the importance of assessing the use of the Portuguese language in the government bodies, the legislative branch, and courts of the MSAR, and whether it aligns with the agreed-upon and defined systems and freedoms for the residents.
Correia acknowledges that initially, between 1999 and 2012, there were no significant changes in the social, economic, and legal fabric of Macau, and the Basic Law played its role despite some new elements introduced by different actors.
He credits the remarkable economic development of Macau to the intelligent approach taken by the authorities in Beijing and the first CE, Edmund Ho, who was a banker from one of the most powerful traditional families in Macau with a global outlook and appropriate training.
However, he points out that without proper checks and balances in place, this development has become unbalanced, one-sided, and allowed for a phenomenon of “neocolonization by dubious capital, accompanied by uncontrolled speculation and corruption.”
Correia emphasizes that it is crucial for the Portuguese authorities to remember their commitment to Macau as per the DCLC and to assess whether the principles of the treaty have been upheld.
He cautions against complacency and calls for a thorough evaluation of the current situation in Macau, including the preservation of the systems and freedoms that were promised to the residents of Macau.
Finally, Correia concludes by stating that it is essential for Portugal not to forget its historical ties with Macau and to ensure that the spirit of the Joint Declaration is upheld in the bilateral relationship between Portugal and China. PC
