政治與法律發展

The Formation and Development of Macau's Political System

Abstract

Wu Zhiliang(Macau Foundation)

　　There have been three stages in the formation and development of Macau's political system. The first period lasted from the arrival of the Portuguese in Macau until 1846, when Governor Ferreira do Amaral came into office. Dur-ing this period, the Chinese and the Portuguese governed their own people. The second period was from 1846 to 1974, when Macau was under the colo-nial rule of the Government of Portugal, although the Chinese had a certain autonomy. After the 1974 overthrow of the presidential dictatorship in Portugal, colonial rule was abolished. At that time, Macau entered the third stage in the development of its political system: a local self-government with-out the traditional Chinese ways of doing things. In the future deveiopment of this political system, more participation by Macau residents in political affairs will be inevitable.