DEC 21 MACAU CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF CHINESE RULE

DEC 21  MACAU CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF CHINESE RULE

Unless you've been living under a rock all year long, you've heard about the protests in Hong Kong. For the last six months, a million people have taken to the streets to protest the People's Republic of China's ridiculous 'One Country, Two Systems' policy of rule. Yet a mere 65 kilometers away in Macau, this same system is thriving. This was evident yesterday, with President Xi on hand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the handover.

Although not nearly as famous as her colonial cousin, Macau is actually much older. It was established in 1513 by Portuguese explorer Jorge Alvares...300 years before the British first sailed into Hong Kong Harbor. However, while England instituted positive policies in Hong Kong, like Common Law and self-rule...the Portuguese were different. Macau existed only as a trading center. While enterprising Brits flocked to Hong Kong, only a handful of Portuguese citizens moved to Macau.

This disparity was also on display when the two colonies were returned to the PRC in the 1990's. Hong Kong witnessed a mass migration back to the UK, with many corporations relocating as well. Meanwhile, folks in Macau welcomed the Chinese with open arms. Neglected by Lisbon for 442 years, the colony had slid economically, with a below average standard of living.

Things have changed dramatically. Today, Macau bests the third highest GDP worldwide, trailing only Luxembourg and Switzerland. How did this occur? Mega-casinos, that's how! For decades, Macau was a tough and seedy port city, lined with bars and taverns. At the heart of this was the Casino Lisboa. When the PRC took over in 1999, they decided to develop the gaming industry and the results have been stupendous.

In short, the lessons learned by the two SAR's (Special Administrative Regions) is simple. Once the seed of liberty is planted, it grows. Hong Kong was granted Common Law and individual freedoms by the British. Two centuries later, citizens refuse to give them away. However, four centuries of oppressive Portuguese rule in Macau resulted in acrimony and a desire to change. Today, the only signs of Portuguese rule are a handful of Catholic churches and street names.