Macau Government Headquarters
Encyclopedia
Macau Government Headquarters is the official office of the Chief Executive of Macau
and has been since 1999.
Built in 1849 by Tomás de Aquino, Baron do Cercal, the two story pink facade structure is one of the historic properties preserving Portuguese influence in Macau
and located on Avenida da Praia Grande, in the St. Lawrence Parish
. The office is the former residence of the Governor of Macau
(relocated to another residence further west at Macau Government House
) and the offices of the governor prior to the handover in 1999
.
The building is surrounded by shops, residences and other office buildings. It is bounded by the roads Travessa Do Paiva, Avenida Dr Stanley Ho and Travessa do Padre Narciso. The northside is closed off by buildings.
The main entrance faces Avenida Dr Stanley Ho and looks out to Nam Van Lake
with the Superior Court of Macau Building
and Macau Legislative Assembly Building
in the distance.
and Chinese
styles.
Chief Executive of Macau
The Chief Executive of Macau is the head of the government of Macau, a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China and a former Portuguese overseas province.Under the Basic Law of Macau, the CE's role is:...
and has been since 1999.
History
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and located on Avenida da Praia Grande, in the St. Lawrence Parish
St. Lawrence Parish
St. Lawrence Parish is a southwestern freguesia of the Macau Peninsula....
. The office is the former residence of the Governor of Macau
Governor of Macau
The Governor of Macau was a Portuguese colonial official who headed the colony of Macau, before 1623 called Captain-major . The post was replaced on December 20, 1999 upon the transfer of administration to the People's Republic of China by the office of the Chief Executive of the Macau Special...
(relocated to another residence further west at Macau Government House
Macau Government House
Macau Government House or Santa Sancha is the state guest house of the Chief Executive of Macau . It is one of a few historic properties preserving Portuguese influence in Macau. Like many historic buildings it is clad in a pink like colour.-History:Prior to December 1999, the home was the official...
) and the offices of the governor prior to the handover in 1999
Transfer of sovereignty of Macau
The transfer of sovereignty of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China occurred on 20 December 1999. Portuguese merchants settled in Macau and governed themselves since the time of the Ming Dynasty , first establishing a foothold in 1535, though Portugal's involvement...
.
The building is surrounded by shops, residences and other office buildings. It is bounded by the roads Travessa Do Paiva, Avenida Dr Stanley Ho and Travessa do Padre Narciso. The northside is closed off by buildings.
The main entrance faces Avenida Dr Stanley Ho and looks out to Nam Van Lake
Nam Van Lake
Nam Van Lake is one of two man made lakes in the Macau Peninsula. It is located at the southern end of the peninsula.The lake was once a bay , created when the causeway partially closed off the bay. The project to close the lake began in 1991 to attract more development in Macau...
with the Superior Court of Macau Building
Superior Court of Macau Building
Superior Court of Macau Building is the home of the high courts of Macau.Construction of the court house began in 1997 and was completed in 1999 in time for the handover...
and Macau Legislative Assembly Building
Macau Legislative Assembly Building
Macau Legislative Assembly Building is the home of the Legislative Assembly of Macau and various government offices.Construction began in 1998 and was completed in 1999 for the handover. The building is triangular in shape and overlooks Nam Van Lake and within the Cathedral Parish. The assembly's...
in the distance.
Interior
The Government Headquarters has three wings and has undergone several reincarnations. Most of the interior is updated with modern features, but some original features have remained. The headquarters houses the Lotus Room (conference room of the Executive Council), a multi-purpose conference room and a pressroom. While the edifice and interior architecture is distinctly European, the building contains many Chinese wooden furniture and attractive ceramics.Exterior
A large garden with various plants, fountains and trees are found in the rear of the structure. The garden design is a mix of EuropeanEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
styles.