BASIC LAW OF THE MACAO SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The National People’s Congress

Order of the President of the People’s Republic of China

No.3

The Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China which is composed of the Method for the
Selection of the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region(attachment I), the Method for the Formation of the Legislative
Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region(attachment II), the National Laws to Be Applied in the Macao Special Administrative
Region(attachment III) and the regional flag and the form of the regional emblem of the Macao Special Administrative Region, has
been adopted at the First Session of the Eighth National People’s Congress on March 31, 1993, and promulgated hereby for implementation
as of December 20, 1999.

President of the People’s Republic of China Jiang Zemin

March 31, 1993

Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China ContentsPreamble

Chapter I General Principles

Chapter II Relationship Between the Central Authorities and the Macao Special Administrative Region

Chapter III Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Residents

Chapter IV Political Structure

Chapter V Economy

Chapter VI Cultural and Social Affairs

Chapter VII External Affairs

Chapter VIII Interpretation and Amendment of the Basic Law

Chapter IX Supplementary Provisions

Attachment I: Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region

Attachment II: Method for the Formation of the Legislative Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region

Attachment III: National Laws to Be Applied in the Macao Special Administrative Region

Preamble

Macao, including the Macao Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island, has been part of the territory of China since ancient times;
it was gradually occupied by Portugal after the mid-16th century. On 13 April 1987, the Chinese and Portuguese Governments signed
the Joint Declaration on the Question of Macao, affirming that the Government of the People’s Republic of China will resume the exercise
of sovereignty over Macao with effect from 20 December 1999, thus fulfilling the long-cherished common aspiration of the Chinese
people for the recovery of Macao.

Upholding national unity and territorial integrity, contributing to social stability and economic development, and taking account
of its history and realities, the People’s Republic of China has decided that upon China’s resumption of the exercise of sovereignty
over Macao, a Macao Special Administrative Region will be established in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution
of the People’s Republic of China, and that under the principle of “one country, two systems”, the socialist system and policies
will not be practised in Macao. The basic policies of the People’s Republic of China regarding Macao have been elaborated by the
Chinese Government in the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration.

In accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the National People’s Congress hereby enacts the Basic Law
of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, prescribing the systems to be practised in the Macao
Special Administrative Region, in order to ensure the implementation of the basic policies of the People’s Republic of China regarding
Macao.

Chapter I General Principles

Article 1

The Macao Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 2

The National People’s Congress authorizes the Macao Special Administrative Region to exercise a high degree of autonomy and enjoy
executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, in accordance with the provisions of
this Law.

Article 3

The executive authorities and legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be composed of permanent residents of Macao
in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Law.

Article 4

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall safeguard the rights and freedoms of the residents of the Macao Special Administrative
Region and of other persons in the Region in accordance with law.

Article 5

The socialist system and policies shall not be practised in the Macao Special Administrative Region, and the previous capitalist system
and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years.

Article 6

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall protect the right of private ownership of property in accordance with law.

Article 7

The land and natural resources within the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be State property, except for the private land
recognized as such according to the laws in force before the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The Government
of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be responsible for their management, use and development and for their lease or
grant to individuals or legal persons for use or development. The revenues derived therefrom shall be exclusively at the disposal
of the government of the Region.

Article 8

The laws, decrees, administrative regulations and other normative acts previously in force in Macao shall be maintained, except for
any that contravenes this Law, or subject to any amendment by the legislature or other relevant organs of the Macao Special Administrative
Region in accordance with legal procedures.

Article 9

In addition to the Chinese language, Portuguese may also be used as an official language by the executive authorities, legislature
and judiciary of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Article 10

Apart from displaying the national flag and national emblem of the People’s Republic of China, the Macao Special Administrative Region
may also use a regional flag and regional emblem.

The regional flag of the Macao Special Administrative Region is a green flag with five stars, lotus flower, bridge and sea water.

The regional emblem of the Macao Special Administrative Region is composed of five stars, lotus flower, bridge and sea water encircled
by the words “Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China” in Chinese and “MACAO” in Portuguese.

Article 11

In accordance with Article 31 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the systems and policies practised in the Macao
Special Administrative Region, including the social and economic systems, the system for safeguarding the fundamental rights and
freedoms of its residents, the executive, legislative and judicial systems, and the relevant policies, shall be based on the provisions
of this Law.

No law, decree, administrative regulations and normative acts of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall contravene this Law.

Chapter II Relationship Between the Central Authorities and the Macao Special Administrative Region

Article 12

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall be a local administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, which shall enjoy
a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People’s Government.

Article 13

The Central People’s Government shall be responsible for the foreign affairs relating to the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China shall establish an office in Macao to deal with foreign affairs.

The Central People’s Government authorizes the Macao Special Administrative Region to conduct relevant external affairs on its own
in accordance with this Law.

Article 14

The Central People’s Government shall be responsible for the defence of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be responsible for the maintenance of public order in the Region.

Article 15

The Central People’s Government shall appoint or remove the Chief Executive, the principal officials of the government and the Procurator-General
of the Macao Special Administrative Region in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Law.

Article 16

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall be vested with executive power. It shall, on its own, conduct the administrative affairs
of the Region in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Law.

Article 17

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall be vested with legislative power.

Laws enacted by the legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region must be reported to the Standing Committee of the National
People’s Congress for the record. The reporting for record shall not affect the entry into force of such laws.

If the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, after consulting the Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao Special
Administrative Region under it, considers that any law enacted by the legislature of the Region is not in conformity with the provisions
of this Law regarding affairs within the responsibility of the Central Authorities or regarding the relationship between the Central
Authorities and the Region, the Standing Committee may return the law in question but shall not amend it. Any law returned by the
Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress shall immediately be invalidated. This invalidation shall not have retroactive
effect, unless otherwise provided for in the laws of the Region.

Article 18

The laws in force in the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be this Law, the laws previously in force in Macao as provided
for in Article 8 of this Law, and the laws enacted by the legislature of the Region.

National laws shall not be applied in the Macao Special Administrative Region except for those listed in Attachment III to this Law.
The laws listed therein shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the Region.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress may add to or delete from the list of laws in Attachment III after consulting
its Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the government of the Region. Laws listed in Attachment
III to this Law shall be confined to those relating to defence and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of
the autonomy of the Region as specified by this Law.

In the event that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress decides to declare a state of war or, by reason of turmoil
within the Macao Special Administrative Region which endangers national unity or security and is beyond the control of the government
of the Region, decides that the Region is in a state of emergency, the Central People’s Government may issue an order applying the
relevant national laws in the Region.

Article 19

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall be vested with independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication.

The courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall have jurisdiction over all cases in the Region, except that the restrictions
on their jurisdiction imposed by the legal system and principles previously in force in Macao shall be maintained.

The courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall have no jurisdiction over acts of state such as defence and foreign affairs.
The courts of the Region shall obtain a certificate from the Chief Executive on questions of fact concerning acts of state such as
defence and foreign affairs whenever such questions arise in the adjudication of cases. This certificate shall be binding on the
courts. Before issuing such a certificate, the Chief Executive shall obtain a certifying document from the Central People’s Government.

Article 20

The Macao Special Administrative Region may enjoy other powers granted to it by the National People’s Congress, the Standing Committee
of the National People’s Congress or the Central People’s Government.

Article 21

Chinese citizens who are residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be enpost_titled to participate in the management of
state affairs according to law.

In accordance with the assigned number of seats and the selection method specified by the National People’s Congress, the Chinese
citizens among the residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall locally elect deputies of the Region to the National
People’s Congress to participate in the work of the highest organ of state power.

Article 22

No department of the Central People’s Government and no province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government
may interfere in the affairs which the Macao Special Administrative Region administers on its own in accordance with this Law.

If there is a need for departments of the Central Government, or for provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under
the Central Government to set up offices in the Macao Special Administrative Region, they must obtain the consent of the government
of the Region and the approval of the Central People’s Government.

All offices set up in the Macao Special Administrative Region by departments of the Central Government, or by provinces, autonomous
regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the personnel of these offices shall abide by the laws of the
Region.

For entry into the Macao Special Administrative Region, people from other provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly
under the Central Government must apply for approval. Among them, the number of persons who enter the Region for the purpose of settlement
shall be determined by the competent authorities of the Central People’s Government after consulting the government of the Region.

The Macao Special Administrative Region may establish an office in Beijing.

Article 23

The Macao Special Administrative Region shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion
against the Central People’s Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting
political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign
political organizations or bodies.

Chapter III Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Residents

Article 24

Residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region (“Macao residents”) shall include permanent residents and non-permanent residents.

The permanent residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be:

(1)

Chinese citizens born in Macao before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region and their children of
Chinese nationality born outside Macao;

(2)

Chinese citizens who have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than seven years before or after the establishment
of the Macao Special Administrative Region and their children of Chinese nationality born outside Macao after they have become permanent
residents;

(3)

The Portuguese who were born in Macao and have taken Macao as their place of permanent residence before or after the establishment
of the Macao Special Administrative Region;

(4)

The Portuguese who have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than 7 years and have taken Macao as their
place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region;

(5)

Other persons who have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than 7 years and have taken Macao as their
place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region;

(6)

Persons under 18 years of age born in Macao of those residents listed in category (5) before or after the establishment of the Macao
Special Administrative Region.

The above-mentioned residents shall have the right of abode in the Macao Special Administrative Region and shall be qualified to obtain
permanent identity cards.

The non-permanent residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be persons who are qualified to obtain Macao identity
cards in accordance with the laws of the Region but have no right of abode.

Article 25

All Macao residents shall be equal before the law, and shall be free from discrimination, irrespective of their nationality, descent,
sex, race, language, religion, political persuasion or ideological belief, educational level, economic status or social conditions.

Article 26

Permanent residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall have the right to vote and the right to stand for election in
accordance with law.

Article 27

Macao residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession
and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike.

Article 28

The freedom of the person of Macao residents shall be inviolable.

No Macao resident shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful arrest, detention or imprisonment. In case of arbitrary or unlawful
detention or imprisonment, Macao residents have the right to apply to the court for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus.

Unlawful search of the body of any resident or deprivation or restriction of the freedom of the person shall be prohibited.

Torture or inhuman treatment of any resident shall be prohibited.

Article 29

Macao residents shall not be punished by law, unless their acts constitute a crime and they shall be punished for it as expressly
prescribed by law at the time.

When charged with criminal offences, Macao residents shall enjoy the right to an early court trial and shall be presumed innocent
before convicted.

Article 30

The human dignity of Macao residents shall be inviolable. Humiliation, slander and false accusation against residents in any form
shall be prohibited.

Macao residents shall enjoy the right to personal reputation and the privacy of their private and family life.

Article 31

The homes and other premises of Macao residents shall be inviolable. Arbitrary or unlawful search of, or intrusion into, a resident’s
home or other premises shall be prohibited.

Article 32

The freedom and privacy of communication of Macao residents shall be protected by law. No department or individual may, on any grounds,
infringe upon the freedom and privacy of communication of residents except that the relevant authorities may inspect communication
in accordance with the provisions of the law to meet the needs of public security or of investigation into criminal offences.

Article 33

Macao residents shall have freedom of movement within the Macao Special Administrative Region and freedom of emigration to other countries
and regions. They shall have freedom to travel and to enter or leave the Region and shall have the right to obtain travel documents
in accordance with law. Unless restrained by law, holders of valid travel documents shall be free to leave the Region without special
authorization.

Article 34

Macao residents shall have freedom of conscience.

Macao residents shall have freedom of religious belief and freedom to preach and to conduct and participate in religious activities
in public.

Article 35

Macao residents shall have freedom of choice of occupation and work.

Article 36

Macao residents shall have the right to resort to law and to have access to the courts, to lawyers’ help for protection of their lawful
rights and interests, and to judicial remedies.

Macao residents shall have the right to institute legal proceedings in the courts against the acts of the executive authorities and
their personnel.

Article 37

Macao residents shall have freedom to engage in education, academic research, literary and artistic creation, and other cultural activities.

Article 38

The freedom of marriage of Macao residents and their right to form and raise a family freely shall be protected by law.

The legitimate rights and interests of women shall be protected by the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The minors, the aged and the disabled shall be taken care of and protected by the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Article 39

Macao residents shall have the right to social welfare in accordance with law. The welfare benefits and retirement security of the
labour force shall be protected by law.

Article 40

The provisions of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
and international labour conventions as applied to Macao shall remain in force and shall be implemented through the laws of the Macao
Special Administrative Region.

The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Macao residents shall not be restricted unless as prescribed by law. Such restrictions shall not
contravene the provisions of the first paragraph of this Article.

Article 41

Macao residents shall enjoy the other rights and freedoms safeguarded by the laws of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Article 42

The interests of the residents of Portuguese descent in Macao shall be protected by the Macao Special Administrative Region in accordance
with law, and their customs and cultural traditions shall be respected.

Article 43

Persons in the Macao Special Administrative Region other than Macao residents shall, in accordance with law, enjoy the rights and
freedoms of Macao residents prescribed in this Chapter.

Article 44

Macao residents and other persons in Macao shall have the obligation to abide by the laws in force in the Macao Special Administrative
Region.

Chapter IV Political Structure

Section 1 The Chief Executive

Article 45

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be the head of the Macao Special Administrative Region and shall
represent the Region.

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be accountable to the Central People’s Government and the Macao
Special Administrative Region in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Article 46

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be a Chinese citizen of not less than 40 years of age who is
a permanent resident of the Region and has ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than 20 years.

Article 47

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be selected by election or through consultations held locally
and be appointed by the Central People’s Government.

The specific method for selecting the Chief Executive is prescribed in Attachment I: “Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive
of the Macao Special Administrative Region”.

Article 48

The term of office of the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be five years. He or she may serve for
not more than two consecutive terms.

Article 49

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, during his or her term of office, shall have no right of abode in
any foreign country and shall not engage in any activities for his or her personal gains. The Chief Executive,on assuming office,
shall declare his or her assets to the President of the Court of Final Appeal of the Macao Special Administrative Region. This declaration
shall be put on record.

Article 50

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall exercise the following powers and functions:

(1)

To lead the government of the Region;

(2)

To be responsible for the implementation of this Law and other laws which, in accordance with this Law, apply in the Macao Special
Administrative Region;

(3)

To sign bills passed by the Legislative Council and to promulgate laws;

To sign budgets passed by the Legislative Council and report the budgets and final accounts to the Central People’s Government for
the record;

(4)

To decide on government policies and to issue executive orders;

(5)

To formulate the administrative regulations and promulgate them for implementation;

(6)

To nominate and to report to the Central People’s Government for appointment the following principal officials: Secretaries of Departments,
Commissioner Against Corruption, Director of Audit, the leading members of the Police and the customs and excise; and to recommend
to the Central People’s Government the removal of the above-mentioned officials;

(7)

To appoint part of the members of the Legislative Council;

(8)

To appoint or remove members of the Executive Council;

(9)

To appoint or remove presidents and judges of the courts at all levels and procurators in accordance with legal procedures;

(10)

To nominate and report to the Central People’s Government for appointment of the Procurator-General and recommend to the Central People’s
Government the removal of the Procurator-General in accordance with legal procedures;

(11)

To appoint or remove holders of public office in accordance with legal procedures;

(12)

To implement the directives issued by the Central People’s Government in respect of the relevant matters provided for in this Law;

(13)

To conduct, on behalf of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, external affairs and other affairs as authorized
by the Central Authorities;

(14)

To approve the introduction of motions regarding revenues or expenditure to the Legislative Council;

(15)

To decide, in the light of security and vital public interests, whether government officials or other personnel in charge of government
affairs should testify or give evidence before the Legislative Council or its committees;

(16)

To confer medals and post_titles of honour of the Macao Special Administrative Region in accordance with law;

(17)

To pardon persons convicted of criminal offences or commute their penalties in accordance with law; and

(18)

To handle petitions and complaints.

Article 51

If the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region considers that a bill passed by the Legislative Council is not compatible
with the overall interests of the Region, he or she may give his or her reasons in writing and return it to the Legislative Council
within 90 days for reconsideration. If the Legislative Council passes the original bill again by not less than a two-thirds majority
of all the members, the Chief Executive must sign and promulgate it within 30 days or act in accordance with the provisions of Article
52 of this Law.

Article 52

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region may dissolve the Legislative Council under any of the following circumstances:

(1)

The Chief Executive refuses to sign a bill passed the second time by the Legislative Council; and

(2)

The Legislative Council refuses to pass a budget introduced by the government or any other bills which he or she considers concern
the overall interests of the Region, and after consultations, consensus still cannot be reached.

Before dissolving the Legislative Council, the Chief Executive must consult the Executive Council and he or she shall explain the
reason for it to the public.

The Chief Executive may dissolve the Legislative Council only once in each term of his or her office.

Article 53

If the Legislative Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region fails to pass the budget introduced by the government, the Chief
Executive may approve provisional short-term appropriations according to the level of expenditure of the previous fiscal year.

Article 54

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region must resign under any of the following circumstances;

(1)

When he or she loses the ability to discharge his or her duties as a result of serious illness or other reasons;

(2)

When, after the Legislative Council is dissolved because he or she twice refuses to sign a bill passed by it, the new Legislative
Council again passes by a two-thirds majority of all the members the original bill in dispute, but he or she still refuses to sign
it within 30 days; and

(3)

When, after the Legislative Council is dissolved because it refuses to pass a budget or any other bill concerning the overall interests
of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the newly elected Legislative Council still refuses to pass the original bill in dispute.

Article 55

If the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region is not able to discharge his or her duties for a short period, such
duties shall temporarily be assumed by the secretaries of the departments in the order of precedence, which shall be stipulated by
law.

In the event that the office of Chief Executive becomes vacant, a new Chief Executive shall be selected within 120 days in accordance
with the provisions of Article 47 of this Law. During the period of vacancy, his or her duties shall be assumed according to the
provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article and the choice of the acting Chief Executive shall be reported to the Central People’s
Government for approval. The acting Chief Executive shall abide by the provisions of Article 49 of this Law.

Article 56

The Executive Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be an organ for assisting the Chief Executive in policy-making.

Article 57

Members of the Executive Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be appointed by the Chief Executive from among the
principal officials of the executive authorities, members of the Legislative Council and public figures.Their appointment or removal
shall be decided by the Chief Executive. The term of office of members of the Executive Council shall not extend beyond the expiry
of the term of office of the Chief Executive who appoints them. Members of the original Executive Council shall remain in office
until the new Chief Executive is selected.

Members of the Executive Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be Chinese citizens who are permanent residents
of the Region.

The Executive Council shall be composed of seven to eleven persons. The Chief Executive may, as he or she deems necessary, invite
other persons concerned to sit in on meetings of the Council.

Article 58

The Executive Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be presided over by the Chief Executive. The meeting of the
Executive Council shall be held at least once each month. Except for the appointment, removal and disciplining of officials and the
adoption of measures in emergencies, the Chief Executive shall consult the Executive Council before making important policy decisions,
introducing bills to the Legislative Council, formulating administrative regulations, or dissolving the Legislative Council.

If the Chief Executive does not accept a majority opinion of the Executive Council, he or she shall put the specific reasons on record.

Article 59

A Commission Against Corruption shall be established in the Macao Special Administrative Region. It shall function independently and
its Commissioner shall be accountable to the Chief Executive.

Article 60

A Commission of Audit shall be established in the Macao Special Administrative Region. It shall function independently

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