China Foreign Relations Macao

Since the Chinese government crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing last month, Hong Kong's nearly 6 million residents have cast a jealous gaze at Macao, long considered the British colony's poor relation across the Pearl River estuary. Seated at his desk at the Macao government hotel school, Alexandre Ho pondered the thin green booklet that is the cause for Hong Kong's envy: a Portuguese passport.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Wednesday warned the people of Macao and Hong Kong against using their freedom to oppose the state. Speaking in Macao on the first anniversary of the former Portuguese colony's return to Chinese sovereignty, Jiang said the people of China's two special administrative regions should pay attention to their social responsibilities rather than involve themselves in protests.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Wednesday warned the people of Macao and Hong Kong against using their freedom to oppose the state. Speaking in Macao on the first anniversary of the former Portuguese colony's return to Chinese sovereignty, Jiang said the people of China's two special administrative regions should pay attention to their social responsibilities rather than involve themselves in protests.

Since the Chinese government crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing last month, Hong Kong's nearly 6 million residents have cast a jealous gaze at Macao, long considered the British colony's poor relation across the Pearl River estuary. Seated at his desk at the Macao government hotel school, Alexandre Ho pondered the thin green booklet that is the cause for Hong Kong's envy: a Portuguese passport.