Constitutional Charter of the Macau SAR

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澳門特別行政區憲章

Carta Constitucional da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau

Constitutional Charter of the Macau Special Administrative Region

CELESTIAL EMPIRE OF THE GREAT MING

Promulgated under the authority of the Celestial Constitution,

under the Mandate of Heaven,

and in recognition of the historic, cultural, juridical, commercial, religious, and civic character of Macau.

PREAMBLE

We, the people of Macau, heirs to a singular city of the sea, situated at the meeting of China and the Lusophone world, mindful of our centuries as a port of encounter, commerce, faith, law, learning, gaming, charity, and cultural exchange;

Recalling that Macau has long preserved a distinct civic identity shaped by Chinese civilisation, Portuguese legal tradition, Catholic, Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, folk, and other religious communities, the Macanese people, the Chinese majority, the Portuguese-speaking community, and the many peoples who have made Macau their home;

Affirming that Macau is an inalienable part of the Celestial Empire of the Great Ming, yet possesses a special constitutional status, a distinct legal order, and a high degree of autonomy under the Celestial Constitution;

Determined to preserve Macau’s civil-law tradition, bilingual public life, free-port economy, cultural patrimony, religious pluralism, charitable institutions, commercial openness, and rule of law;

Recognising the Mandate of Heaven as requiring virtuous government, humane administration, public order, honest office, respect for dignity, and the protection of the weak;

Hereby ordain and establish this Constitutional Charter as the constitutional instrument of the Macau Special Administrative Region.

PART I — THE STATUS AND FOUNDATIONS OF MACAU​

Article 1 — The Macau Special Administrative Region

1. Macau, formally the Macau Special Administrative Region of the Celestial Empire of the Great Ming, is a Special Administrative Region of the Celestial Empire.
2. Macau shall exercise a high degree of autonomy in accordance with the Celestial Constitution and this Charter.
3. Macau shall enjoy executive, legislative, fiscal, cultural, administrative, and judicial autonomy, save in matters expressly reserved to the Celestial Empire by the Celestial Constitution or by this Charter.
4. Macau shall not be a province, prefecture, autonomous region, municipality, dependency, colony, or ordinary administrative division of the Celestial Empire.

Article 2 — Continuity of Macau’s Legal Order

1. The civil-law system of Macau, deriving from the Portuguese legal tradition and developed through local usage, legislation, jurisprudence, and custom, shall continue in force.
2. Laws, regulations, legal institutions, courts, legal professions, notarial systems, registries, and administrative practices existing immediately before the coming into force of this Charter shall continue, unless amended or repealed in accordance with this Charter.
3. The common principles of legality, legal certainty, proportionality, good faith, legitimate expectation, publicity of law, and protection of acquired rights shall be fundamental principles of the legal order of Macau.
4. No imperial or central law shall apply in Macau unless:
   1. the Celestial Constitution expressly so provides;
   2. this Charter expressly so provides;
   3. the Legislative Assembly of Macau consents by law; or
   4. the matter concerns defence, foreign relations, imperial nationality, imperial symbols, imperial succession, or other matters inherently reserved to the Celestial Empire.

Article 3 — The Relationship with the Celestial Empire

1. Macau acknowledges the sovereignty of the Celestial Empire and the constitutional authority of the Dragon Throne.
2. The organs of Macau shall owe loyalty to the Celestial Constitution, this Charter, and the people of Macau.
3. The autonomy of Macau shall not be reduced except in accordance with the procedure required by the Celestial Constitution for Special Administrative Regions and with the additional consent requirements established by this Charter.
4. Any ambiguity concerning the scope of Macau’s autonomy shall be interpreted in favour of the continued autonomy, legal continuity, and institutional integrity of Macau.

Article 4 — The Mandate of Heaven in Macau

1. Public authority in Macau shall be exercised as a trust for the welfare of the people.
2. Government shall be conducted with integrity, moderation, humane administration, respect for family and community, and reverence for law.
3. The traditions of Confucian civic virtue, Buddhist compassion, Taoist harmony, Catholic charity, Portuguese municipalism, and Macanese pluralism shall be recognised as part of Macau’s constitutional inheritance.
4. No tradition shall be invoked to deny the equal dignity of any person.

Article 5 — Territory

1. The territory of Macau shall comprise the Macau Peninsula, Taipa, Coloane, Cotai, and such waters, reclaimed lands, ports, bridges, terminals, and associated areas as are lawfully within the jurisdiction of Macau.
2. The boundaries and territorial waters of Macau shall not be altered without the consent of the Legislative Assembly of Macau and the assent of the Dragon Throne.
3. Reclamation of land, maritime infrastructure, and urban development shall be regulated by law and shall respect heritage, environmental protection, public access, and the long-term welfare of the Region.

Article 6 — Capital and Seat of Government

1. Macau shall have no capital separate from the Region itself.
2. The principal seat of the Government of Macau shall be in the Macau Peninsula, unless otherwise provided by law.
3. The historic civic spaces of Macau, including Senado Square, the Leal Senado tradition, the Guia area, the Inner Harbour, and other protected sites, shall be treated as constitutional heritage of the Region.

PART II — LANGUAGE, SYMBOLS, IDENTITY, AND HERITAGE​

Article 7 — Official Languages

1. Chinese and Portuguese shall be the official languages of Macau.
2. The Chinese and Portuguese texts of laws, regulations, judicial decisions, administrative acts, public notices, and official instruments shall have equal authenticity, except where a law expressly provides a method of resolving textual divergence.
3. Residents shall have the right to use Chinese or Portuguese in dealings with public authorities, courts, schools, and public services.
4. The Region shall promote adequate public capacity in Cantonese, written Chinese, Portuguese, and, where appropriate, Mandarin and English.
5. The Macanese patois, local Cantonese expressions, Portuguese cultural terminology, and other linguistic inheritances of Macau shall be recognised as part of the intangible heritage of the Region.

Article 8 — Symbols of Macau

1. Macau shall have its own regional flag, regional emblem, public seal, honours, civic ceremonies, and regional days, as prescribed by law.
2. The regional symbols of Macau shall be used together with the symbols of the Celestial Empire in accordance with law and protocol.
3. No regional symbol shall derogate from the sovereignty of the Celestial Empire, and no imperial symbol shall be used to extinguish the distinct civic identity of Macau.

Article 9 — Cultural Identity

1. Macau shall preserve its character as a Chinese city with a Lusophone, maritime, commercial, religious, and civic inheritance.
2. The Region shall protect the Macanese community, the Portuguese-speaking community, the Chinese majority, and all other resident communities in their lawful culture, language, customs, associations, schools, charities, festivals, and religious institutions.
3. The State shall not assimilate or erase Macau’s distinct character under the pretext of administrative uniformity.

Article 10 — Heritage Protection

1. The historic centre of Macau, Chinese temples, Catholic churches, fortifications, cemeteries, civic buildings, theatres, charitable houses, old streets, maritime structures, libraries, archives, and intangible traditions shall be protected by law.
2. Special protection shall be afforded to sites of outstanding historical or cultural value, including the Ruins of St Paul’s, A-Ma Temple, Senado Square, Guia Fortress, the Leal Senado building, Mandarin’s House, St Lawrence’s Church, Dom Pedro V Theatre, and other sites designated by law.
3. Development, gaming, tourism, transport, reclamation, and commercial activity shall not be permitted to destroy the essential character of protected heritage.
4. The Region shall maintain archives recording Chinese, Portuguese, Macanese, religious, commercial, maritime, and civic history.

PART III — FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES​

Article 11 — Application of Rights

1. The rights guaranteed by the Celestial Constitution shall apply in Macau.
2. This Charter shall be interpreted consistently with those rights and may provide greater protection than the Celestial Constitution.
3. No law of Macau may abolish the essential content of human dignity, equality before the law, liberty, due process, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, property, privacy, fair trial, or access to justice.

Article 12 — Human Dignity

1. Human dignity is inviolable.
2. All public authorities shall respect and protect the dignity of every person.
3. No person shall be treated as an instrument of state policy, commercial profit, public spectacle, punishment, or social convenience.

Article 13 — Equality and Non-Discrimination

1. All persons are equal before the law.
2. Discrimination is prohibited on grounds including sex, gender, race, colour, ancestry, ethnic origin, language, religion, belief, political or other opinion, nationality, social origin, property, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation, residence status, or cultural community.
3. Measures designed to preserve the language, heritage, or legitimate interests of historically rooted communities of Macau shall not be deemed discriminatory where proportionate and consistent with human dignity.

Article 14 — Right to Life and Abolition of Capital Punishment

1. Every person has the right to life.
2. Capital punishment is absolutely prohibited in Macau.
3. No court, authority, official, or law of Macau shall impose, request, facilitate, approve, or execute a sentence of death.
4. No person shall be surrendered, extradited, transferred, removed, expelled, or otherwise delivered from Macau to any jurisdiction, including any authority of the Celestial Empire, where there is a real risk that the person may face capital punishment, unless binding, specific, and judicially reviewable guarantees are given that the death penalty shall neither be imposed nor carried out.
5. No state of urgency, imperial decree, treaty, emergency measure, or public-security ground shall derogate from this Article.

Article 15 — Prohibition of Torture and Inhuman Treatment

1. No person shall be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
2. Evidence obtained by torture or inhuman treatment shall be inadmissible.
3. The duty to investigate credible allegations of torture or inhuman treatment shall be immediate, independent, and effective.

Article 16 — Liberty and Security

1. No person shall be deprived of liberty except in accordance with law and by procedures compatible with justice.
2. Every arrested person shall be informed promptly, in a language they understand, of the reasons for arrest and of any charge against them.
3. Every detained person shall be brought promptly before a judge.
4. Habeas corpus shall be guaranteed.
5. Arbitrary detention, secret detention, enforced disappearance, and detention without judicial review are prohibited.

Article 17 — Privacy, Home, Communications, and Data

1. Everyone has the right to respect for private life, family life, home, reputation, correspondence, and communications.
2. Searches, surveillance, interception, data access, and seizure may occur only under law, for a legitimate purpose, and subject to judicial or independent oversight.
3. Personal data shall be processed fairly, lawfully, transparently, and for specified purposes.
4. An independent data-protection authority shall supervise the protection of personal data.

Article 18 — Freedom of Conscience, Religion, and Worship

1. Freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief is guaranteed.
2. All lawful religions and beliefs may organise, worship, teach, publish, maintain property, conduct charity, and administer internal affairs.
3. Buddhism, Taoism, Confucian rites, Chinese folk religion, Catholicism, Protestant Christianity, Islam, and other lawful traditions shall enjoy equal legal protection.
4. The historic role of Catholic institutions, Chinese temples, charitable associations, schools, and religious festivals in Macau shall be respected.
5. No person shall be compelled to profess or renounce any religion or belief.

Article 19 — Freedom of Expression, Press, and Academic Life

1. Freedom of expression, publication, press, broadcasting, art, research, teaching, and academic inquiry is guaranteed.
2. Censorship is prohibited, save for narrowly defined restrictions prescribed by law and necessary to protect the rights of others, public safety, national security, minors, or the administration of justice.
3. Universities, research institutions, libraries, archives, museums, and cultural institutions shall enjoy academic and institutional freedom in accordance with law.

Article 20 — Assembly, Association, and Civic Life

1. Residents have the right to peaceful assembly, procession, association, petition, and civic participation.
2. Trade unions, professional associations, charitable bodies, cultural associations, neighbourhood associations, religious institutions, and mutual-aid societies may be freely formed.
3. Public-order restrictions shall be lawful only where necessary, proportionate, and reviewable by a court.

Article 21 — Property, Enterprise, and Inheritance

1. The right to own, use, dispose of, and inherit property is guaranteed.
2. Expropriation shall be permitted only for a lawful public purpose and with fair, timely, and effective compensation.
3. The freedom to conduct business, practise a profession, and engage in lawful commerce is protected.
4. Traditional small businesses, family enterprises, markets, pharmacies, restaurants, workshops, maritime trades, and local commercial associations shall be protected from arbitrary displacement.

Article 22 — Social Rights

1. Residents have the right to education, healthcare, social assistance, housing assistance, labour protection, and social security in accordance with law.
2. The Government shall protect children, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, workers, victims of trafficking, victims of domestic violence, and persons in poverty.
3. Labour law shall guarantee fair wages, safe conditions, rest periods, annual leave, maternity and parental protection, and the right to organise.

Article 23 — Duties of Residents

Residents owe the duties of obeying lawful enactments, respecting the rights of others, contributing to public charges according to law, protecting heritage, preserving public order, and acting with civic responsibility.

PART IV — RESIDENCY, CITIZENSHIP, AND CIVIC STATUS​

Article 24 — Permanent Residents

1. Permanent residency of Macau shall be governed by law.
2. Permanent residents shall enjoy the full political rights conferred by this Charter, including the right to vote and stand for public office, subject to age, capacity, and lawful eligibility requirements.
3. No permanent resident shall be deprived of permanent residency arbitrarily.

Article 25 — Non-Permanent Residents

1. Non-permanent residents shall enjoy fundamental rights and legal protection.
2. Their entry, stay, work, family reunion, study, and removal shall be regulated by law.
3. Removal shall not occur where it would violate the principles of non-refoulement, family life, humanitarian protection, or the prohibition on transfer to capital punishment, torture, or inhuman treatment.

Article 26 — Imperial Citizenship

1. The status of citizens of the Celestial Empire residing in Macau shall be governed by imperial nationality law, subject to the protections of this Charter.
2. The rights of abode, travel documents, consular protection, and civic registration shall be regulated by law.
3. Macau may maintain its own travel documents, identity cards, civil-status registers, and residency documents in accordance with law.

PART V — POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF MACAU​

Article 27 — Organs of the Region

The organs of the Macau Special Administrative Region shall be:

1. the Chief Executive;
2. the Executive Council;
3. the Government;
4. the Legislative Assembly;
5. the Courts of Macau;
6. the Procuratorate;
7. the Commission Against Corruption;
8. the Audit Commission;
9. such municipalities, parishes, consultative councils, and public bodies as may be established by law.

Article 28 — Separation and Co-operation of Powers

1. The executive, legislative, and judicial powers of Macau shall be distinct.
2. The organs of the Region shall co-operate loyally within their constitutional competences.
3. No organ shall usurp the powers of another.
4. Judicial independence shall be inviolable.

PART VI — THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND GOVERNMENT​

Article 29 — The Chief Executive

1. The Chief Executive shall be the head of the Macau Special Administrative Region and the head of the Government of Macau.
2. The Chief Executive shall represent Macau and shall be responsible for the implementation of this Charter, local laws, and lawful imperial measures applicable to Macau.
3. The Chief Executive shall be accountable to the people of Macau and, within the limits of this Charter, to the Dragon Throne.

Article 30 — Selection of the Chief Executive

1. The Chief Executive shall be selected by universal, equal, direct, and secret suffrage of the permanent residents of Macau, unless amended by referendum under this Charter.
2. A candidate for Chief Executive shall be a permanent resident of Macau, ordinarily resident in Macau for not less than fifteen years, and not less than thirty-five years of age.
3. The elected Chief Executive shall be formally appointed by the Empress.
4. The Empress may refuse appointment only where the Constitutional Court determines that the election was unlawful, the candidate was constitutionally ineligible, or the appointment would gravely endanger the constitutional order.
5. The term of office shall be five years. No person shall serve more than two consecutive terms.

Article 31 — Powers of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive shall:

1. lead the Government;
2. appoint and dismiss principal officials in accordance with law;
3. sign bills passed by the Legislative Assembly;
4. issue administrative regulations;
5. prepare and submit the budget;
6. conduct authorised external affairs;
7. represent Macau in dealings with the Celestial Government;
8. grant honours of Macau;
9. commute sentences and grant pardons in accordance with law, save in cases involving corruption by senior officials unless approved by an independent judicial panel;
10. perform such other functions as are conferred by law.

Article 32 — The Executive Council

1. The Executive Council shall assist the Chief Executive in policy-making.
2. Its members shall be appointed by the Chief Executive from among principal officials, members of the Legislative Assembly, community representatives, jurists, economists, cultural figures, labour representatives, charitable leaders, and other persons of public standing.
3. The Chief Executive shall consult the Executive Council before issuing major regulations, introducing major bills, dissolving the Legislative Assembly where permitted, or making significant appointments.
4. The proceedings of the Executive Council shall be recorded, and reasons shall be given where the Chief Executive acts against its formal advice.

Article 33 — The Government

1. The Government shall conduct public administration in accordance with law.
2. Public administration shall be impartial, efficient, bilingual, transparent, humane, and free from corruption.
3. Principal officials shall be responsible for portfolios established by law, including administration and justice, economy and finance, security, social affairs and culture, transport and public works, and such other fields as may be prescribed.
4. Public servants shall be appointed on merit, protected from arbitrary dismissal, and bound by duties of legality, impartiality, confidentiality, diligence, and integrity.

PART VII — THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY​

Article 34 — Legislative Power

1. Legislative power in Macau shall be vested in the Legislative Assembly.
2. The Legislative Assembly shall enact, amend, suspend, and repeal laws within the competence of Macau.
3. It shall approve taxation, public expenditure, budgets, public borrowing, concessions, criminal laws, civil laws, administrative laws, electoral laws, heritage laws, gaming regulation, and other matters reserved to law.

Article 35 — Composition

1. The Legislative Assembly shall be composed primarily of members elected by universal, equal, direct, and secret suffrage.
2. A limited number of functional or community seats may be maintained by law to represent labour, commerce, professional bodies, charitable institutions, culture, education, and the Macanese and Portuguese-speaking communities, provided that directly elected members shall always constitute a majority.
3. No appointed bloc shall possess power to defeat legislation supported by a majority of directly elected members unless the matter concerns entrenched constitutional rights, fiscal stability, judicial independence, or heritage protection.

Article 36 — Term and Elections

1. The term of the Legislative Assembly shall be four years.
2. Elections shall be free, fair, secret, regular, and supervised by an independent electoral commission.
3. Electoral law shall ensure proportional representation, equality of vote, public transparency of campaign finance, and fair media access.
4. Gerrymandering, intimidation, vote-buying, abuse of public resources, and unlawful foreign or imperial interference are prohibited.

Article 37 — Legislative Procedure

1. Bills may be introduced by the Government, members of the Legislative Assembly, committees, or civic initiative as provided by law.
2. Bills shall be debated publicly unless secrecy is strictly necessary for public security or the protection of legitimate private interests.
3. Laws shall be enacted in both official languages.
4. The Chief Executive shall sign and promulgate bills duly passed by the Legislative Assembly, unless referring them to the courts for constitutional review.

Article 38 — Budgetary Authority

1. No tax, duty, levy, public borrowing, or public expenditure shall be imposed except by or under law.
2. The annual budget shall be submitted by the Government and approved by the Legislative Assembly.
3. Public finances shall be managed prudently, transparently, and for the long-term welfare of Macau.
4. Gaming revenue, land revenue, tourism revenue, and public reserves shall be subject to legislative scrutiny and independent audit.

Article 39 — Oversight

1. The Legislative Assembly may summon officials, require documents, establish inquiry committees, debate motions, and question the Government.
2. Officials shall answer truthfully unless lawfully protected by privilege, confidentiality, or public-security grounds.
3. Refusal to co-operate with lawful legislative oversight may constitute misconduct in public office.

PART VIII — THE JUDICIARY AND LEGAL SYSTEM​

Article 40 — Judicial Autonomy

1. Macau shall maintain its own courts and legal system.
2. The courts of Macau shall exercise final jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative, commercial, family, labour, fiscal, and other matters under Macau law, save for constitutional questions reserved to the Celestial Constitutional Court by the Celestial Constitution.
3. No court of the Celestial Empire other than the Celestial Constitutional Court shall exercise appellate jurisdiction over Macau unless this Charter is amended to permit it.

Article 41 — Courts of Macau

1. The courts of Macau shall include:
   1. courts of first instance;
   2. intermediate appellate courts;
   3. a Court of Final Appeal;
   4. administrative and fiscal courts;
   5. such specialised courts or tribunals as may be created by law.
2. The Court of Final Appeal of Macau shall be the highest court of the Region in non-constitutional matters.
3. Court proceedings shall be conducted in Chinese or Portuguese, with interpretation and translation where required by justice.

Article 42 — Judicial Independence

1. Judges shall be independent and subject only to law.
2. Judges shall enjoy security of tenure, adequate remuneration, immunity for judicial acts, and protection from arbitrary removal, transfer, suspension, or reduction of salary.
3. Judicial appointment, promotion, discipline, and removal shall be governed by an independent Judicial Council.
4. No official, imperial authority, legislator, private person, gaming operator, association, or foreign power shall interfere with judicial proceedings.

Article 43 — The Procuratorate

1. The Procuratorate of Macau shall represent the public interest, conduct prosecutions, defend legality, and perform such functions as are prescribed by law.
2. Prosecutors shall act objectively, independently, and in accordance with legality.
3. Criminal prosecution shall not be used as a means of political, commercial, religious, or personal retaliation.

Article 44 — Legal Profession and Notarial System

1. Advocates, solicitors, notaries, registrars, legal academics, and other legal professionals shall enjoy institutional independence in accordance with law.
2. The notarial, registry, land, commercial, civil-status, and authentication systems of Macau shall preserve their civil-law character.
3. Access to legal representation and legal aid shall be guaranteed.

Article 45 — Constitutional Review

1. Courts of Macau may determine the compatibility of local acts with this Charter.
2. Where a question concerns the Celestial Constitution or the constitutional relationship between Macau and the Celestial Empire, the matter may be referred to the Celestial Constitutional Court.
3. A reference to the Celestial Constitutional Court shall not permit general appellate review of Macau law or facts.
4. The Celestial Constitutional Court shall respect Macau’s autonomy, civil-law tradition, bilingual legal order, and constitutional identity when determining any question concerning Macau.

PART IX — CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SECURITY, AND EXTRADITION​

Article 46 — Criminal Law

1. Criminal offences and penalties shall be established only by law.
2. No one shall be convicted for an act or omission that was not criminal at the time it occurred.
3. Penalties shall be proportionate, humane, and directed toward justice, public safety, deterrence, rehabilitation, and reparation.
4. Collective punishment, retroactive criminal liability, and punishment by administrative command are prohibited.

Article 47 — Fair Trial

1. Every accused person shall be presumed innocent until convicted by a competent court.
2. The accused shall have the right to silence, counsel, interpretation, disclosure, adequate time to prepare a defence, public hearing, examination of witnesses, appeal, and legal aid where necessary.
3. Trials shall be public unless a court orders otherwise for reasons of justice, minors, victims, public order, or protected secrets.

Article 48 — Police and Public Security

1. The security forces of Macau shall be civilian, professional, disciplined, locally accountable, and subject to law.
2. Their duties shall include the protection of life, property, public order, borders, ports, immigration, tourism safety, and critical infrastructure.
3. The use of force shall be necessary, proportionate, and accountable.
4. A complaints and oversight body independent of the police shall investigate serious misconduct.

Article 49 — Extradition and Surrender

1. Extradition, surrender, transfer of sentenced persons, mutual legal assistance, and related measures shall be governed by law and treaty.
2. No person shall be extradited or surrendered where there are substantial grounds for believing that they would face:
   1. capital punishment;
   2. torture or inhuman treatment;
   3. persecution;
   4. flagrant denial of justice;
   5. trial by a court lacking independence;
   6. punishment for political opinion, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, or civic activity.
3. The protections of this Article apply equally to requests from foreign states, international bodies, other Special Administrative Regions, autonomous regions, provinces, prefectures, and authorities of the Celestial Empire.
4. The courts of Macau shall have power to review all extradition and surrender decisions.

PART X — ECONOMY, GAMING, FINANCE, AND PUBLIC WELFARE​

Article 50 — Economic System

1. Macau shall maintain a free, open, regulated, and externally connected economy.
2. The Region shall protect lawful private enterprise, free movement of capital in accordance with law, commercial certainty, fair competition, consumer protection, and contractual freedom.
3. The Government shall prevent monopolistic abuse, corruption, money laundering, predatory lending, trafficking, and exploitation.

Article 51 — Gaming and Concessions

1. Gaming may be lawful in Macau only under public concession, licence, or other legal authorisation.
2. Gaming shall be regulated as a special industry requiring strict public oversight.
3. The law shall ensure:
   1. prevention of criminal infiltration;
   2. protection of vulnerable persons;
   3. responsible gaming;
   4. fair labour conditions;
   5. transparent concession terms;
   6. anti-money-laundering controls;
   7. contribution to public welfare, culture, infrastructure, and economic diversification.
4. No gaming concession shall confer sovereignty, political influence, immunity from law, or control over public policy.
5. Public officials involved in gaming regulation shall be subject to strict conflict-of-interest rules.

Article 52 — Public Reserves and Fiscal Prudence

1. Macau shall maintain prudent public reserves for economic stability, ageing population needs, disaster response, health, housing, education, and diversification.
2. Public funds shall not be used for private enrichment, factional reward, or concealed subsidies.
3. Sovereign, imperial, or regional investment arrangements involving Macau funds shall require transparency and legislative oversight.

Article 53 — Diversification and Labour

1. The Region shall promote economic diversification beyond gaming, including culture, education, medicine, finance, conventions, maritime services, technology, Lusophone trade, tourism, creative industries, and professional services.
2. Workers shall be protected from exploitation, unlawful dismissal, unsafe conditions, wage theft, and discriminatory treatment.
3. Migrant workers shall enjoy humane treatment, contract protection, access to justice, and protection from trafficking.

Article 54 — Housing and Land

1. Land is a public resource to be managed for the common good.
2. The Government shall pursue adequate housing, fair land administration, transparent concession of land, urban liveability, public transport, and protection of old districts.
3. Eviction, redevelopment, or compulsory acquisition affecting residents or small businesses shall be subject to law, consultation, compensation, and judicial review.

PART XI — EDUCATION, CULTURE, RELIGION, AND SOCIAL LIFE​

Article 55 — Education

1. Residents have the right to education.
2. The Region shall support Chinese-language education, Portuguese-language education, bilingual education, vocational education, higher education, special education, and lifelong learning.
3. Schools may be public, private, religious, charitable, or community-based, subject to educational standards and the rights of students.
4. The history, law, languages, geography, and cultural heritage of Macau shall be taught in schools.

Article 56 — Higher Education and Research

1. Universities and higher-education institutions shall enjoy academic freedom.
2. Macau shall promote research in law, medicine, Chinese studies, Lusophone studies, maritime history, tourism, gaming regulation, technology, public administration, and cultural preservation.
3. Academic institutions shall not be subjected to political censorship.

Article 57 — Charity and Community Institutions

1. The Region shall recognise the historic role of charitable houses, religious charities, neighbourhood associations, professional guilds, family associations, and community bodies.
2. Such bodies may provide social services, education, healthcare, elder care, cultural activities, and emergency relief in accordance with law.
3. Public support for charitable bodies shall be transparent and non-discriminatory.

Article 58 — Festivals and Public Traditions

1. Macau shall protect public festivals, processions, temple fairs, Catholic feast days, Chinese traditional festivals, Macanese customs, Portuguese civic commemorations, and other lawful cultural practices.
2. The law may designate regional holidays reflecting Macau’s plural inheritance.
3. Public celebrations shall respect public order, safety, religious freedom, and the rights of residents.

PART XII — EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND LUSOPHONE RELATIONS​

Article 59 — External Relations

1. Foreign affairs and diplomatic recognition are reserved to the Celestial Empire.
2. Macau may, under authorisation or general competence granted by the Celestial Empire, conduct external relations in economic, cultural, educational, legal, sporting, tourism, commercial, maritime, and technical matters.
3. Macau may participate in international organisations and agreements under the name “Macau, China” or such other designation as is lawfully approved.

Article 60 — Lusophone Relations

1. Macau shall serve as a bridge between the Celestial Empire and Portuguese-speaking countries and communities.
2. The Region may maintain cultural, legal, educational, commercial, and linguistic relations with Lusophone states and institutions.
3. Portuguese-language legal education, translation, public administration, publishing, and diplomacy shall be supported as part of Macau’s constitutional identity.

Article 61 — Trade, Tourism, and Mobility

1. Macau may maintain distinct customs, immigration, tourism, aviation, port, and commercial arrangements in accordance with law.
2. The Region may conclude non-sovereign commercial, tourism, cultural, educational, and technical arrangements with foreign and regional bodies, subject to imperial foreign-affairs competence.
3. The free-port character of Macau shall be preserved unless altered by law with enhanced legislative approval.

PART XIII — PUBLIC INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY​

Article 62 — Commission Against Corruption

1. The Commission Against Corruption shall be independent.
2. It shall investigate corruption, abuse of office, unlawful enrichment, electoral corruption, conflicts of interest, procurement fraud, and misconduct by public officials.
3. It shall have power to investigate senior officials, legislators, public servants, concessionaires, public contractors, and persons exercising public functions.
4. Its head shall be appointed by the Chief Executive following approval by a supermajority of the Legislative Assembly.

Article 63 — Audit Commission

1. The Audit Commission shall independently audit public revenue, expenditure, assets, concessions, reserves, public companies, and public works.
2. Audit reports shall be submitted to the Legislative Assembly and made public, save for narrowly defined protected information.
3. Gaming concessions, land concessions, major infrastructure contracts, and public-private partnerships shall be subject to audit.

Article 64 — Public Procurement

1. Public procurement shall be governed by transparency, competition, integrity, value for money, and equal treatment.
2. Emergency procurement shall be reviewed after the emergency ends.
3. Officials and close relatives shall be subject to conflict-of-interest and asset-declaration laws.

PART XIV — ENVIRONMENT, URBAN LIFE, AND MARITIME CHARACTER​

Article 65 — Environmental Protection

1. The Region shall protect air, water, coastlines, wetlands, hills, parks, biodiversity, and public health.
2. Environmental protection shall be integrated into gaming, tourism, transport, energy, reclamation, waste, and urban-planning policy.
3. Residents shall have access to environmental information and remedies.

Article 66 — Urban Planning

1. Urban planning shall preserve the human scale, historic districts, public spaces, waterfronts, and mixed cultural character of Macau.
2. Planning decisions shall be transparent and subject to public consultation.
3. The skyline, hill views, temple settings, church settings, old streets, and heritage corridors of Macau shall receive special protection.

Article 67 — Maritime and Port Identity

1. Macau’s maritime history and port identity shall be protected.
2. Ferry terminals, ports, bridges, maritime routes, coastal defences, and sea-related infrastructure shall be managed in the public interest.
3. Maritime safety, rescue, fisheries, harbour heritage, and coastal access shall be regulated by law.

PART XV — STATES OF URGENCY​

Article 68 — Declaration of Regional Urgency

1. The Chief Executive may declare a State of Regional Urgency in the event of natural disaster, epidemic, grave public disorder, infrastructure collapse, financial emergency, or other serious threat to public life in Macau.
2. The declaration shall be immediately submitted to the Legislative Assembly and published in both official languages.
3. A State of Regional Urgency shall expire after thirty days unless renewed by the Legislative Assembly.

Article 69 — Limits During Urgency

1. Emergency measures shall be lawful, necessary, proportionate, temporary, and subject to judicial review.
2. No emergency measure may derogate from:
   1. human dignity;
   2. the prohibition of capital punishment;
   3. the prohibition of torture;
   4. the prohibition of slavery;
   5. legality in criminal matters;
   6. judicial review of detention;
   7. freedom of conscience and religion in its inner forum;
   8. the essential independence of the courts.
3. The Government shall report regularly to the Legislative Assembly during a State of Regional Urgency.

PART XVI — AMENDMENT OF THIS CHARTER​

Article 70 — Ordinary Amendment

1. This Charter may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the Legislative Assembly, followed by assent of the Chief Executive and formal notification to the Dragon Throne.
2. Where an amendment concerns the relationship between Macau and the Celestial Empire, judicial autonomy, language rights, the prohibition of capital punishment, or the status of Macau as a Special Administrative Region, it shall additionally require approval by referendum.

Article 71 — Entrenched Provisions

No amendment shall abolish or substantially impair:

1. Macau’s status as a Special Administrative Region;
2. the civil-law character of its legal system;
3. judicial independence;
4. the final appellate jurisdiction of Macau courts in non-constitutional matters;
5. the official status of Chinese and Portuguese;
6. the prohibition of capital punishment;
7. the prohibition on extradition or surrender to face capital punishment, torture, or flagrant denial of justice;
8. freedom of religion and conscience;
9. the protection of Macau’s cultural and historical heritage;
10. the essential content of fundamental rights.

Article 72 — Consent to Reduction of Autonomy

1. No reduction of Macau’s autonomy shall have effect unless:
   1. approved in accordance with the Celestial Constitution;
   2. approved by a two-thirds majority of the Legislative Assembly of Macau;
   3. approved by referendum of the permanent residents of Macau; and
   4. assented to by the Dragon Throne.
2. Any purported reduction of autonomy not complying with this Article shall be void in Macau.

PART XVII — TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS​

Article 73 — Continuity of Law

All laws, regulations, courts, public bodies, concessions, contracts, rights, duties, licences, proceedings, and public acts existing at the commencement of this Charter shall continue in force so far as they are not inconsistent with this Charter.

Article 74 — Review of Existing Laws

1. The Legislative Assembly shall establish a programme for reviewing existing laws for consistency with this Charter.
2. Priority shall be given to laws concerning criminal justice, public security, gaming, land, housing, labour, heritage, data protection, and public integrity.
3. A law shall not be invalid merely because it predates this Charter, unless a competent court determines that it is inconsistent with this Charter or the Celestial Constitution.

Article 75 — Oaths

1. The Chief Executive, principal officials, legislators, judges, prosecutors, senior public servants, and members of independent bodies shall swear or affirm loyalty to the Celestial Constitution, this Charter, the Macau Special Administrative Region, and the faithful service of the people.
2. The oath shall be available in Chinese and Portuguese.
3. No oath shall require the renunciation of lawful cultural, religious, linguistic, or civic identity.

Article 76 — Commencement

This Charter shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation under the seal of Macau and upon recognition by the Dragon Throne.

Article 77 — Authentic Texts

The Chinese and Portuguese texts of this Charter shall be authentic. An English text may be maintained for reference, commerce, education, and international communication, but shall not prevail over the authentic texts unless expressly provided by law.

Issued in Macau, under the Seal of the Macau Special Administrative Region,
in loyalty to the Celestial Constitution,
under the Mandate of Heaven,
and for the flourishing of Macau and its people.

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