Heading for one country objective
Quo vadis - that is the big question after Macau's return to the Chinese motherland this week.
Except for East Timor's interim status as a territory de jure still administered by Portugal, but de facto run by the United Nations, as well as the British Indian Ocean Territory of the Chagos Archipelago, Macau's handover has sounded the death knell for four centuries of European colonialism in Asia.
The handover turned out to be a carnival-like event, notwithstanding exposure to the elements and the security forces' gratuitously ham-fisted approach towards a few dozen devotees of the Falun Gong movement and a handful of members of an alternative group of artists, the Stone Commune. Macau security officials tried to defend themselves by pointing to rather heavy-handed policing by the police in Britain during President Jiang Zemin's state visit in October.
While it may be true that, especially when compared with the fate of demonstrators in London during Mr Jiang's visit, Macau police handled the handover protesters with kid gloves, the security forces of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) should know that the right to demonstrate and the freedom of worship are cornerstones of China's principle of one country, two systems.
The point is that, unlike in Hong Kong, most Macau residents appear to place more emphasis on the objective of one country than the maxim of two systems.
Many want the mainland's direct help in getting the enclave's economic development and public security back on track.
Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah will have to walk a tightrope between the sometimes rather naive demands of the community and strict adherence to the principle of one country, two systems.
After all, Beijing's ultimate aim is to bring Taiwan back into the fold.
After Hong Kong, Macau has become the mainland's second 'glorious example' of peaceful reunification with the motherland.
In a way, the tricky Taiwan problem may protect Macau's post-handover autonomy for years to come since the mainland will have to prove that it fully respects the tiny enclave's unique way of life.
Such hopes were not helped by reports yesterday that Taiwan's representative is to be replaced for removing the Taipei Trade and Tourism Office's nameplate during the handover ceremonies after pressure from Macau police.
Taiwan is of utmost importance to Macau's troubled economy. About 20,000 Macau citizens, or 10 per cent of the local manpower, work in Taiwan and passengers travelling between the mainland and Taiwan generate about 75 per cent of the movement of Macau International Airport. Many of the enclave's brightest professionals graduated from universities in Taiwan.
Mr Ho has been honest enough to admit that he is not closely acquainted with the situation in Taiwan. However, he has vowed to promote non-political ties, namely trade and tourism, between the two sides.
Harald Bruning is the Post's Macau correspondent
