Macau protests that halted pension plan seen as political awakening

The strong May sunlight almost hurt. Despite the heat, 20,000 sweaty Macau residents chanted slogans on the cobblestone streets of the former Portuguese colony.

In a city dominated by the sound of clicking dice and roulette wheels, they raised their voices to condemn a bill that would have lavished benefits on outgoing chief executives and certain other government officials. The May 25 protest was described as the biggest demonstration in the city since residents rose up in 1989 to oppose the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Thousands gathered two days afterwards, outside the Legislative Assembly, calling for the resignation of Chief Executive Dr Fernando Chui Sai-on if the government didn't scrap the plan. Shortly afterwards the administration withdrew the contentious bill.

While members of the public slammed the government for not carrying out any consultation on the bill before tabling it to the legislature, Chui vowed to learn from the experience and said the administration would do better to explain its policies and hear from the public.

The administration would draft a new paper on retirement benefits for public consultation, he added.

The protests have been called by some lawmakers and activists the political awakening of Macau residents - a maiden experience for many in the crowd. Some of the participants said they hoped their efforts would inspire the city to fight for a more ambitious and important goal - democracy.

Professor Eilo Yu Wing-yat, a political scientist at Macau University, says it's uncertain whether public momentum on social issues can be sustained. "The crux of this campaign is that Macau people, who used to believe they have no power to say no to government, finally realise that they can make a change if they stay united. This is very powerful," he says.