The Central People's Government shall assist or authorise the Macao Special Administrative Region Government to make appropriate arrangements for reciprocal juridical assistance with foreign states.
V
The Macao Special Administrative Region shall, according to law, ensure the rights and freedoms of the inhabitants and other persons in Macao as provided for by the laws previously in force in Macao, including freedom of the person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of demonstration, of association (e.g., to form and join non-official associations), to form and join trade unions, of travel and movement, of choice of oc- cupation and work, of strike, of religion and belief, of educa- tion and academic research; inviolability of the home and of communication, and the right to have access to law and court; rights concerning the ownership of private property and of enterprises and their transfer and inheritance, and to obtain appropriate compensation for lawful deprivation paid without undue delay; freedom to marry and the right to form and raise a family freely.
The inhabitants and other persons in the Macao Special Ad- ministrative Region shall all be equal before the law, and shall be free from discrimination, irrespective of nationality, descent, sex, race, language, religion, political or ideological belief, educational level, economic status or social conditions.
The Macao Special Administrative Region shall protect, ac- cording to law, the interests of residents of Portuguese descent in Macao and shall respect their customs and cultural tradi- tions.
Religious organizations and believers in the Macao Special Administrative Region may carry out activities as before for
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religious purposes and within the limits as prescribed by law, and may maintain relations with religious organizations and believers outside Macao. Schools, hospitals and charitable in- stitutions attached to religious organizations may continue to operate as before. The relationship between religious organiza. tions in the Macao Special Administrative Region and those in other parts of the People's Republic of China shall be based on the principles of non-subordination, non-interference and mutual respect.
VI
After the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, public servants (including police) of Chinese nation- ality and Portuguese and other foreign nationalities previously serving in Macao may all remain in employment and continue their service with pay, allowances and benefits no less favour- able than before. Those of the above-mentioned public ser- vants who have retired after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall, in accordance with reg- ulations currently in force, be entitled to pensions and al- lowances on terms no less favourable than before, and ir- respective of their nationality or place of residence.
The Macao Special Administrative Region may appoint Portuguese and other foreign nationals previously serving in the public service in Macao or currently holding Permanent Identity Cards of the Macao Special Administrative Region to public posts (except certain principal official posts). The Macao Special Administrative Region may also invite Por- tuguese and other foreign nationals to serve as advisers or hold professional and technical posts. The Portuguese and other foreign nationals holding public posts in the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be employed only in their in-
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