• ETEN!
the city with the mot- to "There is none used more loyal" since then in her coat of arms.
The expulsion of the Portuguese from Japan in 1639 caused a big setback in Ma- cau's economy which was further attenuat- ed by the establish- ment of new markets Macassar, Solor
in and other territories of the West Indies.
However, until the middle of the 18th century and in spite of all vicissitudes, Macau maintained her importance as a trade centre, even though the splendour of the bygone days had gradually diminished. A period of decline is marked by the Emperor K'ang-hsi's ruling which allowed the opening of some Chinese ports to foreign trade.
Example of 17th Century Portugese church architecture her prosperity with the increase of the trade with Japan, Philippines and other countries.
The English traveller. Peter Mundy, visited Macau in this epoch (1637) and described the city in the following passage of his diary:
"Macao standeth at one end of a great Iland built on rising hills, some gardeins and trees among their houses making a pretty prospecte somewhatt resembling Goa allthough not so bigge. Their houses doubled tyled, and thatt paistres over againe, for prevention of Hurracanes ог violentt wyndes that happen some yeares called by the Chinois Tuf- faones which is also the reason (as they say) they build no high towers Nor steeples to their Churches."
In 1580, Philip II of Spain ascend- ed to the throne of Portugal and the Portuguese territories became prey to the enemies of Spain, namely the Dutch. They made some attempts to seize Macau but were defeated in 1622 and 1627. Moreover, Macau was able to maintain her autonomy without the interference of the Spanish domination. For the al- legiance shown to Portugal by her population, King John VI of Por- tugal, after having restored Portu- guese independence (1640), awarded
Several foreign companies man- aged to settle their branches in Macau and the Portuguese trade was gradually confined to Thailand.
Commercial activity gradually diminished and in 1841, when the British established the Crown Colony of Hong Kong as a sequel to the so called Opium War, the fall of Macau as a trade centre began.
The loss of importance of Macau as a trade port, due to the opening of the free port of Hong Kong and to the silting of the Macau harbour, greatly changed the life of the city.
THE PRESENT
Thus, for many decades Macau looked for a path which could justify its economic existence. The emigra- tion increased and only World War II and the advent of the new Chinese regime, with its sudden and massive afflux of displaced people. brought a passing illusion of a new "golden age" of prosperity and easy wealth.
These illusions, however, were soon revealed to be fallacious. His-
tory is irreversible and the geophy- sical characteristics of Macau, toge- ther with the scantiness of the area available, made it impracticable for the maintenance and revival of past splendours.
Throughout the 50's realisation of the actual conditions and resources of Macau brought an awareness of the need to define ways of coping, if not with the old splendour, at least with the dignity and social balance of the city.
These ways are basically tourism and associate activities, as well as a modest industrialization, more or less subsidiary of Hong Kong.
The first step to start this new phase in Macau history was given wth the signature of the new con- tract for a gambling franchise. In the scope of this document new
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Coca-Cola
These 6ft. concrete bottles are now feature of Macau's streets. The fine old East India Co. building once stood near this site
paths for the development of Macau were clearly established and legislat- ed. The profits slowly began to emerge and the leap forward given in the last two years, namely in hotel accommodation and transportation, are in fact remarkable.
However, to make this progress. beneficial in terms of equitative well- being and opportunities for the city and its population, a minimum of coordinated planning was needed. This planning would obviously in-
40
Model of the master plan for the Outer Harbour district. Circular buildings in the left foreground are the new casino-hotel
being designed by Eric Cumine, FRIBA
Far East Architect & Builder March, 1965
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