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University of East Asia rector Paul Lin told the programme that the agreement was more than a formalisation of the so-called China-dominated status quo in Macau because there were issues like the nationality question that needed to be solved and now they had been solved through the agreement.
Alexandre Ho told Radio-3 that there was no need to set up a Basic Law consultative committee in Macau. He said there were already many well-established associations of various fields in Macau and consultation on the Basic Law could be done through them.
On RTHK's "Pentaprism" last night, Dr Monjardino said Macanese civil servants should have no worries over their future.
Alexandre Ho told TVB-Pearl's "Focus" last night that the nationality solution in the Macau agreement should allow quite a free choice to the present holders of the Portuguese passport. He said the nationality issue was a very practical concern because Macau was SO small and its people had always thought of going to other places for further development.
Holding a different view, the head of the Government and Administration Department of the University of East Asia, Dr Wun Kin-wah, said Chinese holders of Portuguese passports were not very concerned over the nationality issue because they did not like to leave Macau, which they treated as their hometown. They were also optimistic about China's economic and political reforms which would provide a promising future for them.
Referring to the relationship between HK and Macau, Alexandre Ho felt that the two places should co-operate more closely in future because they were now in the same boat. He said if Macau lost its present system and became a socialist territory, HK people's confidence might be affected.
Comment
In Wen Wei Po, the paper's director, Li Tse-chung, wrote that the agreement would clear China of the disgrace of losing sovereignty over the territory in the Ching Dynasty. Portugal would also be cleared of the name as a colonialist. He said China and Portugal would strengthen their friendly co-operation for enhancing a prosperous and stable Macau.
Tong Yuk-hon of Ta Kung Pao said that the differences between the Macau and HK agreements were a reflection of the different situations in the two places and as a result, things were handled differently.
The HK Times said in an editorial that people should not forget the loss of economic vitality and freedom of the press in Macau in 1966 when the Communists virtually took control of the enclave. The paper said the people of HK, when fighting to protect their own freedom, should also fight for the freedom of Macau people.
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