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some minor reshuffling of contents and order. The ability of the Macao SAR is to employ foreign nationals is less restricted than that for Hong Kong where certain posts are ruled out (Article 101 in each case). The oaths of allegiance are somewhat different, Macao senior officials must pledge allegiance to the People's Republic of China, those in Hong Kong to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC as well as to uphold the Basic
Law.
Chapter V: Economy
13. This covers Articles 105 to 121 in the Macao Basic Law. For Hong Kong the Chapter is divided into 4 sections and covers Articles 105 to 135. The main differences are that the Macao BL does not contain sections on Land Leases (Articles 120 to 123 of the Hong Kong BL are covered in a much shorter Article 121 for Macao which similarly guarantees that leases will extend beyond the change of administration) or Civil Aviation (Articles 128 to 135);
nor is there any reference to a Macao Exchange Fund (Hong Kong Article 113), or to futures and other financial markets in Macao (Hong Kong Article 122). A number of separate articles in the Hong Kong BL which dealt with the provision of an encouraging legal and economic environment for various activities (eg Articles 109, 118 and 119) have been conflated into a single article for Macao (Article 116).
14. The Macao BL contains a few provisions not in the Hong Kong BL. There is a reference in the Article of the taxation system
(108) to "franchises will be prescribed by law separately" There is no mention of franchises in the Hong Kong BL. Article 117 deals with labour policies which are covered in a later section (Article 147) in the Hong Kong BL. There is a separate Article (119) on the development of tourism for which there is no Hong Kong BL equivalent, and Article 120 on environmental protection is covered less fully in a subparagraph of Hong Kong Article 119.
Chapter VI: Cultural and Social Affairs
15.
This takes up Articles 122 to 134, the equivalent Chapter in the Hong Kong BL is entitles "Education, Science, Culture, Sports, Religion, Labour and Social Services" and covers Articles 136 to 149. The ground covered is largely similar although there has been some reordering of the various articles. Under education (Article 122), the Macao BL has a provision that the Macao SAR will carry out compulsory education progressively by law which is not in the Hong Kong equivalent. The Macao BL has a provision to protect by law scenic spots, historical sites and other historical relics which is not found in the Hong Kong BL (Article 126). The articles on religion are phrased somewhat differently. Article 128 of the Macao BL states that: "The Macao SAR government will not, according to the principle of freedom of religious belief, interfere in the internal affairs of religious organisations, interfere in the efforts of religious organisations and believers to maintain and develop relations with religious organisations and believers outside Macao, and will not restrict religious activities which do not contravene the laws of the region. Religious organisations may run seminaries, other schools,
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