Backgrounder: Historic moment marking Macao's return to China 1999

Now we take a review on the historic moment marking Macao's return to China 1999.

1. December 19, 1999, 17:00. Office of the Governor of Macao. The Portuguese national flag is lowered.

2. December 19, 1999, 23:50. Macao Post Office building, Macao's Senado Square. People await the advent of a new era.

3. December 20, 1999, 00:00. Macao hand-over ceremony. The People's Republic of China officially resumes its exercise of sovereignty over Macao.

4. December 20, 1999, 00:00. The territory acquires a new emblem, shield and status. 5. December 20, 1999, 01:45. Edmund Ho Hau Wah takes the oath of office as the first Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Leading officials, members of the Executive Council, members of the Legislative Council, judges of the Court of Final Appeal and procurators of the Procuratorate of the Government of the Macao SAR are sworn in. 4. December 20, 1999, 03:00. The 23 members of the First Legislative Council of the Macao SAR hold their first meeting, adopting the Law on the Return of Macao to China.

5. December 20, 1999, morning. Meeting held to celebrate the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. (PIX: Jiang Zemin, then-President of the PRC, and top officials of the Special Region hold a scroll inscribed by President Jiang.) "Inaugurate a New Era in Macao."

 6. December 20, 1999, 08:00. Golden Lotus Square. Chinese national flag raising ceremony. 7. December 20, 1999, 12:30. A grand parade involving nearly 5,000 people turns Macao into a sea of jubilation. (PIX: People carrying a banner.) "Returned!"