Flag of Macau

The Regional flag of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (Chinese: 中華人民共和國澳門特別行政區區旗; Portuguese: Bandeira regional da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China) is light green with a lotus flower above the stylised Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five golden five-pointed stars: one large star in the center of the arc with two smaller stars on each side of the large star.

Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
NameLotus Flag
UseCivil and state flag, civil and state ensign
Proportion2:3
AdoptedApproved on 31 March 1993 by National People's Congress, used on 20 December 1999
DesignLight green with a lotus flower above the stylised Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five golden five-pointed stars, where the large star is in the center flanked by four smaller stars, two on each side of the large star.
Designed byYahun Bang
Regional flag of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese中華人民共和國澳門特別行政區區旗
Simplified Chinese中华人民共和国澳门特别行政区区旗
Portuguese name
PortugueseBandeira regional da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China

The lotus was chosen as the floral emblem of Macau. The Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge is a bridge linking the Macau Peninsula and the island of Taipa. The bridge is one of the most recognisable landmarks for the territory. The water beneath the lotus and the bridge symbolise Macau's position as a port and its role played in the territory. The five five-pointed stars echo the design of the flag of the People's Republic of China, symbolising the relationship Macau has with its sovereign state.

According to the Basic Law of Macau, the Macau Regional Flag is a green flag with five stars, lotus flower, bridge and sea water. This law also adopted "Apart from displaying the Flag of the People's Republic of China, the Macao Special Administrative Region may also use a regional flag".[1]

1993 proposals
The chosen flag of Macau

In 1993, several proposed designs were put forward.[2]

  • Similar to the current flag of Macau, but the lotus is stylised differently and is found in a disc, with the stars inside the flower
  • A tricolour of red-white-red; the middle band has a depiction of St. Paul's Cathedral in Macau
  • A triband with a stylised "M" standing for Macau; a large star above four smaller stars representative of China
  • A vertical bicolour of green and red, resembling the Flag of Portugal, with a stylised lotus flower in the lower fly
  • A red and blue stylised "M" with a large five-pointed star, with a red lotus blossom within the centre of the star, on the upper fly of a white flag with two blue horizontal bands
  • Similar to the current flag of Macau, but the flag colour is red, and the emblem excludes the bridge and water underneath the lotus on the current flag
  • A stylised lotus flower with an arch of yellow stars on a red flag
  • A stylised lotus flower with an arch of yellow stars above the flower on a red flag
  • A depiction of the Guia Fortress Lighthouse, the oldest in Asia, under a golden star; a white halo ring forms around the lighthouse, and two light cones divide the upper fly (red in colour) and lower fly (blue in colour)
  • A vertical bicolour of green and red, resembling the Flag of Portugal, with a white gull in the upper fly and a white depiction of the Gov. Nobre de Carvalho Bridge in the lower fly
  • A stylised lotus flower on a red flag with an arch of yellow stars above the flower
  • A red triangle with base on hoist and apex on the fly edge, filled with the stars from the flag of China
  • A stylised lotus flower, with a red-outlined star within the top petal
  • Another depiction of the Gov. Nobre de Carvalho Bridge in the lower fly on a red flag, with the five yellow stars running parallel to the outline of the bridge

Portuguese rule

Prior to the handover of Macau to the People's Republic of China by the Portuguese Republic in 1999, Macau officially used only the Portuguese flag, in contrast to Hong Kong, which, under British rule, used a defaced Blue Ensign as its flag, alongside the Union Jack. In 1967, there were proposals to give each overseas province its own flag, consisting of the Portuguese flag with the local coat of arms, but none was ever adopted.[3]

There was a flag for the Government of Macau, with the colony's coat of arms on a light blue field.[4]

There was a flag for the municipality or Leal Senado of Macau, with a Portuguese-style coat of arms and two angels as heraldic supporters, which was used at the 1999 handover ceremony.

Macau historical flags
FlagDurationUseDescription
1557–1578Flag of Portugal from 1521 until 1578, used in colonial-era Macau.The Portuguese flag was used in colonial-era Macau, as there was no territorial flag.
1578–1640Flag of Portugal from 1495 until 1578, used in colonial-era Macau.The Portuguese flag was used in colonial-era Macau, as there was no territorial flag.
1640–1667Flag of Portugal from 1640 until 1667, used in colonial-era Macau.The Portuguese flag was used in colonial-era Macau, as there was no territorial flag.
1667–1707Flag of Portugal from 1667 until 1707, used in colonial-era Macau.The Portuguese flag was used in colonial-era Macau, as there was no territorial flag.
1707–1816Flag of Portugal from 1707 until 1750, used in colonial-era Macau.The Portuguese flag was used in colonial-era Macau, as there was no territorial flag.
1816–1830Flag of Portugal from 1816 until 1830, used in colonial-era Macau.The Portuguese flag was used in colonial-era Macau, as there was no territorial flag.
1830–1910Flag of Portugal from 1830 until 1910, used in colonial-era Macau.The Portuguese flag was used in colonial-era Macau, as there was no territorial flag.
1911–1975Flag of Portugal since 1911, used in colonial-era Macau.The Portuguese flag was used in colonial-era Macau, as there was no territorial flag.
1975–1999Flag of the Municipality of Macau, one of two local municipal governments.A light blue field charged with the coat of arms of the Municipality of Macau. This was the flag used at sporting events and at the 1999 handover to China.
1975–1999Flag of Portuguese colonial Government of Macau.A light blue field charged with the official coat of arms of the Portuguese colony of Macau. During the Portuguese administration this flag also represented the territory of Macau in the international forums, although it was not the official flag of the Portuguese colony.
UnofficialVariant flag of Portuguese colonial Government of Macau.Unofficial variant without a mural crown representing the Kingdom of the Algarve castles in the coat of arms and replacing "Government of Macau" with simply "Macau". This flag was found at the University of Macau in a photo of International University sports meeting and it was used in the parade. Although this flag was never used officially, some sports media used it instead of the Portuguese flag to represent the colony.
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See also

References
  1. Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People' s Republic of China(by Printing Bureau) Archived 5 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1993 Proposals for the Macau Flag
  3. Macao – 1967 Colonial Flag Proposal Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Casa de Macau Vancouver – Handover Archives
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