Time Capsule (, ) is a

time capsule A time capsule is a historic treasure trove, cache of goods or information, usually intended as a deliberate method of communication with future people, and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians. The preservation of holy ...

that symbolizes the Portuguese government's witnessing and acknowledgement of China's promise to maintain

Macau Macau or Macao is a special administrative regions of China, special administrative region of the People's Republic of China (PRC). With a population of about people and a land area of , it is the most List of countries and dependencies by p ...

's level of autonomy for fifty years after the transfer of sovereignty. The Time Capsule was closed and covered on 18 December 1999 and it is scheduled to be opened in 2049. Currently, the Time Capsule is located in the Praça do Centro Cultural de Macau, which was the venue for the transference of sovereignty ceremony.

Design

The metallic Time Capsule, designed by Donato Moreno, is a drum-type container measuring approximately in diameter by in height. Its cover carries the inscription "19.12.1999 MACAU 澳門 19.12.2049", representing the last date on which Portugal controlled

(19 December 1999), the city's name in Portuguese and Chinese and the date on which the time capsule is to be opened (19 December 2049).

History

President of the Portuguese Republic

Jorge Sampaio Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampaio (; 18 September 1939 – 10 September 2021) was a Portuguese lawyer and politician who was the 18th President of Portugal from 1996 to 2006. Sampaio was a member of the Socialist Party, a party which he ...

with the Governor of Macau

Vasco Joaquim Rocha Vieira Vasco Joaquim Rocha Vieira, GCTE GCC GCIH ComA (; 16 August 1939 – 22 January 2025) was a Portuguese Army officer who was the last Governor of Macau. Background Vieira was born on 16 August 1939. He was the son of João da Silva Vieira a ...

hosted the ceremony to seal the Time Capsule in front of Pavilhão da Cerimónia de Transferênciade Poderes, the venue of the ceremony for the

transfer of sovereignty over Macau The handover of Macau from the Portuguese Republic to the People's Republic of China was at midnight on 20 December 1999. This event ended 442 years of Portuguese rule in the former settlement, which began in 1557. Macau was settled by Por ...

at noon on 18 December 1999 (the transfer itself occurred on the 20th). At around 13:00, Sampaio and Vieira put the relevant documents with the transfer of sovereignty over Macau into the time capsule one by one. The capsule was then lowered by steel chains into the well to a depth of around deep, buried and capped. The capsule was ceremonially sealed by Sampaio who gave a speech just before midnight on the day of the transfer.Portuguese president bids Macau farewell
BBC, 19 December 1999, retrieved 24 November 2013 The time capsule is expected to be opened on 19 December 2049 – 50 years from its burial, symbolizing the

Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China The State Council of the People's Republic of China, also known as the Central People's Government, is the chief administrative authority and national cabinet. It is constitutionally the highest administrative organ of the country and the e ...

's promise of maintaining " one country, two systems", and guaranteeing a high level of autonomy of Macau ruled by their residents for 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty to People's Republic of China, as witnessed by the

Portuguese Government Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

The Time Capsule contains the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Portuguese Republic on the question of Macao, Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Moreover, documents, newspaper clippings and official press releases that related to the transfer of sovereignty during the transition period were also put into the capsule.

References

External links

澳门，五十年是否长久？
{{coord missing, Macau History of Macau

Design

History

Contents

References

External links