Flag of Macau

The Regional flag of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (zh-ts|t=中華人民共和國澳門特別行政區區旗|s=中华人民共和国澳门特别行政区区旗), is light green with a lotus flower above the stylized Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in the center of the arc and four smaller ones. The five stars are used as a constant reminder of the China's communist rule over Macau.

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 mother country.

History

Prior to the handover of Macau to the People's Republic of China by Portugal 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. [ [http://www.fotw.net/flags/mo-1967.html Macao - 1967 Colonial Flag Proposal ] ]

There was a flag for the Government of Macau, with the colony's coat of arms on a light blue field. [ [http://www.casademacau.org/handover.htm Casa de Macau Vancouver - Handover Archives ] ]

1993 Proposals

See also

* Coat of arms of Macau
* List of Chinese flags
* Flag of Hong Kong
* Flag of the People's Republic of China
* National anthem of the People's Republic of China

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Es_0bqtcvo Macau Handover Ceremony 1999]
*FOTW|id=mo|title=Macau