Government Headquarters at a Glance

Located on Avenida da Praia Grande, the Government Headquarters measures about 8,900 square meters. It comprises five buildings: the Protocol Palace, the front and rear blocks of the Government Headquarters Administrative Building, the Government Headquarters Affairs Bureau Building, the office building on Travessa da Paiva and the grounds and gardens. 

Built in 1849, the Protocol Palace became the then Macao Governor’s official residence when he purchased it in 1881. The building would continue to serve as the office of his successors for years to come. The Protocol Palace was renovated to its present appearance after the Macao Special Administrative Region was formally established.
The exterior of the Protocol Palace is characterized by its southern European architectural style while its interiors are enriched with a harmonious blend of Chinese and western cultures, evoking classic and modern traditions. The ground floor houses the Executive Council’s Meeting Room, the Multi-function Room, the Lotus Room and more. On the upper floor are the Green Room, the Yellow Room and the Blue Room. The Chief Executive and the Secretaries usually receive guests and hold meetings in this building.

Overlooking the Protocol Palace is the Government Headquarters Administrative Building. The front block is a seven-storey construction facing Rua de S. Lourenço while the rear block is a four-storey glass structure. The Government Headquarters Affairs Bureau Building stands on Rua da Imprensa Nacional and the government offices are housed in the yellow six-storey edifice on Travessa da Paiva.

The Multi-function Room is versatile. This is the major venue for meetings and conferences held in the Government Headquarters, such as press conferences, police address meetings, forums and signing ceremonies. It is also the place where Macao athletes usually hold farewell ceremonies with the Chief Executive before they set off for competitions.

Every year, soon after the Chief Executive delivers the Policy Address in the Legislative Assembly, he holds a press conference in this Multi-function room where he answers questions from the media. Regular press conferences of the Executive Council are also held in this room.

The Grand Hall also serves as a waiting area for entourages and media representatives when visiting guests and the Chief Executive are in meetings. The bespoke rosewood furniture set in the Grand Hall was made in Guangdong during the late Qing and early Republican era. The essence of this furniture set is its exceptional craftmanship which displays the perfect harmony of western sophistication and Chinese elegance. The surface of these bespoke pieces is glazed with Fujian raw lacquer to enhance its gloss and durability.

The centrepiece of the Grand Hall is a large round table with a surface inlay of red root marble from Dali, Yunnan. The western-structured design is a hybrid of aesthetics and practicality. The border of the three-legged pedestal table is adorned with hollow foliage scrolls embellished with images of deer, a Chinese symbol of fortune and prosperity. The motif of the engraved pedestal is deer and peony, which are symbols of wealth in ancient China. The predominant design of this unique piece of furniture is in western style but the local Guangdong materials, decorative concepts and craftmanship used reflect its Chinese characteristics.

Matching the round table are four Chinese round stools ornamented with sunflower rims. The stools are also surfaced with inlaid red root marble. The marble surface is cool in summer while seat cushions can be used in winter. The flared legs of the chairs are popular elements of western furniture. The legs are craved with beast's heads, a common door knocker motif in ancient China, and lion claws, a popular decorative element in western furniture. As both engravings suggest power in their respective cultures, this furniture set exhibits an expression of power and cultural exchange between China and the west.

The back of the Grand Hall is accented with two identical side tables with western structural and functional features. The side tables are ornamented with an amalgamation of western scrolling foliage and traditional Chinese flower garlands. The tables' fronts and sides are graced with a ubiquitous decorative motif which is a collage of flowers featuring peonies and lotus while the corners are trimmed with delicate sunflower engravings. The two identical side tables capture the essence of auspicious integration of Chinese and western elements used in ornamental furniture.

A Guangdong-style rosewood palace furniture set is symmetrically positioned on both sides of the Grand Hall. The bespoke set consists of eight armchairs with footrests and four tea tables which could be dated back to the late Qing and early Republican years. Each piece of the set is delicately decorated with hand-crafted mother-of-pearl inlays. The marble inlays on the backrests and armrests are hand-painted with Chinese ink-and-wash painting featuring mountains and clouds while these marble surfaces can keep the furniture comfortable and cool during the summer. The exquisite details of the entire set of furniture present an elegant ambience.

The signature decorative technique used in the armchairs is hollow carving. The armchairs' backrests are adorned with mother-of-pearl inset in the shape of the Eight Immortals’ emblems which denote the power to ward off evil forces. In addition, the hollowed-out ruyi scepter is inscribed with the Chinese character shou (which literally means longevity) in mother-of-pearl and crowned with a bat, denoting happiness, longevity and fortune. The decorative patterns on the armrests feature peaches, which is a symbol of fertility, and bottle gourds, which are homonyms of “happiness”and “prosperity” in Putonghua.

The tea tables are ornamented with mother-of-pearl inlays in the shape of peaches, pomegranates and ruyi scepters inscribed with the Chinese character shou. These decorative motifs symbolise fortune, fertility and prosperity.

The distinctive elements of Guangdong traditional furniture encapsulated in this phenomenal rosewood palace set is two-fold. On the practical level, it is functional and durable; on the symbolic level, it represents prosperity, splendour and elegance.

It is in this modern décor room where the Chief Executive holds meetings with distinguished guests. On the upper part of the wall to the right hangs a photographic reproduction of the horizontal scroll of calligraphy written by former President Jiang Zemin. Gifted to Macao on 18 December 1999 before the handover, the scroll reads “Usher in a new era for Macao”. It also symbolises Macao entering a new era of stability and prosperity as the sovereignty of the city was returned to the motherland. In accordance with protocol practices, the Chief Executive and officials of the SAR Government are seated to the right of the regional emblem. To the left of the regional emblem sit the leader and members of the visiting delegation.

Major ceremonies, such as swearing-in and agreement signing ceremonies, as well as the Chief Executive’s meetings with distinguished guests are held in the Yellow Room. In accordance with protocol practices, the Chief Executive and officials of the SAR Government are seated on the right while the leader and members of the visiting delegation are seated on the left.

A Suzhou embroidery artwork “Echoing Blooms of Peonies and Lotuses: Pride of our Nation, Gem of our Region” is framed as a screen. This bespoke artifact of exquisite craftmanship is made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. The design symbolises the close bond between Macao and the motherland as well as the genuine hope for the city’s future prosperity.

The Blue Room is where formal occasions hosted by the SAR Government are held. The Yellow Room and the Blue Room can be connected and used in conjunction. Regular working meetings are also held in this room.

The walls are decorated with typical Portuguese blue-and-white porcelain tiles and the carpet on the floor is accentuated with matching blue-and-white borders. The dignified and elegant ambience of the Blue Room provides an ideal location for protocol events. The core decorative motif of the sideboards, console tables, flanked by matching chairs are western cabriole legs highlighted with scrolling foliage ornaments, creating a balanced unity in the chamber. Decorative items are placed in this room to add oriental touches to the western ambience of the chamber. Highlights of these art items include: an assortment of punch bowls, a large contemporary multi-coloured porcelain bowl locally produced in Macao, and a pair of blue-and-white lidded jars.

The gardens of the Government Headquarters consists of two parts: the garden at the back of the Protocol Palace and the side garden of the Protocol Palace.

The garden at the back is paved with Portuguese mosaics, with a small artificial pond in the center from which geometric and symmetrical motifs radiate, fully presenting the western garden design style. Flowers and plants are replaced seasonally and periodically to adorn it with a splash of color.

The garden extends along the side of the building, where a climbing barrier stands out that separates the gardening tool deposit, maintaining landscape coherence. As we descend through the creeper barrier, passing through flowerbeds, staircases and lawns, we find a symmetrical plane, defined by a horizontal axis of royal palm trees and a vertical axis of fish and lotus nurseries that communicate with each other.

Every year, on the occasion of the Government Headquarters Open Day, themed decorations are added to welcome and provide visitors with a classic and fresh atmosphere.