Centenary of the Macao Chamber of Commerce

The Macao Chamber of Commerce was established in 1913. In the past one hundred years, the association has been uniting the industrial and commercial sectors, driving the economic development, promoting further cooperation, serving the society, caring the people’s livelihood, promoting the social developments and making great contributions for Macao.

The Chamber has been widely recognized and highly appraised by the society of Macao.

One hundred years ago, a group of zealous Chinese businessmen organized and established a chamber of commerce in order to meet the demands of the social developments.

They drafted the articles of association and presented to the government of Macao for registration.

The Macao Chamber of Commerce was thus approved for establishment and Shiu Ying Chau was elected as the first President.

Later, the chamber was renamed as ‘Macao Chinese General Chamber of Commerce” (also known as “Macao Chamber of Commerce”).

Since then, the Chinese businessmen in Macao had a community organization of their own, which had a legal status and a certain authority of jurisdiction and could help to mediate business disputes among Chinese businessmen.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Ho Yin was elected as the new President of Board of Directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce.

From 1950 to 1983, Ho Yin acted as the President of Board of Directors for 18 terms and the President for 2 terms.

In the over thirty years, he guided the affairs of the Chamber, making contributions both in terms of funds and efforts and obtaining a high reputation in the society of Macao. Ma Man Kei started to act as Vice President from 1950, sparing no effort to assist Ho Yin to deal with all kinds of works in the Chamber.

On 6 December 1983, Ho Yin passed away.

Ma Man Kei was elected as the President in April of the following year.

After that, Ho Hau Wah also acted as the Vice President.

While taking an active pan in the promotion of economic developments in Macao, the promotion of friendly communications between China and Portugal and the strengthening of the ties with Mainland China, he also actively facilitated the returning of Macao and made efforts for the preparative work for the founding of Macao Special Administrative Region.

It’s more delightful that the former Vice President of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, Ho Flau Wati, was successfully elected in 1999 and became the first Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region appointed by the Central People’s Government. He was even re-elected and served for another term of office.

In order to carry forward the influence of Macao Chamber of Commerce, the 78th members general meeting was held in 2010, on which, the general election was successfully performed. The 68th Presidents of the Chamber & Members of the Board of Directors & Board of Supervisors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce were elected. Ma lao Lai was elected as the President. Kou Hoi In was elected as the President of Board of Directors and Cheang Chi

Keong (the representative from Bank of China Macao Branch) was elected as the President of Board of Supervisors.

After the general election, two deputy chairmen of the Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Ma Man Kei and Ho Hau Wah, were invited to act as the Permanent President and provide guidance on our work.

In the past one hundred years, Macao Chamber of Commerce has made a lot of useful work for the development of Macao. Before the returning of Macao, Macao Chamber of Commerce had always been the tie of communications between the Chinese community in Macao and the Macao government at that time, taking an active part in major social and political events such as the smooth transition of Macao and the successful handover of sovereignty.

After the returning of Macao to its motherland, Macao Chamber of Commerce continued lo be persistently devoted to the country and Macao, unite all social sectors, protect the legal rights and benefits of industrial and commercial sectors, provide full support for the legal governing of Macao SAR government, assist the government to construct a platform for economic and trade services and cooperation and implement all kinds of policies, take an active part in regional communications, promote the cooperation with complementary advantages and mutual benetits and make great contributions for the sustainable development of Macao.

Within the past century, Macao Chamber of Commerce has been closely catching up with the times and advancing forward. In the future, we will make further achievements with efforts of all our colleagues. Now, upon the centenary of the Chamber, Macao Post issues a sel of stamps ‘Centenary of the Macao Chamber of Commerce”, which will be used as a memory for the past as well as an incentive for the future.

Macao Chamber of Commerce

Translation: C&C — Translation Centre, Ltd.

The Stamps:

The Sheetlet:

The Souvenir Sheet:

The FDC with Stamps:

The FDC with Souvenir Sheet:

The Post Mark:

Dados Técnicos/Technical Data

Valor dos Selos/Stamps Value: A set of 4 stamps with face value at 1.50, 2.50, 3.50 and 4.00 patacas (MOP)

Folhas Miniatura com quatro séries/Minisheets with four sets

Valor do Bloco/Souvenir Sheet Value: With 1 stamp at 12.00 patacas (MOP)

Desenho/Design: Ng Wai Kin

Data emissão/Issue date: 23.01.2013

Impressor/Printer: Joh. Enschedé Security Print, Netherlands

Impressão/Print: Offset Lithography

Papel/Paper: Paper with Security Fibers

Picotagem/Perforation: 14 x 13¼

Size: 40 x 30 mm

Stamps per sheet: 16