‘It took our freedom from us’: Why the Portuguese are leaving Portugal’s former colony Macau

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During the Covid-19 pandemic, Macau imposed some of the world’s strictest travel restrictions. That was when Brazilian scholar Vanessa Amaro started to notice a rising number of Portuguese leaving the city. She said as the Macau government enacted rigorous pandemic measures for nearly three years, many among the local Portuguese community were concerned about losing their freedom if they continued to stay in Macau.
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[@renatopinto3186]

There are two subjects entwined in this interview, not to the best effect.. The limited freedom due to the pandemic and the political changes that followed the handover of Macau. On the latter, what many commenting here fail to understand is that, by many accounts, Macau was gifted by Imperial China to Portugal for aid given to Chinese vessels against sea piracy in the area. So, unlike many Portuguese colonies, it was not conquered, nor taken by force, and became a very unique place where, through marriage, Portuguese and Cantonese culture merged onto another for centuries. Patuá (Macanese Portuguese) will soon be extinct and with Portuguese presence dwindling by the day, this newfound cultural divergence, within the borders of Macau, effectively dictates the end of an era in the ZhuJiang's banks. This coloniser rhetoric disregards completely the place Macau has in the Portuguese mythos. Not only working immigrants, but many scholars and poets went to live in Macau throughout the centuries. Ironically, it was a haven were westerners sought to immerse themselves in wonder of Eastern culture, and it's the loss of that bliss that's partially portrayed by some of the expats here.

[@sergioluz546]

Exactly. It's sad that I had to scroll almost to the end of the comment section to find this comment!

[@natehiger410]

completely fake news

[@1ewi5]

Renato, Macau is afterall Chinese sovereignty. The same way your ancestors imposed your culture on this place, China could do the same to strengthen their culture back in Macau. It's only a loss to you due to where you come from. The Chinese could lament the loss of Chinese culture due to what your people did to Macau. If you were to use the same methods Western media used to demonise China by calling everything "cultural genocide", we could say the same about what your ancestors did.

[@Juljularchaeo]

Só beautifully phrased. Thank you for explaining it to those who had no idea and chose to jump the gun and scream “Colonizer”!

[@seokoking6956]

Different culture, different expectations.

[@lfarru]

I feel the sadness of that moment. Macau is one of the nicest places on earth and it has the nicest people I have ever met there (I lived in Macau for almost 8 years) from 2006 to 2014

[@Funica11]

Colonialists and slavers are unwelcome in Asia.

[@GabGotti3]

I love Macau. I love Portugal. I consider them brothers. I wish we were still brothers. Unfortunately China wants to rule and control everything in Asia. If anyone from Macau wants to leave and come to Portugal you are welcome!! Citizenship within a few years!

[@specialiseesi6746]

I know very well what he means. My "Macau" is the city of Montreal, Canada, where I was living for almost 6 years. Same thing: great life, comfort. Then the pandemic hit and I was forced to look into my life to discover how lonely I was. No family, no girlfriend, no job stability, and very cold... I got very depressed. I decided to go back to Brazil and can´t be any happier... Best thing I did in my life.

[@jc317]

It’s not 100% the same situation but you share the same feelings.

[@paulobetobarat]

Vivi isso também, depois de mais de 30 anos de Montreal… A pandemia mexeu muito comigo. Mas ainda não me adaptei totalmente ao Brasil, depois de dois anos.

[@dioricci]

Incrível como a pandemia e o momento atual de guerra mexe com agente... Me identifiquei com o seu relato, estou há 13 anos morando na Europa e os últimos 7 anos na Noruega. Estou deixando a Noruega em setembro e vou dar um tempo de tudo e dar a chance de fazer e vivenciar momentos que fazem sentido para mim pois a vida não volta.

[@stevenhombrados1530]

Montreal, is a very tough place, especially if you don’t have a close family. I’m a born Canadian, living in Montreal of Spanish descendant, and seeing the lifestyle of my cousins living in Barcelona, I’ll choose their lifestyle over mine, which is work, go home eat and sleep, and back to work. Leisure time, with friends, or family is basically gone, especially after the covid, year and now going out, has becoming way too expensive!

[@stevenhombrados1530]

@@paulobetobarat Imagine! My plan is going back to Barcelona, I’m 52, and I realised that my life is basically only working, and paying taxes.

[@RealSuperlemon]

I’m a citizen of Macau 🇲🇴. Although I’m not Portuguese 🇵🇹, I still hope that you can have a better life living in Portugal! 💪🏻💪🏻

[@RealSuperlemon]

@@Funica11 ? Why?

[@thetalk3155]

​@@RealSuperlemon hes dumb

[@Kannot2023]

​@@Funica11 better kick out communists.

[@ethandouro4334]

I'm a brazilian, is Macau expensive? I'm thinking in doing university and finding a job there

[@ethandouro4334]

@@Funica11 woah buddy chill

[@puilau2287]

Macau is a beautiful place and so is Portugal. The pandemic changed everyone all round the world and has given everyone time to rethink their lives after such a harsh lockdown

[@Funica11]

It's Canton China, not the brutal Portugal, Stop insulting it.

[@Rotebuehl1]

Brutal ist the infamous chinese regime, totalitarian and opressive! Stop being a Blunt liar

[@joaodefreitas8617]

​@@Funica11 chiha is not brutal at all right? I'll ask tibet or Taiwan.

[@Funica11]

@@joaodefreitas8617 The West is an ally of China. If China is brutal then the West is brutal.

[@jjbully]

@@joaodefreitas8617 How brutal is it? The picture painted by some media is different from the reality

[@coffeebreak100]

Made me tear up when Jorge showed his tatto of Macau at the end. It’s truly sad. Wishing everyone who decides to leave all the best for their future. ❤

[@garolstipock]

I understand the mans sentiments. There truly is more to life than material comforts and monetary excesses. Family, people, our relationships and the quality of them is what gives fulfillment to life.

[@asahel980]

you cant be more wrong, Money is a balancing factor in most relationships, Ive seen couples and married ones split up due to lack of money. and many couples have many lenghty arguments about it as well.

[@Scheport]

Bem vindo de volta Jorge. Portugal precisa de pessoas como tu que trazem essas visões do mundo para cá, se queremos evitar perda de liberdades no futuro.

[@Adam-ei5it]

Sadly you do not decide if Macau is home forever, the government may not let you come back

[@Mrscorreia74]

They are expressing a feeling. For them Macau, and what they feel about, equals home.

[@wm69]

kind of made me feel better staying at the rural area i wish everyone all the best and may we come out of this stronger

[@PaprTape]

This is how I feel about America and, personally, Taiwan that led me to going back and forth between the two and now wanting to move somewhere else. Sure you can voice your opinions, but anything that is against the populist ideology will be shamed upon and/or often times bullied. I think this is just the nature of this world. Your "freedom" is actually not so free. Your "freedom" might causes other's inconvenience. I feel like people don't realize "freedom" is subjective and everyone has different definitions on what being "free" really is.

[@Lopezflies888]

Taiwan is a great country

[@ame8370]

Agree 100%

[@bladerunner.1984]

Define freedom. In a philosofical sense it doesn't exist in a physical world, since this world is based on a physical laws that don't care about freedom. Biologically, we are basically advanced machines, programmed to believe that we make free choices based on "free will", which is no more than a trick of mind. On a social level though, there are differences between societies, in terms of social rules, and how many degrees of small freedoms you are allowed to have within a system. Maybe you don't like living in United States, but would you rather choose to live in North Korea, since freedom doesn't exist anyways?

[@Hkchinese888]

then move to China

[@gameralove6418]

@@Lopezflies888 ok

[@AMI12349]

Well done documentary covering important and sensitive issues. In Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and parts of India, there are also still some Portuguese "Burghers" whose ancestors have lived there for many generations and who have become part of the cultural mosaic of the countries. For example, they contributed BAILA music to Sri Lanka and built many beautiful buildings in Melaka and Goa, and contributed menu items to the cuisines in these countries also. However, most of these people left, often to Australia, at the time the countries got their independence, or later on.

[@lxportugal9343]

Baila? I'm the King of the coconuts? I have all hanging on a rope? Big ones small ones

[@miaya3898]

Same in PH 🇵🇭 thousands of white Filipinos migrated to Australia after ww2

[@willkrummeck]

This has been happening since 2012

[@rrsharizam]

In Melaka, Portuguese destroyed much more than it built. What Portuguese left was only those old decrepit forts.

[@lxportugal9343]

@@rrsharizam Really? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJPLdIhppNabqa8

[@josealbinosantosnogueira6013]

I am Portuguese and I have two friends in Macau. One of them is married to an American man and has been living there for about 5 years. They have a son. She definitely has no plans to come back beacuse she has a very well- paid job in the Hotel business. The other one is married to a woman from Shenzhen, has a beautiful daughter and, although they had a rough time because of COVID, they are now together again and don't have any plans to come to Portugal either. By the way, my 36-year-old son has been living and working in Malta for almost a decade now, with his English girl friend and why would he come back to Portugal, to a country where the minimum wage can barely pay for a 1 dedroom flat in the outskirts of a major Portuguese city? We miss him but I hope he stays in Malta as long as he can and so long he´s happy and fullfilled, both personally and professionally. Not all stories are the same.

[@roxythefoxsayfurismurderan3187]

Totally understand how difficult it can be to leave. After 15 years in China, I had to leave everything behind to be with family due to old age and cancer. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss China and my family there very much. Hopefully, I’ll be able to return soon. Macau and Hong Kong are such amazing places even after the changes.

[@Caius1930]

Agreed, I've been wanting to go back to China for three years now, as I was in the mainland when it all went down and was forced to leave by my funders. Now that I could finally go back, having to work on my career is now stopping me. It's miserable and I could've been so much happier staying in the mainland... I'm sorry to hear if your troubles with your family, I hope they're as well as they can be, and you too. And maybe we can both find our ways back to China some day

[@roxythefoxsayfurismurderan3187]

@@Caius1930 Thank you for your kind words. What kind of career are you working on? Hopefully, you can utilize it in China. I worry by the time I can return to China, I might be too old to find work there. However, it isn’t a bad place to retire seeing as how money typically goes further there than in the west. Take care and never give up.

[@chingkenneth1017]

Same here😂😂😂

[@jacquelinelam3022]

Many local Macau people decided to move to Portugal. He is not alone.

[@evarubio9904]

Well, it is a big mistake because many Portuguese emigrate outside their country.This video is very bad propaganda for Portugal, I hope not many people see it, these people are very unfriendly, they think they are so superior 😂

[@Quidproquo1143]

@@evarubio9904 As if you were worried about Portugal. Your problem is clearly that China has the image affected, a lot of things were implicit in the video and that's what's bothering you! For your information there are many well established Chinese in Portugal, Galicia is also a poor region with many emmigrants, look at your house first.

[@evarubio9904]

@@Quidproquo1143 As poor as Galicia is, the reality is that there are Portuguese emigrants here, I'm not making that up, at least they are hard-working people, not pathetic old-fashioned colonialists

[@Quidproquo1143]

@@evarubio9904 As I told you before, I also know several Galegos in Lisbon, including one who owns a pension, and I confirm that they are generally hardworking and reliable people. It is pathetic and ridiculous to defend that the Portuguese are colonialists, when Macau was not even a colony. You Spaniards know well what colonies are, you had many on the American continent, you also know what it is to exterminate entire civilizations to keep their gold and land.

[@generalnguyenngocloan1700]

@@Quidproquo1143 The Aztecs, Maya, and Inca actually had human sacrifices by the thousands when the Spanish came. The Spanish missionaries wrote of Aztec human sacrifices by the thousands in one day, and meat markets with humans limbs hanging as in animal meat markets. Yes, the Conquistadors were a greedy, rough bunch, and did not drink tea with their pinky’s extended, but thank goodness these so called civilizations were put to an end. I’m glad they are erased. Yes, I’m not woke. Florida is where woke comes to croak. Viva La Florida!

[@edgarjohnston7937]

Well, Portugal took 250 yrs of freedom from Chinese in Macau.

[@AshurbanipalSonofAshurhaddon]

500 years.

[@anjalikastarr2824]

It is not unlike taking away a child from the mother and family.

[@Quidproquo1143]

No, Portugal give 250 years of freedom to Macau. If you don't believe ask they.

[@marcioborgesreis9066]

E everyone was free in Macau , even the chinese migrants .

[@leonorutizhungo6729]

You should check your facts before you say stupidity's

[@anasttau9908]

Vivi quase 10 anos em Macau, fica no nosso coração para sempre, e as saudades também.

[@Funica11]

Colonialists and slavers are unwelcome in Asia.

[@costa2k1]

​@@Funica11 no one is talking to you xenophobic yellow man 😂

[@masterofgame6847]

Verdade!

[@nickbrown6457]

Sadly, the writing is on the wall for Macau and Hong Kong. These places are finished, as the CCP tighten their grip on the throats of these two former democratic free territories.

[@stevenbaksh5545]

Lol it's a part of China it has to follow Chinese law

[@StarrySunnie]

Totally understandable. It is mixed feeling because the big family is on the other side.

[@Lopezflies888]

No it's a mixed feeling because China is becoming more Communists and maoist day-by-day I don't know anybody left in China anymore

[@levelazn]

wow, i wonder if chinese people experience anti asian hate crime should leave? Notice the people who are leaving are journalists. and not people with businesses or jobs outside of media.

[@glengrant3884]

International Yuppies!!

[@doffy2192]

​@@glengrant3884😐

[@superpowerdragon]

macau belongs to the chinese, the land occupied by USA doesn't not belong to white people, that's the difference

[@wandrewpates]

As an Asian yes we do experience it

[@rider4451]

I apologize, but this sentence is totally incorrect. Do you have any information that could support what you are saying? We need to collect the actual data first...

[@cashmerecat9269]

SCMP might have received lots of fund from NED..

[@zhugeliang3905]

Certainly. China should close it down for national security reasons.

[@rapha_el]

That was my first thought! After all, the newspaper is based in Hong Kong. So….. Yeah.

[@redwoods7370]

Portugal is a very lovely country to have to move back to. I lived there for a year. They are lucky to have Portugal for a home country.

[@FNDMA]

Que venham para Portugal e contribuam para uma sociedade prospera

[@null7936]

foda-se, aposto que acabam rápido noutras capitais europeias e os que gostam mesmo da cultura e da língua quase certo em São Paulo. Portugal para reformados ou quem tem como objetivo ser pobre.

[@WhoWho569]

Como?! Não há empregos em Portugal. A não ser que comecem os próprios negócios não vejo grandes saídas para eles em Portugal. Isto é pessoal que está habituado a ganhar muito bem, nunca vão aceitar ir para Portugal fazer os tostões miseráveis que fazem os Portugueses.

[@Dude29]

Não há de ser a portuguesa, com certeza

[@WhoWho569]

@@Dude29 Selma Marina Fragoso Teixeira de Faria, nascida em São Martinho de Sintra (mesmo no centro da vila, no antigo Hospital de Sintra, ao lado do Paço Real) criada em Cascais e formada em Lisboa. E você quem é, e o que é, para além de um/uma imbecil? Mas não havia de ser Portuguesa porquê?? Que raio de comentário mais imbecil. Ele há com cada otário que mais parecem dois, com cada imbecil que a pessoa até se pergunta se não terão fugido do Júlio de Matos.

[@ethandouro4334]

@@WhoWho569 Se está difícil para você, imagine para nós aqui. 😂😂😂🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@jehgelo]

I’ve been to Macau and It’s the best place I’ve visited so far. love from Philippines

[@Awakeningofthegods]

Try to live there and see how they treat you

[@RealSuperlemon]

@@Awakeningofthegods I’m from Macau and there are many Philippines living there. I don’t really see a problem

[@Awakeningofthegods]

@@RealSuperlemon I'm a Macau born Portuguese, I left a few years ago. Do you think Filipinos are well treated in Macau? Would you survive with 7000mop working 12 or 13 hours a day as a helper? Would you survive with 8000mop working all day in a coffee shop? There are Filipinos living in Macau for more than 20 years and have no right to Macau ID and the yearly government allowance. Do you know those Indonesian people who died in a house fire in Ba Kap Chao because their boss locked them in the attick during the night and they couldn't escape? They were 6 people living there. Go out and ask the SE Asian communities how much they like Macau.

[@RealSuperlemon]

@@Awakeningofthegods oh wow I’m young so idk that. That is terrible. Sorry

[@RealSuperlemon]

@@Awakeningofthegods oh wow I’m young so idk that. That is terrible. Sorry

[@DiogoF.]

Freedom is crucial. We take it for granted. 🇵🇹🇪🇺

[@baph0met]

Ironic using the EU flag and praising freedom at the same time.

[@ElusiveTy]

​@@baph0met Unironically one of the freest places on Earth. Certainly more free than all of the African continent, all of the Levant, all of China and Russia.

[@baph0met]

@@ElusiveTy Freest ≠ free

[@nailartguy3363]

@@baph0met You do realize that 15 of the 20 countries with the most freedom are EU member states, right? And out of the top 5, only 1 wasn’t a member of the EU. That was Norway. But that’s just one ranking. In another, 6 of the top 10 were EU member states, the other 4 being Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.

[@onlyfacts3178]

@@ElusiveTy i wonder why you didnt brought the countries with less freedom like Arab countries and USA...

[@jericorabinsiguido]

Been to Macau several times, the beauty and rich history is something unforgettable… Same feeling after leaving the mainland China almost a year now, feels like heartbreak after 13 years of staying, living and working there.. those heydays are over 😢😢😢💔💔💔

[@roja7426]

Listen, in canada, we were severely restricted. I had to work from home and couldn’t go into the other town. We had curfews, when in a car, all members had to be of the same household. This is not about the pandemic. Its political and they can’t voice it openly.

[@mosienko1983]

give me a break! explain to me how it was "political"! (without resorting to some bizarre conspiracy theory).

[@IzzyKawaiichi]

@@mosienko1983 Did you watch the part where "the information controller said we could not listen to opinions that were different than those of the government"? They do talk a lot about the pandemic, but this clearly goes beyond pandemic restrictions.

[@mosienko1983]

@@IzzyKawaiichi I think you misunderstood - I was responding to Ro Ja's comments about Canada - not Macau.

[@mikicerise6250]

​@@mosienko1983 You did not comprehend the comment.

[@mosienko1983]

@@mikicerise6250 explain it to me then - cuz it seems pretty clear to me

[@goncalomeneses5611]

Que regressem a Portugal e que tudo lhes corra bem!

[@discoverchina1885]

Devias voltar para onde pertences, Macau é sempre terra chinesa

[@Ryan-he2qz]

Freedom is the most valuable asset human can have.

[@mainmusik3677]

Free assange

[@miaouscleaumonocle]

I will not elaborate much on Ms Pimantel's testimony as she's speaking in cryptic 'I cannot say everything plainly' style and there is no context provided (on why the vigil were banned, why some people were excluded from elections...). Neither will I on Prof Amaro's specialist opinion, as she does not elaborate either, for instance on what she considers the Portuguese community is (several generation macanese, newcoming expats?), and whether the half drop in our sample from 2012 to 2022 is an abnormality compared to, say, the 2002 - 2012 period... I just want to stress that Mr Vale's testimony has strictly no political statement in it, none at all. If you take his statements only, he is just lamenting that due to the pandemic (WHICH TOOK HIS FREEDOM FROM HIM), he could not see his family in Portugal for the past 3 years, and this made him (and his family) take the decision to move to Portugal. That's all. So the clickbait title ‘It took our freedom from us’ is a total shame. Mr Vale is just stating something very obvious, the pandemic took our freedom from us. Yes, in Macau, and in most countries in the World. I have miserable memories of my 145 days of house arrest during our 3 national lockdowns, and my 145 days of wartime-like curfew, between mid-March 2020 and July 2021, in France. So, yes, ‘It took our freedom from us’, that pandemic. And once again, apalled by the amount of hatred and prejudice we can find in this comments section...

[@evarubio9904]

I am Spanish, Portugal is our neighbor, I am from Galicia where apart from the Spanish language we have the Galician language, quite similar to Portuguese, where I live, many Portuguese came looking for work, humble jobs in the logging industry, people spoke of them in a derogatory way, something that is not right, seeing the people in this video left me in shock, their attitude of superiority ,people like to feel superior to others, these three people speak from ethical, intellectual superiority, I think they deserve most of the comments for their attitude.

[@andro7862]

Pretty grounded criticism, I feel the same way.

[@Palpad100]

@@evarubio9904 No please, tell me what did they say that made you be so angry?

[@evarubio9904]

@@Palpad100 It's not worth it, besides they don't take criticism too well, I'm tired.

[@Palpad100]

@@evarubio9904 I sincerely dount you are tired. Point out the moments in this video where any of these people showed an attitude of superiority.

[@melissasalasblair5273]

Thanks so much.

[@jm7578]

I loved every time that I was in Macau 🇲🇴. Beautiful memories

[@goojxue1971]

Sometimes the reason for leaving is simple. You never feel as part of the local commnity.

[@lnteIIigence]

Yes, except, no.

[@pbworld7858]

And sometimes, you feel as though you've lost some privilege. Same in HK - after 1997, a certain group of people lost their privilege and realized they were no longer special.

[@hiyukelavie2396]

Being part of the local community? Does he speak Chinese? Does he read and write Chinese? No? Then why tf did he expect to be part of the local community?

[@jessica2brook]

Colonizers and their descendents shouldn't feel a part of the "local community" that they colonized.

[@pbworld7858]

@@hiyukelavie2396 And to make it even worse, he can't even rely on using Portuguese. Nao falam portugues.

[@peddersoldchap]

Just a correction: Macau is a former Portuguese overseas province, not a former Portuguese colony. This is important.

[@RodrigoFerreira-bs6hd]

Hahahahaha

[@endo4137]

Technically it was land leased by China. It's return was already agreed upon

[@peddersoldchap]

@@endo4137 Technically you need to learn history and get your facts straight before writing regrettable things on the web. Macau was ceded to Portugal as a reward for the Portuguese navy eradicating piracy in those waters. Unlike Hong-kong, that was rented to the English for 100 years.

[@kiljucook7625]

@@peddersoldchap Actually 99 years and the lease was for so called "New Territories", not Hong Kong island and Kowloon peninsula.

[@AhJodie]

I never heard of Macau, and now I have looked it up. I am sad for these people, probably many all around the world feel the same about what is important. The journalists said some of the most interesting things.

[@bluesun2001]

I felt similar leaving Singapore, where we lived for 5 years. Asia is beautiful, people are sweet.

[@ctrl-del630]

This is not only Macau. This counts for every country in the world. In situations like these nobody is safe.

[@mdleweight]

the CCP that rule China don't try to hide the way they oppress their citizens like other countries.

[@user-zy8cy6hn6o]

This absolutely is not every country in the world. Don't try to act like China is comparable to western Europe.

[@Superpooper-2020]

We inddians have n0 freed0m 0f speech no freedom of free media . Glad I left india in time

[@srikrishnak196]

​@@Superpooper-2020 ok western stooge

[@ctrl-del630]

@@user-zy8cy6hn6o Did I say anything about China in particular? Did I say anything about west Europe in particular? Perhaps it is a suggestion to read my message again or change translators.

[@sycen]

I think I get how they feel. The pandemic is stressful for everyone everywhere and they need to take a break.

[@mdleweight]

Nothing to do with the pandemic. Everything to do with government tyranny.

[@riel5197]

Except it's not a break. It's "leaving and going home".

[@Hkchinese888]

lol, he left because he sees no future in the tiny place

[@dominicvoo7598]

Pandemic is an excuse. Their arrogance of thinking they're above others is the reason.

[@STF_YVR]

You missed the point … it’s not about the pandemic, it’s about freedom and human rights

[@ongsengfook]

They should have left long time ago. Stop playing victims. Compared to Goa where India forcibly took back by force.

[@lxportugal9343]

Yes forcibly...just like Indonesia did with Timor Leste India never made a referendum about Goa

[@invictusforlife9116]

Because it was now time for Portugese to go back.They were delusional that they could claim our people and land as theirs after 400 yrs of colonization.

[@copperfielddavid4126]

There are many reasons to hate a place. On the contrary, there are many reasons to love a place. We have to accept the ebb and flow of people in the world. Don't overrate your contribution to the city.

[@saahan-nn1fe]

China protects most of China's old people and children, get out of China, no country will welcome people like you who don't accept other countries' culture

[@beatpirate8]

I think everyone has felt trapped by the pandemic and want to leave. Having people fall sick also puts things in perspective. One realizes life is precious and Fleeting for some, and we need to see our loved ones. I went home to see my parents often and checked on them. In the Bay Area California, I felt compelled to see my parents often due to the rise of anti Asian violence and rise of violence and crime in general. Pandemic has forced us to look At the human relations we want to nurture. What a beautiful story!

[@soothingmoments2139]

You can leave Macao..you can move freely in macao..you can eat wherever and whatever you want...what sort of freedom that you don't have in Macao...??

[@anameidonthave7957]

You didn't read: "if I share something in my own social media, will I get punished?" 4:14.

[@pepelepew1227]

@@anameidonthave7957 it's the same in ukraine .... worse, be kiIIed by myrotvorets for just that 😕

[@soothingmoments2139]

@@anameidonthave7957 you mean like usa and EU and Australia trying to ban tik tok?

[@stankssmile5865]

​@@soothingmoments2139 banning is ok, have you seen imprisonment due to a simple act of dancing like in iran

[@soothingmoments2139]

@@stankssmile5865 is this Macao or Iran?..

[@condoissues1957]

I live in the USA and I want to return to Macau. I feel the same after the pandemic. My roots are in Macau and China with my family. During the pandemic, I also had no time to go to Macau to visit my family , I have only 10 paid days off here in America. I used lots of them for doctors' appointments, car maintenance at the auto shops, banks, home repairs, waiting at home for different contractors or pest control to come fix this and inspect that. I didn't even have enough days to fly to the Portuguese Embassy in SF to renew my Portuguese passport. BTW, SF is so dangerous now I am too afraid to even visit. I don't really feel free in the USA when I can't visit SF freely. So??? I don't even make as much money as my siblings back in Macau, after paying taxes in the USA. Everyone has their reasons to go wherever. He has his to leave Macau, I have mine to return to the city where I was born and raised, where my family lives. After the pandemic, people have a new perspective on what's more important. I also had a lot of time to think during the pandemic, I realized America was not as free as I thought it was. Lar é onde a família está. "Freedom" is subjective.

[@simonsuarez7561]

Interesting report.

[@cisium1184]

I feel for the first guy. Nothing brings home the importance of family like the fear that you will never see them again. That said, it looks like his wife is Chinese, which means she is now leaving _her_ family. That has to be tough on them both.

[@TsLeng]

Of course. Somebody gotta sacrifice.

[@lilswan7464]

True... but while that might be sad, she'll probably feel safer too.

[@oumunfeiholeto6885]

Yes because of family I am returning to live in Macau. I now live in Australia and don’t think we have a free country here. Try the wrong speak especially during the locked down. Macau is no different. I am Macanese and we enjoy what Macau gives us without getting all tangled in the local politics. Let us have our freedom of movement, freedom to make money without being taxed to high heaven, the rest will follow. I hope those who returned to Portugal will find that contentment in life.

[@duchessoftheprairie]

His wife isn't Chinese. You can clearly see her wearing the kanken backpack.

[@TsLeng]

@@duchessoftheprairie if that isn't Chinese.... What is? She is Chinese. Dyed hair.

[@nunosampaionunes2334]

I live in Macau since a long long time and have no plans whatsoever to leave. Tried it twice and ended up coming back. This city is amazing with all its pros and cons, it is my hometown!

[@Funica11]

Brutal, greedy colonialist and slaver beast, you are unwelcome in Asia. Go back to the beasts' land Europe.

[@costa2k1]

​@@Funica11 cry harder wumao

[@anjalikastarr2824]

I think it's all about adapting and adjusting to changes which are beyond your control.

[@susiex6669]

​@@anjalikastarr2824 And reminding yourself that the problems you face there are pretty much the same problems you will face elsewhere. Much of the world sits in the exact same boat.

[@anjalikastarr2824]

@@susiex6669 Please make yourself intelligible because I haven't a clue what you are trying to say. Thank you.

[@Juljularchaeo]

It’s so sad that the same will happen to Macau as is happening in Hong Kong

[@kunti_putra]

Is there a KZbin channel of "North China Evening Post"?

[@peekaboopeekaboo1165]

Huh... what's that?

[@dukhi_aatma372]

Don't think so. They are not that big yet.

[@ramanbhandary7501]

Hello cobra I wanna see how big is your cobra 😂😂😂

[@bhai857]

Nopes... haven't seen them here.

[@nenanatuajt]

😂😂😂😂

[@gwent5914]

Australia did the same thing and even worse they would not let their citizens came home. Why this channel didn’t said a word?

[@dickychan8610]

chill out, this is SChinaMP, the piece is just showing that those people due to conflict of ideology with Macau's cureent state, chose to leave the place that they seem to dearly love. Any intellegent enough sentient being has the capability to see how other places handled the pandemic and do their own comparisons, no need to accuse a press for showing one part of the world but not another part as if that's some diabolical act

[@gwent5914]

@@dickychan8610 may be you should tell your white worshiping alert chill out not so eager to defend the west, Dicky. My comment is based on my observation watching SMCH.

[@joshuafoong9306]

Freedom, what freedom do you want. The food on table is better then poverty and homeless people. We can't be so selfish and neglect those who don't have enough to feed themselves.

[@stevenmqcueen7576]

The feeling that we are losing our freedom is becoming increasingly common throughout the world.

[@suzanneterrey4499]

And yet, people keep voting for or protesting for Socialism/Communism. Both take away your many of your freedoms yet capitalism is rejected for being heartless and cruel.

[@nathanielc2480]

Some people love a country but got to leave, because they have no choice. Some people they hate their own country, keep trashing , but still staying there.

[@anjalikastarr2824]

Nobody really forced him to leave. When you want to be exclusive, can't or won't adapt, how can there be a sense of belonging? In comparison, Indians who went to Hong Kong to do business, stayed and have children there have always considered themselves as Hong Kongers. They all speak Cantonese and will always consider Hong Kong as home.

[@byeung2426]

祝你一切須利，保重

[@candychimes8184]

Another over exaggeration, if you listen to him carefully he said his freedom was taken away because he can not have long vacation to go overseas trips that accompany quarantine. But this happen to alot of people around the world when they can not take long vacations during pandemic. Freedom of speech, well just look at Assange and tell me how is the freedom of speech in the countries that are beacon of democracy. People go to where they have more opportunities. Yes people leave Macau but same time alot of people from around the world moved to Macau too.

[@lucyfiniarel2347]

Or you can just stop taking his feelings like a personal affront to your chinese pride??? your insecurity is embarrassing the rest of us

[@noodleboii2669]

Except this happen for 3 years while most of the world had already opened up their borders and remove their quarantine restrictions. Most of the Chinese students in my class express similar sentiments too

[@chingkenneth1017]

Look forward

[@hellovagim]

If he’s already decided it’s probably best for him to look in the bright side and the future ahead, instead of being so sentimental about the past. Move on bro!

[@doncarloancelotti2256]

These comments are disgusting. They clearly know the true issues behind why the Portuguese are leaving Macau but they're choosing to pretend like it's nothing by making generic comments of sympathy or alluding to the "hypocritical West".

[@1971gift]

I'm glad he acknowledged his privilege. It's the privilege that so many citizens of colonizing countries fail to see. It's beyond material privilege, it's the privilege of autonomy and choice; privilege of self determination on the backs of those who were deprived of those rights.

[@web3wizard381]

it's sad that one opressor was replaced by another oppressor CCP

[@1971gift]

@@web3wizard381 Would the Chinese in Macau say the same? See CCP as oppressors or establishing equality. It's not for the oppressor to say is it?

[@CarlXVIGustafBernadotte420]

Our Freedom doesn't come from colonialism

[@1971gift]

@@CarlXVIGustafBernadotte420 Agreed. Exactly my point and more explicitly, the colonizer doesn't get to tell or decide whether or not the colonized is free

[@CarlXVIGustafBernadotte420]

@@1971gift There are objective factors you can measure to determine if someone is free or not. North Korea and Eritrea are obiously not free

[@stevenhombrados1530]

It’s sad to leave a place that you once cherished.

[@deannabollo170]

I never cease to be disappointed with the comments on this type of forum. So out of tune, sententious, bragging. The more you open up in sharing the more comments are really out of line. What a world! Boa viagem e muita sorte.

[@maryhauser6523]

I am Portuguese/Canadian and live in Canada, even here in Canada once a free Country , we are going through the same changes, I feel as a Canadian we have lost our Freedoms, freedom of speech is on the top of the list, every so often I feel that I should sell my house and pack up and move to Portugal, but I was once uprooted and am not looking forward to that, I have friends here. Everyday I hope and pray for a Government change, Trudeau the Dictator has to go.

[@user-mi6ll4bx4y]

May I remind these people, Macau returned to the motherland. No longer a colony of Portugal. Same as HK. Likewise Taiwan is China. Period.

[@theotheagendashill818]

When will China decolonize Tibet and Xingjiang

[@empronyxx1982]

Macau returned after being built and cared by the portuguese

[@evarubio9904]

​@@theotheagendashill818 Tibet and Xinjian are not colonies, they are autonomous regions, their governors are from the majority ethnic group, they study their language.

[@theotheagendashill818]

@@evarubio9904 They are colonies and are being colonized by Chinese settlers, the Uighurs are getting their culture erased and are being put into concentration camps

[@evarubio9904]

​@@theotheagendashill818 It is not true, there are no concentration camps, there were re-education centers visited by the foreign press.

[@geheimnis8187]

Freedom always prevails

[@annepoitrineau5650]

ll the best in Portugal. I hope you and family will be very happy!

[@sittingduck02]

How are you happy without money? It is doable but hard - one will become a real philosopher to feel happy without worrying about finance

[@mehmoodkhankhattak]

Painful to leave some place you call home

[@evilsquizz]

actually this sounds pretty dumb when a coloni citizen talk about “leaving”。

[@theotheagendashill818]

He was born there so he is not a colonizer, plus by your logic the Chinese should leave Xingjiang, Tibet and Manchuria, half of China's territory is a stolen colonized land

[@minnthein9454]

Only those who know the bill of rights do feel the same.

[@sandyj342]

Right choice Jorge. Relationships are what matter.

[@dickielarue1451]

Greetings from beautiful and sunny Estoril...Orginally from Texas...Been a legal resident here since 2016...At the end of the day you are in control of you're happiness, health and well-being...Been blessed to work and live in 42 countries around the world...My country of Birth...The United States of America is suppossed to represent freedom but slowly it has become a place that I and others no longer call home...Portugal though not perfect, puts family first...I've seen it all over this Beautiful country in 6 years living here...I'm off to Castelo de Vide this week to explore and support the economy ...bênçãos e energia positiva para sua família! 🇵🇹😉👏✌️🤘🤠

[@Wongrich6]

Old don't leave and new don't come, that's part of life😜

[@questworldmatrix]

Yeah. I feel the need for family all the more when my dad passed away from Covid. Fortunately i can work from home now because of Covid and can visit family for much longer without losing income.

[@chingkenneth1017]

Look forward but treasure the memories

[@portuguesetraveller]

Nothing is more important than personal freedom , to be able to express your opinions and views without ending up in jail. Welcome back to Portugal. We understand very well what it means to not be able to have a voice, we lived like that until 1974!

[@clalmeida67]

E viva o 25 de Abril!! ☀️

[@sidesaddleintobattle4984]

What are you even talking about? Its covid restictions, public health and national safety you puertoricans are dumb af

[@MrClassicfever]

@@clalmeida67 e viva o 25 de novembro de 1975, o dia que nos livrámos de uma ditadura comunista.. estes do vídeo fogem dos comunas chineses

[@mainmusik3677]

Free assange

[@sidesaddleintobattle4984]

You africans are not even supposed to be in Europe you immigrant

[@waimoy552]

It’s a horrible feeling to leave a place you spent so much time in. Macau is a part of China, you have to accept that fact, with different culture, rules and personal freedoms. If the place is no longer fit your preferences then that’s your choice to leave. You have to abide to the rules of that country. Here in the USA, journalism is trash, one sided, biased and half the news are untrue, that’s in a country with so called freedom of expression. Freedom in the USA is overrated.

[@mosienko1983]

You are seriously confused or entitled. Try living somewhere else for some real perspective.

[@KaotikBOOO]

​@@hunterofdarkness8329 all news, not only "western" if that term even mean something...

[@SportNut1]

"Here" in the USA? Nice try lol

[@supriadiramlan5545]

if US people got ur perspective, US should less waging war outside and more improve the education for the unfortunate homeless people the budget deficit should invested in human resources

[@superturbo2]

It's not a cultural issue, it's about an authoritarian regime based on european communist values. You are free to move to China anytime if you feel that you have too much freedom.

[@xueueux]

They "live" for decade but still have bias of thinking they will "punish" when they speak out in their own social media.. Yeah..they should leave..i don't think they understand at all..

[@caroldias5219]

It’s not an unfounded bias, it’s not uncommon here in china and with macau slowly giving in to the Chinese administration instead of following their own, I can see how they would start to fear the political change

[@franciscosoares2815]

China is authority regime macau wasnt for many years thats why so many immirgants went there now macau is a autotiraty regime u dont have freedom to talk about stuff in public so mang people left

[@xueueux]

@carol dias macao is part of China, they are Chinese people. So I find it's weird for foreigners to complain though. That is not their land. It's kinda twisted mind when they decide to go to live in macao and think macao has become "too china"...well they are chinese! What do you expect!

[@caroldias5219]

@@xueueux it’s an administrative region for a reason, not even people from macau believe they are 100%chinese, they are their own people… don’t talk about what you don’t know, if you’ve ever been to both and all the other areas you’ll know the difference

[@xueueux]

@carol dias they "don't believe" they are chinese..do you know what colony is? They are chinese who had been colonised in the past. It's common sense they don't feel belong because colonisation change culture. But still they are chinese..

[@jefflokanata]

Deeply symphatize with Jorge Vale. What he experienced is personal choice about creating family. Do he want continue make life in Macau and become permanent citizenship or Portuguese? Not about government, politic, or state ideology. It simply celebrating Life

[@Awakeningofthegods]

Become permanent citizenship? Portuguese citizens get it after 7 years.

[@Awakeningofthegods]

@Zaydan Alfariz If you were born before 2000 you would have both Portuguese citizenship and a Macau passport. After 2000 and after Macau was handed over to China you will get a Chinese citizenship passport. If you ask both Portuguese and Chinese citizenship at the same time the answer is no. Either way you will get a Macau passport but it doesn't really matter because European or Chinese passport is much stronger.

[@dominicvoo7598]

If you cannot take the heat, just leave. China doesn't cater for your convenience. Likewise, your country has rules laws and regulations, try not following and see what happens to you.

[@riel5197]

Except rules and regulations are to keep things lawful, not to control you like a robot.

[@666j1]

Not rules that impact your thoughts and opinions

[@grace_from_dogville]

So, you think he cannot express his own feelings and opinions? You're such a blind follower of the system. It doesn't matter which country you are - you will always be a sheep.

[@anjalikastarr2824]

Every country has their own security laws including the U.S and U.K. Why do some people scream and foam in the mouth especially when China introduce a similar law? In the U.S there us an Act to protect the United States against certain un-American and subversive activities. Unless you engage in terrorist activities or incite unrest in your country of residence, what is there to fear?

[@Quidproquo1143]

Portugal has no rules to control your opinion or restrict your freedom.

[@india5965]

🤣🤣 I'm sorry, but the irony of the title😅

[@anjalikastarr2824]

Jorge Vale went to work and live in Macao well after it was returned to China in 1999. Was he expecting motherland, Portugal to still call the shots after the handover? China has every right as to how it wants to administer the former colony. So Mr. Vale, stop moaning and groaning and just leave.

[@saraleisilva8342]

he never expected that Portugal could still dictate what happens in Macau. He was talking about the covid restrictions that took place in Macau. Pay attention to the video

[@franktoh3041]

Macau is Chinese territory. I am surprised that there are still Portuguese living there after reverting to China.

[@mikicerise6250]

What exactly you want to do to non-Han people? Put in washing machine until they come out Han?

[@theotheagendashill818]

So they shouldn't live there but the Chinese colonizers should live in Xingjiang and Singapore?

[@franktoh3041]

@@theotheagendashill818 The illegal white settlers of the North American continent should revert the land to the original inhabitants.

[@franktoh3041]

@@theotheagendashill818 Xinjiang is Chinese territory. Singapore is independent, anybody can live there.

[@facebookmary7502]

​@@theotheagendashill818whites should leave Australia, new Zealand and America

[@eugene7145]

Free Macau, Free Hong Kong!

[@anjalikastarr2824]

What have you been smoking, dude? Hong Kong is much free than when it was under colonial rule. The same with Macao under the Portuguese.

[@Beetleman20]

Free your mom

[@well-blazeredman6187]

​@@anjalikastarr2824 In what ways are Hong Kongers freer today than they were in 1997?

[@anjalikastarr2824]

@@well-blazeredman6187 For one, you have no say in how Hong Kong was governed under colonial rule. It is hard to see how people like you were contented being second class citizens in your own country. Other than the introduction of a recent security law, how was life any different after the handover? Every country has their security laws including the U.S and U.K. The U.S has an Act to protect the United States against certain un-American and subversive activities but this is a non issue with you. So what is there to fear if you don't engage in subversive activities or incite unrest in the country you reside or do business?

[@well-blazeredman6187]

@@anjalikastarr2824 How very duty officer of you.

[@captainchaoscow]

What do the Macau people think about this - especially when those Portuguese represent former Colonisers? And now they still can leave Macau and China easily. It is probably not that easy for other citizen.

[@armchairwarrior963]

Those who fear it, should also fear in the EU. EU has alot of anti "hate" speech laws. No such thing as freedom speech in the EU.

[@carlosacta8726]

Sorry but the 800 lb gorilla in the room is the Chinese government! Funny how only the "government" in Macau is mentioned. But where did all of the pandemic and post-pandemic restrictions come from? Boa viagem portugueses!!!

[@ALIEN_857]

Portuguese have been in Asia long enough, if you care to read History up. The forts you left in Asia are imprints of your colonial times.

[@GeppettoVonWalid]

What's bad about them? It started globalization. A new trade route.

[@kristinab1078]

China has also exerted its own colonial powers in the past. Some would contend that it's exerting this level of power even now in African nations.

[@paulosah1317]

@@kristinab1078 which countries did China colonise?

[@stevenbaksh5545]

​@@kristinab1078 so what country did China colonise? They had triburity states but that loosely meant that those kingdoms got to trade freely with China. Those Affrican nations of their own free will choose to do business with China and when you take a loan you have to put up assets as collateral and when you can't pay back that loan well that asset gets seized the lesson to be learnt is don't take loans you know you can't pay back

[@kristinab1078]

@@stevenbaksh5545 Tibet and Southern Mongolia (inner Mongolia). Culturally, they also "colonized" Xinjiang where the Uighurs live.

[@JGS2024]

If you think that somebody took your freedom, cuidado! In Portugal, as well, you may find out that some of your freedoms are already taken.

[@tomaccino]

What's with cheesy piano music? There are so many instruments that can evoke the feelings of melancholy and yet the piano is the one that is always overused.

[@frikandelkroket9335]

Freedom is to be cherished.

[@perceptive25]

That's happening all over the world.

[@albertwee216]

Know that you are only occupiers due to Macau past history. You either embrace the culture and lifestyle or leave for your home country. Same with any other country you live.

[@boonluitang7727]

Right choice!

[@katherineamelia98]

sorry, i’m not going to feel bad about descendants of colonisers leaving the land they colonised ???

[@jessica2brook]

Exactly

[@riel5197]

But DO YOU feel bad about the land being supressed by another authority today? Also inb4 "colonization" brought them 10x richer percapita than ppl on the otherside of border.

[@jessica2brook]

@@riel5197 there is no justification for colonization. Period

[@TMWT]

Who’s asking you to feel bad? The point is to understand and it’s not hard to do so. These people aren’t guilty of their predecessors’ crimes, birth is just a lottery.

[@bennybouken]

@@jessica2brook yes there is Lol

[@r53caspar]

I don't know why it took him this long. Many Portuges and myself an Englishmen left Macao because it had lost his magic since 2010. He stayed got loads of money and can probably buy a village in Portugal lol

[@boypazaway5833]

Comfort Zone and Denial vs Acceptance!

[@Hdio99]

His problems are not that important in my view, when there is no bread and home to ones life than i can relate but to this even being Portuguese i cannot relate, he wanted confort and ritcheness and everything all his life but nothing lasts forevver , welcome to reality, and in the end what happend to him , nothing we went to live free to his country wirhout losing a penny...

[@vieworama8188]

You can see the correlation of how strict the lockdown and the number of covid deaths

[@sandipshrestha2139]

And what about the indigenous peoples freedom taken away from protugese..wasn't that worse then this.. shouldn't western at least pay the compensations

[@theotheagendashill818]

It is the Chinese who are taking away the freedom of the indigenous people in Xingjiang and Tibet

[@empronyxx1982]

There where no indigenous people in macau when it was settled, it was willingly given to portugal by china because it was just a bunch of rocks

[@alexyou3233]

They are happy they did it. They never repaid India for the damage they did

[@empronyxx1982]

@@alexyou3233 what damage did we do??? You just gained new territories and now you also want what

[@justnow5809]

Mind is the runner of all things....said by "The Buddha"

[@mariajorge8533]

If you compare strict measures during covid, Macau is not the strictest, in Canada there was lockdown where you can only leave home to do groceries shopping and people not living at same household can’t car ride together otherwise they will get a fine from police .... sadly, a granny that I know got a ticket in Vancouver for riding inside Neighours car ... need to have a Covid government measure and double check which country is the strictest

[@kling8460]

No one in search of freedom would ever go to Canada either

[@susiex6669]

​@@kling8460 The truth. Trudeau turned Canada in to a complete shxt show during the pandemic. Him, and that buck toothed horse in New Zealand, really went out of their way to be little fascists.

[@jimbo7577]

Old English Commonwealth countries were competing with China for the most inhuman lockdown measures and the people for the most sheep-like response to government tyranny.

[@binalcensored2104]

Come back brother, we need all the Portuguese back home, because we are developing the first space ships to sail to Jupiter, the new Taprobana.

[@pkwong1940]

China's government is responsible for the well being of 1.4 billion people not just a few individuals sense of freedom. I sympathies with those wanting to enjoy their freedom so it is for them to decide for themselves. Perhaps we can also reflect on how Emperor Puyi felt to on being emperor to commoner.

[@JojoYuoable]

China's government never love its citizens. They are tools to maintain CCP's authority and power.

[@chingkenneth1017]

I been to Macau family trip.i love the food and culture of Portuguese especially the church .its similar to the churches in the Philippines

[@tyoyusuf8501]

how similiar and different about portuguse church in macau and spanish church in philipines?

[@anacasanova7350]

​@@tyoyusuf8501 pues España y Portugal tienen mucho en común y además durante 80 años estuvieron bajo la Corona de los Austrias españoles, ocupando territorios en Asia conjuntamente, Goa, Macao, Filipinas , etc,etc.😊❤

[@MrClassicfever]

@@anacasanova7350 a porcaria da união ibérica durou 60 anos (1580-1640), e Goa, Damão, Diu, Macau e Timor-leste, apenas dizem respeito aos descobrimentos portugueses