Young people have a profoundly important role in the development and future of Macau. They are the heirs to Macau’s centuries-old legacy, with more than 400 years of history.
As a platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and with Macau’s accelerated integration with Hengqin, enormous opportunities lie ahead for which young people must be prepared, especially in terms of their education and the knowledge they need about Macau itself. This is not only about pride in national identity, but also pride in their own local, historical and cultural identity.
If the fundamental idea is for the Macao SAR to become ever more integrated with Hengqin, there is at the same time discussion about not losing Macau’s unique characteristics and about connecting the region to the outside world. There are, therefore, important directions and reflections that need to be considered.
The linguistic ability of young people is essential, both in Chinese and Portuguese, without exception. This begins in schools and in the public administration, so as to effectively maintain proficiency in the two official languages. The next generation must preserve Cantonese in Macau, the native language of its residents, but Mandarin will also be necessary for integration with Hengqin and the Greater Bay Area.
On the other hand, Portuguese is not only useful for saying “hello”, for translation, or for Forum Macao. It is also a cultural identity and carries economic significance for China’s relations with Portuguese-speaking countries. Cultural heritage, rooted in the historical ties between China and Portugal, could be better promoted in schools as a dedicated subject, alongside Mandarin and Portuguese, for all communities attending any school in Macau.
There is no economy without cultural knowledge. Knowing how to “sell” Macau means understanding its culture, because that opens the door to creativity, promotes Macau’s cultural, tourism and economic image, encourages bilateral business between Macau and Hengqin, and ensures that Macau’s unique characteristics and intangible heritage are carried forward by the new generation.
Macau has always been China’s bridge to the world — and that bridge does not belong only to the Macanese community. In the end, across many different communities, we are all “people of Macau”. Society is calling for more dialogue and greater clarity in the government’s future direction, in conjunction with civil society and all its communities.
Hengqin can only benefit more fully from young people in Macau who have knowledge and constructive thinking, far beyond mere “slogans.”
