Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region/Chapter III

Chapter III Fundamental Rights and Duties of the Residents
Article 24

Residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region ("Macao residents") shall include permanent residents and non-permanent residents.

The permanent residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be:


 * (1) Chinese citizens born in Macao before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region and their children of Chinese nationality born outside Macao;


 * (2) Chinese citizens who have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than seven years before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region and their children of Chinese nationality born outside Macao after they have become permanent residents;


 * (3) The Portuguese who were born in Macao and have taken Macao as their place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region;


 * (4) The Portuguese who have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than seven years and have taken Macao as their place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region;


 * (5) Other persons who have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than seven years and have taken Macao as their place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region;


 * (6) Persons under 18 years of age born in Macao of those residents listed in category (5) before or after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The above-mentioned residents shall have the right of abode in the Macao Special Administrative Region and shall be qualified to obtain permanent identity cards.

The non-permanent residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be persons who are qualified to obtain Macao identity cards in accordance with the laws of the Region but have no right of abode.

Article 25

All Macao residents shall be equal before the law, and shall be free from discrimination, irrespective of their nationality, ancestry, race, sex, language, religion, political persuasion or ideological belief, educational level, economic status or social conditions.

Article 26

Permanent residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall have the right to vote and the right to stand for election in accordance with law.

Article 27

Macao residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike.

Article 28

The freedom of the person of Macao residents shall be inviolable.

No Macao resident shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful arrest, detention or imprisonment. In case of arbitrary or unlawful detention or imprisonment, Macao residents have the right to apply to the court for the issuance of a writ of "habeas corpus".

Unlawful search of the body of any resident or deprivation or restriction of the freedom of the person shall be prohibited.

Torture or inhuman treatment of any resident shall be prohibited.

Article 29

Macao residents shall not be punished by law, unless their acts constitute a crime and they shall be punished for it as expressly prescribed by law at the time.

When charged with criminal offences, Macao residents shall enjoy the right to an early court trial and shall be presumed innocent before convicted.

Article 30

The human dignity of Macao residents shall be inviolable. Humiliation, slander and false accusation against residents in any form shall be prohibited.

Macao residents shall enjoy the right to personal reputation and the privacy of their private and family life.

Article 31

The homes and other premises of Macao residents shall be inviolable. Arbitrary or unlawful search of, or intrusion into, a resident's home or other premises shall be prohibited.

Article 32

The freedom and privacy of communication of Macao residents shall be protected by law. No department or individual may, on any grounds, infringe upon the freedom and privacy of communication of residents except that the relevant authorities may inspect communication in accordance with the provisions of the law to meet the needs of public security or of investigation into criminal offences.

Article 33

Macao residents shall have freedom of movement within the Macao Special Administrative Region and freedom of emigration to other countries and regions. They shall have freedom to travel and to enter or leave the Region and shall have the right to obtain travel documents in accordance with law. Unless restrained by law, holders of valid travel documents shall be free to leave the Region without special authorization.

Article 34

Macao residents shall have freedom of conscience.

Macao residents shall have freedom of religious belief and freedom to preach and to conduct and participate in religious activities in public.

Article 35

Macao residents shall have freedom of choice of occupation and work.

Article 36

Macao residents shall have the right to resort to law and to have access to the courts, to lawyers' help for protection of their lawful rights and interests, and to judicial remedies.

Macao residents shall have the right to institute legal proceedings in the courts against the acts of the executive authorities and their personnel.

Article 37

Macao residents shall have freedom to engage in education, academic research, literary and artistic creation, and other cultural activities.

Article 38

The freedom of marriage of Macao residents and their right to form and raise a family freely shall be protected by law.

The legitimate rights and interests of women shall be protected by the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The minors, the aged and the disabled shall be taken care of and protected by the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Article 39

Macao residents shall have the right to social welfare in accordance with law. The welfare benefits and retirement security of the labour force shall be protected by law.

Article 40

The provisions of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and international labour conventions as applied to Macao shall remain in force and shall be implemented through the laws of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Macao residents shall not be restricted unless as prescribed by law. Such restrictions shall not contravene the provisions of the first paragraph of this Article.

Article 41

Macao residents shall enjoy the other rights and freedoms safeguarded by the laws of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Article 42

The interests of the residents of Portuguese descent in Macao shall be protected by the Macao Special Administrative Region in accordance with law, and their customs and cultural traditions shall be respected.

Article 43

Persons in the Macao Special Administrative Region other than Macao residents shall, in accordance with law, enjoy the rights and freedoms of Macao residents prescribed in this Chapter.

Article 44

Macao residents and other persons in Macao shall have the obligation to abide by the laws in force in the Macao Special Administrative Region.