The provisions regarding the application of international conventions to the Macao SAR, as stipulated in Article 138 of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, are basic principle and norm guiding the Central People's Government and the Macao SAR Government in dealing with issues concerning the application of the international conventions. The aforementioned provisions are also principal legal basis for the work on the application to Macao of international conventions.
Before the return of Macao to China, the Chinese and Portuguese Governments had, through the Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group, held consultations and reached agreements on the continued application of relevant international conventions after the handover. Subsequently, the two sides took relevant international actions regarding the application of international conventions to Macao SAR. As from 29 December 1999, there were 156 international conventions remained in force in Macao SAR. (See appendix)
After the return of Macao, the Central People's Government has dealt, in strict accordance with the Basic Law, with the issue of the application of the international conventions to the Macao SAR, and made decisions in due course after seeking the views of the SAR government through the Commissioner's Office in the Macao SAR and in accordance with the circumstances and the needs of the Region. The Macao SAR Government also initiated proposals to the Central People's Government requesting application of certain international conventions to the Macao SAR. From the date of return of Macao till 20 June 2007, the Commissioner's office has dealt with matters regarding the application of 117 international conventions to the Macao SAR. Some of these conventions have been applied to the Macao SAR. According to the provisions of relevant international conventions applied to the Macao SAR, the Central People's Government has also assisted the Macao SAR in submitting reports on the implementation of some conventions in Macao relevant international organizations.
