While Britain was reluctant to see the jewel of its shrinking empire returned to China, Portugal is anxious to see Macau go -- in fact, it has been trying to give the peninsula back since the mid-1970s.
Army officers toppled Portugal's dictatorship in 1974 and then -- wanted to give up all the country's old colonies. But China was in no hurry to resume responsibility for aging, unprofitable Macau. Only after Beijing settled its plan for Hong Kong did it take up Portugal's offer. In 1987, Portugal and China agreed that Macau would be reunited with the mainland in 1999.
Army officers toppled Portugal's dictatorship in 1974 and then -- wanted to give up all the country's old colonies. But China was in no hurry to resume responsibility for aging, unprofitable Macau. Only after Beijing settled its plan for Hong Kong did it take up Portugal's offer. In 1987, Portugal and China agreed that Macau would be reunited with the mainland in 1999.