12-3 incident
Encyclopedia
The 12-3 incident refers to a riot in Macau
that happened on December 3, 1966, inspired by the Cultural Revolution
in the People's Republic of China
.
's supporters mobbed the Macau Governor’s house
, while troops were called in to suppress them.
at Largo do Senado at the city centre, and burned archive documents—some irreplaceable—at the Leal Senado
building and the Holy House of Mercy
. Portuguese soldiers
from Africa
, who came to Macau on holiday, were called in and martial law
was declared. As a result of the protests, 11 people were killed by police and 200 were injured. The incident is often referred to as "12-3," with reference to the date of the riots. The Portuguese authorities’ handling of the event was regarded as clumsy.
offered to give Macau back to the People's Republic of China, and extraordinarily China declined.
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
that happened on December 3, 1966, inspired by the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Tension
In 1966 residents tried to obtain a licence for a private school on Taipa Island. After being rejected many times they went ahead and started building without permits. On November 15, 1966, Portuguese police arrested the school officials and beat construction workers, residents, and press reporters. As a result Mao ZedongMao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
's supporters mobbed the Macau Governor’s house
Macau Government Headquarters
Macau Government Headquarters is the official office of the Chief Executive of Macau and has been since 1999.-History:Built in 1849 by Tomás de Aquino, Baron do Cercal, the two story pink facade structure is one of the historic properties preserving Portuguese influence in Macau and located on...
, while troops were called in to suppress them.
The incident
On December 3, the government ordered them to be arrested. This stirred up the anger of the general public and more people came to protest. They pulled down the statue of Colonel Vicente Nicolau de MesquitaVicente Nicolau de Mesquita
Vicente Nicolau de Mesquita was an officer of the Portuguese Army in Macau. He is widely remembered for his role at the Portuguese attack of Baishaling, Guangdong in 1849. He was the oldest of the five children of noted Macanese lawyer, Frederico Albino de Mesquita and Clara Esmeralda Carneiro -...
at Largo do Senado at the city centre, and burned archive documents—some irreplaceable—at the Leal Senado
Leal Senado
This article is about the building. For the organization known as the Leal Senado, see Municipal Council of Macau.The Leal Senado Building was the seat of Macau's government during its time as a Portuguese colony. It is located at one end of the Senado Square...
building and the Holy House of Mercy
Holy House of Mercy
Holy House of Mercy of Macau , is an historic white building in Macau's Senado Square. Established as a branch of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia, it was built in 1569 on the orders of the Bishop of Macao....
. Portuguese soldiers
Portuguese Army
The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
from Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, who came to Macau on holiday, were called in and martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
was declared. As a result of the protests, 11 people were killed by police and 200 were injured. The incident is often referred to as "12-3," with reference to the date of the riots. The Portuguese authorities’ handling of the event was regarded as clumsy.
Aftermath
The Chinese people adopted a "three no's" approach as a means to continue their struggle with the Government — no taxes, no service, no selling to the Portuguese. They were successful and on January 29, 1967 the Portuguese government of Macau signed a statement of apology. This marked the beginning of equal treatment and recognition of Chinese identity and of de facto Chinese control of the colony, as an official apology underlined the fact that after 1949, administration of Macau continued only at the behest of the Chinese Communist government. PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
offered to give Macau back to the People's Republic of China, and extraordinarily China declined.