Colonial flags of Macao

The government of Macao is an entity appointed by the Portuguese government to administer the territory, with competences different from those of the two local municipal government. The government of Macao flies a flag of its own consisting of the 1935 coat of arms (greater) on an azure background. The text on the scroll reads "Governo de Macao." Before 1975, it just read "Provín. Portuguesa de Macau" and before 1951 "Colónia Portuguesa de Macau."

I do not know, however, when this coat of arms was first used in flags with this blue background. It should be after 1967, when a colonial flag series was proposed, approved, but ignored afterwards. I've never heard of any coat of arms on blue flag like this for any other of the overseas territories, so this flag was probably used only "after" 1975.

Please note that this flag shouldn't be used to represent "Portuguese Macao," officially only the Portuguese national flag will do. Unofficially most people prefer the future Special Economic Region flag, or the municipal flag of Macao City.

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This flag is known among us in Lusovex as the "Financial Times flag of Macao" because we have a daily TV program called "RTP Financial Times" featuring economic information, that uses this flag in the table of currency exchange for the local currency, the "pataca." So this flag has some kind of representation of the territory.
Jorge Candeias, 09 December 1998

António Martins, 09 December 1998

I saw this one in an exhibit in my university about the University of Macao and reported it in Lusovex. It was in a photo of an international university sports meeting and it was used in the parade (an olympic-like parade) next to the sign with the territory name. Another semi-official use of the flag in the representation of the territory.
Jorge Candeias, 09 December 1998