The Chiu’s Clan of Mong-Ha Village and Macao’s Political Affairs

After the Chiu’s clan settled down in Macao, its descendants in Mong-Ha Village were promoters of Confucian education and dedicated to their studies to pass the imperial examination and become officials. In the Ancestral Hall of Chiu’s Clan, there was once a horizontal plaque inscribed with “父子登科” (Father and Son passing the Imperial Examination). By now, the plaque is safe-kept in the Chiu’s Mansion seated in Travessa da Porta, nearby Rua dos Mercadores.

Of the members of the 26th generation of the clan, Chiu Vun Ching belonged to the gentry class of Macao. He was charged with the responsibility to handle local issues and urge government officials to deal with Macao’s political affairs. According to historical records, Chiu Vun Ching and his paternal male cousins, Chiu Yun Lun and Chiu Vun Hei, sent a memorial to the magistrate of Xiangshan County during the 25th year of reign of Emperor Jiaqing of Qing dynasty (1820). They informed the magistrate that Rua dos Mercadores, Rua dos Ervanários and their surroundings were packed by shops which made it necessary to heighten fire awareness amongst the population over there. Chiu Vun Ching also paid attention to cases of unauthorized occupation of government land, shops and of houses. Seeing that some Portuguese and Chinese plotted together in private occupation of lands in Macao, he urged the local Qing authorities to interfere in order to maintain Qing government’s rule over the city.