Macao Forum and Commemorative Gallery of the Macao Basic Law

Being once the largest indoor venue for recreational and sporting activities, the Macao Forum has been used for multiple types of local and international events since its opening in 1985. For Macao residents, it is an important location for activities. Originally designed by a Portuguese engineer, the whole building was renovated in 1999 by the Chinese government for the establishment ceremony of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. Overseen by Zhou Xukai, a Chinese engineer, the renovation project involves the renovation of the facade, main hall, exhibition hall displaying gifts from different provinces and cities, lounge and meeting hall for national leaders, lounge for officials of the Macao SAR Government, news centre and conference halls, etc. At midnight on 20 December 1999, the establishment ceremony of the Macao SAR Government was held in the Macao Forum where the first Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Government and members of the government were sworn into office, ushering in a new chapter in Macao history.

Currently, the Macao Forum is comprised of the Forum I, the Main Foyer, and the VIP Room. The Forum I offers a total of 4,062 single seats, and by international standards, it can be used not only for professional sporting activities such as volleyball, gymnastics, tennis, martial arts and roller hockey, but also for singing performances, integrated performances, acrobatics, concerts, conferences and gatherings. Within the Macao Forum, there was previously an exhibition hall used for all kinds of large-scale exhibitions. In order to publicise and promote the Macao Basic Law, the Macao SAR Government decided in March 2007 to use the exhibition hall for displaying pictures related to the Macao Basic Law. In 2013, the exhibition hall was further expanded into the Commemorative Gallery of the Macao Basic Law to showcase the successful practice of the Macao Basic Law and its historical development.