The century-old Government Headquarters will once again be opened to the public over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday 20-21 October) from 9 am to 6 pm. Members of the public may make use of this opportunity to admire the Southern European style structures. During the open days, a series of performances will be provided for the visitors, including music and shows by the Public Security Police Band, students from School of Music and School of Dance of the Macao Conservatory.
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) will also host an exhibition of more than 3,000 types of orchids, showcasing the beauty of the renowned floral species. Large-scale floral works will also be displayed at the main entrance, exit, garden and hallways of Government Headquarters to depict the charm of orchids and the art of bonsai; flowers in bloom will be everywhere to fill the environment with fresh scents. Guided tour to the first floor of the Government Headquarters and a photo exhibition of old Macao will be staged in the multi-purpose conference room.
To commemorate this special occasion, Macao Post will set up a special counter at the Nam Van Lake to provide hand-back service and issue a set of commemorative envelope and postcard. Special traffic arrangements will be introduced on Travessa do Paiva during the open days and drivers are advised to follow the directions given by police officers. Located on Avenida Praia Grande, the Macao SAR Government Headquarters covers an area of 7,700 square metres and comprises three buildings with a total floor area of 10,000 square metres. After its construction, it was bought by the Portuguese-Macao government and used as the official residence and offices for the Portuguese governors who had served in Macao. After the establishment of the Macao SAR Government on December 20, 1999, the mansion was renovated, with its original architectural style and features retained. The front block of the Headquarters houses conference room for the Executive Council, the Lotus Room, a multi-purpose conference room and a press room, as well as the Green Room, the Yellow Room and the Blue Room, which are usually used for meetings and banquets.
