"One Country, Two Systems" allows Macao to retain its previous capitalist system and way of life, rather than adopting the Chinese mainland's socialist system.

But as part of China, Macao is under the leadership of the central government in Beijing.

The Macao Special Administrative Region is granted a high degree of autonomy, except in two areas — foreign affairs and defense.

"Macao is governed by its people." It is more than a slogan and reflected in many ways.

Residents enjoy the right to choose their own leader. They vote to form an electoral committee. The 400 committee members make the ultimate decision who come from different sectors, such as industrial, commercial and financial.

Over half of their ballots is required to produce a new head of government, the chief executive. Once elected, the chief executive needs to be appointed by the central government. The executive powers include deciding on government policies, nominating principal officials, and appointing part of the members of the Legislative Council.

With the chief executive as the core of the government, executive and legislative branches work together with checks and balances.

All those practices are written into Macao's Basic Law, keeping the region politically intact while providing support.