Portugal’s minister of justice Rita Alarcão Júdice was in Macao on Monday, representing her country on Camões Day (also known as Portugal Day), TDM reported.
The day is observed in Portuguese communities around the world and this year fell on the same day as the Dragon Boat Festival – a public holiday in Macao, Hong Kong and mainland China.
Júdice’s visit was the second by a high-level Portuguese official this year, after the country’s economy minister, Pedro Reis, represented Portugal at Forum Macao in April.
[See more: UM acquires rare 17th-century edition of Luís de Camões’ epic poem]
She is understood to have met with Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng on Monday afternoon, and to have participated in traditional Camões Day celebrations – including a flag-raising ceremony at the Portuguese Consulate and pilgrimage to the local Camões Grotto.
The renowned Portuguese poet Luís de Camões is believed by some to have written at least part of his most famous work, The Lusiads, during a stint in the city the 1560s.
Camões Day is held annually on 10 June. This year was especially significant, as had been officially designated his 500th anniversary. Macao is marking the milestone with a series of events paying tribute to Camões’ life.
