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Gen. Vasco Rocha Vieira, the Last (127th) Governor of Macau | |||
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General Rocha Vieira was born in Lagos, Portugal, on 16th August, 1939. He spent most of his childhood years in Mozambique. After completion of the Military College, in Lisbon, he enrolled in the School of the Army in 1956. He graduated from the civil engineering course at Instituto Superior Technico, in Lisbon, having authored some papers on the subject. He worked for the Urban Council of Lisbon from 1969 to 1973. He was posted to several army units and headquarters, both in Portugal and in the then overseas provinces of Portugal. He served on secondment in Angola from 1965 to 1968, and in Macau from 1973 to 1974. He taught at the Military Academy in 1968/69, and at the Institute for Higher Military Studies in 1983/84. He was among the officers of the Armed Forces that, under the so-called Captain's Movement, promoted the installation of a democratic regime in Portugal in April 25th, 1974. He was Chief-of-staff of the Independent Territorial Command of Macau in 1973/74, and Under-Secretary for Public Works and Communications of the Macau Government in 1974/75. He was Director of the Engineering Branch of the Army in 1975/76. He was one of the moderate officers than, in November 25th, 1975, blocked attempts of radicalisation of Portugal's young democratic regime by minority groups within the Armed Forces. General Rocha Vieira was Chief-of-Staff of the Portuguese Army from 1976 to 1978. He was at that time an ex-officio member of the Revolutionary Council of Portugal. He was Portugal's military representative at the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE), in Mons, Belgium, from 1978 to 1982. He was Deputy Director of the Institute for National Defense, from July 1984 to July 1986. He was Minister with special responsibility for the Autonomous Region of the Azores from July 1986 to April 1991. He was promoted to the present rank of Lieutenant-General on June 17th, 1987. General Rocha Vieira was sworn in as Governor of Macau on April 23rd, 1991. As Governor of Macau during most part of the 12-year transition period before the handover of administration to the People's Republic of China, in December 19th/20th, 1999, he was responsible for a vast political program, having as main goals the strengthening of Macau's own identity, the consolidation of its autonomy and the promotion of the territory as a modern and useful platform, with a specific role, now and for the future, within the framework of China's relations with the rest of the world. Under his administration, Macau underwent in these last years a reinforcement of its political system and the rule of law, namely through the consolidation of its judicial system, a reform of its educational system, the intensive training of its cadres and elites, the modernization and universal covering of its health and welfare systems, the betterment of its environment protection, the surge of such impotent marks as the brand new Cultural Centre and Macau Museum, as well as the building of some crucial infrastructures such as new bridges and road networks, a new ferry terminal and the modern Macau International Airport. Appointed as Governor in 1991 by then President Mario Soares, he was confirmed in office in 1996 by the newly elected President Jorge Sampaio. General Rocha Vieira was designated Honorary Commander of the Engineering Branch of the Portuguese Army in June 1995. General Rocha Vieira was designated Honorary Commander of the Engineering Branch of the Portuguese Army in June 1995. General Rocha Vieira has been awarded a large number of Portuguese and foreign decorations and medals. Among them are, Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ, Knight Commander of the Military Order of Aviz, Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry, Medal for Distinguished Service, gold and silver. Medal of Military Merit, 1st and 3rd classes, Medal for Exemplary, gold and silver, Knight Commander of the Order of Leopold of Belgium, Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco of Brazil, Commander of the Legion of Merit of France, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Sacred Treasure of Japan and the Order of Merit of the United States of America.
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