December 20 marked the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to China. With Chinese President Xi Jinping attending a series of celebrations in Macao, the special administrative region warmly commemorated the event. However, a few Western media outlets hyped up a Saturday protest by dozens of demonstrators in Macao's historic center. They claimed that Macao, like neighboring Hong Kong, is a "hotbed of dissent." 

There have been sporadic protests by a small number of pro-democracy activists in Macao this year. But mainstream public opinion in Macao, as well as in the Chinese mainland, holds that radical and illicit acts like the Occupy Central movement will not find a place in Macao. According to the Straits Times, surveys show that a majority of Macao citizens think the "one country, two systems" policy has been successful, with 82.1 percent saying they are proud to be Chinese.

Macao has been hailed as a good example of the "one country, two systems" model. In retrospect, it's fair to say that the past 15 years have witnessed an economic miracle in Macao. Since returning to China in 1999, the region's annual GDP has increased from 50.2 billion patacas ($6.29 billion) to 413.4 billion in 2013, an eight-fold increase. With the support of a strong economy, livelihood and well-being have improved in the region. For example, citizens of Macao have free education and they receive an annual cash stipend from the local government. Macao was once considered a "poor relative" by Hong Kong, but now, it has even surpassed Hong Kong in some fields, attracting a growing number of Hongkongers to migrate to the region.

Analysts attribute Macao's success to the "one country, two systems" policy, which serves as a cornerstone for Macao's prosperity. Macao has advanced its democratization in a gradual approach based on the Macao Basic Law. Besides, under the strong support of the central government, it concentrates on economic and social development, bringing the development level to an unprecedented height compared to the period before its return.

In the future, Macao faces a challenge to accelerate diversification away from its casino industry, during which stable development and the orderly adjustment of economic structure should be given priority. The Occupy Central movement that ravaged Hong Kong this year indicates that special administration regions cannot develop without stability. That a majority of the public respects social order is a prerequisite for achieving democracy. Macao should learn a lesson from Hong Kong that was roiled by pro-democracy protests, and the success of Macao should also serve as a dose of sobriety to Hong Kong.