I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Simon Young for the understanding and generosity shown during this long process as well for the unwavering support for the thesis’ direction and insightful comments that enriched this project over the years.
A word of appreciation to the Faculty of Law and its staff at the University of Hong Kong and a special thanks to the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region for its scholarship for my doctoral programme.
It is very difficult to name all the colleagues and friends that throughout the last 10 years have helped me and given me the strength to overcome the various challenges and complete this almost lifetime project; to all my gratitude. Nevertheless, acknowledgements have to be made to Ana Bento, Ana Paula Barros, António Costa, Carlos Morais José, Diane Aguiar, Diogo Baptista, João Palla, Mário Duque, Miguel Rosa Duque, Paula Mendonça, Paulo Cardinal, Rui Simões and Vera Varela.
I am profoundly grateful and in debt particularly to Isira Makuloluwe, Joaquim Menano, Selina Lei and Silvia de Sousa for their support and guidance with the English language, research referencing and editorial process.
I also need to express my special thanks to my Brill publishers, especially Beth Derr and the editors’ team who kindly support me in revising my dissertation, a project that landed in the printed pages of Brill.
Finally, and most important to my family who never gave up believing in me and my stubbornness. I would like to thank my daughter and son, who bring light into my life, for their encouragement, patience and kindness, particularly for the time I did not spend with them. I am also indebted to my sister and parents for their unconditional support and love.