Earlier in the year a large scale labour protest turned violent in May. This protest also followed one of the largest corruption case involving Ao Man-long of the Macau public works just a month before in November. Macau's leaders in 2007 were chosen by a 300-member committee of mostly Beijing loyalists. Only 12 of the city's 29 legislators are directly elected, while the rest are chosen by the leader and interest groups.[2]
The December protest used the slogan "oppose corrupt government, fight for democracy, protect people's livelihood, rebuild Macau's values, reestablish the memory of this generation." (反貪腐、爭民主、保民生，重建澳門的價值，共創我們這一代的集體記憶).[3] About 1,000 residents of Macau held a march to demand full democracy and protest against corruption.[2] Police blocked off roads and kept close tabs on the protesters.[1]
