The two last Portuguese administration Macau governors, Vasco Joaquim Rocha Vieira and Carlos Montez Melancia, received some of the highest lifetime pensions attributed by the Portuguese government to retired public officials.
Carlos Montez Melancia served as Macau governor from July 9, 1987 to April 22, 1991, while retired Portuguese Army officer, Rocha Vieira, served as the last Portuguese administration Macau governor from April 23, 1991 to December 19, 1999.
According to a list of the lifetime pensions granted to 318 retired Portuguese public servants published by the country’s General Retirement Fund (CGA), Melancia has received a 9,727 euros (MOP86,210/US$10,672) monthly pension since 1998, while Rocha Vieira has received a 13,607 euros pension since 2000.
The list includes public officials who have served for 12 years before 2009, are over 55 years old, and are currently receiving this lifetime pension.
Although Melancia has received a full pension, Rocha Vieira’s pension has been partially reduced due to his current functions at the General and Supervisory Board of Portuguese electric utility company EDP, but with the reduced amount not disclosed.
A pension is to be reduced whenever the beneficiary has an income of over 1,307 euros or can be suspended if the receiver starts serving in political functions.