One of 11 siblings of an old Macanese family, who settled in Macau over 250 years ago,[2] he studied law at the University of Coimbra before becoming a writer.
Often focusing on the lives of characters of mixed racial origins, like the author himself, his work represents a unique viewpoint on the evolution of the territory in the twentieth century.
He never again participated in active political life as a deputy in the Legislative Assembly in the post-April 25 period.
From 1998 to 2009 he was resident of the General Assembly of CAM, operator of Macau International Airport.
In 2006, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Macau and Medal of Cultural Merit in 2001.