 The Qing authorities refused the request, but retained the preferentials that were already given to Portugal.However, on 20 November 1845, Maria II of Portugal unilaterally declared Macau a free port implying the abolition of Portugal‘s duty to pay ground rent to the Qing government and unilaterally bestowing upon the merchant vessels of other countries the right to dock and trade freely in Macau.After the new Governor of Macau, João Ferreira do Amaral, arrived in 1846, a series of colonial policies were enforced in Macau.