re: Standoff between Police and Students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong

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Considering Hong Kong & Macau both have very similar histories why does this policy seem to work in Macau?
For the most part Macau leans more Pro Beijing.

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Hong Kong and Macau only have a similar history in terms of a colonial presence. The British had a completely different attitude towards Hong Kong than the Portuguese did with Macau, however.

People have written entire books on their differences, but I'll distill it down to a couple:

The British ensured that Hong Kong had an independent and transparent judiciary, as well as an independent anti-corruption unit that ensured a free enterprise environment. Hong Kong was also a libertarian paradise, with low taxes, free speech, and an amazingly efficient government. (I've known expats in Hong Kong who received their business licenses within 24 hours.) As a result, many Chinese who fled Mao became quite wealthy in Hong Kong from the 1970's-1990's. The British were not always wonderful to Chinese in Hong Kong, but they did take great care in making sure the city was efficient and orderly. The public transportation system is still a marvel. Thus, Hong Kong became the de facto center for Asian finance and trade in the 20th century.

Macau, on the other hand, was a symptom of Portuguese apathy and neglect. Rather than build a stable economy, the Portuguese just essentially sold the city to Stanley Ho, a gangster who ruthlessly held a monopoly on gambling (and virtually every other industry) for decades. Macau became a hub for all kinds of illicit trade, prostitution, and other seedy activities. It also lacked a free press, any semblance of a fair judicial system, and had very little public discourse.

Ironically, since China took it over, Macau has been cleaned up some, especially since gaming interests from Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn gained entry into the city. However, it's a booming economy for different reasons than Hong Kong. Macau is essentially the main place where rich Chinese can circumvent tight currency restrictions in China and exchange their currency out of RMB and into US dollars, Euros, or other forms of currency through VIP rooms.

In short, Macau was essentially controlled by Chinese interests even when it was Portguese, and that's why the transition hasn't meant much to the people living there.