Macao S. A. R.

I

Introduction

Macao S. A. R. or Macau, Special Administrative Region of China, on the south-eastern coast of China, west of Hong Kong S. A. R. It consists of a peninsula and three islands—Coloane and the two Taipa islands—located on the estuary of the Pearl River or Zhu Jiang (Chu Chiang), near its mouth on the South China Sea. Hong Kong is 64 km (40 mi) away on the other side of the Pearl River estuary. The peninsula is linked by bridge to one of the Taipa islands, which in turn is connected by causeway with Coloane. Macao S. A. R. has a total area of 21 sq km (8.3 sq mi). The Nam Van Lakes land reclamation and development project added 130 hectares (321 acres) to Macao, increasing its overall area by 20 per cent. Under a 1987 agreement, Macao was returned to China in December 1999 after 442 years of Portuguese rule, (see Government and History below)—during this period its name was spelt “Macau”.

The low granite hills of Macao S. A. R. reach a maximum height of 174 m (571 ft) on Coloane. Climate is sub-tropical, with a monsoon season between April and September, when 80 per cent of the annual precipitation of 1,020 to 2,540 mm (40 to 100 in) falls. Typhoons at this time sometimes produce heavy rainfall and flooding that can cause serious damage to crops and other property. The original vegetation of evergreen monsoon forest has long been cleared. The islands are mostly rocky and contain several villages and some small agricultural plots.

II

Population

Macao S. A. R. has a population of 460,823 (2008 estimate), with a density of 16,458 per sq km (42,626 per sq mi); about 95 per cent of the population are Chinese. Life expectancy is high at 79.5 years for men and 85.3 years for women (2008 estimate). Half of the population is estimated to have arrived from China within the past 15 years. More than 80 per cent of the total population live in the city of Macao, the commercial and administrative centre of the special administrative region, which occupies most of the peninsula, its border with the Chinese province of Guangdong (Kwangtung) being marked by the massive Barrier Gate erected by the Portuguese in 1849. Portuguese and the Chinese language dialect of Cantonese are the official languages, with Cantonese almost universally used by the population. Education is compulsory from 6 to 12 years and free from 6 to 15 years; in 1990 there were 32,639 primary and 16,189 secondary pupils; the University of Asia at Taipa is the main institute of higher education, with 1,647 students in 1992.

III

Economy

Macao is a free port, with no significant natural resources. The gross domestic product (GDP) of Macao S. A. R. is US$5.83 billion (World Bank figure; 1992-1993 prices), or US$14,972 per capita. The budget for 1991 balanced at US$724 million. The monetary unit of Macao is the pataca of 100 avos (8.16 patacas equalled US$1; early 2008); the bank of issue is the Autoridade Monetária e Cambial de Macau.

Macao has an active fishing fleet and exports fish products. Manufactures include textiles (which account for over 60 per cent of all exports at US$1.4 billion in 1994), footwear, fireworks, electronic equipment, precision instruments, and handicrafts. Chief foreign trade partners are Japan, the United States, Germany, France, and Great Britain: exports in 1994 totalled US$1.9 billion and imports US$2.1 billion. Tourism is an important industry, with many visitors attracted by the gambling casinos, especially from Hong Kong S. A. R.: in 1994 there were 7.8 million visitors, 77 per cent of them from Hong Kong S. A. R. Gambling, controlled by a licensed monopoly, is a significant business: in 1994 40 per cent of Macao’s tax revenues were levied from gambling. The Macau International Airport opened in December 1995, as part of an infrastructure development programme including road and rail links to Guangzhou; the island is also connected by ferry to Guangzhou and Hong Kong S. A. R.

IV

Government

Under a Sino-Portuguese agreement reached in 1987 and modelled on that between Great Britain and China over Hong Kong, Macao became a “special administrative region” of China in 1999. China resumed sovereignty over Macao with effect from December 20, 1999. The Macao Special Administrative Region was established in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the constitution of the People's Republic of China. Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, the previous capitalist system and way of life in Macao will remain unchanged for 50 years.

The executive arm of government in Macao S. A. R. consists of a chief executive, an executive council, and a legislative council. The executive council can consist of 7 to 11 members. At present, the legislative council has 27 members, 7 appointed by the chief executive, 10 directly elected by universal suffrage, and 10 indirectly elected through business and professional associations. Macao has an independent judiciary headed by a supreme court.