*Macau, Geography Location: East Asia, 27 km west-southwest of Hong Kong on the southeast coast of China bordering the South China Sea Map references: Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 16 km2 land area: 16 km2 comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total 0.34 km, China 0.34 km Coastline: 40 km Maritime claims: not specified International disputes: none Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers Terrain: generally flat Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two islands to the peninsula on mainland *Macau, People Population: 477,850 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 1.44% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 14.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 4.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.64 years male: 77.24 years female: 82.17 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.44 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Macanese (singular and plural) adjective: Macau Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2% Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981) Languages: Portuguese (official), Cantonese is the language of commerce Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 90% male: 93% female: 86% Labor force: 180,000 (1986) by occupation: NA *Macau, Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form: Ilha de Macau Digraph: MC Type: overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999 Capital: Macau Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau Independence: none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 year after transition) Constitution: 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing awaiting final approval Legal system: Portuguese civil law system National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests of Macau; Macau Democratic Center; Group to Study the Development of Macau; Macau Independent Group Other political or pressure groups: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy pro-Communist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Legislative Assembly: last held on 10 March 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total; 8 elected by universal suffrage, 8 by indirect suffrage, and 7 appointed by the governor) number of seats by party NA Executive branch: president of Portugal, governor, Consultative Council (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9 March 1986) Head of Government: Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991) Member of: ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), WTO (associate) *Macau, Government Diplomatic representation in US: as Chinese territory under Portuguese administration, Macanese interests in the US are represented by Portugal US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong Flag: the flag of Portugal is used *Macau, Economy Overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry represented well over 40% of GDP in 1992. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.1 billion (1991) National product real growth rate: 3.1% (1991) National product per capita: $6,700 (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.2% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 2% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $305 million; expenditures $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989) Exports: $1.8 billion (1992 est.) commodities: textiles, clothing, toys partners: US 36%, Hong Kong 13%, Germany 12%, France 8% (1991) Imports: $2.0 billion (1992 est.) commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods partners: Hong Kong 35%, China 22%, Japan 17% (1991) External debt: $91 million (1985) Industrial production: NA Electricity: 258,000 kW capacity; 855 million kWh produced, 1,806 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism Agriculture: rice, vegetables; food shortages - rice, vegetables, meat; depends mostly on imports for food requirements Economic aid: none Currency: 1 pataca (P) = 100 avos Exchange rates: patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989), 8.044 (1988), 7.993 (1987); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar Fiscal year: calendar year *Macau, Communications Highways: 42 km paved Ports: Macau Airports: none useable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station Telecommunications: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services; 52,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 3 FM, no TV (TV programs received from Hong Kong); 115,000 radio receivers (est.); international high-frequency radio communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station *Macau, Defense Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 137,738; fit for military service 77,159 (1993 est.) Note: defense is responsibility of Portugal