Macau

Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China[1] 中華人民共和國澳門特別行政區 Região Administrativa Especial de Macau da República Popular da China
Flag Emblem
Anthem:  《義勇軍進行曲》 March of the Volunteers
City flower Nelumbo nucifera (蓮花)
Clockwise from top right: Ruins of St. Paul's; Casino Lisboa; St. Joseph Seminary Church; Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge; A-Ma Temple; Guia Fortress; Macau Tower.
Status		Special Administrative Region
Official languages		Chinese Portuguese
Spoken languages		Cantonese[2] Mandarin Portuguese Macanese (Patuá)
Writing systems		Traditional Chinese characters[3] Simplified Chinese characters Latin alphabet
Ethnic groups		95.0% Han Chinese 2.0% Portuguese 3.0% Others[4]
Demonym		Macanese
Sovereign state		People's Republic of China
Government		Special administrative region
-	Chief Executive	Fernando Chui
-	Administration and Justice Secretary	Sonia Chan
-	Court President	Sam Hou Fai
-	Assembly President	Ho Iat Seng
Legislature		Legislative Assembly
Establishment
-	Portuguese settlement	1557
-	Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Peking	1 December 1887
-	Transfer of sovereignty from Portugal	20 December 1999
Area
-	Total	30.3 km2[lower-alpha 1] (235th) 11.6 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0
Population
-	2014[lower-alpha 2] estimate	636,200[5] (167th)
-	2011 census	552,503[6] (167th)
-	Density	18,568/km2 (1st) 48,092/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2013 estimate
-	Total	$80.765 billion (85th)
-	Per capita	$142,599 (1st)
GDP (nominal)		2013 estimate
-	Total	$51.753 billion (81st)
-	Per capita	$91,376 (4th)
HDI (2014)		0.882[7] very high · 21st
Currency		Macanese pataca (MOP)
Time zone		MST (UTC+8)
-	Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC)
Drives on the		left
Calling code		+853
ISO 3166 code		MO
Internet TLD		.mo
↑ Current statistics: March 2014- Direcçāo dos Serviços de Cartografia e Cadastro (Cartography and Cadastre Bureau) ↑ Second quarter

Macau
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	澳門
Simplified Chinese	澳门
Cantonese Jyutping	ou3mun4*2
Cantonese Yale	Oumùhn
Hanyu Pinyin	Àomén
Literal meaning	Bay gate
Transcriptions Hakka Romanization Àu-mûn Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Àomén IPA [ɑ̂ʊ̯mə̌n] other Mandarin Xiao'erjing اَوْمٍ Min Hokkien POJ Ò-mn̂g Foochow BUC Ó̤-muòng Wu Romanization au去men平 Cantonese Jyutping ou3mun4*2 IPA [ʔōu mǔːn] Yale Romanization Oumùhn
Macao Special Administrative Region
Traditional Chinese	澳門特別行政區 (or 澳門特區)
Simplified Chinese	澳门特别行政区 (or 澳门特区)
Cantonese Jyutping	Ou3mun4*2 Dak6bit6 Hang4zing3 Keoi1
Hanyu Pinyin	Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū (Àomén Tèqū)
Transcriptions Hakka Romanization Àu-mûn Thi̍t-phe̍t Hàng-tsṳn-khî Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū (Àomén Tèqū) Min Hokkien POJ Ò-mn̂g Te̍k-pia̍t Hêng-chèng-khu Wu Romanization au去men平 deh入bih入 ghan平tsen去chiu平 Cantonese Jyutping Ou3mun4*2 Dak6bit6 Hang4zing3 Keoi1
Portuguese name
Portuguese	Região Administrativa Especial de Macau (for "Macau Special Administrative Region") pronounced: [ʁɨʒiˈɐ̃w̃ ɐdminiʃtɾɐˈtivɐ (ɨ)ʃpɨsiˈaɫ dɨ mɐˈkaw]

Macau (/məˈkaʊ/; traditional Chinese: 澳門; simplified Chinese: 澳门; Jyutping: ou³mun^4*2; pinyin: Àomén), also spelled Macao, is one of the two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China, the other being Hong Kong. Macau lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta across from Hong Kong, which is about 64 kilometers to the east, and it is also bordered by Guangdong Province to the north and the South China Sea to the east and south.^[8] With an estimated population of around 636,200 living in an area of 30.3 km² (11.6 sq mi), it is the most densely populated region in the world.^[9]

A former Portuguese colony, Macau was administered by Portugal from the mid-16th century until late 1999, when it was the last remaining European colony in Asia.^[10][11] Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 1550s. In 1557, Macau was rented to Portugal by the Ming Dynasty as a trading port. The Portuguese administered the city under Chinese authority and sovereignty until 1887, when Macau became a colony of the Portuguese Empire. Sovereignty over Macau was transferred back to China on 20 December 1999. The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau stipulate that Macau operate with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer.^[12]

Under the policy of "one country, two systems", the PRC's Central People's Government is responsible for the territory's defense and foreign affairs, while Macau maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system, customs policy, and immigration policy. Macau participates in many international organizations and events that do not require members to possess national sovereignty.^[12][13]

Macau is one of the world's richest cities, and as of 2013 its GDP per capita by purchasing power parity is higher than that of any country in the world, according to the World Bank.^[14][15] It became the world's largest gambling centre in 2006,^[16] with the economy heavily dependent on gambling and tourism, as well as manufacturing. Cantonese people from Hong Kong and Guangdong, in addition to the recent mainland tourism from Mandarin-speaking regions, have boosted the economy of Macau significantly. According to The World Factbook, Macau has the second highest life expectancy in the world.^[17] Moreover, it is one of only a few regions in Asia with a "very high Human Development Index", ranking 25th as of 2011.^[18]

Etymology

Before the Portuguese settlement in the mid-16th century, Macau was known as Haojing (濠鏡, literally "Oyster Mirror") or Jinghai (鏡海, literally "Mirror Sea").^[19] The name Macau is thought to be derived from the A-Ma Temple (Chinese: 媽閣廟; pinyin: Māgé Miào; Jyutping: Maa1 Gok3 Miu6), a temple built in 1448 dedicated to Matsu – the goddess of seafarers and fishermen. It is said that when the Portuguese sailors landed at the coast just outside the temple and asked the name of the place, the natives replied "媽閣" (pinyin: Māgé; Jyutping: Maa1 Gok3). The Portuguese then named the peninsula "Macau".^[20] The present Chinese name (Chinese: 澳門; pinyin: Àomén; Jyutping: Ou3 Mun4) means "Inlet Gates".

History

The history of Macau is traced back to the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), when the region now called Macau came under the jurisdiction of Panyu county, in Nanhai prefecture (present day Guangdong).^[19] The first recorded inhabitants of the area were people seeking refuge in Macau from invading Mongols during the Southern Song dynasty.^[21] Under the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 AD), fishermen migrated to Macau from Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

Macau did not develop as a major settlement until the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century.^[22] In 1513, Jorge Álvares became the first Portuguese to land in China. In 1535, Portuguese traders obtained the rights to anchor ships in Macau's harbours and to carry out trading activities, though not the right to stay onshore.^[23] Around 1552–1553, they obtained temporary permission to erect storage sheds onshore, in order to dry out goods drenched by sea water;^[24] they soon built rudimentary stone houses around the area now called Nam Van. In 1557, the Portuguese established a permanent settlement in Macau, paying an annual rent of 500 taels (18.9 kilograms / 41.6 pounds) of silver.^[24] The Portuguese continued to pay an annual tribute up to 1863 in order to stay in Macau.^[25]

By 1564, Portugal commanded western trade with India, Japan, and China. But their pride was shocked by the indifference with which the Chinese treated them. The senate of Macau once complained to the viceroy of Goa of the contempt with which the Chinese authorities treated them, confessing however that "it was owing more to the Portuguese themselves than to the Chinese". In 1631 the Chinese restricted Portuguese commerce in China to the port of Macau.^[26]

During the 17th century, some 5,000 slaves lived in Macau, in addition to 2,000 Portuguese and 20,000 Chinese.^[27][28][29]

As more Portuguese settled in Macau to engage in trade, they made demands for self-administration; but this was not achieved until the 1840s.^[30] In 1576, Pope Gregory XIII established the Roman Catholic Diocese of Macau.^[31] In 1583, the Portuguese in Macau were permitted to form a Senate to handle various issues concerning their social and economic affairs under strict supervision of the Chinese authority,^[32] but there was no transfer of sovereignty.^[21]

Macau prospered as a port but it was the target of repeated failed attempts^[33] by the Dutch to conquer it in the 17th century. On June 24, 1622, the Dutch attacked Macau in the Battle of Macau, in the hope of turning it into a Dutch possession. The Portuguese repulsed their attack and the Dutch never tried to conquer Macau again. The majority of the defenders were African slaves, with only a few Portuguese soldiers and priests. Captain Kornelis Reyerszoon was commander of the 800 Dutch strong invasion force.^{[34][35][36][37]}

The Dutch Governor Jan Coen said after the defeat that "The slaves of the Portuguese at Macau served them so well and faithfully, that it was they who defeated and drove away our people there last year", and "Our people saw very few Portuguese" during the battle.^{[38][39][40][41]}

Following the Opium War (1839–42), Portugal occupied Taipa and Coloane in 1851 and 1864 respectively. On 1 December 1887, the Qing and Portuguese governments signed the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce, under which China ceded the right of "perpetual occupation and government of Macau by Portugal" in compliance with the statements of the Protocol of Lisbon. In return, Macau Government would cooperate with Hong Kong's smuggle of Indian opium and China would be able to increase profits through customs taxes. Portugal was also obliged "never to alienate Macau without previous agreement with China", therefore ensuring that negotiation between Portugal and France (regarding a possible exchange of Macau and Portuguese Guinea with the French Congo) or with other countries would not go forward – so that the British commercial interests would be secured; Macau officially became a territory under Portuguese administration.^[21]

In 1928, after the Qing dynasty had been overthrown following the Xinhai Revolution, the Kuomintang (KMT) government officially notified Portugal that it was abrogating the Treaty of Amity and Commerce;^[42] the two powers signed a new Sino-Portuguese Friendship and Trade Treaty in place of the abrogated treaty. Making only a few provisions concerning tariff principles and matters relating to business affairs, the new treaty did not alter the sovereignty of Macau and Portuguese government of Macau remained unchanged.^[43]

During the Second World War, unlike Portuguese Timor which was occupied by the Japanese in 1942 along with Dutch Timor, the Japanese respected Portuguese neutrality in Macau, but only up to a point. As such, Macau enjoyed a brief period of economic prosperity as the only neutral port in South China, after the Japanese had occupied Guangzhou (Canton) and Hong Kong. In August 1943, Japanese troops seized the British steamer Sian in Macau and killed about 20 guards. The next month they demanded the installation of Japanese "advisers" under the alternative of military occupation. The result was that a virtual Japanese protectorate was created over Macau.^[44]

When it was discovered that neutral Macau was planning to sell aviation fuel to Japan, aircraft from the USS Enterprise bombed and strafed the hangar of the Naval Aviation Centre on 16 January 1945 to destroy the fuel. American air raids on targets in Macau were also made on 25 February and 11 June 1945. Following Portuguese government protest, in 1950 the United States paid US$20,255,952 to the government of Portugal.^[44] Between the end of the Pacific War and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Macau served as a safe haven for refugees of the civil war in mainland China.^[45]

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Beijing government declared the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce invalid as an "unequal treaty" imposed by foreigners on China. However, Beijing was not ready to settle the treaty question, leaving the maintenance of "the status quo" until a more appropriate time.^[46]

Influenced by the Cultural Revolution in mainland China and by general dissatisfaction with Portuguese government, riots broke out in Macau in 1966. In the most serious, the so-called 12-3 incident, 6 people were killed and more than 200 people were injured.^[47] On 28 January 1967, the Portuguese government issued a formal apology by means of an "admission of guilt".^[48]

Shortly after the overthrow of the Portuguese dictatorship in 1974 in Lisbon, the new Portuguese government determined it would relinquish all its overseas possessions. In 1976, Lisbon redefined Macau as a "Chinese territory under Portuguese administration" and granted it a large measure of administrative, financial, and economic autonomy. Three years later, Portugal and China agreed to regard Macau as "a Chinese territory under (temporary) Portuguese administration".^[21][49] The Chinese and Portuguese governments commenced negotiations on the question of Macau in June 1986. The two signed a Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration the next year, making Macau a special administrative region (SAR) of China.^[50] The Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau on 20 December 1999.^[51] The economy since then has continued to prosper with the sustained growth of tourism from mainland China and the construction of new casinos.^[52][53]

Government and politics

The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, Macau's constitution promulgated by China's National People's Congress in 1993, specify that Macau's social and economic system, lifestyle, rights, and freedoms are to remain unchanged for at least 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1999.^[12] Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Macau enjoys a high degree of autonomy in all areas except in defence and foreign affairs.^[12] Macau officials, rather than PRC officials, run Macau through the exercise of separate executive, legislative, and judicial powers, as well as the right to final adjudication.^[54] Macau maintains its own separate currency, customs territory, immigration and border controls, and police force.^[55][56]

Executive

The government in Macau is headed by the chief executive, who is appointed by the central government upon the recommendation of an election committee, whose three hundred members are nominated by corporate and community bodies. The recommendation is made by an election within the committee.^[57] The chief executive's cabinet is made up of five policy secretaries and is advised by the Executive Council that has between seven and eleven members.^[58] Edmund Ho Hau Wah, a community leader and former banker, was the first chief executive of the Macau SAR, replacing General Vasco Rocha Vieira at midnight on 20 December 1999. Fernando Chui Sai On is the current Chief Executive.^[59] The chief executive and the cabinet have their offices in the Macau Government Headquarters, located in the area of Freguesia de São Lourenço.

Legislature

The legislative organ of the territory is the Legislative Assembly, a 33-member body comprising 14 directly elected members, 12 indirectly elected members representing functional constituencies and seven members appointed by the chief executive.^[60] Any permanent residents at or over 18 years of age are eligible to vote in direct elections.^[61] Indirect election is limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" and a 300-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies.^[62]

Judiciary

The original framework of the legal system, based largely on Portuguese law or Portuguese civil law system, was preserved after 1999. The territory has its own independent judicial system with a high court. Judges are selected by a committee and appointed by the chief executive. Foreign judges may serve on the courts.^[63]

Macau has a three-tier court system: the Court of the First Instance, the Court of the Second Instance and the Court of Final Appeal.^[64] In February 2009, the Legislative Assembly passed a security bill based on the withdrawn security legislation previously introduced in Hong Kong.^[65] Democracy advocates feared that the bill's excessively broad scope could lead to abuses, a concern which has been heightened after a number of prominent supporters of democracy in Hong Kong were denied entry into Macau in the run-up to the bill's passage.^[66]

Military

Under Portuguese rule, Macau often served as an expeditionary base to Japan and other regions of East Asia from the 16th century onwards, while maintaining a strong garrison mainly to repel Dutch and mainland Chinese attacks. However since the allied British settled Hong Kong, the need for a strong military presence in Macau dimmed and it became limited before ceasing in 1974. However, despite having no Portuguese garrison left on the territory, a small security force managed by the local PSP was kept, which proved useful with the escalating triad warfare tensions towards the last decades of Portuguese administration. Also the Capitania dos Portos kept operating a coast guard and the Portuguese airforce kept airfields active until the opening of Macau International Airport in the mid-1990s. In 1999, upon handover to the PRC, a substantial garrison of the People's Liberation Army was established in the city helping deliver the last blow to the violence perpetrated by the triads, who were weakened by police action and arrests prior to the handover. The garrison remains, with a large portion of the forces stationed in neighbouring Zhuhai as well.

• 

  Headquarters of the Government of Macau, previously the Governor's House until 1999.

• 

  Office building of the Legislative Assembly of Macau.

Geography

• 

  Macau Skyline

Macau is situated 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometres (90 mi) from Guangzhou. It also has 41 kilometres (25 mi) of coastline, yet only 310 metres (1,000 ft) of land border with Guangdong.^[8][67] It consists of the Macau Peninsula itself and the islands of Taipa and Coloane, which are now connected by landfill forming Cotai. The peninsula is formed by the Zhu Jiang (Pearl River) estuary on the east and the Xi Jiang (West River) on the west.^[67] It borders the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone in mainland China. The main border crossing between Macau and China is known as the Portas do Cerco (Barrier Gate) on the Macau side, and the Gongbei Port of Entry on the Zhuhai side.^[68]

Macau Peninsula was originally an island, but a connecting sandbar gradually turned into a narrow isthmus, thus changing Macau into a peninsula. Land reclamation in the 17th century transformed Macau into a peninsula with generally flat terrain, though numerous steep hills still mark the original land mass.^[67] Alto de Coloane is the highest point in Macau, with an altitude of 170.6 metres (559.7 ft).^[8] With a dense urban environment, Macau has no arable land, pastures, forest, or woodland.

• 

  The map of Macau, showing Macau Peninsula, Cotai, Taipa and Coloane.

• 

  Macau Peninsula.

• 

  Landscape of Penha Hill in Macau.

• 

  Macau, in 2013

• 

  Museum of Macau

• 

  Coloane Village with the artistic Portuguese pavement

• 

  Macau seen from Lake Nam Van

• 

  View of the old city in Macau

Climate

Macau has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), with average relative humidity between 75% and 90%.^[69] Similar to much of South China, seasonal climate is greatly influenced by the monsoons, and differences in temperature and humidity between summer and winter are noticeable, though not as great as inland China. The average annual temperature of Macau is 22.7 °C (72.9 °F).^[70] July is the warmest month, with the average temperature being 28.9 °C (84.0 °F). The coolest month is January, with a mean temperature of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F).^[69]

Located on China's southern coast, Macau has ample rainfall, with average annual precipitation being 2,120 millimetres (83 in). However, winter is mostly dry due to the influence of the vast Siberian High affecting much of East Asia. Autumn in Macau, from October to November, is sunny and still pleasantly warm with lower humidity. Winter (December to early March) is generally mild with temperatures above 13 °C (55 °F) most of the time, although it can drop below 8 °C (46 °F) at times. Humidity starts to increase from late March. Summer is very warm to hot (often rising above 30 °C (86 °F) during the day). The hot weather is often followed by heavy rain, thunderstorms and occasional typhoons.^[69]

Climate data for Macau (1981–2010, extremes 1901–2013)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	29.1 (84.4)	30.2 (86.4)	31.5 (88.7)	35.3 (95.5)	37.5 (99.5)	36.9 (98.4)	38.9 (102)	38.5 (101.3)	38.1 (100.6)	36.0 (96.8)	34.2 (93.6)	30.0 (86)	38.9 (102)
Average high °C (°F)	18.2 (64.8)	18.5 (65.3)	21.0 (69.8)	24.7 (76.5)	28.4 (83.1)	30.3 (86.5)	31.6 (88.9)	31.5 (88.7)	30.4 (86.7)	28.1 (82.6)	24.1 (75.4)	20.1 (68.2)	25.6 (78.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	15.1 (59.2)	15.8 (60.4)	18.3 (64.9)	22.1 (71.8)	25.6 (78.1)	27.6 (81.7)	28.6 (83.5)	28.4 (83.1)	27.4 (81.3)	25.0 (77)	20.9 (69.6)	16.8 (62.2)	22.6 (72.7)
Average low °C (°F)	12.5 (54.5)	13.6 (56.5)	16.2 (61.2)	20.2 (68.4)	23.6 (74.5)	25.6 (78.1)	26.2 (79.2)	26.1 (79)	25.1 (77.2)	22.6 (72.7)	18.3 (64.9)	14.0 (57.2)	20.3 (68.5)
Record low °C (°F)	−1.8 (28.8)	0.4 (32.7)	3.2 (37.8)	8.5 (47.3)	13.8 (56.8)	18.5 (65.3)	19.3 (66.7)	19.0 (66.2)	13.2 (55.8)	9.5 (49.1)	5.0 (41)	0.0 (32)	−1.8 (28.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	26.5 (1.043)	59.5 (2.343)	89.3 (3.516)	195.2 (7.685)	311.1 (12.248)	363.8 (14.323)	297.4 (11.709)	343.1 (13.508)	219.5 (8.642)	79.0 (3.11)	43.7 (1.72)	30.2 (1.189)	2,058.1 (81.028)
Avg. precipitation days	5.5	9.9	11.7	12.0	13.9	17.7	16.0	16.0	12.3	6.1	4.6	4.5	130.2
Average relative humidity (%)	73.8	81.0	84.5	86.1	84.4	84.0	81.8	81.4	77.9	72.4	70.2	68.5	78.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours	127.4	79.4	71.5	85.3	136.4	155.3	223.2	195.4	176.5	192.3	172.2	159.1	1,773.9
Source: Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau[71][72]

Economy

Employed population by occupation 2007[73]
Occupation	no. ('000)
Senior officials/managers	14.6
Professionals	9.9
Technicians	28.1
Clerks	83.7
Service & sale workers	63.2
Workers in agriculture/fishery	0.8
Craft & similar workers	33.7

Macau's economy is based largely on tourism. Other chief economic activities in Macau are export-geared textile and garment manufacturing, banking and other financial services.^[74] The clothing industry has provided about three quarters of export earnings, and the gaming, tourism and hospitality industry is estimated to contribute more than 50% of Macau's GDP, and 70% of Macau government revenue.^[58]

Macau is a founding member of the WTO and has maintained sound economic and trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions, with European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries in particular; Macau is also a member of the IMF.^[75] The World Bank classifies Macau as a high income economy^[76] and the GDP per capita of the region in 2006 was US$28,436. After the Handover in 1999, there has been a rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors due to China's easing of travel restrictions. Together with the liberalization of Macau's gaming industry in 2001 that induces significant investment inflows, the average growth rate of the economy between 2001 and 2006 was approximately 13.1% annually.^[77]

In a World Tourism Organization report of international tourism for 2006, Macau ranked 21st in the number of tourists and 24th in terms of tourism receipts.^[78] From 9.1 million visitors in 2000, arrivals to Macau has grown to 18.7 million visitors in 2005 and 22 million visitors in 2006,^[79] with over 50% of the arrivals coming from mainland China and another 30% from Hong Kong.

Starting in 1962, the gambling industry had been operated under a government-issued monopoly license by Stanley Ho's Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau. The monopoly ended in 2002 and several casino owners from Las Vegas attempted to enter the market. With the opening of the Sands Macao,^[80] in 2004 and Wynn Macau in 2006,^[81] gambling revenues from Macau's casinos were greatly prosperous.^[82][83][84] In 2007, Venetian Macau, at the time the second (now seventh) largest building in the world by floor space, opened its doors to the public, followed by MGM Grand Macau. Numerous other hotel casinos, including Galaxy Cotai Megaresort, opened in 2011,^[85] and plans for a $3.9 billion complex that will be known as Lisboa Palace is expected to be completed by 2017.^[86] In February 2015, the gambling revenue in Macau fell by 48.6 percent from a year earlier to 19.5 billion patacas ($2.4 billion), the biggest monthly decline that has ever been recorded.Reasons for this fall of revenue are related to the slowdown that the Chinese economy is having officials pursue a corruption crackdown that's confined in lavish spending.^[87]

In 2002, the Macau government ended the monopoly system and six casino operating concessions and subconcessions are granted to Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, the partnership of MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho (daughter of Stanley Ho), and the partnership of Melco and Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL). Today, there are 16 casinos operated by the STDM, and they are still crucial in the casino industry in Macau, but in 2004, the opening of the Sands Macau ushered in the new era.^[80][88][89] Gambling revenue has made Macau the world's top casino market, surpassing Las Vegas.^[90]

In the early 2010s, Macau also ramped up show and entertainments in addition to gambling business, including the famous show House of Dancing Water,^[91] concerts, industry trade shows and international art crossovers.^[92]

Macau is an offshore financial centre, a tax haven, and a free port with no foreign exchange control regimes.^[93][94][95] The Monetary Authority of Macau regulates offshore finance,^[96] while the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute provides services for investment in Macau.^[97] In 2007, Moody's Investors Service upgraded Macau's foreign and local currency government issuer ratings to 'Aa3' from 'A1', citing its government's solid finances as a large net creditor. The rating agency also upgraded Macau's foreign currency bank deposit ceiling to 'Aa3' from 'A1'.^[98]

As prescribed by the Macau Basic Law, the government follows the principle of keeping expenditure within the limits of revenues in drawing up its budget, and strives to achieve a fiscal balance, avoid deficits and keep the budget commensurate with the growth rate of its gross domestic product. All the financial revenues of the Macau Special Administrative Region shall be managed and controlled by the Region itself and shall not be handed over to the Central People's Government. The Central People's Government shall not levy any taxes in the Macau Special Administrative Region.^[99]

• 

  Tourism and gambling are the primary drivers of Macau's economy.

• 

  Night view of Macau Tower, a communication tower.

• 

  The central business district of Macau. The building shown is the BNU tower.

• 

  Ruins of St. Paul's, façade originally built in 1602.

• 

  Macau Cathedral.

• 

  Casino Resort MGM Grand, Macau.

• 

  Air Macau

• 

  Senado Square, Macau

• 

  Macau - Grand Lisboa

• 

  Fisherman's Wharf

Monetary system

In Macau, the unit of currency is the pataca, which is currently pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at a rate of HK$1 = MOP1.03.^[100] The name pataca is a Portuguese word which was applied to the Mexican dollars that were the main circulating coin in the wider region in the second half of the 19th century. In 1894, the pataca was introduced in both Macau and Portuguese Timor as a unit of account for the Mexican dollar and the other silver dollar coins in circulation. However, the pataca was not the official currency when it was first enacted.^[100] In 1901, it was decided to grant the Banco Nacional Ultramarino the exclusive rights to issue banknotes denominated in patacas, and in the year 1906, all foreign coins were outlawed.^[100] However, the Chinese were suspicious of these paper patacas, being so accustomed to using silver for barter, and as such, the paper patacas circulated at a discount in relation to the silver dollar coins. In 1935, when China and Hong Kong abandoned the silver standard, the Hong Kong dollar was pegged to sterling at the fixed rate of 1 shilling and 3 pence, whereas the pataca was pegged to the Portuguese escudo at a sterling equivalent rate of only 1 shilling. From 1945 to 1951, fractional coins of the pataca were minted for issue in Portuguese Timor; and, in 1952, similar issues were minted for Macau including an actual pataca coin for the first time.

Demographics

Residents' usual language spoken at home[101]
Language	Percentage of population
Cantonese	85.7%
Mandarin	3.2%
Other Chinese languages	6.7%
Portuguese	0.6%
English	1.5%
Others	2.3%

Macau is the most densely populated region in the world, with a population density of 20,497 persons per square kilometre in 2013^[102] (18,428 persons/km² in a 2004 projection 47,728/sq mi).^[103] 95% of Macau's population is Chinese; another 2% is of Portuguese and/or mixed Chinese/Portuguese descent, an ethnic group often referred to as Macanese.^[101] According to the 2006 by-census, 47% of the residents were born in mainland China, of whom 74.1% were born in Guangdong and 15.2% in Fujian. Meanwhile, 42.5% of the residents were born in Macau, and those born in Hong Kong, the Philippines and Portugal shared 3.7%, 2.0% and 0.3% respectively.^[101]

The growth of population in Macau mainly relies on immigrants from mainland China and the influx of overseas workers since its birth rate is one of the lowest in the world.^[104] According to The World Factbook, Macau has the second highest life expectancy in the world,^[17] while its infant mortality rate ranks among the lowest in the world.^[105]

Macau's official languages are Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese.^{[106] [107]} Macau still retains its own dialect of Portuguese, called Macanese Portuguese. Other languages such as Mandarin, English, and Hokkien are spoken by local communities.^[108] The Macanese language, a distinctive creole generally known as Patuá, is still spoken by several dozen Macanese.^[109]

Since Macau has an economy driven by tourism, 14.6% of the workforce is employed in restaurants and hotels, and 10.3% in the gambling industry.^[108] With the opening of several casino resorts and other major constructions underway, many sectors reportedly experience a shortage of labor, and the government seeks to import labor from neighboring regions.

The number of imported workers stood at a record high of 98,505 in the second quarter of 2008, representing more than 25% of the labor force in Macau.^[110] Some local workers complain about the lack of jobs due to the influx of cheap imported labor. Some also claim that the problem of illegal labor is severe.^[111] Another concern is the widening of income inequality in the region. Macau's Gini coefficient, a popular measure of income inequality where a low value indicates a more equal income distribution, rose from 0.43 in 1998 to 0.48 in 2006. It is higher than those of neighboring regions, such as mainland China (0.447), South Korea (0.316) and Singapore (0.425).^[112]

Religion

Most Chinese in Macau are profoundly influenced by their own tradition and culture, of which most take part in Chinese folk religion, in which Taoism and Confucianism are comprehended.^[58] According to a survey conducted between 2005, 2007 and 2009 has found that 30% of the population follows folk faiths, 10% are adherents of Buddhism or Taoism, 5% are Christians, and the remaining part do not declare religious adherence.^[113][114]

Education

A fifteen-year free education is currently being offered to residents, that includes a three-year kindergarten, followed by a six-year primary education and a six-year secondary education. The literacy rate of the territory is 93.5%. The illiterates are mainly among the senior residents aged 65 or above; the younger generation, for example the population aged 15–29, has a literacy rate of above 99%.^[101] Currently, there is only one school in Macau where Portuguese is the medium of instruction.

Macau does not have its own universal education system; non-tertiary schools follow either the British, the Chinese, or the Portuguese education system. There are currently 10 tertiary educational institutions in the region, four of them being public.^[58] In 2006, the Programme for International Student Assessment, a worldwide test of 15-year-old schoolchildren's scholastic performance coordinated by OECD, ranked Macau as the fifth and sixth in science and problem solving respectively.^[115] Nevertheless, education levels in Macau are low among high income regions. According to the 2006 by-census, among the resident population aged 14 and above, only 51.8% has a secondary education and 12.6% has a tertiary education.^[101]

As prescribed by the Basic Law of Macau Chapter VI Article 121, the Government of Macau shall, on its own, formulate policies on education, including policies regarding the educational system and its administration, the language of instruction, the allocation of funds, the examination system, the recognition of educational qualifications and the system of academic awards so as to promote educational development. The government shall also in accordance with law, gradually institute a compulsory education system. Community organizations and individuals may, in accordance with law, run educational undertakings of various kinds.^[99]

Health care

Macau is served by one major public hospital, the Hospital Conde S. Januário, and one major private hospital, the Hospital Kiang Wu, both located in Macau Peninsula, as well as a university associated hospital called Macau University of Science and Technology Hospital in Cotai. In addition to hospitals, Macau also has numerous health centres providing free basic medical care to residents. Consultation in traditional Chinese medicine is also available.^[116]

Currently none of the Macau hospitals are independently assessed through international healthcare accreditation. There are no western-style medical schools in Macau, and thus all aspiring physicians in Macau have to obtain their education and qualification elsewhere.^[58] Local nurses are trained at the Macau Polytechnic Institute and the Kiang Wu Nursing College.^[117][118] Currently there are no training courses in midwifery in Macau.

The Corpo de Bombeiros de Macau (CB, Macau Corps of Firefighters) is responsible ambulance service (Ambulância de Macau), but the Macau Red Cross also operates ambulances (Toyota HiAce vans) for emergency and non-emergencies to local hospitals with volunteer staff.^[119]

The organization has a total of 739 uniformed firefighters and paramedics serving from 7 stations in Macau with one central HQ on Macau

The Health Bureau in Macau is mainly responsible for coordinating the activities between the public and private organizations in the area of public health, and assure the health of citizens through specialized and primary health care services, as well as disease prevention and health promotion.^[120] The Macau Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was established in 2001, which monitors the operation of hospitals, health centres, and the blood transfusion centre in Macau. It also handles the organization of care and prevention of diseases affecting the population, sets guidelines for hospitals and private health care providers, and issues licences.^[121] .

Transport

In Macau, traffic drives on the left, unlike in either mainland China or Portugal, but like neighbouring Hong Kong. Macau has a well-established public transport network connecting the Macau Peninsula, Cotai, Taipa Island and Coloane Island. Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. Currently three companies – Transmac, Transportas Companhia de Macau and Macau Nova Era de Autocarros Públicos operate franchised public bus services in Macau.^[122] The trishaw, a hybrid of the tricycle and the rickshaw, is also available, though it is mainly for sightseeing purposes. The newest public bus operator, Reolian Public Transport Co., entered service on 1 August 2011. This new bus operator operates on the existing routes by Transmac and Transportas Companhia de Macau.

The Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal and the Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal provides cross-border transportation services for passengers travelling between Macau and Hong Kong, while the Yuet Tung Terminal in the Inner Harbour serves those travelling between Macau and cities in mainland China, including Shekou and Shenzhen.^[123]

Macau has one active international airport, known as Macau International Airport located at the eastern end of Taipa and neighbouring waters. The airport used to serve as one of the main transit hubs for passengers travelling between mainland China and Taiwan, but now with the introduction of direct flights between those two regions, passenger traffic in this regard has lessened.^[124][125] It is the primary hub for Air Macau. In 2006, the airport handled about 5 million passengers.^[126]

Culture

The mixing of the Chinese and Portuguese cultures and religious traditions for more than four centuries has left Macau with an inimitable collection of holidays, festivals and events. The biggest event of the year is the Macau Grand Prix in November,^[127] when the main streets in Macau Peninsula are converted to a racetrack bearing similarities with the Monaco Grand Prix. Other annual events include Macau Arts festival in March, the International Fireworks Display Contest in September, the International Music festival in October and/or November, and the Macau International Marathon in December.

The Lunar Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival and celebration normally takes place in late January or early February.^[128] The Pou Tai Un Temple in Taipa is the place for the Feast of Tou Tei, the Earth god, in February. The Procession of the Passion of Our Lord is a well-known Roman Catholic rite and journey, which travels from Saint Austin's Church to the Cathedral, also taking place in February.^[67]

A-Ma Temple, which honours the Goddess Matsu, is in full swing in April with many worshippers celebrating the A-Ma festival. In May it is common to see dancing dragons at the Feast of the Drunken Dragon and twinkling-clean Buddhas at the Feast of the Bathing of Lord Buddha. In Coloane Village, the Taoist god Tam Kong is also honoured on the same day.^[67] Dragon Boat festival is brought into play on Nam Van Lake in June and Hungry Ghosts' festival, in late August and/or early September every year. All events and festivities of the year end with Winter Solstice in December.

Macau preserves many historical properties in the urban area. The Historic Centre of Macau, which includes some twenty-five historic locations, was officially listed as a World Heritage Site UNESCO on 15 July 2005 during the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Durban, South Africa.^[129]

Cuisine

Local cooking in Macau consists of a blend of Cantonese and Portuguese cuisines. Many unique dishes resulted from the spice blends that the wives of Portuguese sailors used in an attempt to replicate European dishes. Its ingredients and seasonings include those from Europe, South America, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, as well as local Chinese ingredients.^[130] Typically, Macanese food is seasoned with various spices and flavours including turmeric, coconut milk, cinnamon and bacalhau, giving special aromas and tastes.^[131] Famous dishes include Minchi, Capella, Galinha à Portuguesa, Galinha à Africana (African chicken), Bacalhau, Macanese Chili Shrimps and stir-fry curry crab. Pork chop bun, ginger milk and Portuguese-style egg tart are also very popular in Macau.^[132]

Notable people

• Stanley Ho, Business magnate, father of Macau gambling industry.
• Xian Xinghai (spelt as Hsien Hsing-hai during his era), 冼星海 Noted musician and composer during Sino-Japanese War, known work included Yellow River Cantata
• Michelle Reis, Hong Kong actress and former Miss Hong Kong.
• Edmund Ho, Business leader, and Chief Executive of Macau SAR
• Jenny Tseng, 甄妮 Famous Cantonese pop singer and actress in 70s and 80s.
• Ming-Na Wen, 温明娜 TV & Movie Actress, one of the first Chinese-American actresses with a contract role

Sports

Macau has its own professional football league, the Campeonato da 1ª Divisão do Futebol, where the Big Three professional football clubs of Portugal have their own branches: S.L. Benfica de Macau, Sporting Clube de Macau and F.C. Porto de Macau. In general, football (soccer) has the greatest popularity in Macau, which has a representative international side, Macau national football team. Another common sport is Rink Hockey, which is often practiced by the Portuguese. Macau always participates in the Rink Hockey World Championship in B category. The national team of Macau is the most powerful of Asia and has many Rink Hockey Asian Championship titles. The last Championship was won in Dalian, China, at the 2010 Asian Roller Hockey Championship. Macau also has a basketball team, which qualified for the Asian Basketball Championship twice.

The automobile racing Macau Grand Prix is arguably the most important international sporting event in Macau, mainly with Formula 3, motorcycle road racing and touring car races.

Macau owns since 1989 a thoroughbred horse racing track called Taipa Racecourse operated by the Macau Jockey Club. The racecourse has a 15,000 seater grandstand.

See also

• Foreign relations of Macau
• Index of Macau-related articles
• List of bridges and tunnels in Macau
• List of twin towns and sister cities in China
• Macao Science Center
• Outline of Macau
• Visa policy of Macau
• Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Macau

Notes

References

• Fung, Bong Yin (1999). Macau: A General Introduction (in Chinese). Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co. Ltd. ISBN 962-04-1642-2. 
• Chan, S. S. (2000). The Macau Economy. Publications Centre, University of Macau. ISBN 99937-26-03-6. 
• Godinho, Jorge (2007). Macau business law and legal system. LexisNexis, Hong Kong. ISBN 978-962-8937-27-1. 
• Government Information Bureau (2007). Macau Yearbook 2007. Government Information Bureau of the Macau SAR. ISBN 978-99937-56-09-5. 

Further reading

• Cremer (Editor) (1988). Macau: City of Commerce and Culture. University of Washington Pr. ISBN 0-295-96608-4. 
• Berlie, Jean A. (1999). Macao 2000. Oxford University Press editor, Oxford, United Kingdom. ISBN 0-19-592074-0. 
• Berlie, Jean A. (2000). Macau's overview at the turn of the century. St. John's University Institute of Asian Studies editor, New York. 
• De Pina-Cabral (2002). Between China and Europe: Person, Culture and Emotion in Macau. Berg Publishers. ISBN 0-8264-5749-5. 
• Eayrs, James (2003). Macau Foreign Policy and Government Guide. International Business Publications, United States. ISBN 0-7397-6451-9. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maps of Macau.

Government

• Portal of the government of Macau
• Government Information Bureau
• Macau Yearbook
• Cultural Affairs Bureau
• Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau

General information

• Macau entry at The World Factbook
• Macau from UCB Libraries GovPubs
• Macau at DMOZ
• Macau profile from the BBC News
• Wikimedia Atlas of Macau
• Country Study: Macau from the United States Library of Congress (August, 2000)
• Dr Howard M Scott "Macau"

Travel

• Macau Government Tourist Office
• Macau City Guide

Special education and child development

• Macau Child Development Association

Sports

• Rink Hockey in Macau

	Zhuhai	Zhuhai	Shenzhen Pearl River / Hong Kong
	style="width:33% rowspan=3 | Zhuhai		South China Sea
	Macau
	Zhuhai	South China Sea	South China Sea

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Disputed by Oroqen Autonomous Banner, Hulunbir, Inner Mongolia as part of it. 4Only administers islands and waters in South China Sea and have no urban core comparable to typical cities in China. 5The claimed province of Taiwan no longer have any internal division announced by Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC, due to lack of actual jurisdiction. See Template:Administrative divisions of the Republic of China instead. All provincial capitals are listed first in prefecture-level cities by province. 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Officially the Republic of China, participates as "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu" Portuguese overseas empire   North Africa 15th century 1415–1640 Ceuta 1458–1550 Alcácer Ceguer (El Qsar es Seghir) 1471–1550 Arzila (Asilah) 1471–1662 Tangier 1485–1550 Mazagan (El Jadida) 1487–16th century Ouadane 1488–1541 Safim (Safi) 1489 Graciosa 16th century 1505–1541 Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué (Agadir) 1506–1525 Mogador (Essaouira) 1506–1525 Aguz (Souira Guedima) 1506–1769 Mazagan (El Jadida) 1513–1541 Azamor (Azemmour) 1515 São João da Mamora (Mehdya) 1577–1589 Arzila (Asilah)   Sub-Saharan Africa 15th century 1455–1633 Anguim 1462–1975 Cape Verde 1470–1975 São Tomé1 1471–1975 Príncipe1 1474–1778 Annobón 1478–1778 Fernando Poo (Bioko) 1482–1637 Elmina (São Jorge da Mina) 1482–1642 Portuguese Gold Coast 1508–15472 Madagascar3 1498–1540 Mascarene Islands 16th century 1500–1630 Malindi 1501–1975 Portuguese Mozambique 1502–1659 Saint Helena 1503–1698 Zanzibar 1505–1512 Quíloa (Kilwa) 1506–1511 Socotra 1557–1578 Accra 1575–1975 Portuguese Angola 1588–1974 Cacheu4 1593–1698 Mombassa (Mombasa) 17th century 1645–1888 Ziguinchor 1680–1961 São João Baptista de Ajudá 1687–1974 Bissau4 18th century 1728–1729 Mombassa (Mombasa) 1753–1975 Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe 19th century 1879–1974 Portuguese Guinea 1885–1975 Portuguese Congo 1 Part of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1753. 2 Or 1600. 3 A factory (Anosy Region) and small temporary coastal bases. 4 Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879.   Southwest Asia 16th century 1506–1615 Gamru (Bandar Abbas) 1507–1643 Sohar 1515–1622 Hormuz (Ormus) 1515–1648 Quriyat 1515–? Qalhat 1515–1650 Muscat 1515?–? Barka 1515–1633? Julfar (Ras al-Khaimah) 1521–1602 Bahrain (Muharraq • Manama) 1521–1529? Qatif 1521?–1551? Tarut Island 1550–1551 Qatif 1588–1648 Matrah 17th century 1620–? Khor Fakkan 1621?–? As Sib 1621–1622 Qeshm 1623–? Khasab 1623–? Libedia 1624–? Kalba 1624–? Madha 1624–1648 Dibba Al-Hisn 1624?–? Bandar-e Kong   Indian subcontinent 15th century 1498–1545 Laccadive Islands (Lakshadweep) 16th century Portuguese India  • 1500–1663 Cochim (Kochi)  • 1501–1663 Cannanore (Kannur)  • 1502–1658  1659–1661 Quilon (Coulão / Kollam)  • 1502–1661 Pallipuram (Cochin de Cima)  • 1507–1657 Negapatam (Nagapatnam)  • 1510–1961 Goa  • 1512–1525  1750 Calicut (Kozhikode)  • 1518–1619 Portuguese Paliacate outpost (Pulicat)  • 1521–1740 Chaul   (Portuguese India)  • 1523–1662 Mylapore  • 1528–1666 Chittagong (Porto Grande De Bengala)  • 1531–1571 Chaul  • 1531–1571 Chalé  • 1534–1601 Salsette Island  • 1534–1661 Bombay (Mumbai)  • 1535 Ponnani  • 1535–1739 Baçaím (Vasai-Virar)  • 1536–1662 Cranganore (Kodungallur)  • 1540–1612 Surat  • 1548–1658 Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)  • 1559–1961 Daman and Diu  • 1568–1659 Mangalore   (Portuguese India)  • 1579–1632 Hugli  • 1598–1610 Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) 1518–1521 Maldives 1518–1658 Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1558–1573 Maldives 17th century Portuguese India  • 1687–1749 Mylapore 18th century Portuguese India  • 1779–1954 Dadra and Nagar Haveli   East Asia and Oceania 16th century 1511–1641 Portuguese Malacca 1512–1621 Maluku  • 1522–1575  Ternate  • 1576–1605  Ambon  • 1578–1650  Tidore 1512–1665 Makassar 1537–1999 Macau 1571–1639 Decima (Dejima / Nagasaki) 17th century 1642–1975 Portuguese Timor (East Timor)1 19th century Portuguese Macau  • 1864–1999 Coloane  • 1849–1999 Portas do Cerco  • 1851–1999 Taipa  • 1890–1999 Ilha Verde 20th century Portuguese Macau  • 1938–1941 Lapa and Montanha (Hengqin) 1 1975 is the year of East Timor's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, East Timor's independence was fully recognized.   North America and the North Atlantic Ocean 15th century 1420 Madeira 1432 Azores 16th century 1500–1579? Terra Nova (Newfoundland) 1500–1579? Labrador 1516–1579? Nova Scotia   Central and South America 16th century 1500–1822 Brazil  • 1534–1549  Captaincy Colonies of Brazil  • 1549–1572  Brazil  • 1572–1578  Bahia  • 1572–1578  Rio de Janeiro  • 1578–1607  Brazil  • 1621–1815  Brazil 1536–1620 Barbados 17th century 1621–1751 Maranhão 1680–1777 Nova Colónia do Sacramento 18th century 1751–1772 Grão-Pará and Maranhão 1772–1775 Grão-Pará and Rio Negro 1772–1775 Maranhão and Piauí 19th century 1808–1822 Cisplatina (Uruguay) 1809–1817 Portuguese Guiana (Amapá) 1822 Upper Peru (Bolivia) Coats of arms of Portuguese colonies Evolution of the Portuguese Empire Portuguese colonial architecture Portuguese colonialism in Indonesia Portuguese colonization of the Americas Theory of the Portuguese discovery of Australia ABU TV Song Festival ABU Song Festivals Eurovision Song Contest Intervision Song Contest Junior Eurovision Song Contest Türkvizyon Song Contest   Countries Active Australia Brunei China Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Kazakhstan Macau Maldives South Korea Thailand Turkey Vietnam Inactive Afghanistan Iran Kyrgyzstan Malaysia Mongolia Singapore Sri Lanka Eligible Azerbaijan Bangladesh Bhutan Cambodia Egypt Fiji Jordan Kiribati Laos Myanmar Nepal New Zealand Norfolk Island North Korea Pakistan Papua New Guinea Philippines Qatar Samoa Saudi Arabia Solomon Islands Sudan Timor-Leste Tonga Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Vanuatu   Contests 2012 2013 2014 2015   Cities & Venues 2010s KBS Hall, Seoul Hanoi Opera House, Hanoi Sands Theatre, Macau TBC, Istanbul Portal Project

Coordinates: 22°10′N 113°33′E / 22.167°N 113.550°E / 22.167; 113.550