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Macau
Background:
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the
first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by
China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December 1999. China has promised
that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic
system will not be practiced in Macau and that Macau will enjoy a high degree
of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
Location:
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Area: Total: 25.4 sq km
Area - comparative: About 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: Total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km
Coastline: 41 km
Climate and Terrain:
Climate: Subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: Generally flat
Land use: Arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: "green
areas" represent 22.4% (1998 est.)
Geography - note: essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the
two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
People:
Population: 461,833 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry),
Portuguese, other
Religions: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages: Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Government:
Dependency status: Special administrative region of China
Economy overview:
Macau's economy two years after reversion to China remains
one of the most open in the world, according to the World Trade Organization.
The government collects no duty on imports and sets no restrictions on exports
beyond those required by international agreements. The territory's net exports
of goods and services account for 35% of GDP, with tourism and apparel exports
as the mainstays. The territory therefore has been hit hard by the 2001
downturn in its key US and EU export markets. Tourism remained strong, however,
driven by a surge in visitors from mainland China. In response to the expected
contraction of the economy in 2002, the government has announced a stimulative
income tax cut and public works program that will push the budget into deficit.
China already has extended support by easing restrictions on travel to Macau
and is proposing a China-Hong Kong-Macau free trade area.
Statistics:
Telephones - main lines in use: 176,902.
Telephones - mobile cellular: 158,251.
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 2.
Radios: 160,000.
Television broadcast stations: 0 (receives Hong Kong broadcasts).
Televisions: 49,000.
Internet users: 60,000.
Highways: Total: 50 km paved.
Airports: 1.
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