alt="Click for Macao, Macao Forecast" height=60 width=468>
澳門特別行政區
Região Administrativa Especial de Macau
Largest freguesia (population): Freguesia de Nossa Senhora de Fátima
Official languages: Chinese (Cantonese), Portuguese
Demonym: Macanese
Government
- Chief Executive: Edmund Ho Hau-wah
Establishment
- Portugal-administered trading post: 1557
- Portuguese colony: December 1, 1887
- Transfer of sovereignty to the PRC: December 20, 1999
Area
- Total: 29.2 km2 (not ranked), 11.27 sq mi
- Water (%): 0
Population
- 2007 (1st qtr) estimate: 520,400[2] (167th)
- 2000 census: 431,000
- Density: 17,310/km2 (1st), 44,784/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate
- Total: US$17,600 m (99th)
GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate
- Total: US$15,997 m (94th)
- Per capita: US$36,357[3]
HDI (2004): 0.909[4] (high) (25th)
Currency: Macanese pataca (MOP)
Time zone: MST (UTC+8)
Drives on the: left
Internet TLD: .mo
Calling code: 853
The Macau Special Administrative Region, (Traditional chinese: 澳門特別行政區, hanyu pinyin: Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū), commonly known as Macau or Macao (pronounced /məˈkaʊ/, traditional Chinese: 澳門; simplified Chinese: 澳门; pinyin: Aòmén; Jyutping: ou3 mun4), 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, bordering Guangdong province in the north and facing the South China Sea in the east and south. The territory has thriving industries such as textiles, electronics and toys, and a notable tourist industry that boasts a wide range of hotels, resorts, stadiums, restaurants and casinos. This makes it one of the richest cities in the world.
Macau was both the first and the last European colony in China. Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 16th century and subsequently administered the region until the handover on December 20, 1999. The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau stipulate that Macau operates with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer. Under the policy of "one country, two systems", the 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, immigration policy, and delegates to international organisations and events.
Bibliography
- Chan, S. S. (2000). The Macau Economy. Publications Centre, University of Macau. ISBN 99937-26-03-6.
- Fung, Bong Yin (1999) (in Chinese). Macau: a General Introduction. Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co. Ltd.. ISBN 962-04-1642-2.
- 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. Univ of Washington Pr. ISBN 0295966084.
- De Pina-Cabral (2002). Between China and Europe - Person, Culture and Emotion in Macau. Berg Publishers. ISBN 0826457495.
- Eayrs, James (2003). Macau Foreign Policy and Government Guide. International Business Publications, USA. ISBN 0739764519.
Links
- Portal of the government of Macau
- Government Information Bureau
- Cultural Affairs Bureau
- Macau Government Tourist Office
- Macau City Guide
- Macau travel guide from Wikitravel
- Profiles
This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.
Video: Macau (Part 1)
Technorati Tags: 
Post new comment