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Macau
General Information
Area: 23.80 sq km (9.18 sq miles).
Population: 437,455 (1999).
96 per cent of the population is Chinese and four per cent Portuguese, European and from other regions.
Population Density: 18,380 per sq km.
Capital: Macau.
GEOGRAPHY: Macau is situated on a tiny peninsula at the mouth of the Pearl River. Two bridges of 2.5km (1.5 miles) and 4.5km (2.8 miles) respectively link it to its nearest island, Taipa, which in turn is joined to the island of Côloane by a 2.2 km-long (1.3 mile) causeway. At the extreme northern end of the peninsula, on a narrow isthmus, is the imposing gateway (Portas do Cerco, or Border Gate), which leads to the Zhuhai and Zhongshan areas of the People’s Republic of China. Some 60km (37.5 miles) to the east-northeast, across the mouth of the river, is Hong Kong.
Government: Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China since 1999. Head of State: President Jiang Zemin since 1999. Head of Government: Chief Executive Edmund H W Ho.
Language: The official languages are Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese. English is widely spoken by those engaged in trade, tourism and commerce.
Religion: The main religions are Buddhism, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The majority are Buddhists while seven per cent are Catholics.
Time: GMT + 8.
Electricity: Usually 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Telephone
IDD service is available. Country code: 853. Outgoing international code: 00. International facilities are available at the General Post Office at Leal Senado Square, Macau City, the Central Post Offices in Taipa and Colôane, as well as all phone booths.
Mobile telephone
Dual band GSM network covers the whole territory. Main operators include CTM (website: www.macau.ctm.net) and Hutchison Telephone Company (website: www.hutchisonmacau.com) and SmarTone (website: www.smartone.com.mo).
Fax
Hotels have facilities.
Internet
ISPs include MacauWeb (www.macauweb.com).
Telegram
Services available at larger hotels and telecommunication offices, as well as all phone booths.
Post
Airmail to Europe takes three to five days. Automatic vending machines are available at various locations for stamps.
Press
Newspapers are in Portuguese or Chinese. There are English-language papers from Hong Kong.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | No/1 | No | | Australian | Yes | No/2 | No | | Canadian | Yes | No/2 | No | | USA | Yes | No/2 | No | | OtherEU | Yes | No/1 | No | | Japanese | Yes | No/2 | No |
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least one month required by all, except nationals of China who have a China Identity Card or travel permit and nationals of Hong Kong (SAR) who have a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKIC).
VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) 1. nationals of all EU countries, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Korea (Rep), Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Tanzania for stays of up to 90 days.
(b) 2. nationals of Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay and the USA for stays of up to 30 days;
(c) nationals of China (PR) with valid Macau entry/depature documents including residents of Hong Kong (SAR), Taiwan and overseas Chinese for stays of up to 30 days;
(d) holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKIC) or Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or those with a Hong Kong Re-entry Permit for a visit of up to one year.
Types of visa and cost: Individual: MOP100 (MOP50 for children under 12). Family: MOP200. Group: MOP50 per person for bona fide groups of ten people or more and children of 12 years of age or less.
Validity: 30 days. Can be extended on application to the immigration office.
Application to: Individual visitors requiring a visa may obtain it upon arrival in Macau for a fee of MOP100. Visas can also be obtained from Consulates or Embassies of China (PR); see China section. For other enquiries contact the Public Security Forces Bureau (see Contact Addresses section).
Money
Currency: Pataca (MOP) = 100 avos. Notes are in denominations of MOP1000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of MOP10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20 and 10 avos. Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted.
Note: The Pataca is loosely pegged to the Hong Kong Dollar.
Currency exchange: Foreign currency may be exchanged at hotels, banks and licensed bureaux de change. Numerous ATMs are available for cash withdrawal by credit card.
Credit & debit cards: MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: These may be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and at many hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of either local or foreign currency.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Pataca against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | Feb ’02 | May ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 11.49 | 11.36 | 12.64 | 12.79 | | $1.00= | 8.03 | 7.79 | 7.99 | 8.03 |
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600, Sat 0900-1200.
Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into Macau without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco products; 1l of wine and 1l of spirits. Other goods up to a value of MOP10,000.
Restricted imports: Fish, shellfish, meat and vegetables require an import permit.
Prohibited items: Firearms, narcotics, endangered species of animals and plants and pesticides.
Note: There is a five per cent duty on the import of electrical appliances and equipment. There are no export duties, but as travel is almost invariably via Hong Kong, the relevant Hong Kong import/export regulations must be observed (see Hong Kong within the China (PR) section).
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 1-3 Chinese New Year. Apr 5 Ching Ming Festival. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 20 Easter Monday. May 1 Labourers’ Day. May 8 Birth of Buddha. Jun 4 Dragon Boat Festival (Tuen Ng). Sep 11 Mid-Autumn Festival. Oct 1-2 National Day of the People’s Republic of China. Oct 4 Chung Yeung Festival. Oct 25 Festival of Ancestors (Chung Yeung). Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. Dec 20 Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day. Dec 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Dec 22 Winter Solstice. Dec 24-25 Christmas.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | No | No | | Cholera | No | No | | Typhoid and Polio | No | N/A | | Malaria | No | N/A |
Food & drink: Tap water is generally regarded as safe, but bottled water may be advisable for the first few days. Milk is pasteurised, but avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Diarrhoeal diseases, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and Oriental lung fluke (paragonimiasis) may occur in this area.
Health care: Health insurance is recommended. There are good medical facilities, and religious orders or hotels will also give assistance.
Other risks: Japanese encephalitis may occur in the New Territories between April and October. Immunisation against hepatitis A, B, diphtheria and tuberculosis is sometimes recommended.
Rabies is present.
Travel - International
AIR: The territory has its own airline, Air Macau (NX), which operates regional flights. Other airlines serving Macau include Air Koryo, China Northwest, China Southwest, Yunnan Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, EVA Airways and TransAsia Airways. A variety of charter airlines operate from Japan.
Approximate flight times: Flights from Europe and North America are usually via Hong Kong. From Hong Kong to London is 14 hours; for other flight times, see Hong Kong after the China (PR) section.
International airports: Macau International Airport (MFM) (website: www.macau-airport.gov.mo) is 6km (4 miles) southeast of the city. Buses run to the city and Macau-Hong Kong ferry terminal via major hotels (travel time – 15-30 minutes). Bus fares cost HK$40. Taxis to the city centre are also available for approximately MOP40. Airport facilities include banks and bureaux de change (24 hours), car hire, duty-free shops and restaurants.
An ExpressLink service has been introduced which allows fast, trouble-free transfers between Macau and Hong Kong airports. Ferries depart approximately every 15 minutes (travel time – 55 minutes). On arrival at Macau Ferry Terminal, passengers travel by a special shuttle bus to the enclave’s airport. Travellers should allow approximately one hour between ferry arrival time in Macau and departure time from Macau International Airport.
Departure tax: MOP80 per person for destinations in China, and MOP130 for other destinations. Children under 12 pay reduced rates. Payment must be made in local currency.
Helicopter: East Asia Airlines and Helicopters Hong Kong Limited operate daily flights between Hong Kong and Macau (travel time – 16 minutes). Cost: HK$1205-1268 (weekdays) or HK$1414-1477 (weekends and public holidays) one way. Helicopters depart from the Macau Maritime and Heliport Terminal, situated in the Outer Harbour.
SEA: A wide variety of vessels sail the 60km (37 mile) distance between Macau and Hong Kong: jetfoils, jumbocats, turbocats, hover-ferries and catamarans. There are more than 100 scheduled sailings each way throughout the day, while jetfoils operate round the clock. Passengers are advised to be at the terminals at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time in order to complete immigration formalities; there is always a standby queue for a prior boat for passengers who arrive unexpectedly early.
Jetfoils depart every 15 minutes from 0700 and every 30 minutes between 1730/1800-0400 (travel time – 55 minutes). Turbocat services take one hour. Catamaran services take 1 hour and 10 minutes. For further details call Macau (tel: 726 301; website: www.nwff.com.hk).
Tickets to Hong Kong can be bought in Macau up to seven days in advance. For travel from Hong Kong to Macau, jetfoil and jumbocat tickets can be bought up to 28 days in advance. A computerised booking system is available from Hong Kong MTR Travel Service Centres in the MTR stations of Admiralty, Central, Tsim Shat Sui, Causeway Bay, Mongkok, Tseun Wan and Kowloon Bay.
Telephone bookings for jetfoil services can be made by holders of Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express (tel: (+852) 2859 6596); further information can be obtained from the Far East Hydrofoil Company Ltd (tel: (+852) 2859 3351 or (in Macau) 790 7039).
The baggage allowance is 10kg per person on high-speed ferries and in general is limited to hand-carried items. Tour operators can arrange luggage-handling where required. Porters are available for heavy luggage.
There are also turbojet and ferry services to Fu Yong ferry terminal in Shenzhen, China (travel time – one hour).
ROAD: The crossing point into China is via the Barrier Gate (Portas de Cerco). Buses run frequently to and from this point from 0800-1830 (travel time –two hours 30 minutes).
Travel - Internal
SEA: There are several daily harbour tours in Chinese Junks between the Inner and Outer harbours (travel time – 30 minutes). Tours depart from Pier 1 and cost MOP$10 (children under 12 travel free).
ROAD: Traffic drives on the left. There are two bridges: one to Taipa Island, and a new bridge carrying a four-lane highway from the international airport to the Macau–China border at Zhuhai. Bus: Services operate frequently around Macau and to the islands. First buses run from around 0645, the last bus runs around midnight (but the last to the islands leaves at approximately 2300). The fare on all routes around the island is MOP2.5. The airport bus from Macau costs MOP6. Car hire: Available through several agencies. Drivers must be over 21. Passports may be required as well as a credit card for a deposit. Chauffeur-driven limousines are also available. Taxi: Most taxis are black with a cream-coloured top, but some are all-yellow. The fare is MOP10 for the first 1500m travelled. There is a surcharge of MOP2 between Taipa and Colôane and MOP5 between Macau and Colôane. From the airport, a surcharge of MOP5 is added and each item of luggage is MOP3. Rickshaws and pedicabs (bicycles with a two-seater section at the back) are also available for hire. The ferry terminal and the Hotel Lisboa are the two main pick-up locations. Prices should be agreed in advance. It is worth remembering that many of the attractions in Macau are located on hilltops, beyond the reach of even the strongest-legged pedicab driver. Bicycles can be hired on Taipa Island and cost approximately MOP20 per hour. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Accommodation
There are various types of accommodation, ranging from first-class to economy-class hotels, plus inns, villa-apartments housed in new buildings and older colonial hotels. At weekends the hotels, villas and inns are usually full, so it is wise to make a reservation. There are currently about 9000 hotel rooms in Macau. Most hotels are air-conditioned and rooms have private baths. A ten per cent service charge is added to hotel bills plus a five per cent government tax. For further information, contact the Macau Hotels Association, c/o New World Emperor, Rua de Xangai, Macau (tel: 781 888; fax: 782 287).
Introduction
MACAU: The most famous sight in Macau is probably the ruins of the Church of St Paul’s, originally built in 1602 and rebuilt in 1835 after a disastrous typhoon. The Jesuit citadel of São Paulo do Monte is almost directly in the centre of Macau. It forms the strong central point of the old city wall, and was instrumental in preventing the Dutch from conquering the city in 1622. The 17th-century Guia Fortress stands on the highest point in Macau; its lighthouse is the oldest on the China coast. Standing at 130ft high over the Praia Grande Bay, the Gate of Understanding (designed by Charters Almeida), is a symbolic structure which represents the goodwill between China and Portugal.
The complex of temples known as Kun Iam Tong dates from the time of the Ming Dynasty, about 400 years ago, and contains, amongst other works of art, a small statue of Marco Polo. The oldest Chinese temple in the territory is that of the Goddess A-Ma, and dates back at least six centuries. It has some excellent multicoloured bas-relief stone carvings. The Macau Museum seeks to embody the life of Macau and its people from the first settlement to the present day. The museum contains a vast collection of historic and social memorabilia.
The finest expression of Portuguese architecture is probably the Leal Senado, the Senate Chamber. The Public Library, off the main staircase, and the main chamber itself are well worth a visit. The Sun Yat Sen Memorial Home, the former residence of the Revolutionary leader who overthrew the Ching Dynasty in 1910, is now a museum. It is open Mon-Fri 1000-1300 (except Tuesday); Sat-Sun 1500-1700. São Domingo’s Church, built in the 17th century, is one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Macau. It has recently reopened after a large-scale renovation programme which has transformed the church. A new Museum of Sacred Art has opened on three floors of the renovated belfry, and is home to 300 works of sacred art which illustrate the history of the Roman Catholic church in Asia. Other churches of interest include those of Santo Agostinho, São Jose and São Lourenco. Opposite Santo Agostinho church is the neo-classical Dom Pedro V Theatre and Macau Club which still host plays and formal functions. The restored colonnial buildings around the sqaure of Santo Agostinho are also worth seeing. Other monuments of note in Macau include those in honour of Jorge Alvares and Vasco da Gama. The Chinese Garden of Lou Lim Ieoc offers a relaxing alternative.
Macau's newest attractions include the Macau Tower, an entertainment and convention centre situated on the waterfront on the Nam Van Lakes. The 338m tower is the tenth tallest in the world and provides panoramic views of the region.
ELSEWHERE: Taipa and Colôane represent Macau’s traditional countryside, with beach resorts, ancestral Chinese villages and pine-forested hills with nature trails and picnic areas. A lot of old Macau is preserved on the islands, including fishing boat-building yards, colonial mansions, Chinese temples and floating, fisherfolk communities.
Taipa: Taipa village is a busy, colourful place with interesting shops and colonial Portuguese offices in narrow streets and alleys, where many traditional crafts are still followed. The Taipa House Museum is a group of five colonial-style houses which have been newly restored and converted. One house is an art gallery; another, furnished in 1920s style, shows how a Macanese family used to live; the other houses contain costumes, crafts and traditional artefacts. Nearby, a small amphitheatre offers typical Macanese entertainment. Pou Tai Un Temple is the largest temple on the islands and has a very good vegetarian restaurant.
Colôane: Colôane has several beaches, as well as Seac Pai Van Park, which has nature trails threading among the hills, and a walk-in aviary with rare and beautiful species. A-Ma Statue has recently been unveiled on the highest point on the island, from which there are spectacular views. Colôane Village has interesting Chinese temples, the Chapel of St Francis Xavier (a classic, Portuguese-style chapel built in 1928) and good restaurants.
Sport & Activities
Racing: This takes place at the Canidrome on Avenida General Castelo Branco on Monday, Thursday, weekends and some public holidays. The Candidrome is the only greyhound racing stadium in Asia and its excellent facilities include two grand stands, several private boxes and a VIP lounge. Over 300 dogs take part in races on each racing day. The Macau Jockey Club organises flat horseraces at its track on the island of Taipa. Free shuttle buses take visitors from the Hotel Lisboa to the pier and the racecourse on racing days. The grand stand is air conditioned.
The Far East’s gala motorcycle and Formula III car racing event, the Macau Grand Prix, is held during the third week in November. Near the Grand Prix circuit is the Macau Grand Prix Museum which is open daily (except Tuesday) 1000-1800. Admission is MOP10 for adults and MOP5 for concessions.
Gambling: For the majority of travellers, gambling is Macau’s great attraction. Although it is well known that a large proportion of Macau’s GDP comes from gambling, people regularly travel to the country in the hope of hitting the jackpot. There are nine official casinos, all operated under Government franchise and all open 24 hours a day. Both familiar western games and popular eastern games are on offer, and an assortment of slot machines is available; these are called ‘hungry tigers’ by the locals. Unlike western casinos, the atmosphere is comparatively unglamorous, with the emphasis on serious betting. There is a minimum bet, currently 50 patacas on all games. Further information is available from the Macau Government Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses section), who also sell a detailed leaflet called A-O-A Macau Gambling Guide.
Other: An 18-hole golf course is available at the Macau Golf and Country Club, Colôane. Go-karting is available on Taipa Island. Swimming pools are found in major hotels and public pools are available in Macau, Colôane Island and Taipa. The best beach in the territory is at Hac Sa on Colôane. Despite the black colour of its sand, it has good facilities, including showers, toilets and good restaurants nearby. A bowling centre and ice rink is available at Future Bright Amusement Centre. Squash courts are available at the Oriental Macau and Royal hotels, as well as the Westin Resort. Courts and equipment for badminton and tennis are available for hire.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Most restaurants have table service. Hotels, inns and restaurants offer a wide variety of food. Some specialise in Portuguese dishes, while others offer cuisine from China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia. Local Macau food is spicy, a unique combination of Chinese and Portuguese cooking methods with influences of Indian and African spices. Dishes include bacalhau (cod served baked, grilled, stewed or boiled), caldo verde and sopa a alentejana (rich soups with vegetables, meat and olive oil), ‘African chicken’ (grilled with hot spices), galinha a portuguesa (chicken baked with potatoes, onions, eggs and saffron – the appearance of curry without the spice), minche (minced meat with fried potato and onion), Macau sole (fried fish is usually served with salad) and feijoados (from Brazil, stews of kidney beans, pork, potatoes, cabbage and spicy sausage). The speciality of dim sum (Chinese savoury snacks steamed and served in bamboo baskets on trolleys) includes cha siu bao (steamed pork dumplings), har gau (steamed shrimp dumplings) and shui mai (steamed and minced pork with shrimp).
Alcohol is easily obtainable. There are no licensing laws. All restaurants offer a variety of Portuguese red and white wines and sparkling vinho verde, as well as port and brandy, all at low prices.
Nightlife: Most of the nightlife is centred on the hotels, many of which have nightclubs with cabaret, Portuguese folk dancing, lively dance bands, discotheques, international menus and bars. In summer there are several open-air esplanadas serving soft drinks. Many locals, however, tend to relax in the evening in some of the many lively restaurants (see Food & Drink section). Gambling is a big attraction for visitors to Macau and the casinos are open 24 hours, providing famous entertainers, baccarat, blackjack, roulette and Chinese games like fantan and dai-siu (big and small). See the Sport & Activities section for further information.
Shopping: Macau’s most popular buys are jewellery (particularly gold and jade), Chinese antiques, porcelain, pottery, electronic gadgetry, cameras, watches and beading work. They are available at duty-free prices because Macau is a free port and no sales tax is charged. Bargaining is expected on many items although most shops will have the same minimum price. Other popular buys are Chinese herbs and medicines, dried seafood (such as sharks’ fins), abalone, Chinese and Macau pastries, and locally-made knitwear sold at stalls. When purchasing antiques, gold and jewellery, it is advisable to patronise shops recommended by the Goldsmiths’ and Jewellers’ Association and the Macau Government Tourist Office. A warranty and a receipt should be asked for when buying jewellery, gold, cameras, watches and electrical goods. The main shopping area is located along the Avenida do Infante D Henrique and Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, São Domingos Market, Rua de Palha, Rua do Campo and Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva. Antiques and unique gifts may be found in Macau’s flea market in the lanes around Rua das Estalagens (near St Paul’s Ruins). There is an Artisan's Fair every Saturday evening in Santo Agostinho Square. Excursions can be made across the Chinese border to Zhuhai, where the first floor of the Gongbei market is well known for antiques, ceramics and fabrics. Software is also a good buy in Zhuhai. Shopping hours: Generally 1000-2000 for the whole week. Some shops may close on the first of every month.
Special Events: The Macau Government Tourist Office can supply details of the many festivals celebrated in Macau. Festivals which are also official public holidays are listed in the Public Holidays section. The following is a selection of events taking place in 2003:
Jan 2003 Chinese Lunar New Year. Feb Procession of the Passion of our Lord, The Good Jesus. Mar Macau Arts Festival. May Feast of the Bathing of Lord Buddha; Macau Open Golf Tournament; Procession of Our Lady Fatima. Jun Macau International Dragon Boat Races; Feast of Kuan Tai; Feast of Na Cha. Jul 10th International Youth Dance Festive. Aug 2003 FIVB's World Grand Prix; Feast of Maidens; Feast of Hungry Ghosts. Sep 15th International Triathlon Championship of Macau. Sep/Oct Mid-Autumn Festival; International Fireworks Festival; International Music Festival. Oct Festival of Ancestors; National Day's Fun Run. Nov Macau Grand Prix. Dec Macau International Marathon and Half Marathon.
Social Conventions: Entertaining generally takes place in restaurants and public places. It is rare to be invited to a private home, unless the person is wealthy. Spirits are standard gifts in return for hospitality. Apart from the most formal occasions in restaurants and nightclubs, casual wear is acceptable. Tipping: A ten per cent service charge will be added to most hotel and restaurant bills, but a small tip should also be left.
Business Profile
Economy: Macau has long been an important distribution outlet for Chinese products and, in this respect, is similar to Hong Kong. Agriculture is negligible and there are very few natural resources (Macau relies almost entirely on imported oil to meet its energy needs.) The territory has an active manufacturing and export sector the main products of which are textiles, toys, optical products, rubber, ceramics, china, furniture and footwear. Macau is also well known in the region for its extensive gambling facilities: the associated tourism has become a major source of income. Together, gambling and tourism account for about two-thirds of Macau’s GDP. Trade between Macau and the neighbouring Chinese Special Economic Zone of Zhuhai has grown rapidly and contributed substantially to Macau’s present trade surplus. However, key infrastructure projects (notably the new airport and the Nam Van land reclamation project) have, in different ways, fallen far short of expectations. China, Hong Kong and the USA are the territory’s major trading partners. The Sino-Portuguese agreement, under which Macau reverted to Chinese rule in December 1999, guarantees the continuation of Macau’s economic status for a minimum of 50 years. Macau’s currency, the Pataca, has been retained indefinitely.
Business: Business people are expected to dress smartly. Calling cards are essential, appointments should be made in advance and punctuality is appreciated. The World Trade Centre (17th Floor, 918 Edificio World Trade Centre, 918 Avenida da Amizade (tel: 727 666; fax: 727 633; e-mail: wtcmc@macau.ctm.net) offers assistance and various facilities for businesses, including a VIP Club restaurant. Office hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1300 and 1430-1745, Fri 0900-1730.
Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Associação Comercial de Macau, 16th Floor, Edificio ACM 5, Rua de Xangai 175 (tel: 576 833; fax: 594 513; e-mail: acm@macauweb.com; website: www.acm.macauweb.com).
Conferences/Conventions: Macau’s major meetings venues include the Conference Centre at the University of Macau (with seating for up to 764), the Forum (a multipurpose complex with seating for up to 4035), the Tourist Activities and Conference Centre (with seating for up to 600) and Macau Landmark (featuring a unique ‘skyroof’). The majority of hotels also have facilities, and support services can be provided by the World Trade Centre (see above). A new cultural centre was inaugurated in March 1999 on the Outer Harbour waterfront. It includes two auditoria, one seating 1200 people and the other 400 people. The territory’s newest convention venue is the conference centre in the Macau Tower, the world’s tenth tallest building. The tower also features a revolving restaurant, an entertainment area and shopping facilities. For further information, contact the Macau Government Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section).
Climate
Subtropical climate with very hot summers and a rainy period during the summer months. Most rain occurs in the afternoon. Winds can reach gale force and typhoons are not unknown. The best season is autumn (October to December), when days are sunny and warm and the humidity low.
History and Government
History: Macau was officially founded in 1557 during the great era of Portuguese overseas exploration initiated by Prince Henry the Navigator. Macau soon became the major entrepôt between the Far East and Europe; as a result, several other colonial powers, notably the Dutch, made repeated attempts to conquer the province. During the early 17th century, when the Portuguese were fighting a protracted war of independence against the Spanish (who then ruled Portugal), the Dutch tried on no less than four occasions to gain control of Macau, but were repulsed each time. After the House of Braganza regained control of Portugal from the Spanish Habsburgs in 1640, Macau was granted the official title of Cidade do Nome de Deus, de Macau, Não há outra mais Leal (City of the Name of God, Macau, There is None More Loyal).
In 1670 Macau was confirmed as a Portuguese possession by the Chinese. Macau went into decline as a regional trading centre from the early 19th century, when the British, the most recent colonial power in the region, began to settle along the Chinese coast, and in 1841 occupied the island of Hong Kong. This deep-water port attracted larger ships, and trade began to shift to the British Crown Colony. With its trading monopoly thus broken, for a while Macau was little more than a summer residence for the traders from Canton, who found the province a salubrious and relaxing retreat from the Cantonese noise and bustle. Macau was held under firm Portuguese control until the leftist military coup in 1974 which overthrew the Caetano dictatorship.
The new Portuguese regime immediately determined that all remaining territories would undergo a rapid transition to full independence: in some cases, over as little as 12 months. Macau demanded more delicate handling because of the Chinese interest, although there was no time constraint comparable to Hong Kong's 1997 deadline. In 1976, the Lisbon government redefined Macau as a 'Special Territory' and granted it a large measure of administrative and economic independence. In 1985, following the Hong Kong example, the Portuguese announced the opening of negotiations with Beijing on the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic. The final settlement, which was ratified in January 1988, provided for a handover in 1999 after which Macau would, like Hong Kong, become a 'Special Administrative Region' within China.
A Preparatory Committee was established in May 1998 by Beijing to supervise the transition, which passed off on schedule and without incident. The Portuguese have enjoyed a rather easier time than the British, not least because all Macau's citizens have been offered Portuguese passports (a practicable proposition, given the population of under half a million). However, their legacy to the territory was a less creditable one: the bureaucracy, which is still dominated by ethnic Portuguese, is inflexible and corrupt. There was also a sharp increase in criminal violence associated with Chinese triad gangs and the territory's all-important gambling industry (the source of two-thirds of government revenue). Though largely content to leave the local administration to govern the territory, Beijing is gradually replacing key figures with its own appointees. In December 1999, Edmund Ho Hau-Wah was appointed to the post of Chief Executive. An equally important figure in the territory is the tycoon Stanley Ho, whose company was the only one licensed to operate casinos and gambling parlours. In early 2002, the government decided to break the monopoly by licensing three casino operators (the new licences have been taken up by American interests). The first elections for the Legislative Assembly were held in September 2001. The complexion of the new Council was much the same as its predecessor, with the exception of two candidates from the New Democratic Macau Association which polled unexpectedly well.
Government: Previously a Special Territory of Portugal, Macau became a Special Administrative Region of the Republic of China on 20 December 1999. The SAR government comprises a ten-member executive Council, headed by the chief executive, and a 27-member Legislative Council. The Legislative Council comprises ten members who are directly elected; the remainder are indirectly elected (by a 300-strong Election Committee representing corporate and organisational interests) and/or directly appointed by the Chief Executive.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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