MACAU
(See reference map VIII) |
LAND
15.5 km2; 10% agricultural, 90% urban
Land boundaries: 201 m
WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 6 nm; fishing, 12 nm
Coastline: 40 km
PEOPLE
Population: 289,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.7%
Nationality: noun—Macanese (sing. and pl.); adjective—Macau
Ethnic divisions: 99% Chinese, 1% Portuguese
Religion: mainly Buddhist; 17,000 Catholics, about one-half are Chinese
Language: 98% Chinese, 2% Portuguese
Literacy: almost 100% among Portuguese and Macanese; no data on Chinese population
Labor force: 5% agriculture, 30% manufacturing, 3% construction, 1% utilities, 27% commerce, 8% transportation and communications, 26% services (1960 data)
GOVERNMENT
Official name: Macau
Type: overseas province of Portugal
Capital: Lisbon (Portugal)
Political subdivisions: municipality of Macau, and two islands
Legal system: Portuguese civil law system
Branches: 18-member Legislative Assembly, with Governor and 5 appointed, 6 nominated, and 6 elected representatives
Government leader: Governor Cdr. Vasco Fernando Lecte da Almeida e COSTA
Suffrage: Portuguese, Chinese, and foreign residents over 18
Elections: conducted every four years
Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests of Macau; Macau Democratic Center; Group to Study the Development of Macau; Macau Independent Group
Communists: numbers unknown
Other political or pressure groups: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy pro-Communist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands which gave Chinese veto power over administration of the enclave
ECONOMY
Agriculture: main crops—rice, vegetables; food shortages—rice, vegetables, meat; depends mostly on imports for food requirements
Major industries: textiles, fireworks
Electric power: 116,856 kW capacity (1981); 234 million kWh produced (1981), 805 kWh per capita
Exports: $404.5 million (f.o.b., 1979), plus reexports $55.7 million; textiles and clothing, foodstuffs
Imports: $365.0 million (c.i.f., 1979)
Major trade partners: exports—16.6% West Germany, 15.7% France, 23.2% US; imports— 51.0% Hong Kong, 30.0% China (1979)
Monetary conversion rate: 5.0/4.9 patacas=US$1 (August 1979); pataca has been pegged to Hong Kong dollar since 1977
Fiscal year: calendar year
COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 42 km paved
Ports: 1 major
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airfields: none; 1 seaplane station
Telecommunications: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services; 13,000 telephones; 4 AM and 3 FM radio broadcast transmitters; est. 75,000 radio receivers; international HF radio communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China
DEFENSE FORCES
Military manpower: males 15-49, 76,000; 45,000 fit for military service
Defense is responsibility of Portugal
Personnel: there are no Portuguese military personnel in Macau
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