The World Factbook (1982)/Macau

by the Central Intelligence Agency

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