Macau

|image_flag Flag of Macau.svg |image_coat Coat of arms of Macao.svg |symbol_type Emblem |symbol_type_article Coat_of_arms |image_map Macau montage.png |map_width 290px |map_caption Clockwise from top right: Ruins of St. Paul's Casino Lisboa, Macau St Joseph Seminary Church; Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho A-Ma Temple Guia Fortress Macau Tower |image_map2 Macau_locator_map.svg |map2_width 290px |national_anthem [[March of the Volunteers]]
《義勇軍進行曲》
Marcha dos Voluntários |official_languages Chinese language Portuguese language lt;ref>The Macau Basic Law states that the official languages are "Chinese and Portuguese." It does not explicitly specify the standard for "Chinese". While Standard Mandarin and Simplified Chinese character are used as the spoken and written standards in mainland China Standard Cantonese and Traditional Chinese character are the long-established [[de facto]]standards in Macau. |languages_type Languages of Macau |languages |Cantonese |Portuguese language }} |capital |latd 22 | latm 10 | latNS N |longd 113 |longm 33 |longEW E |largest_settlement_type |largest_settlement |government_type |leader_title1 Chief Executive of Macau lt;/small> |leader_name1 Fernando Chui |leader_title2 Court of Final Appeal (Macau) |leader_name2 Sam Hou Fai |leader_title3 President of the Legislative Assembly of Macau |leader_name3 Lau Cheok Va |legislature Legislative Assembly of Macau |sovereignty_type Establishment |established_event1 Portugal administered trading post |established_date1 1557 |established_event2 Portuguese colony |established_date2 1 December 1887 |established_event3 Transfer of the sovereignty of Macau lt;/small> |established_date3
20 December 1999 |area_rank 224th |area_magnitude 1 E10 |area_km2 29.5 |area_sq_mi 11.39 |GDP_nominal_rank 94th |GDP_nominal_year 2009 |GDP_nominal_per_capita US$39,800 |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank 18th |GDP_PPP US$31,271 m |GDP_PPP_rank 99th |GDP_PPP_year 2008 |GDP_PPP_per_capita US$59,451 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank 2nd |HDI .944lt;/ref> |HDI_rank 25th |HDI_year 2004 |HDI_category very high |currency Macanese pataca (MOP$) |currency_code MOP |country_code |time_zone Macau Standard Time |utc_offset +8 |time_zone_DST not observed |utc_offset_DST |drives_on left |cctld .mo |calling_code +853 }} Macau (, also known as Macao ( is one of the two Special administrative region (People's Republic of China) 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 to the north and facing the South China Sea in the east and south.Macau Yearbook 2007, 475. The territory features industries such as textiles and toys, as well as a notable tourist and gambling sector. It has the highest life expectancy in the world (2008).http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_lif_exp_at_bir_tot_pop-life-expectancy-birth-total-population&date2008 Macau was a Portugal colony and both the first and last European colony in China.Fung, 5.lt;/ref> Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 16th century and subsequently administered the region until the Transfer of the sovereignty of Macau The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau stipulate that Macau operates with a high degree of Autonomous entity until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer.lt;/ref> Under the policy of "one country, two systems , the Central People's Government is responsible for the territorys People's Liberation Army Macau Garrison and foreign affairs, while Macau maintains its own Legal system of Macau Public Security Police Force of Macau monetary system, customs policy, Immigration to Macau and delegates to international organisations and events.lt;/ref>

Etymology

Before the Portugal settlement in the early 16th century, Macau was known as Haojing(Oyster Mirror) or Jinghai(Mirror Sea).Macau Yearbook 2007, 517. The name Macauis thought to be derived from the [[A-Ma Temple]](, a temple built in 1448 dedicated to Matsu (goddess) — the goddess of seafarers and fishermen. It is said that when the Portuguese sailors landed at the coast just outside the temple and asked the name of the place, the natives replied "媽閣" (jyutping Maa1 Gok3). The Portuguese then named the peninsula "Macau".Fung, 298. The present Chinese name 澳門 (jyutping Ou3 Mun4) means "Inlet Gates".

History

The history of Macau is traced back to the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC), when the region now called Macau came under the jurisdiction of Panyu county, in Nanhai prefecture (present day Guangdong . The first recorded inhabitants of the area were people seeking refuge in Macau from invading Mongols during the Southern Song Dynasty lt;/ref> Under the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD), fishermen migrated to Macau from Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Macau did not develop as a major settlement until the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century.Chan, 3-4. In 1535, Portuguese traders obtained the rights to anchor ships in Macaus harbours and to carry out trading activities, though not the right to stay onshore.Fung, 5-6. Around 1552–1553, they obtained temporary permission to erect storage sheds onshore, in order to dry out goods drenched by sea water;Fung, 7. they soon built rudimentary stone houses around the area now called Nam Van. In 1557, the Portuguese established a permanent settlement in Macau, paying an annual rent of 500 tael of silver. File:Saopaulo Chinnery.jpg Cathedral, by George Chinnery (1774–1852). The cathedral was built in 1602 and destroyed by fire in 1835. Only the southern stone façade remains today.]] File:1870Macao.jpg As more Portuguese settled in Macau to engage in trading, they made demands for self-administration; but this was not achieved until the 1840s., by CCTV. In 1576, Pope Gregory XIII established the Roman Catholic Diocese of Macau lt;/ref> In 1583, the Portuguese in Macau were permitted to form a Senate to handle various issues concerning their social and economic affairs under strict supervision of the Chinese authority, by CCTV. but there was no transfer of sovereignty. Macau prospered as a port but was the target of repeated failed attemptsHistory of the Qing (清史稿) by the Netherlands to conquer it in the 17th century. Following the Opium War (1839–42), Portugal occupied Taipa and Coloane in 1851 and 1864 respectively. On December 1, 1887, the Qing and Portuguese governments signed the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce, under which China ceded the right of "perpetual occupation and government of Macau by Portugal" in compliance with the statements of the Protocol of Lisbon. In return, Macau Government would cooperate with Hong Kongs smuggle of Indian opium and China would be able to increase profits through customs taxes. Portugal was also obliged "never to alienate Macau without previous agreement with China", therefore ensuring that negotiation between Portugal and France (regarding a possible exchange of Macau and Guinea with the French Congo) or with other countries would not go forward - so that the British commercial interests would be secured; Macau officially became a territory under Portuguese administration. In 1928, after the Qing Dynasty had been overthrown following the Xinhai Revolution the Kuomintang (KMT) government officially notified Portugal that it was abrogating the Treaty of Amity and Commerce;Macau Yearbook 2007, 518. the two powers signed a new Sino-Portuguese Friendship and Trade Treaty in place of the abrogated treaty. Making only a few provisions concerning tariff principles and matters relating to business affairs, the new treaty did not alter the sovereignty of Macau and Portuguese government of Macau remained unchanged.Fung, 409-410. In the second world war unlike in the case of Portuguese Timor which was occupied by the Japanese in 1942 along with Dutch Timor, the Japanese respected Portuguese neutrality in Macau, but only up to a point. As such, Macau enjoyed a brief period of economic prosperity as the only neutral port in South China, after the Japanese had occupied Guangzhou (Canton) and Hong Kong. In August 1943, Japanese troops seized the British steamer Sianin Macao and killed about 20 guards. The next month they demanded the installation of Japanese "advisors" under the alternative of military occupation. The result was that a virtual Japanese protectorate was created over Macau. Japanese domination ended in August 1945. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Beijing government declared the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce invalid as an “unequal treaty imposed by foreigners on China. However, Beijing was not ready to settle the treaty question, leaving the maintenance of “the status quo” until a more appropriate time.Fung, 410-411. Influenced by the Cultural Revolution in mainland China and by general dissatisfaction with Portuguese government, riots broke out in Macau in 1966. In the most serious, the so-called 12-3 incident 6 people were killed and more than 200 people were injured.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> On 28 January 1967, the Portuguese government issued a formal apology. Shortly after the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon the new Portuguese government determined it would relinquish all its overseas possessions. In 1976, Lisbon redefined Macau as a "Chinese territory under Portuguese administration" and granted it a large measure of administrative, financial, and economic autonomy. Three years later, Portugal and China agreed to regard Macau as "a Chinese territory under (temporary) Portuguese administration".Fung, 418. The Chinese and Portuguese governments commenced negotiations on the question of Macau in June 1986. The two signed a Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration the next year, making Macau a special administrative region (SAR) of China.Fung, 424. The Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau on 20 December 1999.Macau Yearbook 2007, 519-520. The economy since then has continued to prosper with the sustained growth of tourism from mainland China and the construction of new casinos.

Government and politics

File:特首辦.jpg File:Almacau.JPG ]] The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, Macaus constitution promulgated by Chinas National People's Congress in 1993, specify that Macaus social and economic system, lifestyle, rights, and freedoms are to remain unchanged for at least 50 years after the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1999. Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Macau enjoys a high degree of autonomy in all areas except in defense (military) and foreign affairs Macau officials, rather than PRC officials, run Macau through the exercise of separate executive legislative and judicial powers, as well as the right to final adjudication.lt;/ref> Macau maintains its own separate Macanese pataca customs territory, immigration and border controls, and police force.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The government in Macau is headed by the Chief Executive of Macau who is appointed by the central government upon the recommendation of an election committee, whose three hundred members are nominated by corporate and community bodies. The recommendation is made by an election within the committee.lt;/ref> The chief executives cabinet is made up of five policy secretaries and is advised by the Executive Council that has between seven and eleven members.lt;/ref> Edmund Ho Hau Wah a community leader and former banker, was the first chief executive of the Macau SAR, replacing Vasco Joaquim Rocha Vieira at midnight on December 20, 1999. Fernando Chui Sai On is the current Chief Executive.lt;/ref> The chief executive and the cabinet have their offices in the Macau Government Headquarters located in the former area of the St. Lawrence Parish The legislative organ of the territory is the Legislative Assembly of Macau a 29-member body comprising 12 directly elected members, ten indirectly elected members representing functional constituencies and seven members appointed by the chief executive lt;/ref> Any permanent residents at or over 18 years of age are eligible to vote in direct elections.lt;/ref> Indirect election is limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" and a 300-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies.lt;/ref> The original framework of the legal system, based largely on Portuguese law or Portuguese civil law system, was preserved after 1999. The territory has its own independent judicial system with a high court Judge are selected by a committee and appointed by the chief executive Foreign judges may serve on the courts.lt;/ref> Macau has a three-tier court system: the Court of the First Instance the Court of the Second Instance and the Court of Final Appeal (Macau) lt;/ref> In February 2009, the Legislative Assembly passed Macau security law‎ based on Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 previously introduced in Hong Kong lt;/ref> Democracy advocates feared that the bills excessively broad scope could lead to abuses, a concern which has been heightened after a number of prominent supporters of democracy in Hong Kong Hong Kong Macau cultural exchange into Macau in the run-up to the bills passage.lt;/ref>

Military

Under Portuguese rule, the military presence in Macau was very limited and ceased in 1974. In 1999, upon handover to the PRC, a People's Liberation Army Macau Garrison was established in the city itself, with a large portion of the forces stationed in neighbouring Zhuhai as well.

Geography

File:Macau-CIA WFB Map.png Cotai Taipa and Coloane ]] File:Macau Penha Hill.jpg Macau is situated southwest of Hong Kong and from Guangzhou It also has of coastline, yet only of land border with Guangdong lt;/ref> It consists of the Macau Peninsula itself and the islands of Taipa and Coloane The peninsula is formed by the Zhujiang (Pearl River) estuary on the east and the Xijiang (West River) on the west. It borders the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone in mainland China. The main border crossing between Macau and China is known as the Portas do Cerco (Barrier Gate) on the Macau side, and the Gongbei Port of Entry on the Zhuhai side.lt;/ref> Macau Peninsula was originally an island, but a connecting sandbar gradually turned into a narrow isthmus thus changing Macau into a peninsula. Land reclamation in the 17th century transformed Macau into a peninsula with generally flat terrain, though numerous steep hills still mark the original land mass. Alto de Coloane is the highest point in Macau, with an altitude of With a dense urbanisation Macau has no arable land, pastures, forest, or woodland.

Climate

Macau has a humid subtropical climate with average relative humidity between 75% and 90%.lt;/ref> Seasonal climate is greatly influenced by the monsoon , and differences in temperature between summer and winter are marked. The average annual temperature of Macau is lt;/ref> July is the warmest month, with average temperature being The coolest month is January, with average temperature Located in the coastal region of south of China, Macau has ample rainfall, with average annual precipitation (meteorology) being lt;/ref> However, winter is mostly dry due to the monsoon from mainland China. Autumn in Macau, from October to December, is sunny and warm with low humidity. Winter (January to March) is warm and sunny. Humidity starts to increase in spring from April to June, and in summer from July to September, the climate is warm to hot and humid with rain and occasional typhoons.

Economy

| cellpadding"1" style"float: left; margin: 0em 1em 1em 0em; border:1px #bbbbbb solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;" |- align"center" bgcolorsalmon !colspan3|Employed population by
occupation 2007lt;/ref> |- aligncenter bgcolorlightsalmon |Occupation|| no.
(000) |- align"center" |Senior officials/managers || 14.6 |- align"center" |Professionals|| 9.9 |- align"center" |Technicians|| 28.1 |- align"center" |Clerks|| 83.7 |- align"center" |Service & sale workers|| 63.2 |- align"center" |Workers in agriculture/fishery|| 0.8 |- align"center" |Craft & similar workers|| 33.7 |} File:Nightview of mtower.jpg a communication tower.]] File:Bnu-tower01.jpg ]] Macaus economy is based largely on tourism. Other chief economic activities in Macau are export-geared textile and garment manufacturing, banking and other financial services.Chan, 12-13. The clothing industry has provided about three quarters of export earnings, and the gaming, tourism and hospitality industry is estimated to contribute more than 50% of Macaus Gross domestic product and 70% of Macau government revenue. Macau is a founding member of the WTO and has maintained sound economic and trade relations with more than 120 countries and regions, with European Union and Community of Portuguese Language Countries in particular; Macau is also a member of the IMF lt;/ref> The World Bank classifies Macau as a high income economylt;/ref> and the GDP per capita of the region in 2006 was US$28,436. After the Transfer of the sovereignty of Macau in 1999, there has been a rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors due to Chinas easing of travel restrictions. Together with the liberalization of Macaus gaming industry in 2001 that induces significant investment inflows, the average Economic growth of the economy between 2001 and 2006 was approximately 13.1% annually.lt;/ref> In a World Tourism Organization report of international tourism for 2006, Macau ranked 21st in the number of tourists and 24th in terms of tourism receipts.lt;/ref> From 9.1 million visitors in 2000, arrivals to Macau has grown to 18.7 million visitors in 2005 and 22 million visitors in 2006,lt;/ref> with over 50% of the arrivals coming from mainland China and another 30% from Hong Kong. Macau is expected to receive between 24 and 25 million visitors in 2007.lt;/ref> Since the Handover, Triad society underworld violence, a deterring factor for tourists, has virtually disappeared, to the benefit of the tourism sector. Starting in 1962, the gambling industry had been operated under a government-issued monopoly license by Stanley Ho s Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau The monopoly ended in 2002, and several casino owners from Las Vegas metropolitan area attempted to enter the market. With the opening of the Sands Macau lt;/ref> in 2004 and Wynn Macau in 2006,lt;/ref> gambling revenues from Macaus casinos were greatly prosperous,lt;/ref>lt;/ref>.lt;/ref> In 2007, Venetian Macau at the time the second (now fourth) List of largest buildings in the world by floor space, opened its doors to the public, followed by MGM Grand Macau Numerous other hotel casinos, including Galaxy Cotai Megaresort and Ponte 16 are also to be opened in the near future. File:Casino.JPG and gambling have been the primary drivers of Macaus economy.]] In 2002, the Macau government ended the monopoly system and six casino operating concessions and subconcessions are granted to Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau Wynn Resorts Las Vegas Sands Galaxy entertainment the partnership of MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho (daughter of Stanley Ho , and the partnership of Melco and PBL Today, there are 16 casinos operated by the STDM, and they are still crucial in the casino industry in Macau, but in 2004, the opening of the Sands Macau ushered in the new era.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Macau is an offshore financial centre a tax haven and a free port with no foreign exchange control regimes.lt;/ref>lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The Monetary Authority of Macau regulates offshore finance,lt;/ref> while the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute provides services for investment in Macau.lt;/ref> In 2007, Moody's Investors Service upgraded Macaus foreign and local currency government issuer ratings to Aa3 from A1, citing its governments solid finances as a large net creditor. The rating agency also upgraded Macaus foreign currency bank deposit ceiling to Aa3 from A1.lt;/ref> As prescribed by the Macau Basic Law the Government of Macau follows the principle of keeping expenditure within the limits of revenues in drawing up its budget, and strive to achieve a Fiscal adjustment avoid deficits and keep the budget commensurate with the growth rate of its gross domestic product All the financial revenues of the Macau Special Administrative Region shall be managed and controlled by the Region itself and shall not be handed over to the Government of the People's Republic of China The Central Peoples Government shall not levy any taxes in the Macau Special Administrative Region.lt;/ref>

Monetary System

In Macau, the unit of currency is the Macanese pataca which is currently pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at a rate of HK$1 MOP1.03. The name pataca is a Portuguese word which was applied to the Mexican dollar that were the main circulating coin in the wider region in the second half of the nineteenth century In the year 1894, the pataca was introduced in both Macau and Portuguese Timor as a unit of account for the Mexican dollar and the other silver dollar coins in circulation. In 1901 it was decided to grant the Banco Nacional Ultramarino the exclusive rights to issue banknotes denominated in patacas, and in the year 1906, these notes went into circulation at an official equivalent rate of 2 shillings and 4 pence sterling and all foreign coins were outlawed. However, the Chinese were suspicious of these paper patacas, being so accustomed to using silver for barter, and as such, the paper patacas circulated at a discount in relation to the silver dollar coins. In the year 1935, when China and Hong Kong abandoned the silver standard, the Hong Kong dollar was pegged to sterling at the fixed rate of 1 shilling and 3 pence, whereas the pataca was pegged to the Portuguese escudo at a sterling equivalent rate of only 1 shilling. From 1945 to 1951 fractional coins of the pataca were minted for issue in Portuguese Timor and in 1952 similar issues were minted for Macau including an actual pataca coin for the first time.

Demographics

| cellpadding"1" style"float:left; margin: 0em 1em 1em 0em; border:1px #bbbbbb solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;" |- align"center" bgcolor8899AA !colspan2|Residents usual
language spoken at homelt;/ref> |- aligncenter bgcolorAABBCC |Language|| Percentage of
population |- align"center" |Standard Cantonese |85.7% |- align"center" bgcolorEEEEEE |Chinese dialect |6.7% |- align"center" |Portuguese language |0.6% |- align"center" bgcolorEEEEEE |Standard Mandarin |3.2% |- align"center" |English language |1.5% |- align"center" bgcolorEEEEEE |Others||2.3% |} File:Templo de A-Má.JPG a temple built in 1448 dedicated to the goddess Matsu (goddess) ]] File:StPauls whole.JPG the façade of what was originally the Cathedral of St. Paul built in 1602 ]] Macau is the List of countries by population density region in the world, with a population density of 18,428 persons per square kilometre (47,728/sq mi).lt;/ref> 95% of Macaus population is Chinese; another 2% is of Portuguese and/or mixed Chinese/Portuguese descent, an ethnic group often referred to as Macanese people According to the 2006 by-census, 47% of the residents were born in mainland China, of whom 74.1% born in Guangdong and 15.2% in Fujian Meanwhile, 42.5% of the residents were born in Macau, and those born in Hong Kong, the Philippines and Portugal shared 3.7%, 2.0% and 0.3% respectively. The growth of population in Macau mainly relies on immigrants from mainland China and the influx of overseas workers since its birth rate is one of the lowest in the world.lt;/ref> According to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Macau is the top country/region for List of countries by life expectancy at birth with an average of 84.36 years,lt;/ref> while its List of countries by infant mortality rate ranks among the lowest in the world.lt;/ref> Both Chinese languages (Yue Chinese and Portuguese language are Macaus official languages.lt;/ref> Other languages such as Standard Mandarin English language and Min Nan are also spoken by some local communities.lt;/ref> The Macanese language a distinctive Creole language generally known as Patuá is still spoken by several dozen Macanese.lt;/ref> File:Macau street sign.JPG and Portuguese language names with English language becoming commonplace as well.]] Most Chinese in Macau are profoundly influenced by their own tradition and culture, of which most take part in Chinese folk religion of which the faiths of Taoism Buddhism and Confucianism form an integral part. Macau has a sizable Christian community; Roman Catholics and Protestant constitute 7% and 2% of the population respectively. In addition, 17% of the population follow original Mahayana Buddhism lt;/ref> Since Macau has an economy driven by tourism 14.6% of the workforce is employed in restaurants and hotels, and 10.3% in the gambling industry. With the opening of several casino resorts and other major constructions underway, many sectors reportedly experience a shortage of labor, and the government seeks to import labor from neighboring regions. The number of imported workers stood at a record high of 98,505 in the second quarter of 2008, representing more than 25% of the labor force in Macau.lt;/ref> Some local workers complain about the lack of jobs due to the influx of cheap imported labor. Some also claim that the problem of illegal labor is severe.lt;/ref> Another concern is the widening of income inequality in the region. Macaus Gini coefficient a popular measure of income inequality where a low value indicates a more equal income distribution, rose from 0.43 in 1998 to 0.48 in 2006. It is higher than those of neighboring regions, such as mainland China (0.447), South Korea (0.316) and Singapore (0.425).lt;/ref>

Education

File:UM Admin Building.jpg the first modern university in the region.]] A fifteen-year free education is currently being offered to residents, that includes a three-year kindergarten, followed by a six-year primary education and a six-year secondary education. The literacy rate of the territory is 93.5%. The illiterates are mainly among the senior residents aged 65 or above; the younger generation, for example the population aged 15–29, has a literacy rate of above 99%. Currently, there is only one school in Macau where Portuguese is the medium of instruction. Macau does not have its own universal education system; non-tertiary schools follow either the British, the Chinese, or the Portuguese education system. There are currently 10 tertiary educational institutions in the region, four of them being public. In 2006, the Programme for International Student Assessment a worldwide test of 15-year-old schoolchildrens scholastic performance coordinated by OECD ranked Macau as the fifth and sixth in science and problem solving respectively.lt;/ref> Nevertheless, education levels in Macau are low among high income regions. According to the 2006 by-census, among the resident population aged 14 and above, only 51.8% has a secondary education and 12.6% has a tertiary education. As prescribed by the Macau Basic Law Chapter VI Article 121, the Government of Macau shall, on its own, formulate policies on education including policies regarding the educational system and its administration, the language of instruction, the allocation of funds, the examination system, the recognition of educational qualifications and the system of academic awards so as to promote educational development. The government shall also in accordance with law, gradually institute a compulsory education system. Community organisations and individuals may, in accordance with law, run educational undertakings of various kinds.

Healthcare

Macau is served by one major public hospital, the Hospital Conde S. Januário and one major private hospital, the Hospital Kiang Wu both located in Macau Peninsula, as well as a university hospital called Macau University of Science and Technology Hospital in Cotai In addition to hospitals, Macau also has numerous health centres providing free basic medical care to residents. Consultation in traditional Chinese medicine is also available.lt;/ref> Currently none of the Macau hospitals is independently assessed through international healthcare accreditation There are no western-style medical schools in Macau and thus all aspiring physicians in Macau have to obtain their education and qualification elsewhere. Local nurses are trained at the Macau Polytechnic Institute and the Kiang Wu Nursing College.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> Currently there are no training courses in midwifery in Macau. The Health Bureau in Macau is mainly responsible for coordinating the activities between the public and private organisations in the area of public health and assure the health of citizens through specialised and primary health care services, as well as disease prevention and health promotion lt;/ref> The Macau Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was established in 2001, which monitors the operation of hospitals, health centres, and the blood transfusion centre in Macau. It also handles the organisation of care and prevention of diseases affecting the population, sets guidelines for hospitals and private health care providers, and issues medical license lt;/ref>

Transport

File:3wheelscar.jpg used to be a major public mode of transport in Macau. But now it is only for sightseeing purposes.]] In Macau traffic moves on the left. Macau has a well-established public transport network connecting the Macau Peninsula Cotai Taipa Island and Coloane Island Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. Currently two companies, namely Transmac and Transportas Companhia de Macau operate franchised public bus services in Macau.Macau Yearbook 2007, 453-454. The trishaw a hybrid of the tricycle and the rickshaw, is also available, though it is mainly for sightseeing purposes. Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Macau provides cross-border transportation services for passengers travelling between Macau and Hong Kong while the Yuet Tung Terminal in the Inner Harbour serves those travelling between Macau and cities in mainland China, including Shekou and Shenzhen Macau Yearbook 2007,458. Macau has one active international airport, known as Macau International Airport located at the eastern end of Taipa and neighbouring waters. The airport used to serve as one of the main transit hubs for passengers travelling between China and Taiwan but now with the introduction of direct flights between those two regions, passenger traffic in this regard has lessened.Chan, 58.Fung, 198. It is the primary hub for Air Macau In 2006, the airport handled about 5 million passengers.Macau Yearbook 2007, 467-468.

Culture

File:KuanYimMacau.JPG and Holy Mary ]] The mixing of the Culture of China and Culture of Portugal and religious traditions for more than four centuries has left Macau with an inimitable collection of holidays, festivals and events. The biggest event of the year is the Macau Grand Prix in November,lt;/ref> when the main streets in Macau Peninsula are converted to a racetrack bearing similarities with the Monaco Grand Prix Other annual events include Macau Arts festival in March,lt;/ref> the International Fireworks Display Contest in September,lt;/ref> the International Music festival in October and/or November,lt;/ref> and the Macau International Marathon in December.lt;/ref> The Lunar Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival and celebration normally takes place in late January or early February.lt;/ref>lt;/ref> The Pou Tai Un Temple in Taipa is the place for the Feast of Tou Tei, the Earth god, in February. The Procession of the Passion of Our Lord is a well-known Catholic rite and journey, which travels from Igreja de Santo Agostinho to Igreja da Sé Catedral‎, also taking place in February. A-Ma Temple, which honours the Goddess Matsu, is in full swing in April with many worshippers celebrating the A-Ma festival. In May it is common to see dancing dragons at the Feast of the Drunken Dragon and twinkling-clean Buddhas at the Feast of the Bathing of Lord Buddha. In Coloane Village the Taoist god Tam Kong is also honoured on the same day. Dragon Boat Festival is brought into play on Nam Van Lake in June and Hungry Ghosts festival, in late August and/or early September every year. All events and festivities of the year end with Dongzhi Festival in December. Local cooking in Macau consists of a blend of Cantonese food and Portuguese cuisine .lt;/ref> Many unique dishes resulted from the spice blends that the wives of Portuguese sailors used in an attempt to replicate European dishes. Its ingredients and seasonings include those from Europe, South America, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, as well as local Chinese ingredients.lt;/ref> Typically, Macanese food is seasoned with various spices and flavours including turmeric coconut milk cinnamon and bacalhau giving special aromas and tastes.lt;/ref> Famous dishes include Galinha à Portuguesa Galinha à Africana (African chicken), Bacalhau Macanese Chili Shrimps and stir-fry curry crab. Pork chop bun ginger milk and egg tart are also very popular in Macau.lt;/ref> Macau preserves many historical properties in the urban area. The Historic Centre of Macau which includes some twenty-five historic monuments and public squares, was officially listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on July 15, 2005 during the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Durban South Africa.lt;/ref>

Sports

In Macau one of the most practised sports is Rink Hockey left by the Portuguese. The national team of Macau is the most powerful of Asia and has many Rink Hockey Asian Championship titles. The last Championship was conquered in Dalian China, on the 13th Asian Roller hockey Championship
Macau always participate in the Rink Hockey World Championship in B category. The automobile racing Macau Grand Prix is arguably the most important international sporting event in Macau, mainly with Formula 3 Motorcycle Road Racing and Touring Car races.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities (友好城市)

Macau is town twinning with: * São Paulo Brazil lt;ref name"São Paulo">http://www2.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/secretarias/relacoes_internacionais/ingles/descentralized_cooperation/sister_cities/0001 Prefeitura.Sp - Descentralized Cooperation]http://www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/cidade/secretarias/relacoes_internacionais/cidadesirmas/index.php?p1066 International Relations - São Paulo City Hall - Official Sister Cities] * Lisbon Portugal * Kolkata India * Porto Portugal

See also

* Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Macau * Index of Macau-related articles * Visa policy of Macau * Foreign relations of Macau * List of bridges and tunnels in Macau

References

Bibliography

* * * *

Further reading

* * * * *

Notes

External links

; Government *http://www.gov.mo/egi/Portal/index.jsp Portal of the government of Macau] *http://www.gcs.gov.mo/MainFrame.php?PageLangE Government Information Bureau] *http://yearbook.gcs.gov.mo/ Macau Yearbook] *http://www.icm.gov.mo/indexE.asp Cultural Affairs Bureau] *http://www.dicj.gov.mo/ Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau] ; General information * *http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/macau.htm Macau] from UCB Libraries GovPubs * * *http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/motoc.html Country Study: Macau] from the United States Library of Congress (August, 2000) *http://www.howardscott.net/4/Macao_A_Colonial_Heritage/index.html Dr Howard M Scott "Macau"] ; Travel *http://www.macaocenter.com/Ferry%20to%20Macau.html Macau Ferry Information] *http://www.macautourism.gov.mo/ Macau Government Tourist Office] *http://www.cityguide.gov.mo/ Macau City Guide] * ; Special Education and Child Development *http://www.macaukids.org/ Macau Child Development Association] ; Sports *http://www.macauhockey.blogspot.com/ Rink Hockey in Macau] }} }} Category:Macau Category:Cities in China Category:Port cities and towns in China Category:Populated coastal places in China Category:Former Portuguese colonies Category:Historic Jewish communities Category:Pearl River Delta Category:1999 establishments Category:Chinese-speaking countries and territories Category:Portuguese-speaking countries Category:Special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China Category:Alliance for Healthy Cities ace:Makèë af:Macau ar:ماكاو an:Macau az:Makao zh-min-nan:Ò-mn̂g be:Макао be-x-old:Макао bcl:Macau bar:Macao bs:Makao br:Makao bg:Макао ca:Macau cv:Макао ceb:Macau cs:Macao co:Macau cy:Macau da:Macao de:Macao dv:މަކާއޫ et:Aomen el:Μακάου es:Macao eo:Makao ext:Macau eu:Macau ee:Macau fa:ماکائو hif:Macau fr:Macao fy:Makao gd:Macau gl:Macau - 澳门 gan:澳門 gu:મકાઉ hak:Àu-mûn ko:마카오 hi:मकाउ hr:Makao io:Makau bpy:মাকাউ id:Makau ia:Macao os:Макао is:Makaó it:Macao he:מקאו jv:Makau kn:ಮಕಾವು ka:მაკაო kk:Аумын sw:Macau lad:Makao la:Macaum lv:Makao lb:Macau lt:Makao lij:Macao li:Makau ln:Makau hu:Makaó mk:Макао ml:മകൗ mr:मकाओ arz:ماكاو ms:Macau cdo:Ó̤-muòng mwl:Macau mn:Макао my:မကာအို nl:Macau ja:マカオ no:Macao nn:Macao nov:Makau oc:Macau pnb:مکاؤ pl:Makau pt:Macau ro:Macao ru:Макао sq:Makao scn:Macau simple:Macau sk:Macao sl:Macao sr:Макао sh:Makao fi:Macao sv:Macao tl:Makaw ta:மக்காவு te:మకావు th:เขตบริหารพิเศษมาเก๊า tr:Makao uk:Аоминь ur:مکاؤ ug:ئاۋمېن za:Aumwnz vi:Ma Cao zh-classical:澳門 war:Macau wo:Makaaw wuu:澳门 yo:Màkáù zh-yue:澳門 zh:澳門

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