Macao (Chinese: Ao-men) is a special territory of !PORTUGAL!Portugal~		
covering only 15.5 sq km (6 sq mi) at the tip of the Macao		
Peninsula on the Chinese mainland, about 115 km (70 mi) east of	
Canton. Macao's short land border (approximately 200 m/660 ft) 	
is thus with China. Macao is located to the west of the Pearl		
River estuary (which flows past Canton to the South China Sea),	
and the British crown colony of Hong Kong lies to the east of		
the estuary. Macao's territory includes the two small islands		
of Taipa and Coloane, which are situated offshore in the South 	
China Sea.

LAND, PEOPLE, AND ECONOMY

Macao is an almost totally urban area. Only 10% of the land is 	
devoted to agriculture, and Macao possesses no sources of		
freshwater. The climate is tropical, with an average annual		
temperature of 22 deg C (72 deg F); annual precipitation		
averages about 1,800 mm (71 in).

The population of 285,000 (1979 est.) is about 97% Chinese;		
almost 3% Macaon (mixed Chinese-Portuguese descent); and less		
than 1% Portuguese. Although Portuguese is the official		
language, Cantonese Chinese is most widely spoken. The great		
majority of the inhabitants are Buddhist and Taoist, but about 	
17,000 persons are Roman Catholic.

Manufacturing is the most profitable sector of the economy and 	
employs the largest portion of the labor force. Textiles are by	
far the leading product, although the government is attempting 	
to diversify manufacturing. Fishing is also a major industry;		
in 1977 the catch totaled 2,384 metric tons (2,622 U.S. tons). 	
Tourism is a major contributor to the economy, with 2.7 million	
persons visiting Macao in 1977. Macao is heavily dependent on		
China and Hong Kong for food imports, but because Macao exports	
much of its industrial output, the province maintains a		
favorable foreign-trade balance.

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

The Portuguese settled Macao in 1557 as a base for commercial		
and missionary activities in China. Portuguese sovereignty was 	
acknowledged by the Chinese in 1887, and the land border has		
never been precisely demarcated. In 1979, Portuguese control of	
Macao was reaffirmed by the Chinese government.

Macao's government, which was granted internal autonomy in
1976, is headed by a governor appointed by the Portuguese
government. The governor heads the 17-member legislature, which
consists of 6 elected members, 6 members chosen by business
organizations, and 5 members appointed by the governor.