Macao

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="09376ba3.gif"> <bR> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-424/4_5.MID" autostart="true" loop="true" hidden="true">  </div> <bR> <div> <I>Top links sequence:</I></div> <div> <A HREF="about_may_site.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About my web page"><U>About my web page</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="my_places.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Places"><U>Places</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="hobbies.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hobbies"><U>Hobbies</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="my_people.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="People on my side"><U>People on my side</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="09476bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>José Flor Web Site</B></FONT><B>   |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="José Flor Web Site"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="portugal.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Portugal"><U>Portugal</U></A>   |   <B>Macao</B>   |   <A HREF="australia.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Australia"><U>Australia</U></A>   |   <A HREF="brazil.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brazil"><U>Brazil</U></A></div> <div> Back to: <A HREF="my_places.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Places"><U><B><Places></B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="09476ba3.gif"> <div> Macao</div> <bR> <div> Macao, also spelled Macau, is a Portuguese territory on the southeast coast of China.  It consists of the city of Macao, which occupies a peninsula, and three small islands.  The territory has a population of 436,000 and covers about 15 square kilometres.  It lies at the mouth of the Zhu Jiang (Pearl River), about 65 kilometres west of Hong Kong.   </div> <bR> <div> Some areas of Macao have old, pastel-coloured houses that line cobblestone streets.  Other sections include modern high-rise hotels and apartment buildings.  More than 90 per cent of the people are Chinese, and most of the rest are Portuguese.  Macao's economy is based on tourism and light industry, chiefly the manufacture of fireworks and textiles.  Gambling casinos in Macao attract many tourists, mainly from Hong Kong.  </div> <bR> <div> A governor appointed by the president of Portugal heads Macao's government.  A legislative assembly of appointed and elected members makes laws for the territory.  But in practice, China dominates Macao's political life.  The Chinese government may veto any government policies or laws concerning the territory.  </div> <bR> <div> The Portuguese established a permanent settlement in Macao in 1557.  China has allowed them to remain because Macao contributes to China's economy.  Macao buys almost all its food and drinking water from China.  These purchases provide China with foreign currency, which it uses in international trade.  However, in 1987, China and Portugal signed an agreement under which control of Macao will be transferred from Portugal to China in December 1999.   </div> <bR> <div>                     ----  end of article  ----</div> <bR> <div> <B>Note: Macao have passed to the chines administration on 21st December 1999</B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>