Macau is located on the southeastern coast of China, at latitude 22¢X 14' North and longitude 113¢X 35' East. The territory comprises a peninsula and two islands in the Pearl River delta of Guangdong Province. Some 60 kms to the northeast, across the mouth of the river, is HongKong, an important financial and trading centre.
The city of Macau is built on the peninsula; two bridges of 2.5 kms and 4.5 kms respectively link it to its nearest island of Taipa, which in turn is joined to Coloane by a 2.2 km-long causeway. At the extreme northern end of the peninsula, on a narrow isthmus, is the imposing gateway (Portas do Cerco, or Border Gate), which leads to the Zhuhai and Zhongshan areas of China.
Area
The territory has a total area of 21.09 sq. km. The peninsula is 7.49 sq. km, including the Praia Grande reclamation project. Taipa island, including the airport, is 5.79 sq. km. and Coloane is 7.81 sq. km.
Climate
The climate is moderate to hot, with an average annual temperature of just over 20¢XC (68¢XF) and a yearly mean variation between 16¢XC (50¢XF) and 25¢XC (77¢XF). The humidity is high with an average range between 75% and 90%. Rainfall is also high with the yearly total between 40 and 80 ins. The best season is autumn (October - December) when days are sunny and warm and the humidity is low. The winter (January March) is cold but sunny. In April, the humidity starts to build up and from May to September the climate is hot and humid with rain and occasional tropical storms (typhoons).
Currency
The pataca (composed of 100 avos) is the of ficial unit of currency in Macau. It is available in coins and banknotes in denominations of:
Coins: 10, 20, 50, avos; 1 & 5 patacas.
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, & 1000 patacas.
The Macau pataca can be freely converted into Portuguese escudos or Chinese yuan. It is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar - which is circulated freely in Macau at the approximate rate of 103patacas =HK$100.00, with a permissible variation of up to 10%.
History
The Portuguese settled in Macau between 1554 and 1557 during the great era of Portuguese exploration initiated by Prince Henry the Navigator. Vasco da Gama made his historic voyage to India at the end of the 15th century, and early in the 16th century the Portuguese explorers moved further east and then turned north.
Jorge Alvares became the first Portuguese to set foot in Southern China in 1513 and this visit was followed by the establishment of a number of Portuguese trading centres in the area. These were eventually consolidated at Macau which boomed with a virtual monopoly on trade between China and Japan and between both nations and Europe.
Macau also served as a vital base for the introduction of Christianity to China and Japan, an activity which provided the city with some of the most glorious, and tempestuous, moments in its history. Because of the prosperity it was enjoying and its privileged location, other European nations began casting covetous looks at Macau and plotted to seize it from Portugal. The Dutch actually tried to invade the city in 1622 but were repulsed.
As time passed and other trading nations from the west sent missions to China, Macau became the summer residence for the taipans (great traders) who retreated from their "factories" in Guangzhou (better known perhaps as Canton) to await the opening of the trading season.
Then in 1841, the British settled in HongKong, an island 40 miles east-northeast of Macau. Its deep-water attracted ships and trade shifted to the Crown Colony. The economic importance of Macau declined as Hong Kong developed into one of the world's major commercial centres. Nevertheless, Macau is still regarded as an important distribution outlet for rice, fish, piece goods and other Chinese products and enjoys an active manufacturing and exporting business, mainly of textiles and garments, toys, electronics and footwear.
Although it has witnessed many changes during its 440 years of existence, Macau has always been a stronghold of Portuguese presence and culture in the Far East. Macau has proudly flown Portugal's flag continuously even when the Motherland's throne was occupied by a foreign king, in the 17th century. When Portuguese rule was re-established, 60 years later, the city of Macau was granted the official name of:
CIDADE DO NOME DE DEUS DE MACAU, NAO HA OUTRAMAIS LEAL
(City of the Name of God, Macau, There is None More Loyal).
The Name of Macau
Macau is derived from the name of a Chinese goddess, popular with seafarers and fishermen, known as A-Ma or Ling Ma. The village where Macau now stands was previously known to the Chinese as Hou Kong or Hoi Keang.
Centuries later, when Portuguese sailors landed and asked the name of the place, the natives replied A-Ma-Gao (Bay of A-Ma). And so the peninsula was renamed. In modern usage, Amagao was shortened to Macau.
Language
Potuguese and Chinese are the two official languages, with Cantonese the most widely spoken. English is Macau's third language and is generally used in trade, tourism and commerce.
Population
The total population is estimated at approximately 455,000 with about 95% of the population Chinese and 5% Portuguese, Europeans and from other regions.
Religion
There is complete freedom of worship in Macau. The main religion are Buddhism, Catholicism and Protestantism. The majority are Buddhists while 7% are Catholics. Entry Procedures
All travellers entering or leaving Macau must be holders of valid passports or some others valid travel documents.
Portuguese Nationals with an identity card are permitted to enter the territory without a passport for an unlimited stay.
Visas
If travel arrangements are made through an agent, the visa processing is handled by Macau operator.
A. Visas are required by all visitors except:
a) Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania and the United Kingdom(6 months) for a stay up to 90 days;
b) Nationals of Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America and Uruguay for a stay up to 30 days;
c) Nationals of China with valid Macau entry/depart documents, including residents of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas Chinese for a stay of up to 30 days;
d) Residents of Macau;
e) The "Hong Kong Identity Card", "Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" or "Hong Kong Reentry Permit" holders may stay in Macau for a maximum period of one year;
f) Holders of Diplomatic Passport or "Laissez Passer" issued by the United Nations; and
g) Holders of Consulate/Diplomatic documents issued by the Macau SAR or Hong Kong SAR.
B. Visas are available on arrival in Macau.
There are three types: INDIVIDUAL MOP$100 for an individual traveller for a single stay of up to 20 days in Macau, children under 12 years of age pay MOP$50.
FAMILY - MOP$200 for couples, husband travelling with wife and or children (under 12 years) of same surname or on proof of their relationship.
GROUP - MOP$50 per person for bona fide groups of 10 or more.
Visas may also be obtained from Portuguese Consulates.
Nationals of countries which do not maintain diplomatic relations with Portugal MUST obtain their visas from an overseas Portuguese Consulate and may not obtain them on arrival in Macau.
Health
International Innoculation Certificates are not normally required unless cholera has been detected either in Hong Kong or Macau or in the area recently visited by the arrival. Health
International Innoculation Certificates are not normally required unless cholera has been detected either in Hong Kong or Macau or in the area recently visited by the arrival.
Customs
On arrival, visitors are not usually bothered with customs formalities, but may be subject to a routine check. There is a 5% ad valorem duty on importation of electrical appliances and equipment.
On departure, there are no export duties on any articles: antiques, gold, jewellery, radios, cameras, etc.
However, Hong Kong customs authorities will only allow visitors one litre of spirits plus 200 cigarettes of 50 cigars or 250 gr. of tobacco into the British Colony duty free. Hong Kong residents are allowed to take in only one bottle of table or Port wine, plus 100 cigarettes 0r 25 cigars.
Foreign Currency
There are no restricttions on the amount of foreign currency which can be brought in or taken out.
Foreign currencies or travellers cheques may be exchanged at hotels, banks and licensed money exchange bureau.
Entry/Departure Taxes
Hong Kong and Macau require passengers travelling by sea to pay a departure tax of HK$19 and MOP$20, respectively, which is normally included in the ticket prices.
Passengers departing by air for destinations in Mainland China must pay a Passenger airport tax of MOP$80 (MOP$50 for those aged 2 to 12 years old). Travellers to other destinations pay airport tax MOP$130 (MOP$80 for those aged two to 12 years).
Taxes will not be levied on: those under two years; those in direct transit; those in direct transit within 24 hours; or those on flights forced to return by bad weather or other causes.
