Macao
Macao (Macau) Former Portuguese overseas province in se China, 64km (40mi) w of Hong Kong, on the River Pearl estuary; it consists of the 6sq km (2sq mi) Macao Peninsula and the nearby islands of Taipa and Colôane. The city of Santa Nome de Deus de Macao (co-extensive with the peninsula) connects via a narrow isthmus to the Chinese province of Guangzhou. Vasco da Gama discovered Macao in 1497, and the Portuguese colonized the island in 1557. In 1849, Portugal declared it a free port. In 1887, the Chinese government recognized Portugal's right of ‘perpetual occupation’. Competition from Hong Kong and the silting of Macao's harbour led to the port's decline at the end of the 19th century. In 1974, Macao became a Chinese province under Portuguese administration. It returned to China in 1999. Gambling and tourism dominate the economy. Other industries: textiles, electronics, plastics. Pop. (2000) 656,000.
http://www.macau.gov.mo/index_en.html
http://www.macau.gov.mo/index_en.html
More From encyclopedia.com
NEARBY TERMS
Macao
