Macau

Compiled from the September 2006 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Macau Special Administrative Region

PROFILE

PEOPLE

HISTORY

GOVERNMENT

ECONOMY

FOREIGN RELATIONS

TRAVEL

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 28.2 square kilometers total, with 8.9 sq. km. on a peninsula connected to China and the southern islands of Taipa (6.5 sq. km.), Coloane (7.6 sq. km.), and Co Tai (5.2 sq. km., reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane) linked by bridge and causeway.

Terrain: Coastline is flat, inland is hilly and rocky.

Climate: Tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer.

People

Nationality: Noun—Macanese (sing. and pl.).

Population: (2nd Quarter 2006) 503,000.

Population growth rate: (2nd 2006) 5.5%.

Ethnic groups: Chinese 95.7%, Portuguese 1.7%.

Religions: Buddhist 17%, Roman Catholic 7%, Christian 2%.

Languages: In 1992, the government gave the Chinese (Cantonese) language official status and the same legal force as Portuguese, the official language.

Education: Literacy—91.3%.

Work force: Manufacturing—12.0%; construction—11.8%; wholesale and retail trade, repair, hotels and restaurants—25.3%; financial intermediation, real estate, and related business activities—8.8%; public administration, other community, social and personal services, including gaming—35.3%; transport, storage and communications—6.0%.

Government

Type: Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China since December 20, 1999 with its own mini-constitution (the Basic Law).

Government branches: Executive—President of the People’s Republic of China (head of state), chief executive (head of government), Executive Council (cabinet). Legislative—Legislative Assembly. Judicial—Independent judicial system with a high court (the Court of Final Appeal).

Economy

GDP: At 2002 constant prices (2005) $10.7 billion.

GDP real growth rate: (2005) 6.7%.

Per capita GDP: At 2002 constant prices: (2005) $22,451.

Agriculture: Products—rice and vegetables; most foodstuffs and water are imported.

Industry: Types—tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, toys, footwear, construction, and real estate development.

Trade: (2005) Exports—$2.5 billion f.o.b.: textiles and clothing, manufactured goods (especially toys, footwear and machinery & mechanical appliances). Major markets—U.S. 48.7%, Hong Kong 9.8%, China 14.9%, EU 17.1%. Imports—$3.9 billion: consumer goods, foodstuffs, fuels, and raw materials. Major suppliers—China 43.1%, Hong Kong 10.0%, EU 13.1%, U.S. 4.1%, Taiwan 4.0%, Japan 10.9%.

PEOPLE

Macau’s population is 95.7% Chinese, primarily Cantonese and some Hakka, both from nearby Guangdong Province. The remainder are of Portuguese or mixed Chinese-Portuguese ancestry. The official languages are Portuguese and Chinese (Cantonese). English is spoken in tourist areas. Macau has ten higher education institutions, including the University of Macau; 80.7% of the University of Macau’s 5,562 students are local and 19.3% from overseas.

HISTORY

Chinese records of Macau date back to the establishment in 1152 of Xiangshan County under which Macau was administered, though it remained unpopulated through most of the next century. Members of the South Sung (Song) Dynasty and some 50,000 followers were the first recorded inhabitants of the area, seeking refuge in Macau from invading Mongols in 1277. They were able to defend their settlements and establish themselves there.

The Hoklo Boat people were the first to show commercial interest in Macau as a trading center for the southern provinces. Macau did not develop as a major settlement until the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century. Portuguese traders used Macau as a staging port as early as 1516, making it the oldest European settlement in the Far East. In 1557, the Chinese agreed to a Portuguese settlement in Macau but did not recognize Portuguese sovereignty. Although a Portuguese municipal government was established, the sovereignty question remained unresolved.

Initially, the Portuguese developed Macau’s port as a trading post for China-Japan trade and as a staging port on the long voyage from Lisbon to Nagasaki. When Chinese officials banned direct trade with Japan in 1547, Macau’s Portuguese traders carried goods between the two countries. The first Portuguese governor was appointed to Macau in 1680, but the Chinese continued to assert their authority, collecting land and customs taxes. Portugal continued to pay rent to China until 1849, when the Portuguese abolished the Chinese customs house and declared Macau’s “independence,” a year which also saw Chinese retaliation and finally the assassination of Gov. Ferreira do Amaral.

On March 26, 1887, the Manchu government acknowledged the Portuguese right of “perpetual occupation.” The Manchu-Portuguese agreement, known as the Protocol of Lisbon, was signed with the condition that Portugal would never surrender Macau to a third party without China’s permission. Macau enjoyed a brief period of economic prosperity during World War II as the only neutral port in South China, after the Japanese occupied Guangzhou (Canton) and Hong Kong. In 1943, Japan created a virtual protectorate over Macau. Japanese domination ended in August 1945.

When the Chinese communists came to power in 1949, they declared the Protocol of Lisbon to be invalid as an “unequal treaty” imposed by foreigners on China. However, Beijing was not ready to settle the treaty question, requesting maintenance of “the status quo” until a more appropriate time. Beijing took a similar position on treaties relating to the Hong Kong territories.

Riots broke out in 1966 when pro-communist Chinese elements and the Macau police clashed. The Portuguese Government reached an agreement with China to end the flow of refugees from China and to prohibit all communist demonstrations. This move ended the conflict, and relations between the government and the leftist organizations have remained peaceful.

The Portuguese tried once in 1966 after the riots in Macau, and again in 1974, the year of a military revolution in Portugal, to return Macau to Chinese sovereignty. China refused to reclaim Macau however, hoping to settle the question of Hong Kong first.

Portugal and China established diplomatic relations in 1979. A year later, Gen. Melo Egidio became the first Governor of Macau to visit China. The visit underscored both parties’ interest in finding a mutually agreeable solution to Macau’s status; negotiations began in 1985, a year after the signing of the Sino-U.K. agreement returning Hong Kong to China in 1997. The result was a 1987 agreement returning Macau to Chinese sovereignty as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on December 20, 1999.

GOVERNMENT

The chief executive is appointed by China’s central government after selection by an election committee, whose members are nominated by corporate bodies. The chief executive appears before a cabinet, the Executive Council (Exco), of between 7 and 11 members. The latest Exco, appointed on December 15, 2004, has 10 members. The term of office of the chief executive is 5 years, and no individual may serve for more than two consecutive terms. The chief executive has strong policymaking and executive powers similar to those of a president. These powers are, however, limited from above by the central government in Beijing, to whom the chief executive reports directly, and from below (to a more limited extent) by the legislature. Edmund Ho, a community leader and banker, is the first China-appointed chief executive of the Macau SAR, having replaced General de Rocha Viera on December 20, 1999. Ho was re-appointed to a second term on September 20, 2004.

The legislative organ of the territory is the Legislative Assembly, a 29-member body of 12 directly elected members, 10 appointed members representing functional constituencies, and seven members appointed by the chief executive. The Legislative Assembly is responsible for general lawmaking, including taxation, the passing of the budget, and socioeconomic legislation. In the last election, held in September 2005, pro-entertainment industry groups won five of the 10 directly elected seats, pro-democracy groups won two seats, and pro-China parties won four; a former civil servant took the remaining seat. The next election will be held in 2009. The city of Macau and the islands of Taipa and Coloane each had a municipal council until January 1, 2002,

when the Civic and Municipal Bureau was formally established to replace the two municipal councils.

The legal system is based largely on Portuguese law. The territory has its own independent judicial system, with a high court. Judges are selected by a committee and appointed by the chief executive. Foreign judges may serve on the courts. In July 1999 the chief executive appointed a seven-person committee to select judges for the SAR. Twenty-four judges were recommended by the committee and were then appointed by Mr. Ho. Macau has three courts: the Court of the First Instance, the Court of the Second Instance, and the Court of Final Appeal, Macau’s highest court. Sam Hou Fai is the President (Chief Justice) of the Court of Final Appeal.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 1/25/2007

Chief Executive: Edmund HO Hau-wah

Sec. for Administration & Justice: Florinda Da Rosa Silva CHAN

Sec. for Economics & Finance: Francis TAM Pak-yuen

Sec. for Security: CHEONG Kuoc Va

Sec. for Social Affairs & Culture: Fernando CHUI Sai-on

Sec. for Transportation & Public Works: AO Man Long

Procurator Gen.: HO Chio Meng

Pres., Court of Final Appeal: SAM Hou Fai

Pres., Legislative Council: Susana CHOU

Commissioner, Audit: Fatima Mei-lei CHOI

Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption: CHEONG U

ECONOMY

Macau’s economy is based largely on tourism, including gambling, and textile and garment manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries, such as footwear, and machinery and mechanical appliances. The clothing industry has provided about three-fourths of export earnings, and it is estimated that the gambling industry contributed more than 50% of GDP in 2005. The opening of the gambling sector since 2002 has led to significant new investment in casinos, hotels, and related facilities. More than 18.7 million tourists visited Macau in 2005. The recent growth in gambling and tourism has been driven primarily by mainland Chinese and tourists from Hong Kong.

Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. The European Union and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.

Over the longer term, the relocation of manufacturing operations from Macau to the neighboring Chinese province of Guangdong will extend to textiles and garment production as China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) gives the mainland increased direct access to international markets. Mainland competition, along with the 2005 end of Multi-Fiber Arrangement (MFA) quotas, which had provided a near guarantee of export markets, will eventually spell the end of Macau’s low-end mass production of textiles, which has comprised the bulk of the SAR’s merchandise export earnings. The best opportunities may lie in providing services—shipping, finance, legal—to facilitate mainland exports through Macau to the rest of the world, and conversely inflows of goods and investment to the mainland. Gambling tourism is also an important area of potential economic growth and foreign exchange earnings.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Macau’s foreign relations and defense are the responsibility of China. China has, however, granted Macau considerable autonomy in economic and commercial relations.

The U.S. Government has no offices in Macau. U.S. interests are represented by the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

HONG KONG (CG) Address: 26 Garden Road, Central; APO/FPO: AmConGen Hong Kong, PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521; Phone: (852) 2523-9011; Fax: (852) 2845-1598; Workweek: 0830-1730; Website: USCONSULATE.ORG.HK.

Last Updated: 11/26/2006

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet : October 31, 2006

Country Description: Macau, formerly a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration, became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on December 20, 1999, with a high degree of autonomy, except in the areas of defense and foreign policy. Macau retains its own currency, laws, and border controls. Facilities for tourism are well developed. Gambling, tourism, and textile and apparel manufacturing are the major sectors in Macau’s economy. With a population of approximately 503,000, Macau covers a 27.3 square-kilometer area including the peninsula of Macau, connected to the PRC, and the two islands of Taipa and Coloane linked by a highway 2.2 km long.

Entry/Exit Requirements: Valid passports are required. Passports should be valid for 30 days beyond the intended period of stay in Macau. Because many neighboring areas require six months validity remaining on the passport, U.S. citizens planning travel beyond Macau should ensure that their passports are valid for at least six months from the date of their proposed entry into such areas. A visa is not required for tourist visits of up to 30 days. For further information on entry requirements, contact the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20007; tel (202) 338-6688; fax (202) 588-9760; website http://www.china-embassy.org, or the Consulates General of the PRC in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York City and Houston. Travelers may also consult the Macau Tourist Information Bureau’s U.S. representative office at 5757 West Century Boulevard, Suite 660, Los Angeles, CA 90045-6407, tel (310) 568-0009 or fax (310) 338-0708. www.macautourism.gov.mo. Please See the Macau Government home page at http://www.gov.mo/ for the latest, entry and exit requirements.

Holders of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or a Hong Kong Re-entry Permit may use either document to enter Macau for a maximum stay of up to one (1) year. All visitors must present their passport or other valid travel document upon arrival. Visit the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China website at http://www.china-embassy.org for the most current visa information.

Safety and Security: For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Crime: Petty street crime occasionally occurs in tourist areas in Macau, including in and around casinos and at the airport. Travelers should take caution with their personal belongings and travel documents at all times. Tourists can dial 112 to report crimes directly related to travel, such as petty theft.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Several major hospitals in Macau have adequate medical facilities and are able to provide emergency medical care.

Travelers should know that 999 is the number to call in case of an emergency in Macau. Highly developed medical facilities and trained personnel are available in Hong Kong, which is about an hour by jetfoil and ten minutes by helicopter from Macau.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Macau is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Traffic moves on the left in Macau, and roads are narrow and winding. Traffic is generally congested throughout the day. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive by the airport, ferry terminal, and gaming venues. Public buses are also inexpensive and frequent.

For specific information concerning Macau driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact the Macau Tourist Information Bureau’s U.S. representative office at 5757 W. Century Boulevard, Suite 660, Los Angeles, California 90045-6407; tel (310) 568-0009; fax (310) 338-0708), or the Macau Transport Department (Comissariado de Transito de Macau), Ave Sidonio Pais, Macau; tel (853) 374-214; fax (853) 522-966; website http://www.iacm.gov.mo.

Visit the website of the country’s national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.iacm.gov.mo.

Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Macau, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Macau’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s Internet web site at http://www.faa.gov.

Language: The official languages in the Macau SAR are Chinese and Portuguese. English, however, is spoken in tourist areas.

Currency: There are no currency restrictions for tourists in Macau. Although the pataca is the official currency in Macau, Hong Kong currency is commonly used in transactions, especially in tourist areas. Travelers visiting Macau from Hong Kong may wish to bring sufficient Hong Kong dollars to cover their expenses. Credit cards and ATM network debit cards are widely accepted in Macau. Banks and major hotels accept traveler’s checks.

Customs Regulations: Macau customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Macau of items such as firearms, ivory, certain categories of medications, and other goods. There is a 5% duty levied on electrical appliances and equipment imported into Macau. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington D.C. or one of the PRC’s consulates in the United States at the addresses noted above, or the Macau Customs Service, Rua S. Tiago da Barra, Doca D. Carlos I, SW, BarraMacau, tel (853) 559-944 or fax (853) 371-136 for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Dual Nationality: Under the nationality law of the PRC, persons of Chinese descent who were born in the PRC, including Macau, are PRC citizens. However, under an agreement between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, all U.S. citizens entering Macau on their U.S. passports, including such persons as may be considered PRC nationals by the PRC authorities, are considered U.S. citizens by the Macau SAR authorities for purposes of ensuring U.S. consular access and protection during their initial legal stay of up to 30 days in Macau.

Dual national residents or former residents of Macau who wish to ensure U.S. consular access and protection after the initial 30-day period of visa-free admission into Macau should declare their U.S. nationality to the Macau Immigration Department upon arrival. Dual-national residents of Macau who enter Macau on travel documents other than their U.S. passports and who desire U.S. consular protection should declare their U.S. nationality as soon as possible after entry. This “declaration of change of nationality” will ensure U.S. consular protection. It may also result in loss of one’s PRC nationality (but not necessarily one’s right of abode). Whereas failure to declare U.S. nationality may jeopardize U.S. consular protection, such failure will not jeopardize one’s U.S. citizenship.

Dual nationals contemplating onward travel into mainland China should be attentive to use of their U.S. passports. Dual nationals who enter or depart mainland China using a U.S. passport and a valid PRC visa retain the right of U.S. consular access and protection under the U.S.-PRC Consular Convention. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates General to provide normal consular services would be extremely limited should a dual national enter mainland China on a Macau SAR or other non-U.S. passport.

In addition to being subject to all Macau SAR laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may be subject to laws of Macau that impose special obligations on Macau citizens.

Typhoons: During the storm season (July through September), the Macau Observatory (Direccao dos Servicos Meteorologicos e Geofisicos) issues typhoon warnings on an average of six times a year. The Macau Observatory has a good notification and monitoring system in place. Please consult the Macau Observatory’s website at http://www.smg.gov.mo for further information. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Macau’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Macau are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children’s Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children’s Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.

Registration/Embassy Location: Americans living or traveling in Macau are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the website, so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Macau. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

There is no U.S. diplomatic or consular presence in Macau. Consular assistance for U.S. citizens is provided by the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong, 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong; tel (852) 2523-9011 or (852) 2841-2211; fax (852) 2845-4845; email questions@hongkongacs. com; website http://www.hongkong.usconsulate.gov. The mailing address (from the U.S.) of the Consulate General in Hong Kong is PSC 461, Box 5, FPO AP 96521-0006. U.S. citizens living in or visiting Macau are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and obtain updated information on travel and security within Macau.

International Adoption : February 2007

The information below has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at www.travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer: The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding.

Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

Patterns of Immigration: Very few intercountry adoptions occur in Macau. According to the Social Welfare Bureau in Macau, only one orphan has been adopted by a foreign family (Portuguese nationals) in the past five years.

Adoption Authority: The Social Welfare Bureau of the Macau Special Administrative Region Government is the sole Adoption Authority in Macau. Contact information is as follows:

Social Welfare Bureau of the Macau
Special Administrative Region Government
Estrada do Cemiterio, no. 6,
Macau, China;
Tel: (853) 3997716
3997717, 3997736;
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ias.gov.mo.

Eligibility Requirements for Adoptive Parents: To qualify to adopt a child in Macau, prospective parent(s) must meet one of the criteria listed below:

• Be a legally married couple (both over 25 years of age, married for at least three years and not de facto separated).
• Be a couple both over 25 years of age, who have been cohabitating for at least 5 years.
• Be a single person who is at least 28 years of age (unless the birth parent of the prospective adoptee has been living with the potential adopting parent under de facto marriage for over 3 years – in this case, the prospective adoptive parent must be at least 25 years old).

Prospective adoptive parents should be at least 18 years older than the child they hope to adopt. Likewise, there should not be more than a 50-year age gap between the age of either prospective adoptive parent and the prospective adoptee. Children born in Macau are Chinese nationals and ethnic-Chinese parents stand a better chance of getting matched with a child.

Residency Requirements: There are no residency requirements for intercountry adoption cases in Macau. Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that the Social Welfare Bureau will first try to find a family resident in Macau to adopt any available children.

Time Frame: The Social Welfare Bureau will review all adoption applications within 10 days and inform the facilitating Central Authority or adoption organization of the decision. The total time frame between the initial submission of the application and the final decision by the court can be more than one year. Should the adoption be approved, prospective adoptive parent(s) should be prepared to travel to Macau for approximately 2-3 weeks for legal proceedings and to escort the adoptee back to the United States.

Adoption Agencies and Attorneys: Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.-based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.

Adoption Fees: The Social Welfare Bureau does not charge any fees for the assessment and matching process. Prospective adoptive parents are responsible for paying all fees and expenses related to court proceedings, applications for certified documents, transportation, etc.

An estimate of the fees associated with the adoption process in Macau was not provided to the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong.

Adoption Procedures: Parents hoping to adopt a child in Macau should submit an application to the Social Welfare Bureau. Applications can be submitted either through the Central Authority in the country where the parent(s) habitually reside or via a licensed agency/organization engaging in intermediary adoption activities.

Prospective adoptive parents living in Macau and possessing valid Macau identity cards may submit an application directly to the Social Welfare Bureau.

The Social Welfare Bureau will review the adoption application and notify the relevant agency/organization of its decision. Once an application has been accepted, the Social Welfare Bureau will start the process of matching the prospective adoptive parent(s) with a child. Once a match has been made, the Social Welfare Bureau will compile a “feasibility study” of the adoption. If, based on the findings of the study, the application is approved, the Social Welfare Bureau will initiate judicial entrustment procedures before a civil court (Tribunal Judicial de Base).

Once an authorization for judicial entrustment has been obtained, arrangements will be made for the child to live abroad with the adoptive parent(s) for a trial period. Such trial periods typically last for up to one year. During this period, the Social Welfare Bureau will work with the relevant authorities in Singapore to determine whether the adoption by the applicant(s) would be in the best interests of the child.

For the adoption to be legally finalized in Macau, a final adoption judgment must be submitted to the Social Welfare Bureau either by the relevant Central Authority of the country of the adoptive parents’ habitual residence or by a certified adoption agency.

Documentary Requirements: Any application to adopt a child in Macau must provide the following documentation:

• Proof that the biological parents of the prospective adoptee have given permission for the adoption. If the child is 12 years old or older, he/she must also consent to the adoption. Certain exemptions do exist, and prospective adoptive parents should consult legal counsel with knowledge of the laws of Macau;
• Documentation that the prospective adoptive parents have been evaluated and declared suitable to adopt by an authorized entity in their country of residence. The Social Welfare Bureau will accept a Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition (Form I-171H) together with a full home study report to fulfill this requirement;
• Proof that the laws in the prospective adoptive parents’ country of residence allow the child and adoptive parents to live together for a sufficient period of time to establish a parent-child relationship;
• Documentation: proof of identity (U.S. passport), marriage certificate(s) or evidence of termination of previous marriage(s), proof of income, copies of school credentials, evidence of prior adoptions (if any), medical examination reports for the adoptive parent(s), police certification to show any existing criminal records, and family photos. Please note that notarized or certified copies of documents are generally accepted by authorities in Macau.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Washington, D.C.
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW,
Washington DC 20008

Tel: (202) 328-2500
Fax: (202) 588-0032
E-mail:
[email protected]
Website: http://www.china-embassy.org

The People’s Republic of China also has Consulates in Chicago, Houston, New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

U.S. Immigration Requirements: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at www.travel.state.gov/family.

U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong:
Street Address
26 Garden Road, Central
Hong Kong

Mailing Address from the U.S.
PSC 461, Box 5,
FPO AP 96521-0006;
Tel: (852) 2841-2211,
Fax (852) 2845-4845
Website: http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/visa_inquiries.html.

Additional Information: Specific questions about adoption in Macau may be addressed to the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong. General questions regarding intercountry adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children’s Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-407-4747.