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Country name:
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conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
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Dependency status:
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special administrative region of China
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Government type:
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limited democracy
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Administrative divisions:
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none (special administrative region of China)
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Independence:
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none (special administrative region of China)
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National holiday:
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National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
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Constitution:
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Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution
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Legal system:
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based on Portuguese civil law system
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Suffrage:
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direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member selection committee for up to two five-year terms
election results: Edmond HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004; received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible; 3 members submitted blank ballots; 1 member was absent
cabinet: Executive Council consists of all five government secretaries, three legislators, and two businessmen
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999)
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (27 seats; 10 elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by political bloc - Entertainment Industry 3, pro-democracy 2, pro-Beijing Labor Union 2, pro-Beijing Neighborhood Association 2, pro-business 1
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Judicial branch:
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The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special Administrative Region
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Political parties and leaders:
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there are no formal political parties, however, there are civic associations that, for purposes of legislative voting, join together to form political blocs
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Catholic Church [Domingos LAM, bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO, managing director]; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong, leader]
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International organization participation:
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IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (special administrative region of China)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
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Flag description:
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light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller
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