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'Macau' or 'Macao'? 'Macau' is the official Portuguese spelling while 'Macao' is the traditional English spelling. While either spelling is acceptable, the Portuguese spelling is increasingly being seen in English in both official and unofficial usage.
| Capital city: |
None |
| Surface area: |
21.45 sq km |
| Population: |
0.5 million |
| Official language(s): |
Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese) |
| Head of State: |
H.E. President Mr Hu Jintao |
| Head of Government: |
Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau-wah |
| Australian exports to Macau: |
A$60 million |
| Australian imports from Macau: |
A$14 million |
| Macau's principal export destinations: |
USA, China, Hong Kong |
| Macau's principal import sources: |
China, Hong Kong, Japan | (Sources: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)
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Macau’s economy has expanded rapidly since 2002 when the liberalisation of its casino sector led to significant investment in new hotels, casinos and convention facilities by developers from Hong Kong, the USA and Australia.
Gaming and tourism are the major components of Macau’s GDP, and taxes on gaming income are a significant contributor to government revenues. Demand for labour from new construction projects and from the hospitality sector has led to the lowest unemployment rate since 1997, and GDP per capita has doubled since 2001.
Key economic indicators and statistics for 2007*:
- GDP – US$19.1 billion
- GPD per capita – US$39,823
- Real GDP growth – 27.3 per cent
- Inflation – 5.6 per cent
*latest available statistics
(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Country economic fact sheet) |
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The Chief Executive (CE) is head of Macau’s Government and is appointed by the PRC Government after selection by a 300-member Election Committee representing Macau’s business, cultural and social interests. The CE is responsible for implementing the Basic Law and other applicable laws. He/she appoints an Executive Council of between seven and eleven members whom he consults on major policy decisions.
Edmund Ho Hau-wah was selected as Macau’s first Chief Executive on 20 May 1999, and was elected to a second five-year term in August 2004.
The Legislative Council (LegCo) is responsible for general lawmaking, including taxation and passing Macau’s budget. LegCo has 29 members: 12 directly elected, 10 indirectly elected and seven appointed by the CE. Members of the legislature serve four-year terms.
Macau's civil law tradition is inherited from Portugal, though judicial links with Portugal were severed in June 1999. Members of the judiciary are selected by a committee and appointed by the CE. The judiciary comprises Courts of First Instance, a Court of Second Instance, a Court of Final Appeal and an Administrative Court.
The PRC Government Is responsible for Macau’s foreign affairs but, as with Hong Kong, Macau has considerable autonomy in some external matters, mainly concerning economic and cultural relations and agreements. Macau is a member of several international organisations, including the World Trade Organization as a separate customs territory.
(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Country brief)
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Trade relations and statistics
Major Australian exports to Macau (2007-08):
- Prams, toys, games and sporting goods – A$30 million
- Lighting fixtures and fittings – A$5 million
- Copper – A$3 million
- Tobacco, manufactured – A$3 million
Major Australian imports from Macau (2007-08):
- Clothing – A$2 million
- Locksmiths wares, safes, strong boxes – A$2 million
- Aluminium – A$2 million
- Medicaments (including veterinary) – A$1 million
(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Country economic fact sheet) |
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