World Country Guide

General Information

Area
26.80 sq km (10.35 sq miles).

Population
441,637 (official estimate 2002). 96 per cent of the population is Chinese and 4 per cent is Portuguese, European and from other regions.

Population Density
16,479 per sq km.

Capital
Macau.

Geography
Macau is situated on a tiny peninsula at the mouth of the Pearl River. Two bridges of 2.5km (1.5 miles) and 4.5km (2.8 miles) respectively link it to its nearest island, Taipa, which in turn is joined to the island of Cloane by a 2.2 km- (1.3 mile-) 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 the People’s Republic of China. Some 60km (37.5 miles) to the east-northeast, across the mouth of the river, is Hong Kong.

Government
Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China since 1999. Head of State: President Jiang Zemin since 1999. Head of Government: Chief Executive Edmund H W Ho.

Language
The official languages are Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese. English is widely spoken by those engaged in trade, tourism and commerce.

Religion
The main religions are Buddhism, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The majority are Buddhists, while 7 per cent are Catholics.

Time
GMT + 8.

Electricity
Usually 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD service is available. Country code: 853. Outgoing international code: 00. International facilities are available at the General Post Office at Leal Senado Square, Macau City, the Central Post Offices in Taipa and Colane, as well as all phone booths.

Mobile telephone
Dual band GSM network covers the whole territory. Main operators are CTM (website: www.macau.ctm.net), Hutchison Telephone Company (website: www.hutchisonmacau.com) and SmarTone (website: www.smartone.com.mo).

Fax
Major hotels have facilities.

Internet
ISPs include MacauWeb (www.macauweb.com).

Telegram
Services available at larger hotels and telecommunication offices, as well as all phone booths.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes five to seven days. Automatic vending machines are available at various locations for stamps.

Press
Newspapers are in Portuguese or Chinese, including Portuguese dailies Hoje Macau and Jornal Tribuna de Macau, and Chinese dailies Macau Daily News and Va Kio Pou. There are English-language papers from Hong Kong.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.