Macau Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: none
local short form : Ilha de Macau

Data code MC

Dependency status overseas territory of Portugal; note - scheduled to revert to Chinaon 20 December 1999

Government type NA

National capital Macau

Administrative divisions 2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau

Independence none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with Chinaon 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the jointdeclaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economicsystems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)

National holiday Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)

Constitution 17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarilyby Beijing, promulgated 31 March 1993

Legal system Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President of Portugal Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIERA (since 20 March 1991)
cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members - five appointedby the governor, two nominated by the governor, five elected for a four-yearterm (two represent administrative bodies, one represents moral, cultural,and welfare interests, and two represent economic interests), and three statutorymembers
elections: none; governor general appointed by the president of Portugal afterconsultation with the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote,8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-yearterms)
elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president;lower court judges appointed for three-year terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders Association to Defend the Interests of Macau, leader NA; Macau DemocraticCenter, leader NA; Group to Study the Development of Macau, leader NA; MacauIndependent Group, leader NA

Political pressure groups and leaders wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunistmerchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Governmentacceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration

International organization participation CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), WMO,WToO (associate), WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)

Diplomatic representation from the US the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by theUS Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag description the flag of Portugal is used

NOTE: The information regarding Macau on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Macau Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Macau Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.