have increased Macau’s land area from Mozambique, East Timor and others. A 6.5 to 8 square miles (17 to 21 sq. km). century later, Portugal agreed to return Macau’s population, estimated at 429,152 Macau to China in 1999. for 1998, is almost completely urbanized. The return of Macau to China at the end of This translates into high population den- 1999 will usher in the “Basic Law.” This sity of more than 50,000 people per square new constitution guarantees Macau’s ex- mile (20,000 per square kilometer). Life isting social and economic systems for 50 expectancy is 81.6 years, which is high years, but there are suspicions among the within this region. Virtually every eco- European residents. Many Portuguese are nomic and social indicator surpasses that leaving, and young Chinese are swim- of China, indicating a higher living stan- ming the 250-meter span of river from the dard in Macau. mainland in hopes of being economically Ninety-five percent of Macau’s popula- grandfathered into Macau’s protected sta- tion is Chinese, while only 3 percent is tus. These “push-pull” forces will likely TROUBLE Portuguese. Cantonese and Portuguese further increase the Chinese ethnic char- are official languages, but English is the acter of Macau. BREWING FOR language used for trade, tourism and com- Nevertheless, Macau’s return to China is merce. Fifteen percent of the population generating much less chaos than Hong TINY MACAU is Roman Catholic. Kong’s. For example, in the immediate The tiny Portuguese dependency of With increased ease of access and the years before Hong Kong’s return, the Brit- Macau will soon be in the news as it nearby runway, the island of Taipa is ish consulate was inundated with appli- reverts to Chinese administration on De- quickly becoming the residential location cations for British passports. Thousands cember 20, 1999. The world may watch of choice. Bamboo scaffolding is every- of Hong Kong citizens, including Hong with fascination to see whether Macau where, as 30-story apartment buildings Kong Chinese, immigrated to the United will make the transition as well as the spring up on reclaimed land. Kingdom, Canada, Bermuda, Australia British colony of Hong Kong did on July Because of their common borders, Macau and the United States. 1, 1997. depends on China for food, fresh water With the exception of some Portuguese While Hong Kong appears to be main- and energy inputs. Raw materials and leaving, this phenomenon of overseas taining its character, there is concern that capital goods mostly come from Japan exodus is not occurring in Macau. To the Macau’s unique identity might be lost and Hong Kong. Tourism is the dominant contrary, an estimated 90 percent of under Chinese rule. Macanese support the up- Macau is smaller in both Changing Hands coming political transfer. size and population, and 250 Km Although Macau and it has a much smaller Hong Kong are both small economy. In addition, it 250 Mi CHINA geographic units, Macau promotes gambling, a TAIWAN just might be too small. subculture that disturbs Hong Hong Kong has a land area the Chinese. Kong about 50 times larger and a Macau is the Portuguese Macau Macau population almost 16 times name used for the past VIETNAM larger than Macau’s. It also 400 years for the depen- has a more diversified LAOS Macau dency, but the spelling Peninsula economy and a distinct Brit- will officially become ish cultural identity. Macao when it reverts Taipa Island It will be interesting to see to China. South whether Macau will sur- Located near the Tropic China 2 Km vive in some form or be Coloane Island of Cancer, Macau bor- THAILAND Sea swallowed up by an over- ders China and the South 2 Mi whelming pressure of the China Sea. The climate Geography in the News # 489 maps.com ©2000 1.2 billion Mainland Chi- is humid subtropical pillar buttressing the economic fortunes nese. with cool winters and long, hot and steamy of Macau, but it is the gambling casinos And that is Geography in the News, Octo- summers somewhat like Savanna, Ga. that attract droves of tourists and their ber 8, 1999 Macau is a fragmented territory consist- money, many taking the hour-long hy- (This article was written by Donald Albert, ing of a peninsula jutting from the China drofoil ride from Hong Kong. assistant professor of geography at Sam Hous- mainland, plus two islands called Taipa Portuguese involvement began in the ton State University, Huntsville, Texas, and and Coloane and a 9,994-foot (3,047-meter) 1500s when traders and then settlers con- Joseph Messina, a geography doctoral candi- runway built just offshore from Taipa. verged on Macau, attracted by the pro- date at the University of North Carolina at Bridges link Taipa with the peninsula, a tected harbor. It was not until 1887, how- Chapel Hill, and edited by Neal Lineback, causeway connects Coloane with Taipa ever, that the Chinese granted a so-called geography professor at Appalachian State and two taxiways connect to the runway. “perpetual occupation” to Portugal. University, Boone, North Carolina. Messina Reclamation projects, such as the new Macau was part of a larger Portuguese recently traveled to Macau.) #489 runway and additions to the land area, empire that included Brazil, Angola,

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