cditions are ripe" and that they should not be discussed by the United Nations or listed as "colonial territories" in any UN
documents.
Macau's relations with Hong Kong
4. Macau lies 60 km East of Hong Kong on the other side of the
mouth of the Pearl River. It is the oldest European settlement in the Far East. Hong Kong interests have a large stake in the Macau
economy and dominate in such areas as transport between Hong Kong
and Macau, and the casinos. Much of the money for proposed
development projects can be expected to come from Hong Kong.
5.
Since 1980, it has been the practice of the Macau authorities to
redirect boats of refugees from Vietnam to Hong Kong. Since
mid-1981 this practice has become general, despite official Portuguese representations to the effect that this is done only to
help those who have expressed a wish to continue their journey to
Hong Kong. While this is sometimes true, there are well-documented cases where refugees have been towed out to sea despite their wish
to find asylum in Macau itself. About one boat in four arriving in
Hong Kong is believed to have previously called at Macau.
ESSENTIAL FACTS
6.
AREA:
15.5 sq km: Macau City, Islands of Taipa and Coloane
POPULATION:
1981 estimate: 350,000, 98% ethnic Chinese
There are between 2,000 and 3,000 Portuguese
nationals living in Macau.
7.
POLITICAL:
Constitution: The Statute of Macau of February 1976 has the
force of a Constitutional law.
8.
Legislative
Assembly:
Seventeen members, five appointed by the
Governor, six elected directly and six