Part 442

Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.95 years male: 77.49 years female: 82.54 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Macanese (singular and plural) adjective: Macau

Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%

Religions: Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)

Languages: Portuguese (official) 4%, Chinese (Cantonese) is the language of commerce

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.) total population: 90% male: 93% female: 86%

Government ----------

Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form: Ilha de Macau

Data code: MC

Type of government: overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999

Capital: Macau

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

Independence: none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems 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 primarily by 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) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9 March 1986) head of government: Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991) was appointed by the President of Portugal after consultation with the Legislative Assembly cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members - five appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies, one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two represent economic interests), and three statutory members

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: elections last held 10 March 1991 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23 total, 8 elected by direct vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor) number of seats by party NA

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

Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests of Macau; Macau Democratic Center; Group to Study the Development of Macau; Macau Independent Group

Other political or pressure groups: wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration

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

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

US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag: the flag of Portugal is used