ited Citizens' Association 16.6%, Union for
Development 13.3%, Union for Promoting Progress 9.6%, Macau
Development Alliance 9.3%, others 32.4%; seats by political group -
New Democratic Macau Association 2, Macau United Citizens'
Association 2, Union for Development 2, Union for Promoting Progress
2, Macau Development Alliance 1, others 3; 10 seats filled by
professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief
executive

Judicial branch:

Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders:

Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development Union
[KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG On-kei];
Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New Democratic
Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces
note: there is no political party ordinance, so there are no
registered political parties; politically active groups register as
societies or companies

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley HO];
Roman Catholic Church; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG
Kuok-cheong]

International organization participation:

IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),
UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WFTU, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (special administrative region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is
accredited to Macau

Flag description:

light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in
white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in
center of arc and four smaller

Economy
Macau

Economy - overview:

Macau's economy has enjoyed strong growth in recent years on the
back of its expanding tourism and gaming sectors. Since opening up
its locally-controlled casino industry to foreign competition in
2001, the territory has attracted tens of billions of dollars in
foreign investment that have helped transform it into the world's
largest gaming center. In 2006, Macau's gaming revenue surpassed
that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for
75% of total government revenue. The expanding casino sector, and
China's decision beginning in 2002 to relax travel restrictions,
have reenergized Macau's tourism industry, which saw total visitors
grow to