and 7 appointed by the
chief executive; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by 15 October
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APPEM 2, UNIPRO 2, CODEM 1, UDM 1, UPD 1, ANMD 1

Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Macau Special
Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders: the following is a listing of those
associations that participated in the last legislative elections:
Associacao de Novo Macau Democratico or ANMD ; Associacao
Promotora para a Economia de Macau or APPEM ; Convergencia
para o Desenvolvimento or CODEM ; Uniao Geral para o
Desenvolvimento de Macau or UDM ; Uniao para o
Desenvolvimento or UPD ; Uniao Promotora para o Progresso
or UNIPRO
note: there are no formal political parties, but civic associations
are used instead

Political pressure groups and leaders: Catholic Church [Domingos LAM,
bishop]; Macau Society of Tourism and Entertainment or STDM [Stanley
HO, managing director]; Union for Democracy Development [Antonio NG
Kuok-cheong, leader]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative
region of China)

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

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

@Macau:Economy

Economy - overview: The economy is based largely on tourism (including
gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to
diversify have spawned other small industries - toys, artificial
flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly
25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about three-fourths
of export earnings; the gambling industry probably represents over 40%
of GDP. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and
energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw
materials and capital goods. Output dropped 4% in 1998 and the economy
remained weak in 1999. Macau reverted to Chinese administration on 20
December 1999. Gang violence, a dark spot in the economy, probably
will be reduced in 20