The urban characteristics of Macao and its role and position in the urban system of China
澳门的城市性质及其在我国城市体系中的地位和作用

Firstly, the paper reviewed the background of its historical development and the present economic structure of the city. An analysis of the urban characteristics and the conditions for keeping the stability and prosperity of the newly repatriated Macao has been made. That help us better understand the character and the unusual functions of the city. Macao was a small declining colonial trade port with poor functions, a mini economy, dissociated over a long period of time from its native community as well as from the mainstream of the international society with not well developed capitalist socio economic systems. The city has become a complementary one to the international metropolis Hong Kong with the character of a peripheral city. The urban economy is a derivative one from the economy of Hong Kong, heavily depending on the outside world. The economic structure is lopsided with gambling and tourism as pillar industries. The paper has evaluated the role and the position of Macao after repatriation in the China's urban system, and has concretely characterized the economic linkages between Macao, Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta( Zhuhai city in particular) and the henceforth orientation of the economic development of Macao. According to the characteristics of the urban economy and its development conditions, it is necessary to go on the way of the regional integration for the Macao's economic development. The Macao's economy should be further integrated with that of Hong Kong under the political support from the Central Government with the background of the abundant resources and wide market in the mainland. Macao could increase its attractiveness and vigor in economic activities, if it has restructured its economy and improved its political and ruling conditions by laws.