Founded in the middle of the sixteenth century, Macau has been administered by the Portuguese for more than 400 years. In 1987, Portugal and China issued a Joint Declaration on an agreement to transfer administration of the Territory from the Portuguese Government to the Chinese Government on 20th December 1999. From April to September, the weather is very humid and warm, with the possibility of typhoons in July and August. From October to December, it is mild and dry. In January and February, it is somewhat cold and humid, and the temperature starts to rise in March with humidity remaining high.
Tourism is a strong sector in Macau's economy.
Macau is ideally suited for business and industry, being in the midst of one of the fastest growing high technology areas of the world today. Macau has the economic basis for rapid expansion. Zhuhai, one of China's rapidly developing new economic zones, is immediately across the border from Macau.