evidence: Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China in 1999. China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's political and economic system would not be imposed on Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign affairs and defense for the next 50 years. [...] Chinese 89.4%, Chinese and Portuguese 1%, Portuguese 0.8%, Chinese and non-Portuguese 0.2%, Portuguese and others 0.2%, other 8.5% (2021 est.) [...] head of government: Chief Executive HO lat Seng (since 20 December 2019)