<P> Macau was formerly a colony of the Portuguese Empire , after Ming China leased the territory as a trading post in 1557 . Originally governing under Chinese authority and sovereignty , Portugal was given perpetual occupation rights for Macau in 1887 . Macau remained under Portuguese control until 1999 , when it was returned to China . As a special administrative region , Macau maintains a separate political and economic system apart from mainland China . </P>
<P> Macau was formerly a colony of the Portuguese Empire , after Ming China leased the territory as a trading post in 1557 . Originally governing under Chinese authority and sovereignty , Portugal was given perpetual occupation rights for Macau in 1887 . Macau remained under Portuguese control until 1999 , when it was returned to China . As a special administrative region , Macau maintains a separate political and economic system apart from mainland China . </P>
the former portuguese colony that is now a special administrative region of china is
the former portuguese colony that is now a special administrative region of china is
Macau
Macau