Macao Marks 5 Years Under Beijing’s Rule
Marking the fifth anniversary of China’s assumption of power over Macao, Chinese President Hu Jintao praised the former Portuguese colony’s economic success under Beijing’s rule.
The enclave of 450,000 has seen double-digit economic growth and a drop in its once-infamous gang violence -- improvements some attribute to the presence of Chinese troops. It has been buoyed by the revival of its gambling industry with the introduction of Las Vegas casino operators.
Hu used his visit to inaugurate a new bridge linking Macao to the outlying island of Taipa and toured the remaining facade of the Church of St. Paul, a local landmark. The rest of the church burned down in 1835.
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