From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Macau Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 21:53:43 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2035 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <199812281658_MC2-64E0-C835@compuserve.com> Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Precedence: bulk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Content-Disposition: inline Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 Lines: 154 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Macau ============================================================ Macau - Consular Information Sheet December 24, 1998 COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Macau is a Chinese territory administered by Portugal. It returns to Chinese sovereignty on December 20, 1999. Facilities for tourism are well developed. Gambling, tourism, manufacturing and real estate development are the major factors in Macau's economy. Macau includes a six-square-mile area on the mainland of China bordering the South China Sea, and the small, adjacent islands of Taipa and Coloane. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passports are required. A visa is not required for tourist visits up to 20 days. Information on entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of Portugal at 2125 Kalorama Road N.W., Washington D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 328-8610, or from the American Consulate General in Hong Kong, telephone (852) 2523-9011. Also, please see the Macau Government home page at http://www.macau.gov.mo/, or contact the Macau Tourist Information Bureau, Suite 2R, 77 Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10011, telephone (212) 206-6828. MEDICAL FACILITIES: Several major hospitals in Macau have adequate medical facilities and are able to provide emergency medical care. Highly developed medical facilities and trained personnel are available in Hong Kong, which is about an hour by jetfoil and ten minutes by helicopter from Macau. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services and may not accept checks or credit cards. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The U.S. Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. MEDICAL INSURANCE: Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost from $10,000 to $100,000 (U.S.). Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, may prove useful. Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, and whether it includes a provision for medical evacuation. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor, or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. ADDITIONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION: Useful information on medical emergencies abroad is provided in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad," available via the Bureau's home page and autofax service and the autofax service of the Consulate General in Hong Kong. For additional health information, the international travelers hotline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be reached at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), via the CDC autofax service at 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299) or via the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/. INFORMATION ON CRIME: Petty street crime occasionally occurs in tourist areas in Macau, including in and around casinos. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Information on safeguarding valuables and protecting personal safety can be found in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." It can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs. SECURITY CONCERNS: Violence related to organized crime has increased in Macau and poses potential security concerns for the general public. During the past year, there have been bombings, numerous acts of arson, and several shootings, some of which were fatal, all related to organized crime. Recent incidents include an early-morning double bombing on September 8, 1998, apparently aimed at Macau police and journalists. This incident, which injured 15 policemen and journalists, was the latest in a string of attacks aimed at police and public officials. Most, but not all, of these acts of violence have occurred near casinos during early morning hours. Because of this violence, the U.S. Navy allows its service members visiting Hong Kong during port calls to enter Macau for private travel only in groups and only during daylight and early evening hours. Americans should exercise prudence and caution when visiting Macau and be aware of the possibility of violence. CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and do not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. U.S. CUSTOMS RESTRICTIONS: Visitors to Macau should be aware that the importation into the United States of counterfeit "brand name" items such as watches, compact discs, computer software and clothing is prohibited by U.S. law. AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service by Macau carriers at present, nor economic authority to operate such service between the U.S. and Macau, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Macau's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Macau's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at telephone 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at telephone (703) 697-7288. The Macau International Airport officially opened on December 8, 1995. At present, the only airline flying to the United States from Macau is Eva Air, a Taiwan-based company. Please see the Macau International Airport home page at http://www.macau-airport.gov.mo/. TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: Traffic moves on the left in Macau, and roads are narrow and winding. Traffic is generally congested throughout the day. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, as are public buses. REGISTRATION/EMBASSY LOCATION: There is no U.S. diplomatic presence in Macau. Consular assistance for U.S. citizens is provided by the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong. U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the American Consulate General in Hong Kong and obtain updated information on travel and security conditions in Macau. The address is 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong. The telephone number in Hong Kong is (852) 2523-9011; fax (852) 2845-4845. The mailing address is PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002. The Internet address of the Consulate General in Hong Kong is http://www.usconsulate.org.hk. ***** This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 27, 1997. It updates sections listed under Country Description, Security Concerns, Aviation Oversight, and provides a new Internet address for the U.S. Consulate General. Added are new sections listed under Medical Insurance and Additional Medical Information. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories