Colonized by the Portuguese in 1557, Macao was the oldest European
outpost in China. In 1987, Portugal and China reached an agreement to
return Macao to Chinese rule on Dec. 20, 1999. They agreed on provisions
that ensured the autonomy of Macao, including its right to elect local
leaders, the right of its residents to travel freely, and the right to
maintain its way of life for 50 years after the start of Chinese rule.
