We are looking from behind a group of red uniformed meat market traders who are manhandling joints of pork from the back of a meat wagon at Macau's main meat market, on the Rua Sul do Mercado de Sao Domingos, just off the Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, in Central Macau. The men have on hooded red tunics that hide the bloodstains of dead animal carcasses, a very practical choice of colour (color). One man has half a pig on his shoulders while another holds a leg in his left hand. The animal carcasses look heavy and they are both struggling under their weight. There is much more meat to be offloaded from the truck and the men queue up to take their turn and remove them for sale inside the market building. Besides historical Chinese and Portuguese world-heritage relics, Macau's biggest attraction is its gaming business. Its gambling revenue in 2006 weighed in at a massive £3.6bn - about £100m more than Las Vegas. Administered by Portugal until 1999, it was the oldest European colony in China, dating back to the 16th century. The administrative power over Macau was transferred to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1999, 2 years after Hong Kong's own handover. Macau's name is derived from A-Ma-Gau or Place of A-Ma and this temple dedicated to the seafarers' goddess dates from the early 16th century.
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