News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that following the completion of a number of construction works before the Lunar New Year, unemployment in Construction increased, bringing the general unemployment rate for November 2016-January 2017 up slightly by 0.1 percentage point from the previous period (October-December 2016) to 2.0%; the underemployment rate was 0.5%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Starting from the current release, DSEC publishes principal employment indicators of local residents on a monthly basis. The unemployment rate of local residents for November 2016-January 2017 was 2.8%, up slightly by 0.1 percentage point.Total labour force was 389,900 and the labour force participation rate stood at 71.3%. Total employment was 381,900 and number of employed residents totalled 277,900, down by 3,100 and 500 respectively from the previous period. Analysed by industry, employment in Construction and Restaurants & Similar Activities registered a decrease, while that in Gaming & Junket Activities saw an increase.Number of the unemployed was 7,900, up by 300 from the previous period; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 7.6% of the total unemployed, down by 1.3 percentage points.In comparison with November 2015-January 2016, the labour force participation rate dropped by 1.3 percentage points; meanwhile, both the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point.
…

Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philatelic Shop located at General Post Office and Communications Museum, from 9:00 to 17:30 on 1^stMarch 2017 to provide the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “11^th Anniversary of Communications Museum”.Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps!
…

Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philatelic Shop located at General Post Office and Communications Museum, from 9:00 to 17:30 on 1^stMarch 2017 to provide the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “11^th Anniversary of Communications Museum”.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 1.1% year-on-year to MOP 15.89 billion, driven by a rebound in visitor spending coupled with the festive seasons such as Christmas, representing the first year-on-year growth since the second quarter of 2014. Value of retail sales for the fourth quarter rose by 16.2% compared with the revised figure of MOP 13.67 billion in the third quarter. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery accounted for 21.0% of the total, followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (15.1%), Adults' Clothing (13.2%), Leather Goods (11.5%) and Goods in Supermarkets (6.5%).With regard to the year-on-year change in value of retail sales, Leather Goods (+18.1%) and Automotive Fuels (+13.4%) recorded significant growth in the fourth quarter, while Motor Vehicles (-43.6%), Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (-25.6%) and Goods in Pharmacies (-17.4%) showed marked decrease. Notable quarter-to-quarter increase was observed in the retail sales of Adults' Clothing (+31.0%), Motor Vehicles (+28.5%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+21.6%), Communication Equipment (+18.3%), Leather Goods (+18.1%) and Goods in Department Stores (+17.1%).After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2016 rose slightly by 0.1% year-on-year, of which sales of Leather Goods (+27.4%), Automotive Fuels (+11.6%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+8.5%) and Footwear (+8.2%) registered significant increase. On the other hand, sales of Motor Vehicles (-46.6%) and Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (-28.7%) showed marked decrease. Volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter rose by 15.1% quarter-to-quarter, with notable growth in the sales of Motor Vehicles (+28.2%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+26.5%), Adults' Clothing (+24.8%), Communication Equipment (+19.0%), Leather Goods (+15.9%) and Goods in Department Stores (+12.6%).Total value of retail sales for the whole year of 2016 amounted to MOP 57.51 billion, down by 6.6% year-on-year. Value of retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 11.76 billion), Goods in Department Store (MOP 8.60 billion) and Adults' Clothing (MOP 7.25 billion) accounted for 20.5%, 15.0% and 12.6% respectively of the total. Affected by the vehicle tax hike at the end of 2015 and the economic adjustment of Macao, notable decrease was observed in the sales of Motor Vehicles (-45.7%) and Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (-35.2%). Moreover, sales of Communication Equipment (-19.0%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-14.0%) also went down. On the other hand, sales of Leather Goods (+6.1%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+5.0%) and Adults' Clothing (+4.1%) registered increase. Volume of retail sales for the whole year of 2016 dropped by 5.5% year-on-year, with marked decrease in the sales of Motor Vehicles (-48.7%), Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (-38.3%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-14.1%); meanwhile, sales of Leather Goods (+18.4%) showed marked increase.In respect of retailers’ comments, 49.8% of the retailers anticipated that sales volume in the first quarter of 2017 will remain stable compared with the same quarter of 2016, 46.2% forecasted a decrease and 4.0% expected an increase. Meanwhile, 74.5% of the retailers anticipated stable retail prices in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter of 2016, 17.2% expected a decrease, and 8.3% predicted an increase. Moreover, 48.9% of the retailers anticipated the business will worsen in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the fourth quarter of 2016, 44.3% expected the business to remain stable, and 6.8% expected an improvement.
…

A cooperation protocol signed between the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Macao Scientific and Cultural Centre of the Ministry of Education and Science of Portugal in 2015 marked the establishment of a significant platform for Luso-Chinese cultural exchange. In order to achieve resources sharing, “Where the World Heritage Shines – Photography Exhibition of the Historic Centre of Macao”, jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre in Portugal, will be inaugurated on 8 March 2017, at 6pm, at the Macao Scientific and Cultural Centre in Lisbon. The exhibition features 100 photographs of the world heritage listed Historic Centre of Macao taken by local photographer Chan Hin Io, revealing the beauty and vitality of Macao’s cultural heritage and showing the charm of this small city through various angles.Chan Hin Io is a senior photographer nationwide and a recognised photographer in Macao. In recent years, he has been devoted to capturing Macao’s customs as well as the city’s landscapes, collecting several photography awards. Among his published works are The Neighbourhood of Macao – Documentary Photographs by Chan Hin Io, Memories of the Old Crafts and Trades in Macao, Life in Macao 2012 – Photographs by Chan Hin Io, and the album Where the World Heritage Shines – Photographs of the Historic Centre of Macao.The photography works in this exhibition offer new perspectives of the city’s World Heritage sites, including photographs taken from high altitude and long distance, taken through different angles and shooting times, which allow the public to get to know the Historic Centre of Macao through the eyes of Chan Hio Io and the changes it went through.“Where the World Heritage Shines – Photography Exhibition of the Historic Centre of Macao” was held in Macao and Zhongshan, China, last year. It will be held at the Macao Scientific and Cultural Centre in Lisbon from 8 March to 31 May 2017 and will be held at the Vila Flor Palace in Guimarães from 23 June to 15 August 2017. The exhibition is a manifestation of the friendly cooperation and resources sharing between cultural institutions in Portugal and Macao and an example of the growing Luso-Chinese cultural exchange.
…

The University of Macau (UM) today (24 February) held an inauguration ceremony for its Centre for Chinese History and Culture. The centre aims to promote research in Chinese history and culture, increase the dissemination and influence of Chinese history and culture in Portuguese-speaking countries, and enhance Macao residents’ understanding of Chinese history and culture. Chan Hoi Fan, acting chief executive of the Macao SAR, says that the establishment of the centre will enable UM to consolidate its resources and maximise its strengths in order to make strong contributions to the study of Chinese history and culture and its promotion.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said participation in the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative would complement Guangdong-Macao ties, and in particular advance the two places’ development goals.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said participation in the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative would complement Guangdong-Macao ties, and in particular advance the two places’ development goals.
…

Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ inFebruary on 24 February for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 13 supermarkets in Sé Parish.The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM’s Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries.With reference to the local seven parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations.For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

The Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries and the Division for Planning and Developing Cultural and Creative Industries, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), will be relocated to the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building, located at Tap Siac Square, Macao, on Monday, 27 February 2017.New contact information will be as follows:Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative IndustriesAddress: Cultural Affairs Bureau Building, Tap Siac Square, MacaoTel.: (853) 2836 6866Website: www.icm.gov.moE-mail: info.dpicc@icm.gov.moDue to the relocation, the applications for the “2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Animation Short Films” and the Macao Database for Cultural and Creative Industries, of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, must be henceforth submitted at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building located at Tap Siac Square, in Macao.
…