News

Since the implementation of the ‘University of Macau Parking Management Rules’ last year, parking space abuse in the University of Macau (UM) car parks has improved significantly. The number of vehicles involved in parking space abuse dropped from 183 during the peak period to two now. With the assistance of the police force, UM’s Security and Transport Section successfully persuaded the owners of more than 100 such vehicles to vacate the parking spaces.UM opened its campus and part of its facilities to the public after it completed the relocation in 2014. Before July 2016, when the ‘University of Macau Parking Management Rules’ were implemented, the car parks on the campus were open, free of charge, to the university’s faculty, student, staff, alumni, and visitors. After implementation of the rules, the university started charging parking fees following the ‘user-pays’ principle.To ensure proper use of campus facilities, UM will continue to strengthen the management of its car parks and monitor the use of the facilities. It will also continue to step up night patrol and deal with parking space abuse. The university will consider taking legal actions against the violators when necessary.In addition, this year the university will continue to improve its parking facilities and parking system.
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In order to provide a better and more comprehensive bibliographic search service, the Macao Public Library, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, is launching a new catalogue search system from 6 February 2017. It allows readers to use the system easily for functions like book renewal and reservation as well as organization of personal reading list.The new library catalogue search system “Enterprise” will feature a number of new functions for the convenience of the users, with a more user-friendly design. The current search system, “E-Library”, only allows readers to have simple online renewal and reservation services, while the new system, based on the old catalogue system, offers an efficient and convenient process as it enables readers to have the same reservation service for books on shelf and requisition of books in a specific library. After logging to their accounts, the readers can check borrowed items through the library account, including the borrowing history and overdue fines, among others. The former includes the book titles, the author, the borrowing and returning dates, allowing readers to understand their reading preferences in different periods of time; the latter indicates the library fine records of the borrowing due date. Currently readers who forget their account password can only change the password at the library in person; the new “Enterprise” system allows users to reset their password online through the new function “Forgot Password” provided they have filled their email address in their library card application. Readers can also build their own reading list and save the book information that they wish to reserve as well as their search results as a record. In addition to the General Mode, an ADA Mode (Accessibility mode) is also available in the system which makes the service even more accessible, allowing residents who need to browse the website and use the library services on computers with reading software installed. For more information about the new catalogue system, please visit the Macao Public Library website (www.library.gov.mo) or call 2837 7117 during office hours.
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In order to provide a better and more comprehensive bibliographic search service, the Macao Public Library, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, is launching a new catalogue search system from 6 February 2017. It allows readers to use the system easily for functions like book renewal and reservation as well as organization of personal reading list.
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The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) was informed by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR that the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Djibouti has been confirmed by the Djibouti immigration authority at the airport that, holders of the Macao SAR Passport travelling to Djibouti can be granted a visa upon their arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days provided that they possess either an invitation letter, proof of hotel reservation or round-trip air ticket.At present, a total of 126 countries or territories have agreed to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to Macao SAR Passport holders. For further details, please visit the website of the Identification Services Bureau (www.dsi.gov.mo/download/visa_free_list_e.pdf).
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The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) was informed by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR that the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Djibouti has been confirmed by the Djibouti immigration authority at the airport that, holders of the Macao SAR Passport travelling to Djibouti can be granted a visa upon their arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days provided that they possess either an invitation letter, proof of hotel reservation or round-trip air ticket.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the total number of personal credit cards in circulation continued to grow in the fourth quarter of 2016. The credit card turnover and repayments increased from a quarter ago.CirculationThe total number of personal credit cards in circulation was 1,059,382 at the end of December 2016, equivalent to an increase of 2.7% over a quarter earlier. The numbers of Pataca (MOP) cards, Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) cards and Renminbi (RMB) cards were 747,153, 91,571 and 220,658 respectively. MOP cards, HKD cards and RMB cards witnessed respective growth of 2.3%, 4.5% and 3.4% quarter-to-quarter. On the back of the increasing dual-currency and triple-currency cards, MOP cards and HKD cards rose year-on-year by 12.2% and 13.0% respectively, while RMB cards rose even faster by 23.2%.Credit limit granted and delinquencyAs at end-December 2016, credit card credit limit granted by banks in Macao reached MOP25.3 billion, up 5.4% from end-September 2016. Credit card receivables amounted to MOP2.5 billion while the rollover amount totalled MOP740.5 million, accounting for 29.7% of credit card receivables. The delinquency ratio, i.e. the ratio of delinquent amount overdue for more than three months to credit card receivables, dropped from 1.51% at end-September 2016 to 1.21% at end-December 2016.Turnover and repaymentFor the fourth quarter of 2016, the credit card turnover grew 7.2% quarter-to-quarter to MOP5.0 billion. The cash advance turnover was MOP216.0 million, accounting for 4.3% of total credit card turnover. Credit card repayments, in which payments for interest and fees are included, grew 1.6% from the previous quarter to MOP4.9 billion.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the total number of personal credit cards in circulation continued to grow in the fourth quarter of 2016. The credit card turnover and repayments increased from a quarter ago.
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Spanning seven days from 27 January to 2 February, the Spring Festival Golden Week has come to an end. According to the preliminary statistics, Macao recorded over 930,000 visitor arrivals (excluding non-resident employees and students, etc.) during the period, up by 9.9 % over the corresponding period of last year.

During the Spring Festival, visitors from the Greater China markets went up by 10.8% year-on-year to a record of 880,000, which accounted for 94.4% of total visitor arrivals. Among them, 660,000 visitors came from Mainland China, accounting for 70.9% of total visitor arrivals, a 13.8% increase — the most among all markets of Greater China. The number of Hong Kong visitors reached nearly 200,000 with an increase of 5%, whereas Taiwanese visitor arrivals went down by 15.9% to a record of 20,000. On the other hand, international visitor arrivals decreased by 3% year-on-year to a total of 50,000.
Up to date, the supply of all hotels and guest houses has reached a total of 37,634 rooms in Macao. Industry figures reveal that hotel establishments (hotels and guest houses) in Macao registered an average occupancy rate of 94.5% during the golden week, a slight year-on-year increase of 0.4 percentage points.

Five-star hotels recorded an average occupancy rate of 95.5%, down by 0.7 percentage points; four-star hotels registered 92.8%, up by 0.2 percentage points; three-star hotels 96.2%, up by 4.8 percentage points; two-star hotels 83%, up by 4.3 percentage points; guest houses 75.9%, slightly up by 0.3 percentage points.

The average room rate of hotel establishments (hotels and guest houses) in Macao dropped by 3.1% to around 1,800 patacas during the golden week. For five-star hotels, the average room rate decreased by 3.6% to around 2,080 patacas; for four-star hotels, up by 2.4% to around 1,520 patacas; for three-star hotels, up by 0.4% to around 1,460 patacas; for two-star hotels, up by 14.4% to around 1,160 patacas; for guest houses, slightly up by 0.1% to around 770 patacas.

Before and during the Spring Festival, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) actively prepared for the peak period by adopting different measures as follows: operation of tourism notification system, more scrupulous inspections, reminders sent to trade about various concerns, food guide publication and distribution as well as an array of celebrations rolled out during Chinese New Year, etc. The above measures were taken to cater to the needs of residents and visitors, as well as to optimize the tourism environment and service quality.

Room rates under different room categories reported by local hotels and guest houses are regularly posted on MGTO’s website for visitors to seize the latest information on hand. MGTO also advised visitors via WeChat to arrange their accommodation and itinerary in advance before their trips to Macao, and by mobile text message, suggested visitors to visit popular local attractions during off-peak hours in order to divert visitors from crowded areas. Personnel were arranged at ten different tourist spots to provide tourism information and guidance for visitors while assisting in crowd management.

MGTO and Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province put their “Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week” into operationfrom 24 January to 3 February. The Office also collaborated with relevant departments and tourism reception entities to facilitate hospitality work for visitors during the Spring Festival Golden Week.

During the golden week, MGTO conducted 53 inspections at various ports of entry and tourist spots in Macao, and sealed two apartments allegedly operated as illegal accommodation.

MGTO’s Tourist Information counters and tourism hotline service both operated as usual during the holidays. MGTO’s tourism hotline 2833 3000 maintained its 24-hour operator service to attend to visitor enquiries.

During Chinese New Year, MGTO received a total of 27 visitor complaints regarding public transportation (taxi and bus), shopping, tour guide, hotel, dining, service quality and so on. MGTO has followed up with the cases or transferred them to relevant entities for settlement.
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The deadline for applications for the “2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Animation Short Films”, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), extended to 12 April, at 5pm. All interested parties are welcome to take this chance to apply for the Programme.The “2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Animation Short Films” initially launched in December last year, is part of the “Subsidy Programme Series for Macao’s Cultural and Creative Industries”. It aims to spur the development of Macao’s animation industry, nurture local talents in animation creation, production and planning, enhance their creativity in planning and storytelling techniques and encourage the production of original animation films by the sector, as well as promote local animation development through the participation in exhibitions, public screenings and online promotion. After the Programme was launched, some professionals from the sector expressed that they needed more time to prepare. IC, after analysing the opinions of the sector, decided to extend the application deadline to 12 April, at 5pm, allowing 45 more days to prepare the required documents. Successful applicants will receive a subsidy of up to MOP 240,000 for the production, promotion and marketing of the animation short films.The Programme’s information, regulations and application forms can be downloaded at the IC’s website (www.icm.gov.mo/cn/CCI-Subsidy) and at the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com). Applicants should submit all required documents to the Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau located at No. 567, Av. da Praia Grande, Edif. BNU, 12^th floor A-D, Macao, up to the designated deadline. For enquiries, please contact Mr. Leung or Ms. Choi, staff members of IC, through tel. no. (853) 2892 4040, during office hours.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total of 1,047 new companies were incorporated in the fourth quarter of 2016, slightly down by 1 year-on-year; total value of registered capital decreased by 15.7% to MOP347 million. Analysed by industry, there were 329 new incorporations operating in Wholesale & Retail, 287 in Business Services and 127 in Construction. Companies in dissolutiontotalled 193, up by 22 year-on-year, and the value of registered capital of companies in dissolution amounted to MOP511 million.In the fourth quarter of 2016, capital of the new companies came mainly from Macao (MOP167 million) and Hong Kong (MOP154 million). Capital from Mainland China amounted to MOP16 million, including MOP9 million from the 9 Provinces of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, with Guangdong province accounting for MOP8 million. Analysed by combination of the shareholders, there were 674 new companies established solely by Macao shareholders, and 128 joint ventures between shareholders from Macao and other countries or territories.Number of new incorporations registered decline for two consecutive years. For the whole year of 2016, a total of 4,392 new companies were incorporated, down by 631 year-on-year; total value of registered capital dropped by 44.1% to MOP734 million. Analysed by industry, there were 1,416 new incorporations operating in Wholesale & Retail and 1,159 in Business Services, with the value of registered capital amounting to MOP135 million and MOP334 million. Number of companies in dissolution increased for 4 consecutive years, totalling 780 in 2016, with the value of registered capital of companies in dissolution amounting to MOP651 million.Analysed by size of registered capital, there were 3,165 new companies (72.1% of total) registered with capital under MOP50,000, and the total value of capital was MOP82 million (11.2% of total). Meanwhile, there were 84 new companies registered with capital of MOP1,000,000 or over, and the total value of capital amounted to MOP492 million.At the end of 2016, number of registered companies increased by 3,619 year-on-year to 56,676, of which commercial offshore companies went down by 19 year-on-year to 453.
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