News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI increased by 1.33% year-on-year to 108.36 in October 2016, a further decrease of 0.26 percentage points from the 1.59% growth in September. The increment was attributable to higher charges for eating out, rising rentals for parking spaces, as well as increases in property management fees, motor car prices and tuition fees. Among the various sections of goods and services, price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages that accounted for the largest share of household expenditure showed continued slowdown in growth, rising by 1.68% year-on-year. Price index of Communication (-1.97%), Clothing & Footwear (-1.25%) and Housing & Fuels (-1.18%) registered decline; meanwhile, price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco, Education and Transport went up by 10.22%, 7.42% and 6.42% respectively. The CPI-A (108.44) and CPI-B (107.76) increased by 1.19% and 2.59% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for October 2016 increased by 0.17% month-to-month. Price index of Clothing & Footwear, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco and Transport rose by 3.26%, 0.57% and 0.39% respectively on account of new arrival of winter clothing, higher prices of alcoholic beverages, gasoline, as well as rising charges for maintenance & repair of motor cars. On the other hand, lower charges for internet services drove down the price index of Communication by 1.72%. Moreover, reduced electricity charges and receding prices of vegetables, fruits and fresh fish pushed down the price index of Housing & Fuels and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages by 0.10% and 0.09% respectively. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 0.16% and 0.19% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended October 2016, the average Composite CPI increased by 2.75% from the previous period. Price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+27.09%), Education (+8.67%) and Transport (+6.44%) showed marked increase. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 2.72% and 3.02% respectively over the previous period. The average Composite CPI for the first ten months of 2016 increased by 2.55% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B went up by 2.49% and 3.06% respectively. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households in Macao. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP29,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP30,000 to MOP54,999.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today met with the President of Jinan University, Mr Hu Jun, to exchange views on the tertiary education sector and on talent development. Mr Chui is on a two-day visit to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, following an invitation from Jinan University to participate in the celebrations of the 110th anniversary of the institution’s establishment. During the meeting, Mr Chui said he noted that a great many talented people in Macao had been educated at the University. Such people provided a basis for the further development of Macao. The Chief Executive said students that had graduated from the University had made great contributions in different sectors of Macao’s community. The Government would continue to strengthen its partnership with the University, in a bid to provide more opportunities for Macao’s young people to study there, and to support the city’s development by ensuring it had a supply of talented people. Mr Hu said he was pleased to see the Chief Executive at the University’s anniversary celebration, and was thankful for the long-term support of the SAR Government. The presence of Mr Chui at the celebration would be an encouragement to the approximately 50,000 students and lecturers at the University. Jinan University would increase the quota of Macao young people admissible to the institution, while continuing to cooperate with the SAR Government and people from different sectors of the community in Macao, in order to foster talent development and the training of a greater number of professionals. During the meeting, Mr Chui and Mr Hu spoke highly of the efforts to promote closer ties between Macao and Jinan University that had been made by the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jinan University – and President of the Jinan University Macao Alumni Association – Mr Ma Iao Hang, and his Alumni Association. Government officials attending today’s meeting included: the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng; and the Director of the Health Bureau, Mr Lei Chin Ion. Mr Ma was also present at the meeting, along with the Vice President of Jinan University, Mr Song Xianzhong, and the Chief of the Board of the Directors’ Office, Ms Wu Xuanfeng. Mr Chui will return to Macao in the afternoon on Saturday (19 November). While he is in Guangzhou, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, and the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, are consecutively to take on the role of acting Chief Executive.
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The CCAC has unveiled a case involving two civil servants who, when applying to the Housing Bureau (IH) for economical housing, deliberately concealed the fact that they owned a property in the Chinese mainland and finally acquired and lived in the economical unit. They have allegedly committed the offences of document forgery and fraud involving relatively high value under the Penal Code. Moreover, the two persons deliberately made false declaration when submitting the assets and interests declaration forms and thus allegedly committed the offences of false declaration (inaccurate data) under the Legal Regime of Declaration of Assets and Interests. The case has been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office. The two suspects, who were husband and wife, worked in the Office of the Prosecutor General and the IH respectively. In 2013, when they made an application to the IH for economical housing, they deliberately concealed the fact that they had purchased a flat in Zhuhai not long ago when completing the application form with an intent to pass the assets test smoothly. At last, they successfully defrauded the IH, passed the assets test and bought an economical unit in Seac Pai Van under the price of some MOP600,000. The CCAC received the report early this year which stated that someone had allegedly concealed the fact of owing a property in Zhuhai with an intent to defraud the IH for economical housing. At the request of the CCAC, the IH conducted an assets test again for the said application and requested the two persons to submit proofs concerning assets outside Macao. The two suspects, on the one hand, falsely declared to the staff of the IH that they did not own any property in Zhuhai. On the other hand, they grasped the time to sell the property in Zhuhai and applied to the real estate registry in Zhuhai for proofs that they did not own any property and submitted the proof to the IH, with an intent to evade the investigation of the CCAC and continue to own the economical unit. In addition, during the investigation, it was also found that when the two civil servants declared their assets and interests in 2013 and 2015, they deliberately concealed their ownership of the said Zhuhai property in the declaration forms. Such acts have also allegedly constituted offences of false declaration (inaccurate data) as stated in Paragraph 2 of Article 27 of Legal Regime of Declaration of Assets and Interests. In this case, the two civil servants concealed the fact that they owned a property in Zhuhai and acquired an economical unit allocated by the IH by fraudulent means. Upon knowing that the relevant department was carrying out an investigation, they thought that they were fortunate enough because the property was not located in Macao such that the local investigation department could hardly prove it. Therefore, they sold the property in Zhuhai and then applied for proofs to show that they did not own any property in order to cover up their illegal acts. However, through the collaboration and assistance mechanism with the Chinese mainland’s enforcement departments, the CCAC was able to dig up the information that the involved persons had owned and sold the property in Zhuhai. The truth was finally found out and the case has been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office for handling according to the law.
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Invited by the Centre of Permanent Education of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Consumer Council held several public lectures to those who participated in the ‘Continuing Education Development Programme’. The Council hopes to enhance consumers’ awareness and ability and self-protection regarding their own consume rights. The public lectures held by the Council for the Centre of Permanent Education include ‘Introduction to consumer rights and services of Consumer Council’ and other topics. Participants agreed that the information was useful and applicable in daily lives, and let them know more about their own consumer rights and obligations. To strengthen residents’ awareness in their own consumer rights and beware of consumer traps, Consumer Council organize public lectures to promote consumer education. Twenty-five lectures have been held by the Council for the hearing impaired, women, and elderly, serving over 1,300 persons and covered different topics on consumer rights. The Council welcomes different organizations and schools to arrange lectures, for appointment, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors increased by 17.4% year-on-year to MOP 14.64 billion in the third quarter of 2016, putting an end to the 7 consecutive quarters of year-on-year decline, and expanded by 25.1% quarter-to-quarter. Total spending of overnight visitors (MOP 11.92 billion) and same-day visitors (MOP 2.72 billion) went up by 21.5% and 2.1% respectively year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2016, per-capita spending of visitors increased by 17.3% year-on-year to MOP 1,806, the first year-on-year growth since the second quarter of 2014, and went up by 12.8% quarter-to-quarter. Per-capita spending of visitors from Mainland China increased by 18.2% year-on-year to MOP 2,100, with spending of those from Guangdong Province (MOP 1,672) and Fujian Province (MOP 1,411) rising by 16.2% and 27.6% respectively. Per-capita spending of Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) went up by 12.4% year-on-year to MOP 2,312, with spending of Guangdong visitors (MOP 1,854) and Fujian visitors (MOP 2,289) increasing by 12.2% and 3.7% respectively. Meanwhile, per-capita spending of visitors from Singapore (MOP 1,912), Hong Kong (MOP 1,092) and Taiwan (MOP 1,638) increased by 17.1%, 19.7% and 16.9% respectively year-on-year. Among the long-haul visitors, per-capita spending of visitors from the United States (MOP1,177) dropped by 13.0% year-on-year, while spending of those from Australia (MOP 1,421) and the United Kingdom (MOP 1,183) rose by 8.3% and 7.2% respectively. Per-capita spending of overnight visitors increased by 11.5% year-on-year to MOP 2,809. Per-capita spending of overnight visitors from Mainland China (MOP 3,270) rose by 10.9%; spending of those from Singapore (MOP 2,870), Hong Kong (MOP 1,686) and Taiwan (MOP 2,997) grew by 10.2%, 13.4% and 8.8% respectively; meanwhile, per-capita spending of those from Thailand (MOP 2,322) showed a significant increase of 33.6%. Moreover, per-capita spending of same-day visitors went up by 11.2% year-on-year to MOP 703, with spending of those from Mainland China (MOP 842) and Hong Kong (MOP 432) rising by 11.0% and 27.8% respectively. Visitors spent mainly on shopping (43.4%), accommodation (27.3%) and food & beverage (21.3%). Per-capita shopping spending increased by 16.8% year-on-year to MOP 783, of which spending on local food products (MOP 226) and cosmetics & perfume (MOP 134) rose by 2.3% and 16.5% respectively. Per-capita shopping spending of Mainland visitors accounted for 51.1% of their overall spending, at MOP 1,072, up by 18.2% year-on-year, with that of IVS visitors (MOP 1,395) rising by 9.4%. Analysed by main purpose of visit, visitors coming to Macao for MICE events had the highest per-capita spending, at MOP 3,089, up by 23.7% year-on-year, followed by those coming for shopping (MOP 2,504) and vacation (MOP 2,421), up by 14.7% and 9.1% respectively. According to the results of the Visitors’ Comments Survey for the third quarter of 2016, 90.5% of the visitor-users were satisfied with the services and facilities of hotels, up marginally by 0.4 percentage points quarter-to-quarter; the proportions of visitors who expressed satisfaction with services of retail shops (85.0%) and gaming establishments (83.5%) rose by 2.5 and 1.7 percentage points respectively. On the other hand, 67.4% of the visitors complimented about services of public transport, down by 3.3 percentage points quarter-to-quarter, while 12.7% considered that these services should be improved, up by 3.4 percentage points. Meanwhile, 45.0% of the visitors commented that points of tourist attractions were adequate, an increase of 5.5 percentage points quarter-to-quarter.
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According to the statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, on 30 June 2016, investment of Macao residents (including individuals, the government and other legal entities but excluding Macao’s foreign exchange reserves) in securities issued by unrelated non-residents reached MOP443.2 billion at current market value, representing an increase of 1.0% from both end-2015 and the same period last year. Among various instruments of portfolio investment, equity securities (including mutual funds and investment trust units), long-term debt securities and short-term debt securities were valued at MOP168.7 billion, MOP258.3 billion and MOP16.2 billion respectively, which corresponded to a decrease of 0.8%, an increase of 4.4% and a drop of 24.5% from end-2015. By geographical distribution, the Asian region continued to occupy the largest share of Macao residents’ external portfolio investment, at 57.2%. The rest was mainly placed in the North Atlantic and Caribbean (13.8%), Europe (12.6%), North America (10.6%) and Oceania (5.2%). Investment in securities issued by Mainland Chinese entities, including those securities listed on non-Mainland exchanges, continued to assume the leading position, occupying 40.0% of local residents’ portfolio investment outside Macao. Its market value registered a decrease of 13.5% from end-2015 to MOP177.4 billion. The investment consisted of MOP53.5 billion in equity securities, MOP116.8 billion in long-term debt securities and MOP7.1 billion in short-term debt securities, occupying 31.7%, 45.2% and 44.0% of the respective total. Meanwhile, the share of investment in securities issued by Hong Kong entities also fell from 13.4% at end-2015 to 12.9%, with the corresponding market value decreasing by 2.6% to MOP57.4 billion, of which equity securities and long-term debt securities amounted to MOP36.4 billion and MOP18.0 billion respectively. Macao residents’ portfolio investment in the North Atlantic and Caribbean continued to increase. The market value of investment in this region rose by 14.9% from end-2015 to MOP61.4 billion, with its share in the total investment abroad rising from 12.2% to 13.8%. In particular, the market value of portfolio investment in the British Virgin Islands swelled by 51.4% from end-2015 to MOP27.4 billion. The share of investment in European securities rose by 2.0 percentage points from end-2015 to 12.6%, and the corresponding market value grew by 20.1% to MOP55.7 billion. Among European countries, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France represented larger portions with market values of MOP11.8 billion, MOP11.1 billion, MOP7.8 billion and MOP7.1 billion respectively. The bulk of investment in North America was placed in the United States. The market value of Macao residents’ investment in US securities rose by 9.6% from end-2015 to MOP43.6 billion, pushing up its share from 9.1% to 9.8%. Of which, the investment in mutual funds and investment trust units grew by 4.2% to MOP10.1 billion, representing the largest share in the corresponding category. At end-June 2016, Macao residents’ investment in securities issued by Australian entities increased by 56.1% from six months ago to MOP22.0 billion at market value, lifting the share of portfolio investment in Oceania from 3.2% to 5.2%. The compilation of Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS), jointly conducted by the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) and the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), follows the methodology advocated by the International Monetary Fund.
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Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and co-organised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), the Tap Siac Craft Market is held from 17 to 20 November (Thursday to Sunday) at the Tap Siac Square. In addition to various distinctive and creative products, the Craft Market also features workshops and concert. Residents and tourists are welcome to participate and feel the creative powers. The opening ceremony of the Tap Siac Craft Market was held on 17 November, at 6pm, at the Tap Siac Square, and was officiated by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Vice-president of the Committee of Cultural Industries, Hsu Hsiu-Chu; the Acting Head of Department of Civic Affairs and Consultation of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Lam Mei Sio; the member of the Administrative Committee of the Cultural Industries Fund, Mok Ian Ian; the representative of the iMART in Guangzhou, Sarah Nie; the representative of CAMPOBAG in Taiwan, Lasa Chang; the Supervisor of the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong, Wong Mei Ling; the representative of Astroad in Korea, Hana Lee, among others. The Tap Siac Craft Market is held from 5pm to 10pm on 17 and 18 November, Thursday and Friday, and from 3pm to 10pm on 19 and 20 November, Saturday and Sunday, featuring a total of 240 booths from Mainland China, Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as Malaysia, Singapore and Korea. The Craft Market features various distinctive and creative products, including accessories, fashion design, clothing, drawings, paintings, home furnishings, creative potted plants, natural handmade products, eco-friendly products, as well as creative food and beverages. Furthermore, more than 20 workshops, conducted by professionals from different regions, are held for the public to experience the fun of creativity. The Craft Market features the “Craft Market Concert”, presenting local and foreign original music. All are welcome to join . Inaugurated in 2008, the Tap Siac Craft Market is Macao’s first large-scale integrated platform for display and sale of cultural and creative products, also featuring original music performances. Every year the event attracts participants from Macao and other regions, and it has been highly appreciated by both residents and tourists since its inception. For more information about the Craft Market, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau website (www.icm.gov.mo), the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com) or the “Tap Siac Craft Market” page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MacaoCraftMarket).
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 3,166 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold as per Stamp Duty record in the third quarter of 2016, and the total value of transactions was MOP 17.22 billion, down by 18.4% and 10.0% respectively quarter-to-quarter. Purchase and sale of residential units totalled 2,399, amounting to MOP 14.54 billion, down by 19.5% and 4.8% respectively. Due to the commencement of pre-sale of new large-scale housing estates, pre-sale residential units purchased and sold increased by 49.6% to 347, and the total value rose significantly by 112.3% to MOP 3.79 billion. On the other hand, purchase and sale of existing residential units totalled 2,052, amounting to MOP 10.75 billion, down by 25.4% and 20.4% respectively. The average price per square metre of usable area of residential units increased by 12.8% quarter-to-quarter to MOP 88,564 in the third quarter. The average price per square metre of pre-sale residential units rose by 10.1% to MOP 118,097; the average price in the Macao Peninsula rose by 8.0%, while that in Taipa and Coloane dropped by 10.0% and 1.3% respectively. Many of the pre-sale residential units purchased and sold were in Cidade & Hipódromo da Taipa (182), Coloane (45) and Móng Há & Reservatório (34), and the average price per square metre was MOP 122,415, MOP 103,352 and MOP 103,828 respectively. The average price of existing residential units increased by 7.2% quarter-to-quarter to MOP 81,302 per square metre, with the average price of those in Taipa and Coloane rising by 24.9% and 2.6% respectively¸ and the average price of those in the Macao Peninsula decreasing by 1.9%. Many of the existing residential units purchased and sold were in Baixa da Taipa (328), NATAP (222) and Areia Preta & Iao Hon (180), and the average price per square metre was MOP 82,971, MOP 90,550 and MOP 69,743 respectively. Analysed by year of completion, the average price of residential units completed in 5 years or less rose significantly by 31.2% quarter-to-quarter due to the release of relatively high-priced existing residential units in Taipa; a total of 194 units were purchased and sold (47 in NATAP, 25 in Jardins do Oceano e Taipa Pequena), and the average price was MOP 128,767 per square metre. Most of the transactions were residential units built between 21 and 30 years ago, totalling 985 units (130 in Areia Preta & Iao Hon, 109 in Baixa da Taipa), and the average price was MOP 70,149 per square metre, up by 0.9% quarter-to-quarter. For the purchase and sale of 411 residential units completed between 11 and 20 years ago (145 in Baixa da Taipa, 59 in NATAP), the average price rose by 1.6% to MOP 76,761 per square metre. The average price of the 316 residential units completed more than 30 years ago (52 in Barca, 46 in Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida) increased by 2.0% to MOP 50,029 per square metre. Analysed by usable floor area, there were 1,160 residential units with a floor area of 50.0 to 99.9 square metres, and the average price rose by 6.2% quarter-to-quarter to MOP 81,195 per square metre. There were 846 small-sized residential units with a floor area of less than 50 square metres, and the average price dropped by 2.8% to MOP 72,183 per square metre. The average price of office units decreased by 6.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP 93,524 per square metre, while that of industrial units increased by 24.9% to MOP 51,693 per square metre. In the third quarter of 2016, there were 3,694 real estate purchase and sale contracts signed, involving 3,708 properties, down by 0.6% quarter-to-quarter; meanwhile, 3,412 mortgage contracts were signed, involving 4,522 properties, down by 7.8%. As regards construction in the private sector, gross floor area of construction of new buildings totalled 125 thousand square metres, providing 879 units (818 are residential units) and 576 parking spaces for cars upon completion. Meanwhile, gross floor area of buildings completed totalled 44 thousand square metres, altogether providing 153 units (126 are residential units) and 70 parking spaces for cars. *Attachment
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 3,166 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold as per Stamp Duty record in the third quarter of 2016, and the total value of transactions was MOP 17.22 billion, down by 18.4% and 10.0% respectively quarter-to-quarter. Purchase and sale of residential units totalled 2,399, amounting to MOP 14.54 billion, down by 19.5% and 4.8% respectively. Due to the commencement of pre-sale of new large-scale housing estates, pre-sale residential units purchased and sold increased by 49.6% to 347, and the total value rose significantly by 112.3% to MOP 3.79 billion. On the other hand, purchase and sale of existing residential units totalled 2,052, amounting to MOP 10.75 billion, down by 25.4% and 20.4% respectively.
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The 55th ICCA Congress – organised by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) – was held in Kuching, Malaysia, from 13 to 16 November 2016. Six ICCA members representing Macao, as well as the Executive Director of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) Irene V. K. Lau, attended the annual event. ICCA is the world's foremost organisation for conferences. The 2016 ICCA Congress aimed to enhance exchanges and collaboration among its global membership. Approximately 800 members of ICCA from various parts of the world attended the event. In a bid further to boost Macao’s communication and co-operation with the international conferences industry, IPIM hosted a luncheon on the first day of the 55th ICCA Congress. IPIM’s Executive Director Irene V.K. Lau took the opportunity to brief the attendees about the advantages of Macao’s conventions and exhibitions industry, deepening attendees’ knowledge about Macao and raising the city’s reputation as “an ideal MICE destination”. Every year, ICCA chooses one of the world’s leading cities for its annual Congress – an event that attracts a great number of reputable representatives of the conventions and exhibitions sector, as well as industry leaders from various countries. IPIM has reached a consensus with the Macao members of ICCA to establish a Preparatory Committee for the city's forthcoming bid for the 2020 ICCA Congress. A successful bid to host such a significant international event would strengthen the local conventions and exhibitions industry’s connectivity with the world, helping to promote the industry’s visibility at an international level and to attract a greater number of international meetings and conferences to Macao.
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