News

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, organised the chamber music concert “The Dual Faces of Russia”, demonstrating the flamboyant notes and heroic passion of Russian culture. Violinist Vit Polasek and Kai Sai, the Principal Oboe of the Macao Orchestra shared their views with participants before the performance, attracting numerous music fans.
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The Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 50th Edition is one of four headline races on the seven-race programme for the November 17-20 event. The Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee (MGPOC) today confirmed three-time champion Sadeo Asami will join former winners Mick Grant, Phillip McCallen and Steve Plater for the Golden Jubilee celebrations marking the 50th edition of the legendary race. The four returning champions each represent a decade in the extraordinary history of what has become one of the most respected motorcycle road races in the world: Sadeo Asami took three wins in 1978, ’79 and ’80; Mick Grant straddled the decades, with Guia Circuit success in 1977 and ’84; Isle of Man legend Phillip McCallen won in 1996; while Steve Plater took two Macao victories in 2006 and ’07. In addition to the returning champions, five former winners will compete against a strong international field for what will be a milestone victory: John McGuinness, Stuart Easton, Ian Hutchinson, defending champion Peter Hickman, and the undisputed Two Wheel King of Macao, eight-time winner Michael Rutter. They bring the total number of two-wheel heroes who have been victorious on the Guia Circuit who will compete in or attend the Golden Jubilee celebrations to nine. A number of activities have been planned to mark the Golden Jubilee, including a display of competing and classic motorcycles at Tap Seac Square the weekend prior to the Grand Prix, and a classic bike parade on the Guia Circuit on Saturday, November 19th. In addition, Macao Post is marking the occasion with a set of commemorative postage stamps for the 50th edition of the event.
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The Suncity Group Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 50th Edition is one of four headline races on the seven-race programme for the November 17-20 event. The Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee (MGPOC) today confirmed three-time champion Sadeo Asami will join former winners Mick Grant, Phillip McCallen and Steve Plater for the Golden Jubilee celebrations marking the 50th edition of the legendary race.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that Receipts of Wholesale & Retail Trade amounted to MOP 108.72 billion in 2015, down by 5.6% year-on-year, while Expenditure decreased by 5.1% to MOP 99.19 billion, which led to a drop of 22.3% in Gross Surplus (MOP 10.83 billion) under the impact of local economic adjustment. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy dropped by 10.7% to MOP 19.29 billion and Gross Fixed Capital Formation soared by 125.1% to MOP 3.02 billion owing to the acquisition of real estate. Analysed by industry, there were 985 establishments operating in Sales of Motor Vehicles & Automotive Fuel, an increase of 16 year-on-year. Receipts decreased by 10.5% to MOP 6.73 billion, of which those from Sales of Motor Vehicles (MOP 4.02 billion) dropped by 13.9% in 2015 on account of a slowdown in domestic demand, while receipts from Retail Sale of Automotive Fuel (MOP 1.32 billion) fell by 12.1% as a result of the decline in fuel prices. Expenditure decreased by 21.8% to MOP 5.86 billion; however, supported by a growth of 88.3% in Gross Surplus of Maintenance and Repair of Vehicles (MOP 92 million), Gross Surplus of the industry rose by 5.5% to MOP 534 million. Gross Value Added grew by 4.7% year-on-year to MOP 1.04 billion. There were 4,910 Wholesale establishments, down by 55 year-on-year. Receipts decreased by 7.5% to MOP 34.34 billion, of which those from Wholesale of Food increased by 10.0% to MOP 12.57 billion, while receipts from Wholesale of Fuels (MOP 4.15 billion) as well as Wholesale of Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (MOP 5.32 billion) dropped by 36.5% and 17.1% respectively. Expenditure totalled MOP 31.96 billion, down by 7.7%. Gross Surplus edged down by 0.4% to MOP 2.94 billion, while Gross Value Added amounted to MOP 5.39 billion, up by 3.3% year-on-year. There were 6,484 Retail establishments, down by 13 year-on-year. Receipts recorded a decrease of 4.4% year-on-year, at MOP 65.90 billion, yet receipts from Retail Sales of Adults’ Clothing (MOP 8.55 billion), Household Appliances (MOP 5.55 billion) and Goods in Supermarkets (MOP 4.96 billion) rose by 19.7%, 63.4% and 4.0% respectively. As visitor spending declined, receipts from Sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Goods (MOP 14.64 billion), Department Stores (MOP 9.46 billion) and Leather Articles (MOP 6.10 billion) dropped by 20.8%, 17.3% and 27.6% respectively. Expenditure decreased by 1.8% year-on-year to MOP 59.90 billion, of which Purchase of Goods and Commission Paid fell by 5.8% to MOP 43.13 billion (72.0% of total) with Operating Expenses and Compensation of Employees increasing by 8.9% and 12.3% respectively. Gross Surplus declined by 30.8% year-on-year to MOP 7.07 billion. Gross Value Added amounted to MOP 12.50 billion, down by 16.9%, while Gross Fixed Capital Formation of the industry surged by 198.5% to MOP 3.23 billion upon the acquisitions of real estate by some establishments. Market stalls and fixed stalls on the street totalled at 1,616. Receipts and Expenditure of these stalls amounted to MOP 1.75 billion and MOP 1.46 billion respectively, up by 7.1% and 7.5% year-on-year. Gross Surplus increased by 5.2% to MOP 291 million and Gross Value Added amounted to MOP 359 million, up by 7.5%. In 2015, a total of 13,995 Wholesale & Retail establishments, market stalls and fixed stalls on the street were operating, down by 86 year-on-year. Total number of persons engaged was 63,472, up by 2.3%, with employees (51,902) accounting for 81.8% of the total.
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The SAR Government acknowledges that the Central Government has formulated a series of policies regarding how to further Macao’s contributions to the “Belt and Road” initiative. The policies aim to build on Macao’s unique role in relation to China’s Maritime Silk Road, and on the city’s close links with Portuguese-speaking countries. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, acknowledged the Central Government’s fresh support for Macao during his meetings with committees and ministries of the Central Government during his Beijing visit last week. The Central Government envisions Macao playing a greater role in: expanding regional ties in relation to financial services; exporting services in high-end industries; promoting exchanges on trade in services via regional connectivity; encouraging more frequent cultural exchanges; and boosting mutual efforts in relation to regional cooperation. The Central Government pays great attention regarding how to advance Macao’s efforts in the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative), and has outlined a series of detailed measures that support the city’s progress in its efforts to achieve adequate economic diversification. The SAR Government will make full use of the development opportunities arising from the Central Government’s policy support. While in Beijing, the Chief Executive exchanged views with officials on: the management of maritime traffic in Macao; the protection of marine ecology in the SAR; the development of the maritime economy; the management of Macao’s waters; and law enforcement in relation to those matters. The Government also presented to the Central Government a proposal – covering the period 2016 to 2036 – for mid- and long-term development regarding the utilisation of Macao’s waters. Officials of the committees and ministries of the Central Government visited by Mr Chui shared their respective suggestions regarding the plan. They also shared experience and advice in stipulating a maritime policy framework; and made suggestions for how to implement such work. Mr Chui’s three-day visit to Beijing took place from Wednesday to Friday last week. He had meetings with officials of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, the General Administration of Customs and the State Oceanic Administration.
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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 third quarter of 2016. The credit card turnover and repayments increased from a quarter ago. Circulation The total number of personal credit cards in circulation was 1,031,218 at the end of September 2016, equivalent to an increase of 2.1% over a quarter earlier. The numbers of Pataca (MOP) cards, Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) cards and Renminbi (RMB) cards were 730,162, 87,607 and 213,449 respectively. MOP cards, HKD cards and RMB cards witnessed respective growth of 2.1%, 1.9% and 2.4% quarter-to-quarter. Compared with a year ago, MOP cards and HKD cards rose 12.5% and 9.8% respectively, while RMB cards, the majority of which were MOP/RMB dual-currency cards, rose even faster by 25.0%. Credit limit granted and delinquency As at end-September 2016, credit card credit limit granted by banks in Macao reached MOP24.0 billion, up 1.6% from end-June 2016. Credit card receivables amounted to MOP2.3 billion while the rollover amount totalled MOP718.5 million, accounting for 31.5% of credit card receivables. The delinquency ratio, i.e. the ratio of delinquent amount overdue for more than three months to credit card receivables, edged up from 1.46% at end-June 2016 to 1.51% at end-September 2016. Turnover and repayment For the third quarter of 2016, the credit card turnover grew 3.1% quarter-to-quarter to MOP4.7 billion. The cash advance turnover was MOP220.7 million, accounting for 4.7% of total credit card turnover. Credit card repayments, in which payments for interest and fees are included, grew 8.0% from the previous quarter to MOP4.8 billion.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today had a meeting in Beijing with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou, to exchange views on the management of Macao’s waters, and to discuss how to prevent and combat smuggling activities. The Macao SAR Government has been paying great attention to planning regarding the use of its waters. This follows the State Council’s decree in December 2015 outlining Macao’s administrative role regarding a maritime area of 85 square kilometres adjacent to the city, said Mr Chui. The meeting held this afternoon aimed to provide the General Administration of Customswith further updates concerning the SAR Government’s plans for economic development relating those waters; and to receive further feedback and suggestions from the General Administration of Customs. Mr Chui said he was grateful for the long-term support of the General Administration of Customs, in particular during the process leading up to the announcement specifying the city’s administrative role in relation to its surrounding waters. Mr Yu noted the two sides signed in May two documents titled, respectively, “Cooperation Arrangement between the General Administration of Customs and the Macao SAR Government on the Prevention and Fight against Smuggling in Waters Managed by the Macao SAR and within Macao’s Land Boundaries”; and the “Cooperation Memorandum between the General Administration of Customs and the Macao SAR Government on Origin of Transshipment Cargo in the Macao SAR under Free Trade Agreements”. As part of the process of implementing the aims set out in the two documents, a system for facilitating transshipment of cargo between the mainland and Macao had been created and had begun operation. The system effectively streamlined costs on transshipment of cargoes to the mainland via Macao, namely cargoes included in trade facilitated under free-trade agreements. Such a policy had been widely praised by the transport sector, Mr Yu said. Mr Yu added that an extensive mechanism for bilateral communication had also been initiated, in order to prevent or if necessary combat the smuggling of goods, drugs and firearms. This was of significant importance to efforts aimed at limiting such illegal activities, he stated. Today Mr Chui completed a three-day visit to Beijing and returned to Macao in the evening. Officials of the General Administration of Customs attending today’s meeting included: Vice Minister, Mr Sun Yibiao; the Director of the Department of Customs Control and Inspection, Mr Wang Wei; and the Director of the Department of Processing Trade and Customs Bonded Operation, Mr Zheng Hanglong. Macao officials present included: the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Iao Lek; 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 Representative Office of the Macao SAR in Beijing, Ms Hong Wai; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng; the Director of the Marine and Water Bureau, Ms Wong Soi Man; the Director of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau, Mr Li Canfeng; Consultant to the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Kou Chin Hong; and Chief Advisor of the Policy Research Office, Mr Mi Jian.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today had a meeting in Beijing with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou, to exchange views on the management of Macao’s waters, and to discuss how to prevent and combat smuggling activities.
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The awards ceremony for the “Precious Moments in Macao” 2016 Photography Competition was held at the Government Information Bureau today; awards were given to 62 winning entries. The competition’s organiser announced that a new format for inviting submissions will be used in next year’s event. Speaking at the ceremony, Acting Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Louie Wong Lok I, pointed out that the “Precious Moments in Macao” Photography Competition, which was known as the “New Faces of Macao” Photography Competition from 2004 to 2009, has coincided with the rapid development of Macao over the past years. He also thanked local photography and media associations as well as photography aficionados for their support and participation in the competition, which has collected many outstanding works that have captured the precious moments of Macao through the camera lens and provided invaluable visual materials for the Macao Yearbook. This year’s competition has attracted 270 contestants with a total of 1,144 submissions of various themes. Mr Wong added that in order to facilitate the submissions of works of different themes relating to Macao, the Government Information Bureau would introduce a new format to solicit outstanding submissions from photography aficionados starting from next year. According to the initial plan, the current online submissions portal will be retained but submissions will be open all year round instead; more details will be announced in due course. The competition was organised by the Government information Bureau, and co-organised with the Photographic Society of Macao; Photography Salon Society of Macao; Macao Association for the Promotion of Photographic Art; Macao Association of Photographers; Macao Multimedia Photographic Art Association; Macao Association of Photographic Art; Macau Camera Lens Art Association; Macao Digital Photography Association; Macao Media Workers Association; Macao Journalists’ Club; Macao Journalists’ Association; Macao Media Club; and the Macau Sports Press Association. A total of 1,144 entries were submitted this year and 62 winning entries were selected after three rounds of professional evaluations. The first, second and third prizes were: First Prize: Ku Soi Lan; Title of Work: Passing the baton Second Prize: Wu Yisheng; Title of Work: Colourful clouds over the peninsula Third Prize: Lam Sao Wa; Title of Work: NAPE in the evening Winners of the first, second and third prizes each received a trophy in addition to a cash prize of 8,000, 5,000 and 3,000 patacas respectively, A further 12 entries were selected for the Special Feature Prize “Our Waters” by the editorial committee of the Macao Yearbook and winners each received a cash prize of 1,000 patacas.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on diapers, over-the-counter drugs, and milk powder on 4 November for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council’s ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
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