News

The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP155.0 billion (USD19.40 billion) at the end of September 2016. The reserves decreased by 0.5% from the revised value of MOP155.8 billion (USD19.50 billion) for the previous month. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-September 2016 represented 12 times the currency in circulation or 100.8% of Pataca M2 at end-August 2016. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca rose 0.21 points month-to-month but fell 0.03 points year-on-year to 105.76 in September 2016, implying that overall speaking, the exchange rate of pataca grew against the currencies of Macao’s major trading partners on a monthly basis but dropped on an annual basis.
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The Macao Cultural Centre, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the world-renowned cellist Mischa Maisky in recital, to be staged on December 2, 2016, at the Grand Auditorium. Regarded as a true heir of Russia’s delicate poetry and technical brilliance, Mischa Maisky was the sole disciple of master cellists Mstislav Rostropovich and Gregor Piatigorsky. Born in Latvia and repatriated to Israel, Maisky embarked on a long, prolific, international career which led him to become an exclusive artist for Deutsche Gramophon. Frequently collaborating with renowned pianists such as Martha Argerich, Boris Berman or Radu Lupu, amongst many others, his recordings won numerous awards, such as the Record Academy Prize in Tokyo. Besides his prizes and studio work, Maisky has been playing with many of the best orchestras in the world, such as the Vienna and Berlin philharmonics. Accompanied by his daughter Lily Maisky on the piano, at CCM’s recital the virtuoso will be performing Gabriel Fauré’s well-known cello work Elégie, César Franck’s Sonata in A major and Astor Piazzolla’s everlasting Le Grand Tango, as well as other arranged compositions by Camille Saint-Saëns and Francis Poulenc. For those who wish to find more about Maisky, there will be a free admission pre-show talk. Presented in Cantonese, the session takes place at CCM’s Conference Room one hour prior to the concert with the speaker sharing insightful views on Mischa Maisky’s background and on the recital’s repertoire. CCM is presenting Mischa Maisky’s Cello Recital on December 2, 2016 (Friday). Tickets will be available from October 23 at CCM’s box office and Macao Ticketing Network outlets at various prices and discounts. For further information on promotional offers and ticketing, please visit www.ccm.gov.mo or call (853) 2870 0699. Credit card ticketing hotline (853) 2840 0555.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that 20% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments reported a year-on-year increase in receipts in August 2016, down by 14 percentage points from July. Chinese restaurants achieved comparatively better performance, with 30% of the interviewed Restaurants recording a year-on-year rise in receipts. On the other hand, 61% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments reported a year-on-year decrease in receipts, with 94% of the interviewed Japanese & Korean Restaurants and 79% of the Western Restaurants recording decrease. As regards retail trade, 26% of the interviewed retailers reported a year-on-year growth in sales in August, similar to the proportion in July. Analysed by industry, all of the interviewed Leather Goods Retailers recorded a year-on-year sales increase; however, 89% of the Department Stores, 79% of the Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers and 78% of the Motor Vehicle Retailers registered year-on-year declines. With respect to business prospects, 15% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments anticipated a year-on-year growth in receipts in September, similar to the proportion in the previous month, with 22% of the Chinese Restaurants expecting an increase. Meanwhile, 47% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments anticipated a year-on-year decrease in receipts in September, up by 6 percentage points from the previous month. Retailers were cautious about their business prospects. The proportion of interviewed retailers that anticipated a year-on-year increase in sales in September rose by 2 percentage points from the previous month to 17%, with 60% of the interviewed Leather Goods Retailers expecting a growth in business. On the other hand, 57% of the interviewed retailers anticipated a year-on-year drop in sales in September, remaining unchanged from the previous month; 74% of the Clocks, Watches & Jewellery Retailers and 70% of the Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers predicted a sales decline, and all of the Motor Vehicle Retailers expected a decline of more than 20%. The sample of the Business Climate Survey on Restaurants & Similar Establishments and Retail Trade was selected based on the receipts of the establishments, comprising 167 restaurants & similar establishments (accounting for 53% of the industry’s receipts) and 135 retailers (accounting for 70% of the industry’s receipts). The Survey results reflect only the business performance and the expectations of the sample restaurants and retailers, where no extrapolation of results has been conducted.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today that a comprehensive judicial system is indispensable to, and a foundation of, law-based governance. Safeguarding judicial independence and fairness is one of the core values of the community, added Mr Chui. Mr Chui made the remarks this afternoon during the ceremony – held at the Macao Cultural Centre – to mark the start of the 2016/2017 Judicial Year. Since the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, judicial bodies have fully adhered to the Basic Law in exercising their powers, ensuring fairness and impartiality in the dispensation of justice. Firmly adhering to the rule of law is a fundamental principle of the Government, said Mr Chui. The Government would spare no effort to produce legislation in a scientific manner; to strengthen law enforcement activity; to abide by the rule of law; and to join hands with the sector and the public to foster better and more efficient governance; thus ensuring Macao is a society based on adherence to law. In his speech, Mr Chui stated the Government continued to provide support for development of local judicial bodies, such as the training of a greater number of legal professionals, and the construction of buildings to house judicial premises. The Government was pushing ahead with plans in Zone B – a land reclamation area – for buildings to house administrative and legal bodies. The President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai; the Public Prosecutor-General, Mr Ip Son Sang; and the President of the Macau Lawyers Association, Mr Jorge Neto Valente, each gave a speech during today’s ceremony. Approximately 400 officials attended the event, including: the President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Ho Iat Seng; the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan; the President of the Independent Committee for the Nomination of Judges, Mr Lau Cheok Va; representatives respectively of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, and the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR; principal officials of the Macao SAR; members of the Executive Council; officials of judicial authorities; members of the Legislative Assembly; and other officials of the Macao SAR.
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Consumer Council conducted its third ‘Supermarket price survey’ in October on 19 October for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 14 supermarkets in Toi San, Ilha Verde and Fai Chi Kei areas in N. Sra. de Fátima 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.
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Manuel Caldeira Cabral, Portugal’s minister of economy, recently visited the University of Macau (UM) and was warmly received by UM Rector Wei Zhao and Vice Rector (Research) Rui Martins. Both parties had an in-depth discussion on how to nurture bilingual language professionals to promote the economic development of Macao and Portugal. Cabral praised UM for its contributions to the training of bilingual language professionals, adding that he will help to increase collaboration between UM and higher education institutions in Portugal. During the meeting, Vice Rector Martins told Cabral and his colleagues about UM’s latest developments, the ‘4-in-1’ model of education, and recent achievements in the training of bilingual professionals in Portuguese and Chinese. He also noted that UM is an important member of the Association of Universities of Portuguese Language and has been working hard to increase collaboration among all member universities. Cabral praised UM for its policy on Portuguese language education, adding that the university provides a very good environment for teaching and learning Portuguese, which can help Macao residents to improve their Portuguese language skills and understanding of the Portuguese culture. In addition, Cabral noted that Portuguese-speaking countries highly recognise Macao’s advantages in education and its role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Therefore, he plans to vigorously promote collaboration in student exchange programmes as well as teaching and learning between UM and Portuguese universities, including the University of Lisbon, University of Porto, University of Minho and Nova University of Lisbon.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) and commercial real estate loans (CRELs) both increased in August 2016. With regard to the outstanding balance, RMLs and CRELs both witnessed monthly increases. New lending approved In August 2016, new RMLs approved by Macao banks increased by 6.0% month-to-month to MOP3.7 billion. Of which, new RMLs to residents, accounting for 95.6% of the total, rose by 3.2% to MOP3.5 billion while those to non-residents increased by 156.5% from a lower comparison base in the previous month. When compared with the same period of 2015, new approvals of RMLs dropped by 33.6%. New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) increased by 26.9% from the preceding month to MOP296.8 million. The equitable mortgage extended to residents, which accounted for 98.8% of the total, increased by 32.3% to MOP293.3 million. Attributable to the higher comparison base in the same period last year, new equitable mortgage approved dropped by 74.6% on an annual basis. New CRELs surged by 111.4% month-to-month to MOP7.4 billion; of which, new CRELs to residents, accounting for 98.0% of the total, increased considerably by 230.9% to MOP7.3 billion, mainly attributed to larger loan amounts recorded for a number of approvals. In contrast, new CRELs to non-residents dropped by 88.9% from the previous month. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs declined by 23.6%. Outstanding balances As at end-August 2016, the outstanding value of RMLs was MOP177.9 billion, an increase of 0.4% from one month earlier or 5.3% from a year ago. The resident component made up 93.6% of the total. When compared with the previous month, outstanding RMLs to residents and non-residents rose by 0.3% and 1.6% respectively. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs rose by 0.2% month-to-month or 13.1% year-on-year to MOP170.0 billion. Residents accounted for 89.0% of the loans. Compared with a month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents increased by 2.1% whereas those to non-residents dropped by 12.4%. Delinquency ratios At the end of August 2016, the delinquency ratio for RMLs was 0.15%, up 0.03 percentage points from a month ago or 0.06 percentage points from a year earlier. The ratio for CRELs was 0.11%, up 0.07 percentage points from a month ago or 0.06 percentage points from end-August 2015.
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In order to create more channels for selling local cultural and creative products and promote local creativity, every year the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) selects entities from the Database for Macao Cultural and Creative Industries (Database) to present and sell their own creative products on consignment in the Mandarin’s House Cultural Relics Information Centre and Gift Shop. The application for 2017 consignment programme is now open until 11th November 2016. All interested cultural and creative entities are welcome to apply for inclusion in the Database to join the selection of 2017 consignment programme. Those already on the list of the Database are qualified for selection and need not re-apply, but may submit any updates to IC before the application deadline. IC set up a Cultural Relics Information Centre and Gift Shop in the Mandarin’s House in 2011. Every year, IC selects entities from the Cultural and Creative Database to present and sell their own creative products on consignment in the Gift Shop. The Gift Shop markets souvenirs themed on the Mandarin’s House and Macao cultural heritage, IC publications and design items, as well as products of Macao’s cultural and creative brands on consignment. The shop sells products such as design items, anime and comic products, audio and visual products as well as books and other publications. The selection criteria is based on the product originality, industrial and market potential, brand image, capacity for sustainable development or R&D, and relevance to the Mandarin’s House and Macao cultural heritage. The selection will be made upon a comprehensive evaluation of all these factors. The Gift Shop aims to create an extra window and sales platform for local cultural and creative industries, thus publicising and supporting the development of cultural and creative products with Macao features. The Information Collection Form for applying for inclusion in the Database can be downloaded from the IC website (www.icm.gov.mo/dpicc) or from the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com). Interested parties can apply for inclusion by submitting the completed form in print, along with the electronic copy of the form and attachments, to the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building in Tap Siac Square or to the Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries (No. 567, Av. da Praia Grande, Edif. BNU, 12th Floor A-D, Macao). For enquiries, please contact IC through tel. no. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours or through email to info.dpicc@icm.gov.mo.
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Further rounds of complementary cooperation between Beijing and Macao will advance ties regarding the economy and trade, youth exchanges, cultural affairs, education and regional integration. The Beijing municipal government and the SAR Government will jointly launch tomorrow (20 October), the Beijing-Macao Cooperation Partnership 2016, with the theme “cooperation, innovation, and development”. Tomorrow’s ceremony will be led by the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and the Mayor of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, Mr Wang Anshun. The two sides will sign a number of agreements, including: cooperation in science and technology between the Zhongguancun National Demonstration Zone in Beijing and Macao higher education institutions; promotion of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; participation in the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019, in Beijing; and enhancement of economic and trade strategies, youth exchanges and exchanges for civil servants. Highlights of the cooperation between Beijing and Macao will also comprise: exchange activities for young people from Beijing and Macao, regarding innovative entrepreneurship in the Historic Centre of Macao; and events in relation to the promotion of Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Macao officials accompanying the Chief Executive at Thursday’s ceremony will include: the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; and the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam.
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The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) officially introduces Japanese and Korean versions of the “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App to offer greater convenience and encourage visitors to explore hidden gems along the eight “Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities” walking tour routes in different districts around Macao, thus promoting community tourism and smart tourism. Originally in Chinese (traditional and simplified), English and Portuguese, the content of the Mobile App is now available in Japanese and Korean as well. Besides maps of the eight walking tour routes, the App also offers descriptions of tourism spots including the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Macao, schedule of cultural performances, restaurants, bus routes, Wi-Fi locations, public sanitary facilities and other useful information along the routes. Users can also scan the QR codes on direction signs along the themed routes with their Smartphone and obtain the tourism information nearby offline. The Mobile App can be downloaded for free from App Store or Google Play. The Mobile App has previously been awarded by the 2016 PATA Gold Awards in the category of Marketing Media – Mobile Travel Application, in recognition of its exceptional achievement in media marketing. The “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App was first launched by MGTO in December 2013 together with four walking tour routes, and was later upgraded in February 2015 to introduce eight redesigned walking tour routes across different parishes in Macao, Taipa and Coloane. Through the App, MGTO encourages visitors to explore different neighborhoods, with the aim to balance visitor flows around Macao and foster community tourism development. Japan and Korea have both been major visitor source markets for Macao all along. In the first eight months this year, Macao has received 187,011 Japanese visitors and 422,379 Korean visitors, recording a year-on-year increase of 7.5% and 12.8% respectively. Through introducing different language versions and new features of the “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App, MGTO hopes to offer more convenient and enriching travel experiences for visitors during their journey in Macao, at the same time attracting more international visitors to the city. MGTO will keep optimizing and enhancing the features of the Mobile App so as to offer different functions and services for all visitors. This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
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