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Premier of the State Council, Li Keqiang, today highlighted Macao’s bridging role, as he announced 18 new measures to support the development of Forum Macao.
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Premier of the State Council, Li Keqiang, presided at a plaque-unveiling ceremony this morning for a complex to support trade and economic cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony to mark the launch of construction for the complex, the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said the realisation of the project will mark a new milestone in Macao’s efforts to become such a “Platform”, said Mr Chui. The aim of the project was to speed up the realisation of the strategic goal of transforming Macao into a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (known as the “Platform” policy), said Mr Chui. The ceremony was held on the sidelines of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao. The complex will be built on plots C15 and C16 in Zone C near Nam Van Lake, and will occupy an area of approximately 14,200 square metres. The new facility will serve as the meeting venue for the Forum Macao. The complex will be a multifunctional facility covering trade cooperation, business services, exhibition space and training, in order to make available one-stop support and information services for businesses, residents and visitors from either the mainland, or Portuguese-speaking countries, or Macao. The complex will house an exhibition centre for food products from Portuguese-speaking countries; a business service centre for enterprises from China and Portuguese-speaking countries; a training centre; an information centre; an exhibition hall showcasing the relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and the cultures of those places; and a room to stage exhibitions relating to Macao’s urban development. The complex will offer either permanent or temporary office spaces for organisations and governmental institutions, including ones from Macao and ones from outside the territory. It will also make available office accommodation for associations involved in supporting the “Platform” policy and assisting the work of Forum Macao.
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The University of Macau’s (UM) Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) has signed an agreement on teaching mobility with George Washington University (GWU) in the United States. One of the outcomes of this agreement is the teaching staff exchanges in Portuguese and English, with incoming staff initially specialising in English literature. In September 2016, the Department of English welcomed Prof David McAleavey to teach Creative Writing and American Poetry for the semester; he will be followed from January 2017 to May 2017 by Prof Patty Chu, one of the key figures in Asian-American literary scholarship. To mark the beginning of this series of exchanges, the Department of English hosted a round-table symposium on ‘Synergies in English Literature Teaching and Research’. Prof McAleavey and Prof Chu were joined by two more junior members of the GWU faculty, Assistant Professor Jennifer Chang, a rising Asian-American poet; and Daniel DeWispelare, a specialist in the interaction between literary texts and varieties of national and world English. The purpose of this symposium was to add value to the teaching exchanges by exploring shared teaching and research interests. During the symposium, UM and GWU faculty discussed their educational and research interests, and identified potential areas of collaboration, such as Asian-American literary research, Creative Writing pedagogy, Language and Poetics, and World English. The aim was to begin a series of conversations which will develop over time and which may result in the sharing of best practices in teaching and, potentially, joint research projects. The GWU faculty also took the opportunity to meet with postgraduate students in the Department of English. Jennifer Chang was interviewed by MA students for an online video database project run by Prof Glenn Timmermans, which aims to develop a resource that will be launched later this year. The visiting scholars also took the opportunity to look around the sights of Macao and to sample a wide range of cuisine found in the city. The symposium and the advent of the teaching mobility exchange together mark a key moment in the development of literary teaching and scholarship in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Scholars from UM and GWU look forward to deepening their relationships in the future.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council on 11 October collects prices of fresh pork from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. The mentioned data collected during 5 October to 11 October are used for comparing the average selling price of the same products from Zhuhai and Hong Kong. The relevant data has been uploaded to the Council’s website for consumers’ reference. fThe specific price surveys on fresh pork and vegetables are now available on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), iPhone & Android ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ app, and the Council’s WeChat Account page. The relevant surveys include the average selling prices of local fresh pork and vegetables, and comparison on the respective the average selling prices rom Zhuhai, HK, and Macao. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council on 11 October collects prices of fresh pork from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. The mentioned data collected during 5 October to 11 October are used for comparing the average selling price of the same products from Zhuhai and Hong Kong. The relevant data has been uploaded to the Council’s website for consumers’ reference.
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Co-organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and the Macao Artist Society, the joint exhibition “Sylviye’s Thermae” will be inaugurated on Saturday, 15 October 2016, at 10am, at the Lakeside Gallery S2 room in the Anim’Arte NAM VAN. All are welcome. The exhibition “Sylviye’s Thermae” will be held from 15 October to 15 November, with the theme “Desire”, featuring a total of 50 artworks by local artist Sylviye Lei Ieng Wai and his students. With their diverse styles, the 14 artists jointly express and present the concept of “Desire” through imagination on oil paintings. The artists come from different sectors, including medical, banking, education, governmental departments, academia and gambling. In addition, the “Walk and See—Youth Artist Art Exhibition”, which is currently on display at the Lakeside Gallery S1 room, will be extended until 31 December 2016. The two exhibitions are open daily from 11am to 10pm at Lakeside Gallery S1 and S2 rooms in Anim’Arte NAM VAN, located at Nam Van Lakeside Plaza at Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van. Admission is free.
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Premier of the State Council, Li Keqiang, today said the Central Government fully affirmed the work of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).The Central Government had lately launched a total of 19 measures supporting the development of Macao. They were designed further to ensure the impetus of socio-economic achievements in Macao, and to maintain the long-term prosperity of the SAR, stated Premier Li.The motherland is, and will be always, a strong backing force for Macao’s development, added Premier Li.Premier Li made the comments when he was briefed on various aspects of the SAR Government’s work. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, gave the briefing during a meeting – attended by the principal officials of the Macao SAR Government – held in the afternoon at Government Headquarters.During the meeting, Premier Li said he had earlier witnessed – during his visit today to the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre – a modern and prosperous face of Macao, a multicultural city. He added he had confidence the SAR Government would achieve its goals regarding the city’s economic diversification.Premier Li stated that – while viewing Macao’s cityscape from atop Macau Tower – he had envisaged the even brighter future awaiting the city.While at Macau Tower, Premier Li had been briefed on the Macao Government’s strategies to forge ahead with efforts relating to economic sustainability and economic diversification; and on the vision for Macao’s urban development.Premier Li said that, in order to cope with challenges emerging in recent years, the Macao Government, led by Mr Chui – along with the city’s residents – had constantly adhered to the principles of: “One country, two systems”; “Macao people governing Macao”; and a high degree of autonomy, while closely observing the principles of the Basic Law of Macao. The Macao Government had also constantly been working under the policy visions of “putting people first” and utilising “scientific decision-making”.In order to push forward adequate economic diversification and maintain social harmony, the SAR Government had set forth a large number of practical measures: the Central Government fully affirmed the work of the SAR Government, said Premier Li.Premier Li stated that the positive news emerging in the first half of the year, and in addition during the past two months, boosted the confidence of the people regarding the city’s development next year and onward.Premier Li also spoke of the positive contributions made by Macao’s civil servants, and conveyed to them the Central Government’s greetings.During the meeting, the Chief Executive said the launch of the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan provided Macao with fresh and innovative paths for development and added vitality to economic growth.Mr Chui said the Government had released in September Macao’s first Five-Year Development Plan, outlining: the city’s strategies in accommodating the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan; the city’s roles and contributions regarding the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative); and the city’s bridging functions between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.Macao’s Five-Year Development Plan, the city’s blueprint for socio-economic development during the period from 2016 to 2020 inclusive, highlighted measures that would help fulfil the city’s short- and long-term development needs, he added.The Government was confident about lifting Macao’s overall competitiveness, making further use of the city’s advantages under the principle of “One country, two systems”, Mr Chui said.Under the guidance of the Central Government, the Macao SAR Government was steadfast in the implementation of: “One country, two systems”; “Macao people governing Macao”’ and a high degree of autonomy. The Government would spare no effort in maintaining sustainability and social stability, including promoting adequate economic diversification, maintaining sound public finances, and continuing social welfare programmes, the Chief Executive stated.Following the meeting at Government Headquarters, Premier Li was due to hold bilateral meetings with officials leading government delegations from, respectively, the Republic of Cape Verde, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and the Republic of Mozambique.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said that making good use of opportunities arising from the development of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative would help countries participating in Forum Macao to intensify further the efforts toward peaceful and complementary cooperation.The Chief Executive made the comments during a banquet – hosted by the SAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China – that welcomed officials and guests attending the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), also known as Forum Macao.Forum Macao’s aims corresponded to those mapped out by the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as the “Belt and Road” initiative), stated Mr Chui.Mr Chui said the “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by the Central Government was widely recognised: the country was developing a shared platform that could benefit people in the countries covered by the initiative.The Chief Executive added that the successful hosting of the G20 Summit 2016 in Hangzhou in September had shown to the world the opportunities for developing the global economy: namely by forging innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive development.He said consensus that had been achieved at the G20 Summit on a range of topics would trigger further rounds of exploration and discussion during the 5th Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao. The latter opens tomorrow (Tuesday 11 October).Forum Macao – through its role and functions – provided an indispensable service for China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, said Mr Chui.Forum Macao had already registered significant achievements in the 13 years since its establishment, Mr Chui said. In order to sustain this success, Forum Macao would continue to: implement principles that were of mutual and complementary benefit to participating countries, applied to all in an even-handed manner; promote diversified services; and push forward the goals set out in strategic plans formulated during each edition of the Ministerial Conference of Forum Macao.In addition, the SAR Government was implementing its first ever Five-Year Development Plan – a blueprint for Macao’s socio-economic development spanning the period 2016 to 2020 inclusive – in order to accommodate strategies laid out in the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan, said the Chief Executive.Macao’s Five-Year Development Plan gives top priority to advancing the city’s contributions to the development of the “Belt and Road” initiative; and to propelling the development of a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (the latter being known as the “Platform” policy).The setting up by the SAR Government of the Committee for Development of the Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, highlighted the Government’s efforts in pressing ahead with coordination for achieving the Platform strategy, said Mr Chui.More than 800 guests attended tonight’s banquet welcoming officials and participants attending the Ministerial Conference. The guests included: members of the Central Government delegation; members of the delegations from the Portuguese-speaking countries that participate in Forum Macao; the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Ho Hau Wah; principal and other officials of the SAR Government; members of the Executive Council; members of the Legislative Assembly; senior officials of representative offices in Macao of the Central Government; and members of the local community representing many walks of life.
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Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, Li Keqiang, today said the Central Government would continue to support Macao in fostering the “Centre and Platform” policies. Premier Li said there would be new measures and policies favouring Macao, in order better to make use of its position as a world centre of tourism and leisure and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies). The new measures are aimed at facilitating the further development of Macao and promoting wider economic diversification, in order to support the long-term prosperity and stability of the region. Premier Li made the remarks upon arrival in Macao at around 11am today at the Macau International Airport. Premier Li was greeted at the airport by the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, officials and a cheering crowd. Premier Li said one of his tasks during his Macao visit was to attend the opening ceremony of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao). Premier Li said he would engage with people from across the community during his stay in Macao. The acts of attending the Ministerial Conference and meeting local people were in order to demonstrate – to the international community and to Macao’s residents – the Central Government’s support for further developing the “Centre and Platform” policies. Premier Li said this was his first visit to Macao: he was pleased to meet some of the city’s residents and to see the happy faces of Macao children and hear them cheering, as he disembarked from the aircraft. During his address, Premier Li said he was in Zhuhai Prefecture six years ago, representing the Central Government at the ceremonial ground breaking for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge; Premier Li said he then paid a special trip to the Lotus Bridge where he was able to view Macao’s skyline from a distance. Macao was a treasured lotus land, a beautiful and special place; in particular, a place that was successfully implementing the principle of “One country, two systems”, stated Premier Li. Premier Li said he hoped that during his three-day visit to Macao, he would be able to see more, visit more, hear more, and experience more regarding Macao’s development, local traditions and customs, as well as learning more about locals’ daily livelihoods. Later in the afternoon, Premier Li will meet the Chief Executive at the San Chok Un Guesthouse, and will receive briefings on several topics, including: strategies to boost the development of Macao; and work on various aspects of Government activities. Members of the Central Government delegation include: the Secretary General of the State Council, Mr Yang Jing; the Deputy Secretary General of the State Council, Mr Xiao Jie; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi; the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Xu Shaoshi; the Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Gao Hucheng; the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Wang Guangya; the Director of the State Council Research Office, Mr Huang Shouhong; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Wang Zhimin; and the Director of the Premier's Office of the State Council, Mr Shi Gang. Macao officials welcoming the Central Government delegation were: the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On; the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Ho Hau Wah; the President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Ho Iat Seng; the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai; the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan; the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng; the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo Arrais do Rosario; the Commissioner Against Corruption, Mr Cheong Weng Chon; the Commissioner of Audit, Mr Ho Veng On; the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr Ma Io Kun; the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Iao Lek; and the Public Prosecutor-General, Mr Ip Son Sang. Other officials at the welcoming ceremony included: the Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr Ye Dabo; the Commander of the People's Liberation Army Garrison in the Macao SAR, Major General Wang Wen; the Political Commissar of the PLA Garrison in the Macao SAR, Mr Zhang Zhimeng; the Deputy Director of the State Council Information Office, Ms Cui Yuying; the Vice Minister of Commerce, Ms Gao Yan; and the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou Bo.
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According to the preliminary statistics (the figures of visitor arrivals include non-local employees and students) provided by Public Security Police Force, the overall visitor arrivals to Macao during the seven-day National Holidays Golden Week (1st – 7th October) exceeded 1.15 million with a year-on-year raise of 8%. Among various markets, visitor arrivals from Mainland China surged by 6.9%. Nice performance of Greater China and various markets The number of visitors from the Greater China market hit 1.1 million and constituted 95.5% of the total visitor arrivals to Macao during the National Holidays, an increase of 7.6% compared with the corresponding period of last year. Among them, there were close to 970,000 visitors from Mainland China, which constituted 84% of the total visitor arrivals and registered 6.9% year-on-year increase. Visitor arrivals from Taiwan and Hong Kong rose by 15.7% and 12.5% respectively, both marking a double-digit growth. On the other hand, other markets also saw better performance than last year, with their visitor numbers climbing up by 16.5% to over 51,000. Hotel occupancy rate went well Up to date, the total number of rooms provided by all hotels and guest houses in Macao reached 37,627. According to figures provided by the local trade, the average occupancy rate of hotel establishments (guest houses and hotels) in Macao was 92.3% during the Golden Week, a year-on-year increase of 5.1 percentage points. Except for guest houses, all categories of hotels registered a rise in their average occupancy rate. The average occupancy rate of 5-Star hotels was 94.4%, up 5.5 percentage points; whereas the average occupancy rates of 4-Star and 3-Star hotels were 88.3% and 93.1%, which climbed up by 3.9 percentage points and 5.7 percentage points. The average occupancy rate of 2-Star hotels was 78.2%, up 5.7 percentage points, whereas the average occupancy rate of guest houses slightly declined by 1.9 percentage points to 75%. Hotel establishment Average occupancy rate Difference 5-Star hotels 94.4% +5.5 4-Star hotels 88.3% +3.9 3-Star hotels 93.1% +5.7 2-Star hotels 78.2% +5.7 Guest houses 75.0% -1.9 Slight decline in average hotel room rate The average room rate of hotel establishments (hotels and guest houses) in Macao was about 1,700 patacas during the Golden Week, a year-on-year decline of 1.2%. The average room rates of 5-Star and 4-Star hotels were around 2,000 patacas and 1,230 patacas respectively, up 2.1% and 2.8% respectively. The average room rates of 3-Star and 2-Star hotels were around 1,220 patacas and 750 patacas respectively, a drop of 9.9% and 11.4%. The average room rate of local guest houses was around 615 patacas, down 1.8%. Hotel establishment Room rate Percentage change 5-Star hotels 2,033.3 patacas +2.1% 4-Star hotels 1,234.1 patacas +2.8% 3-Star hotels 1,221.3 patacas -9.9% 2-Star hotels 748.2 patacas -11.4% Guest houses 615.5 patacas -1.8% Dedication of great efforts Before and during the past Golden Week, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) actively prepared for the peak period and carried out an array of tasks concerned, including operation of tourism notification system, more scrupulous inspections, sending out reminders to members of the travel trade, food guide publication and distribution as well as organizing a range of events and performances, etc. With the above measures, MGTO strived to cater for the needs of residents and visitors as well as to optimize the tourism environment and service quality in Macao. MGTO regularly releases the room rates of different room categories reported by hotels and guest houses in Macao on its website. Via its WeChat ID, the Office also advised visitors to make room reservation and prepare their itinerary ahead of their trip to Macao, while by mobile text messages, visitors were advised to visit popular sightseeing districts during off-peak hours. These measures were adopted to keep traffic situations and neighborhoods near tourist sites least affected in order to maintain a positive destination image. Personnel were arranged at ten different tourist locations to provide tourism information and guidance for visitors and assist in crowd management. MGTO carried out more scrupulous inspections at various tourist attractions, ports and districts in Macao while joining hands with police authorities to combat illegal accommodation, with MGTO’s inspectors standing by round the clock. The Office also increased the manpower at Tourist Information counters, whereas MGTO’s Tourism Hotline (853) 2833 3000 maintained its 24-hour operator service as usual. During the Golden Week, MGTO carried out a total of 64 inspections at various ports and tourist spots and carried out 8 joint actions. The Office also inspected 27 premises and sealed 5 premises allegedly operated as illegal accommodation. MGTO and Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province effectively operated their “Tourism Notification System for National Holidays Golden Week”. During the period, the Office strived to carry out reception work well in collaboration with relevant departments and units in charge of tourism reception.
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