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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that Receipts of travel agencies amounted to MOP 6.50 billion in 2015, down by 10.6% year-on-year. Receipts from Package Tours (MOP 1.96 billion) increased by 7.6%, while receipts from Passenger Transport Ticketing (MOP 1.90 billion) and Room Reservations (MOP 1.09 billion) decreased by 17.9% and 31.6% respectively owing to the growing popularity of online booking for hotel rooms, air tickets, etc., thus resulting in a year-on-year decline in Receipts of the industry. A total of 250 travel agencies were operating in 2015, an increase of 13 year-on-year. Number of persons engaged rose by 343 year-on-year to 4,545, of which drivers (1,404) accounted for 30.9%. Analysed by number of persons engaged, receipts of large travel agencies with 50 or more persons came mainly from Package Tours (MOP 723 million) and Rental of Coaches with Driver (MOP 645 million), up by 20.1% and 8.6% respectively year-on-year; however, as receipts from Room Reservations (MOP 425 million) and Passenger Transport Ticketing (MOP 211 million) dropped significantly by 30.2% and 21.7%, receipts of this type of travel agencies (MOP 2.42 billion) shrank by 4.9% year-on-year. Meanwhile, receipts of small travel agencies with less than 10 persons were generated primarily from Passenger Transport Ticketing (MOP 692 million), up by 26.5% year-on-year; yet, receipts of these travel agencies dropped slightly by 0.9% to MOP 1.25 billion due to the declines in receipts from Package Tours (MOP 242 million) and Room Reservations (MOP 208 million). Expenditure of travel agencies amounted to MOP 6.21 billion, down by 9.5% year-on-year. Purchase of Goods & Services and Commission Paid decreased by 13.9% to MOP 4.76 billion (76.7% of total), while Operating Expenses (MOP 749 million) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 699 million) increased by 7.1% and 10.8% respectively. Expenditure of the large travel agencies (with 50 or more persons engaged) dropped by 6.2% year-on-year to MOP 2.13 billion, of which Purchase of Goods & Services and Commission Paid (62.1% of total) shrank by 14.9% to MOP 1.32 billion. Expenditure of the small travel agencies (with less than 10 persons engaged) grew by 2.5% year-on-year to MOP 1.27 billion, with Purchase of Goods & Services and Commission Paid (88.8% of total) rising by 2.7% to MOP 1.13 billion. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy amounted to MOP 1.00 billion, down by 4.8% year-on-year. Gross Surplus of travel agencies decreased by 28.5% year-on-year to MOP 297 million, while Gross Surplus Ratio dropped by 1.1 percentage points to 4.6%. Meanwhile, Gross Fixed Capital Formation decreased by 35.1% to MOP 157 million owing to a decrease in acquisition of shops.
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Consumer Council published a test on adult milk powder in its latest issue no. 276 Consumer Report and all 15 samples examined contain no melamine. A detailed analysis of the number of cases received by the Council is also included in the magazine. The Council and Food Safety Centre of IACM continue to work together to safeguard consumers’ safety, this year, the two departments spot checked adult milk powder for their melamine content. The Council and Food Safety Centre examined 15 batches from 13 brands of adult milk powder and conducted the test based on China’s national standard. All samples examined are found to have no melamine that affects human’s health. Prolonged or heavy consumption of melamine result in kidney stones, which affect the bladder and excretory system, therefore, examination of dairy products is one of the measures to ensure consumers’ health safety. The test result is now published in issue no. 276 Consumer Report and a feature on how to choose adult milk powder, and on reading the ingredients list is included. The Council received 832 complaints, 2,464 enquiries, and 26 suggestions in the first half of 2016. A detailed analysis is included in the latest issue of Consumer Report. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C), and the service counter of the Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries and bookstores. Consumers may also access the magazine online on the Council’s official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo) and WeChat official account. For enquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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The initial review of the 2016 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making, organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), has been completed. A total of 24 applications were received in this Programme, and the adjudicating panel selected 15 entrants for the second review. Each candidate eligible for the second review will be granted a subsidy up to a maximum amount of MOP160,000 to cover expenses of sample making and production of promotional materials. The IC has initiated the “Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making” since 2013, in order to promote the development of Macao’s fashion design industry. This year, a total of 24 applications were received, of which over 40% were from new applicants, and more than half have registered trademarks for their fashion brands. IC has organised a professional adjudicating panel to grade the entries based on the entries’ creativity and originality, market potential, quality, overall visual effects, feasibility and degree of perfection of the exhibition and business plan, as well as the rationale of budgeting. The adjudicating panel is comprised of Terry Sio Un I, Chairman of the Rainbow Group; Victoria Kuan Chi Ping, Senior Manager of the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre; José Tang Kuan Meng, member of the Committee of Cultural Industries and Vice President of the Industrial Association of Macau; Walter Ma, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association and Raymond Au, consultant of the Macao Fashion Gallery. Entrants selected to the second review are (in arbitrary order): on an individual basis, Tam Chi Kit, Cheang Chi Tat, Wai Chin Seong, Peng Yun, Lao Ka Weng, Oliveira Nuno Maximiano Lopes De, Tam Fu Man, Chiang Sau Yee, Wong Man Chon, Lai Choi Fan and Leong Man Teng; on a team basis, Wong Ha and Cheong Kuan Peng, Lo Ka Heng and Choi Wai Leng, Liu Ching Nam and Wong Ka Wa, Dias Cardoso Ana Claudia and Dias Cardoso Nair Alexandra. IC will notify the entrants by telephone and email. The date and venue for the second review will be announced at a later stage. Entrants shall produce a sample based on the selected work for second interview in their application, and present it to the adjudicating panel during the second review on a model of their choice (make-up and hair design must be compatible with the overall modeling). Entrants shall also introduce their works and answer questions raised by the adjudicating panel in person. Following the second review, entrants may apply for a subsidy in the maximum amount of MOP11,000 to reimburse the expenses incurred on sample making and presentation. The adjudicating panel will select a maximum of eight individuals or teams as the beneficiaries of the programme. Each of them may receive a subsidy up to a maximum amount of MOP160,000 for sample production and promotional materials of selected entries. Details of the programme are available on Cultural Affairs Bureau website (www.icm.gov.mo/en/CCI-Subsidy) and the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com). For enquiries, please call Ms. Lam, staff member of IC through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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The opening ceremony of the exhibition “The Trumpet of the Times: Poet F. Hua-Lin”, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), was held on 27 September, at 6:30pm at the Jao Tsung-I Academy. The opening ceremony was officiated by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the President of the Pen of Macau, Li Guanding; the President of the Macau Documentation and Information Society, Tang Chon Chit; the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Macao Daily News, Lio Chi Heng; and the representative of Hua-Lin’s family, Fung Ping Buck. This exhibition features manuscripts, poems, photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, music scores, song lists and other related items pertaining to the Macao poet Hua-Lin, who rose as a new star in the Chinese literary circles in the 1930s and 1940s, and earned the title "the trumpet of the times" during the "isolated-island period" in Shanghai. All the objects have been generously donated by relatives of the poet. This is the first time an exhibition gives an overall and three-dimensional picture of the poet, his poems and his era. With this exhibition, IC hopes to attract people's attention to the literature of Macao. F. Hua-Lin is the adopted pseudonym of Fung Kam Chiu (1915-1992), born in Macao. In 1939, he graduated from the Foreign Language Department of Jinan National University in Shanghai and, in the following decade, roamed through several places such as Yunan, Guilin, Guizhou, Chongqing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao, where, in spite of many difficulties, he kept on writing and publishing a lot of poems and translated works. In the early 1950s, he settled down in Macao where he kept on working and polishing his writings. In the late 1960s, he began his studies on classical Chinese poetry and couplet making. Among his published works are Mei Gui [Rose], Xiang Ri Kui [Sunflower], Man Tian Xing [Starry Sky], Qian Niu Hua [Morning Glory], Huo Hua Ji [Sparkling Flame], and Hua Ling Si Wen Ji [Poems and Writings Collection of F. Hua-Lin], in addition to a great number of unpublished translations, poems, couplets and monographs. In order to complement this exhibition and allow the population to understand more in depth the poet and his work, IC launches the collection The Trumpet of the Times: Poet F. Hua-Lin (priced at MOP100). In addition, IC has invited poet Song Zijiang to conduct a study of and compile Hua-Lin’s poems, including his English-language poems, translation and essays, and now publishes Ardent Appeals: Selected Poems and Essays by F. Hua-Lin (priced at MOP80). These editions feature a rich content, with part of the works included therein never having been published and including also rare new poems that were published in scattered fashion in newspapers of several places. The two books will be available at a discounted price on the day and venue of the opening ceremony, and will be available for sale at full price during the period of the exhibition. The exhibition “The Trumpet of the Times: Poet F. Hua-Lin” will run from 28 September to 13 November at Jao Tsung-I Academy, daily from 10am to 6pm, including on public holidays, closing on Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, please refer to IC’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo, or call IC through tel. no. 2852 2523, during office hours.
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In line with the spirits and concensus of the Memorandum of Understanding on financial cooperation between Shanghai and Macao, the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) and the Shanghai Financial Services Office (SFSO) jointly hosted a seminar in Lisbon, Portugal. In the seminar, both institutions presented the economic and financial situations of Macao and Shanghai respectively to the local financial institutions and business enterprises, highlighting the important functions of Macao as the “Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, as well as the development of Shanghai as an international financial centre, in order to promote and deepen the financial cooperation among Mainland China, Macao SAR and Portuguese-speaking countries. Attributed to the strong support of Caixa Geral de Depósitos in Portugal, this seminar was successfully organised, with almost one hundred participants from local financial institutions and business enterprises. In the seminar, the AMCM introduced the functions of Macao as the “Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” and the RMB clearing platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The AMCM also encouraged the Portuguese enterprises to develop their businesses in the Mainland market through Macao and to utilise Macao’s financial services including its RMB clearing services. Meanwhile, the SFSO introduced the plan and development of Shanghai as an international financial centre, and gave a number of suggestions for promoting financial cooperation between Portugal, Shanghai and Macao. Taking the opportunity of organising this seminar activity in Lisbon, the AMCM and SFSO also visited Banco de Portugal to carry out in-depth discussion and exchange on financial cooperation. During the meeting, Banco de Portugal highly praised the platform role performed by Macao. Banco de Portugal expressed positively for the development of Chinese institutions’ participation in the Portuguese market, and would like to see a deeper and broader financial cooperation among Mainland China, Macao SAR and Portuguese-speaking countries. This activity, jointly organised by the AMCM and SFSO and took place in Portugal, has realised concretely the relevant contents of financial coorperation between Shanghai and Macao. In addition, this event has strengthened the understanding of financial institutions and business enterprises in Portugal with respect to the developments of the financial industry in Mainland China and Macao SAR, especially on the front of Macao as the “RMB Clearing Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries” and the evolution of Macao’s featured financial businesses. All these have further fostered the tripartite financial coorperation among Portugal, Shanghai and Macao and the development of Macao as the “Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, which would be conducive to generating business opportunities for Macao’s financial institutions, supporting the development of the sector, and facilitating the creation of more scope for development for Macao’s professionals and youth.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in September on 27 September for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets at Lam Mau, Patane and San Kio areas in Santo António 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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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council on 27 September collects prices of fresh pork from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. Meanwhile, new data of fresh pork as well as the average selling price of fresh pork and vegetables collected during 21 September to 27 September are used for comparing the selling prices of the same products from Zhuhai and Hong Kong. The relevant data has been uploaded to the Council’s website for consumers’ reference. The 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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In commemoration of the World Tourism Day on 27 September, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) organized a series of festive activities to celebrate this significant tourism occasion concurrently with people around the world. An array of activities were held by MGTO today in celebration of the World Tourism Day, including greeting Lucky Tourist, the traditional Tray Race and Dinner for World Tourism Day. MGTO officials were present at Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal this morning to give welcome souvenirs to the Lucky Tourist of the World Tourism Day. Other souvenirs were given out to visitors at MGTO’s Tourist Information counters throughout the day. The Lucky Tourist of this year is Ms. Chan, a Mainland visitor who came from Shenzhen to attend a mega corporate meeting in town and brought along her family from Sichuan for a four-day vacation in Macao. Ms. Chan expressed that she often travels to Macao and enjoys the city’s leisurely vibe, unique history and delicacies. Following that, the traditional Tray Race was held in the afternoon. Starting from the Ruins of St Paul's, contestants dressed in special outfits each carried their tray with a bottle of beer across the lanes in the Historic Centre of Macao and reached the finish line at Senado Square. The race was fun and exciting, drawing visitors to take pictures and cheer on the contestants along the way. The race created a lively and festive vibe in town. The race attracted around 190 participants representing some 20 hotels, restaurants and entities in Macao this year. The first prize in the men’s category went to Suwarna Tamang on behalf of Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, whereas Wu Shun Zhen from Future Bright Group won the first prize in the women’s category. The Best Costume Awards were handed to Tat Vinh Khai and Wu Tian Tian both representing Galaxy Macau. MGTO has invited some hundreds of guests including representatives of relevant entities, members of the tourism industry and the press to attend the Dinner for World Tourism Day. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes remarked that with this year’s theme of the World Tourism Day designated as “Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility”, the World Tourism Organization encourages destinations around the world to create a barrier-free tourism environment that is accessible for all and caters to all travelers with various needs, so that whether for people with special physical needs, family with children or senior travelers, they can enjoy comfortable and pleasant travel experiences with their needs accommodated as they embark upon a journey. By promoting universal accessibility, various destinations can enjoy greater economic benefits. With economic and social progress as well as market developments, she looks forward to seeing the local tourism industry grow toward maturity and a new professional level, and provide more convenient services of higher quality for visitors. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has designated 27 September as the "World Tourism Day" each year. Celebrations have been held annually since 1980. The purpose of the World Tourism Day is to promote awareness across the international community about the significance of tourism, especially regarding its social, cultural, political and economic value. Through the World Tourism Day, UNWTO aims to convey a key message every year. The theme of 2016 is “Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility”. Over 100 countries/regions were carrying out celebrations for the World Tourism Day around the world on the same day, and the official celebrations were held at Bangkok, Thailand this year. For details, please visit: http://wtd.unwto.org/en. This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/index.php
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In order to allow the public to have better understanding of the St. Joseph’s Seminary and the history of development of the Catholicism in Macao, as well as to enjoy the Seminary’s valuable collections, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) has worked with the St. Joseph’s Seminary and the Diocese de Macau to establish the “Treasure of Sacred Art of St. Joseph’s Seminary” at the St. Joseph’s Seminary located at Rua do Seminário, which will be officially inaugurated on 8 October. Aiming to deepen the public’s understanding of the history of Catholicism in Macao, IC will organize two lectures at the auditorium of the Seminary in the morning of the inauguration day, all interested parties are welcome to register for participation. Both lectures will be held at St. Joseph’s Seminary’s Auditorium. The first lecture, titled “The First University of the Far East in Macau : The Commitment of the Jesuits to Higher Education in Asia”, will be held from 10am to 11am and will be conducted in English by the Macau Ricci Institute Director, Stephan Rothlin, S.J. Stephan Rothlin, S.J was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1959, and obtained a PhD in Ethics in 1991. From 1992 to 2005 he was a professor or director in several universities and higher education institutions. Between 2005 and 2013, he was the Secretary General of the Centre for International Business Ethics in Beijing and Chairman of the Association of International Business Ethics in Hong Kong. The lecture will introduce the main elements of Macao’s higher education offered by the Jesuits and it will explore the policies of higher education pursued by the Jesuits in terms of the development characteristics of China. The second lecture, titled “Contributions of St. Joseph’s Seminary on Music in the 20th Century”, will be held from 11:30am and 12:30pm, and will be conducted in Cantonese by Dai Dingcheng, Professor of the School of Arts of the Macao Polytechnic Institute. Dai Dingcheng was a professor and director of several universities in China and had English and Chinese publications of monographs and articles on music. In 2013, he was awarded the “Medal of Merit – Culture” by the MSAR Government for his contribution in local music culture. The lecture will focus on the formation of a rare but prosperous condition of Macao’s catholic music in the Chinese region during the 20th century under the unique foundation and traditional background of rich history in Catholic music. The original works of the Seminary’s composers at the time, such as F. Maberini, Guiherme Schmid S.D.B. and Áureo Castro, among others, become the important cultural heritage of the Seminary today. The Seminary’s early professional composers and professors, such as Doming Lam and Lau Chi Meng, have also composed numerous liturgical choral works, taking Macao’s liturgical catholic music to a high state in the history. No interpreting service is provided in both lectures. Admission is free. Seats are limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. For reservations and enquiries, please contact Mr. Wu or Ms. Leong, through the tel. no. 8394 1206 or 8394 1218, during office hours.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for June-August 2016 held stable as in the previous period (May-July 2016), at 1.9%; the underemployment rate was 0.4%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force was 400,000 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.7%. Total employment increased by 600 from May-July, at 392,600. Analysed by industry, employment in Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities registered increase, while that in Construction saw decrease. Number of the unemployed was 7,400, similar to that in May-July. With fresh graduates joining the labour market, the proportion of fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job increased by 5.0 percentage points to 20.5% of the total unemployed. In comparison with June-August 2015, the labour force participation rate dropped by 0.6 percentage points, while both the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate remained unchanged.
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