News

Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in August on 23 August 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.
…

The 28th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), will be held next year in May. A call for proposals of local performance is now open to the public until 26 August. All registered local associations and individuals are welcome to participate. The Macao Arts Festival is devoted to provide a performing and exchange platform for local performing arts in accordance with the spirit of “promoting the development of local arts”. The theme of the 28th Macao Arts Festival will be “Space”. All registered local associations and individuals are invited to submit their performance proposals. Programmes’ categories include theatre, dance, children’s shows, and other disciplines. The proposed projects can be original works or works that have been previously staged. Additionally, in order to strengthen the ties between the theme of the 28th MAF and Macao, priority will be given to works in tandem with the theme of the 28th MAF, or those based on locally originated texts or artistic concepts, or works inspired by Macao’s intangible cultural heritage or traditional Chinese performing arts. The selected works will be included in next year’s MAF programme. Interested local associations and individuals should submit the registration form and performance proposal including the artistic concept and introduction to the performance, a brief introduction of the team members, budget, set design plan and equipment requirements, as well as other additional information regarding the project. The application information should be submitted in person by 5:30pm on 26 August at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building located at Tap Siac Square, indicating the following on the envelope: “Attn: Division of Performing Arts, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Call for Proposals of Local Performances for the 28th Macao Arts Festival” During the selection process, applicants may be required to attend an interview. For details on the application regulations, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau website at www.icm.gov.mo or contact staff members of IC Mr. Chong through tel. no. 8399 6624 or email skchong@icm.gov.mo, or Mr. Lou through tel. no. 8399 6625 or email cklou@icm.gov.mo, during office hours.
…

For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council collects prices of fresh pork and vegetables from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. The mentioned data collected during 17 August to 23 August 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 comparison report is 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. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

‘Keep your shopping receipts 2016’ activity held by Consumer Council will end on 31 August. Consumers with a purchase receipt of $50 or above, which is issued by ‘Certified Shops’, are eligible to register and participate in the lucky draw. The Council has been holding this activity for 3 consecutive years. To make it more convenient for consumers to participate in the activity, they can either register at the Council’s offices (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A or Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52 RAEM Services Centre), or they can simply register through the registration platform inside its ‘Certified Shops’ mobile app. Registration for the lucky draw will end on 31 August Over a thousand consumers have registered since the activity started on 1 July, and the Council believes that more consumers will participate in this activity before it ends. Consumers can register and participate in our lucky draw using their purchase receipts of $50 or above issued by shops bearing the 2016 ‘Certified Shops’ emblem. The Council reminds consumers to register and participate for a chance to win a prize before the activity ends. 56 winners will be drawn Draw prizes include cash prizes of MOP2,000 (1 winner), MOP1,500 (2 winners), and MOP1,000 (3 winners). Another 50 winners will also be drawn for a special ‘Certified Shop’ edition of electronic money card of MOP100 each. Participate in our ‘Keep your shopping receipts’ activity to develop good spending habits By participating in this activity, the Council expects consumers to develop good spending habits and retain their shopping receipts after making purchases, as well as enhancing the consumer awareness of their rights. Interested parties may visit the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and ‘Certified Shops’ mobile app to check for the details and the list of all participating shops. For enquiry, please call 8988 7333.
…

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, kicks off its 2016-17 Concert Season with the concert “No. 1 Piano - Yulianna Avdeeva and Macao Orchestra” to be held on 3 September. In tandem with this concert season’s theme “My Time with Music”, the organizer will hold the “Music Hour with Yulianna Avdeeva” on 2 September, at 6:30pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Conference Room. Admission is free and registrations are now open. Acclaimed by The New York Times for “blending a muscular approach with an ability to tease out Chopin’s singing lines expressively”, Russian pianist Yulianna Avdeeva won the first prize at the 2010 International Chopin Piano Competition due to her outstanding performance. Ever since she has been shining on international stages and her dedication to music led to her recognition as one of the greatest musicians of her time as well as one of the most renowned and acclaimed interpreters of Chopin. In her debut performance in Macao, she will play Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor as well as Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, offering music fans a rare concert not to be missed. This OM’s concert season featuring various excellent programmes, is themed “My Time with Music”, such as the “Music Hour With Yulianna Avdeeva”, which will allow the audience to understand the perseverance and devotion behind musicians. The sharing session will be held on 2 September, at 6:30pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Conference Room. Admission is free. All interested parties can register before 29 August telephone number 2853 0782, during office hours, or through OM’s WeChat official account. Seats are limited. Registrations are accepted on a first come first served basis. Tickets for the concert “No. 1 Piano - Yulianna Avdeeva and Macao Orchestra” are available through the Macau Ticketing Network. Holders of the BOC Multi-Currency Credit Card or BOC Card can enjoy an exclusive 30% discount on ticket purchases. Ticketing Hotline: 2855 5555. Macao Orchestra’s 2016-17 Concert Season Programme can be obtained at Macao Ticketing retail shops for free. The electronic version and complete concert season programme can be downloaded at OM’s webpage www.icm.gov.mo.
…

Macao Post will issue a Postage Paid Postcard on 24th August, 2016. This postcard with the image of St. Dominic’s Church will be available for sale at the Macao Post Headquarters, all post offices and postal kiosks. St. Dominic’s Church was established in 1587, located at St. Dominic’s Square and has, until today, more than 400 years of history. This Postage Paid Postcard priced at MOP10.00 each can be sent to every corner of the world without stamp.
…

To facilitate the public and philatelists for ordering new philatelic products, please note the followings: *Annex Table
…

The number of crimes reported in the first half of 2016 saw a year-on-year rise of 1.4 percent. Instances of the most serious forms of crime were either non-existent, or extremely low in number. A total of 3,591 people were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office for further investigation in the first six months of 2016, an increase of 808 people, or 29 percent, on the prior year. The figures proved police enforcement efforts and strategies were effective, said the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak. He was speaking on Monday (22 August) at a press conference announcing the crime figures for the first half of 2016. The authorities would continue efforts to maintain public order, to use effective crime-fighting measures to ensure the stability of Macao and to update their strategies when deemed necessary, stated the Secretary. The police dealt with a total of 7,125 reported crimes in the first half of 2016, an increase of 100 cases, or 1.4 percent, from the corresponding period last year. The increase was mainly due to enhanced enforcement efforts – starting in the second quarter of this year – against temporary stay permit holders that failed to report to the police on a regular basis as required. The number of such non-reporting incidents rose to 253, compared to the 22 incidents recorded in the prior-year period. The number of violent crimes reported in the first six months of 2016 showed a rise of 14.8 percent year-on-year, to 388 cases. Cases of usury and false imprisonment saw an increase of 52.3 percent and 27.1 percent respectively. The most serious forms of crime, such as murder, kidnap, and grievous assault were either non-existent, or extremely low in number. Mr Wong said the police paid close attention to the recent cases of illegal imprisonment – involving people from outside Macao – which ended with the death of those being held. The incidents could be linked to gaming disputes occurring away from casinos, said Mr Wong. The Government would bolster measures to prevent gaming-related crimes, said Mr Wong. Such measures included: increasing the number of law enforcement personnel; strengthening the monitoring of organised crime; initiating more effective intelligence gathering methods; intensifying the monitoring and investigation of foreign criminal organisations; and strengthening communication with counterparts from neighbouring cities. Additionally, the half-year data showed that infractions relating to unlicensed transportation services went up by 55.9 percent. The Government would closely monitor unlicensed passenger transportation services accessed via mobile applications, said Mr Wong. The Government had issued during the period a total of 100 special licences for taxi services; including for vehicles that can be ordered either online or via telephone. It was part of the Government’s efforts to regulate public transportation services and to protect properly the rights and safety of passengers, the Secretary stated.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that with the summer holidays approaching, visitor arrivals increased by 18.5% month-to-month to 2,794,855 in July 2016, up by 5.5% year-on-year. Overnight visitors rose by 12.4% year-on-year to 1,455,789, representing 12 consecutive months of year-on-year growth since August 2015; same-day visitors dropped by 1.0% to 1,339,066. The average length of stay of visitors remained stable as in July 2015, at 1.2 days; the average stay of overnight visitors and same-day visitors was 2.1 days and 0.2 day respectively. Visitors from Mainland China increased by 4.7% year-on-year to 1,839,397 in July 2016, of which those travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme rose by 6.7% to 879,423. Mainland visitors came mainly from Guangdong Province (824,903), Hunan Province (84,148) and Fujian Province (70,745). Visitors from Hong Kong (618,611) and Taiwan (103,297) increased by 5.5% and 10.5% respectively year-on-year, while those from the Republic of Korea (51,992) soared by 40.3%. Long-haul visitors from Australia (6,736) and the United Kingdom (5,153) increased year-on-year, while those from the United States (15,467) and Canada (4,942) decreased. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by land increased by 4.7% year-on-year to 1,566,618; those arriving through the Border Gate (1,354,142) and the Checkpoint of Cotai (211,115) rose by 3.2% and 15.5% respectively. Visitor arrivals by sea increased by 4.0% year-on-year to 1,015,023, a rebound after 13 consecutive months of year-on-year decline; those disembarking at the Outer Harbour (608,036) and the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa (406,987) rose by 3.3% and 12.5%. Visitor arrivals by air increased notably by 20.5% year-on-year to 213,214, with 212,548 arriving at the airport. In the first seven months of 2016, visitor arrivals totalled 17,559,151, up marginally by 0.9% year-on-year; overnight visitors rose by 8.9% to 8,619,048 while same-day visitors dropped by 5.8% to 8,940,103. The average length of stay of visitors increased by 0.2 day year-on-year to 1.2 days; the average stay of overnight visitors rose by 0.2 day to 2.2 days while that of same-day visitors held stable at 0.2 day. Visitors from Mainland China (11,580,791) rose slightly by 0.3% year-on-year, and those from the Republic of Korea (364,640) and Taiwan (623,331) increased by 10.3% and 11.5% respectively; meanwhile, Hong Kong visitors (3,676,927) decreased by 1.7%. Moreover, long-haul visitors from the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom registered year-on-year increase.
…

The Government will step up efforts to help Macao become an efficient platform for cooperation and exchanges among the economies covered by the Belt and Road Initiative, said today the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On.
…