News

The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) is paying close attention to the explosions which occurred in Thailand. From the information gathered through the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the MSAR and the Macao travel industry, until the present moment, there is no indication that any Macao tour groups or Macao resident has been affected. Until the present moment, GGCT has not received any request for information or assistance. If necessary, Macao residents can call: 24-hour Tourism Hotline (853) 2833 3000; The Chinese Embassy and Consulates or the Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hour hotline: +86 10 12308 for assistance.
…

According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) lending approved by Macao banks dropped in the first half of 2016. On the other hand, the utilisation of SME credit in proportion to the credit limit approved rose when compared with the previous survey period. The outstanding balance of SME delinquent loans recorded a decline. New lending approved In the first half of 2016, new SME credit limit approved by Macao banks totalled MOP9.9 billion, down by 51.8% from the second half of 2015 or 44.8% from the same period last year. The collateralised ratio, which indicates the proportion of credit limit with tangible assets pledged, was 81.5%, down 2.1 percentage points when compared with the last survey period but up 3.1 percentage points when compared with the same period of 2015. Credit utilisation As at end-June 2016, the outstanding value of total SME loans increased 1.5% from end-December 2015 or 3.8% from a year earlier to MOP67.7 billion. When compared with end-December 2015, SME loans to “manufacturing” and “construction and public works” increased at respective rates of 28.1% and 6.0% whereas those to “transport, warehouse and communications”, “wholesale and retail trade” and “restaurants, hotels and similar activities” dropped 13.3%, 9.4% and 8.6% respectively. The utilisation rate, defined as the proportion of outstanding credit balance to the credit limit granted, increased 0.5 percentage points from six months ago to 61.7%. Delinquent loans At end-June 2016, the outstanding balance of delinquent SME loans dropped by 16.3% from six months ago to MOP306.4 million. Compared to a year ago, the balance grew 56.5%. The delinquency ratio, a ratio of delinquent loans outstanding balance to total SME loans outstanding, declined 0.10 percentage point from end-2015 but rose 0.15 percentage points from a year earlier to 0.45%.
…

The Macao Art Museum (MAM) under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, has been organizing the “Macao Arts Window” since 2012, which aims to encourage creativity and promote the development of contemporary art in Macao. The theme of this edition of the “Macao Arts Window” is the exhibition “Geometry of the universe: 3D and multimedia works by Akin Vong”, the vernissage was held today, 11 August, at 6:30pm, on the third floor of the MAM. The artist gave a finishing touch to his works by varnishing them. The “Macao Arts Window” aims to provide an open and diverse exhibition space and exchange platform and to encourage local artists to explore and express the concepts and forms of contemporary art. Akin Vong was born in Macao. As an illustrator, Akin works in traditional media, digital images and animation, as well as lighting design, and design of themed exhibitions for malls. Akin is one of the winners of First Prize in the Painting and Sculpture categories of the Phillippe Charriol Foundation Annual Art Competition and has won several scholarships, allowing him to carry out study visits to Europe and the United States. In 2011 he was one of the winners of the Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Designers Awards. The artist combines the basic geometric elements with time, rhythm, patterns, sizes, angles and hues, and creating unlimited images in these works. In the world of geometry he sees an infinite universe, which evolved from a point to a line, a plane and a cube. He thinks that the universe is infinite! Just in a single drop of seawater microscopic creatures abound. A man can be very small or very big, depending on the perspective. Everyone has his/her own value, once they found their balance point! The exhibition “Geometry of the universe: 3D and multimedia works by Akin Vong” is held until 25 September 2016 at the Macao Museum of Art, located in NAPE, Avenida Xian Xing Hai, and is open daily from 10am to 7pm (no admission after 6:30pm; closed on Mondays). Admission fee is MOP5 and admission is free on Sundays and public holidays.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will lead an official delegation to Beijing on Monday (15 August) for meetings to discuss Macao’s first Five-Year Development Plan. During his visit to Beijing, Mr Chui is scheduled to meet with officials from several ministries and departments, to discuss the Plan. Following the several recent rounds of public consultation, the Government now expects it will be possible to release in September the final version of the Plan. Several experts that were involved in the Five-Year Development Plan initiative will accompany Mr Chui to Beijing. Members of the Macao delegation will include: the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Policy Research Office, Mr Lao Pun Lap; the Consultant to the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Lei Ngan Leng; member of the Social, Economic and Public Policy Research Centre of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, Mr Chen Qingyun; the Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office, Mr Ung Hoi Ian; and member of the Social, Economic and Public Policy Research Centre of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, Mr Yin Yifen. Mr Chui will return to Macao on 17 August. During his absence, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, will be Acting Chief Executive.
…

The trials of the “34th Macao Young Musicians Competition” of the Cultural Affairs Bureau have been concluded. Several extraordinary young musicians competed in a few days ago (7 August) in the Competition for Special Awards, to great acclaim. The “Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize” was awarded to Siu Lai Na and, meanwhile, the winner of the Award for Best Group Performance was announced, as well as the winners in the other categories. The award ceremony was attended by the Head of the Department of Cultural Events of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Kent Ieong Chi Kin, as well as by members of the jury Kuo, Lien-Chang, Chen, Ju-Chi, Dai Luqing and Zhou Zhan, among others. The winner of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize, Siu Lai Na, was awarded the title of Advanced Level Grand Champion in Guzheng in the 34th Macao Young Musicians Competition. Siu Li Na, now 16-years old, had been awarded the title of Elementary Level Grand Champion in Guzheng at the 26th Macao Young Musicians Competition, the second prize in the category of Advanced Level in Guzheng at the 30th Macao Young Musicians Competition and the gold medal in the national finals of the Small Golden Bell Music Competition, among others, and received the maximum classification in the grading test of the China Nationalities Orchestra Society. Siu Li Na began her Guzheng studies at the age of 5 under Yuan Quan at the Macao Culture and Arts Educational Centre, and in 2013 she was admitted in the Macao Juvenile Group of Guzheng Arts, where she studied under Wong Kin Wai and has been learning under renowned Guzheng instrumentalist Zhou Qian since 2014. During the competition, Siu Li Na offered an all-round interpretation, with an exquisite timbre, high self-confidence and great stage presence, earning the jury’s praise. Siu Li Na will be awarded a scholarship granted by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, that comprises the amount of the first year tuition fee of a university degree or music-related course. The Competition for Special Awards in each level was also extraordinary, and all participants gave their best in the performance. The Grand Champion at Elementary Level of the Grand Special Final was cellist Han Pok Man, the Grand First Runner-Up was Yangqin instrumentalist Lam Cheng Kei and the Grand Second Runner-Up was Guzheng instrumentalist Sou Chi Kei. In intermediate level, the Grand Champion was Guzheng instrumentalist Chan Weng Chi, the Grand First Runner-Up was percussionist Ip Chon Fong and the Grand Second Runner-Up was tuba instrumentalist Lao Ut Long. At advanced level, the Grand Champion, the Grand First Runner-Up and the Grand Second Runner-Up were, respectively, Guzheng instrumentalist Siu Lai Na (also winner of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize), Erhu instrumentalist Choi Hio Lam and violinist Hou Chengyi. The percussion ensemble formed by U Ngai Un, Wong Hio Man, Choi Chi Meng and Lai Weng Ka won the Award for Best Group Performance. All winners can collect their award certificates and evaluation sheets from 22 to 25 September (including Saturday and Sunday), from 10am to 7pm (no lunch break) at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building. The winners of special awards and the first three winners in each category can also collect their prizes in form of cheques. Soloist winners should collect their prizes in form of cheques and certificates in person and present the original or copy of their Macao Resident Identification Card for verification. Winners of the Award for Best Group Performance may collect their respective monetary prizes through their representative; the representative and all ensemble members must collect their individual prize certificates in person. The 35th Macao Young Musicians Competition (Piano) is scheduled to be held next year in July and August. More information will be announced at the end of this year at the Competition’s webpage and those interested should refer to www.icm.gov.mo/cjmm.
…

For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on fresh pork from wet markets and supermarkets on 11 August. Prices of different types of pork, including pork chop, ribs, pork belly, lean meat, etc. were collected. The specific product price survey on fresh pork can be found on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone & Android apps, and the Council’s official WeChat account. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

The 16th Macao City Fringe Festival, organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), will be held in January next year. Call for proposals of programmes is now open until 26 August 2016 (Friday). IC invites all local associations registered at the Identification Services Bureau and artistic practitioners to submit proposals of programmes. Call for proposals of programmes of this edition’s Macao City Fringe Festival, adopted the concept “All around the city, our stages, our patrons, our artists”, is now open. The programmes can be local, overseas works or cross-regional collaborations produced in any art form. Artists are encouraged to transform their audacious ideas into concrete programme proposals. In addition, in order to provide exchange platforms for local artists, producers and artistic practitioners, this edition’s Macao City Fringe Festival will have Programme Showcase to feature our local productions, to allow industry practitioners from other regions to have better understanding about the current art development in Macao, thereby enhancing the possibility of collaboration between local and overseas artists. Interested local associations registered at the Identification Services Bureau and artistic practitioners should submit application forms and relevant documents during office hours (including lunch hours) by 26 August 2016 (Friday) to 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 Programmes for the 16th Macao City Fringe Festival”. The regulations and application form of proposals of programmes are available to download at the IC website (www.icm.gov.mo). For enquiries, please contact staff members of IC Ms. Chau through tel. no. (853) 8399 6601 or email MargaridaChau@icm.gov.mo; or Ms. Tong through tel. no. (853) 8399 6608 or email pitong@icm.gov.mo during office hours.
…

According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) decreased whereas those of commercial real estate loans (CRELs) increased in June 2016. With regard to the outstanding balance, RMLs and CRELs both witnessed increases. New lending approved In June 2016, new RMLs approved by Macao banks decreased by 12.8% month-to-month to MOP4.7 billion. Of which, new RMLs to residents, accounting for 77.4% of the total, fell by 31.1%. In contrast, the non-resident component surged by 830.3%, which was mainly attributed to larger loan amounts recorded for a few number of approvals to enterprises. When compared with the same period of 2015, new approvals of RMLs rose by 19.7%. New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) shrank 88.2% from the preceding month to MOP244.4 million. The equitable mortgage extended to residents, which accounted for 86.7% of the total, dropped by 89.7% from a higher comparison base in the previous month. When compared with the same period of 2015, new equitable mortgage approved went down by 13.4%. New CRELs surged by 126.5% month-to-month to MOP6.5 billion; of which, 68.1% was granted to residents. In terms of value, new CRELs to residents increased by 67.3% while those to non-residents soared by 829.7%, mainly driven by new loans granted to enterprises collateralised by land. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs rose by 3.9%. Outstanding balances As at end-June 2016, the outstanding value of RMLs was MOP176.6 billion, an increase of 0.7% from one month earlier or 6.7% from a year ago. The resident component made up 93.6% of the total. Compared to end-May 2016, outstanding RMLs to residents and non-residents rose 0.7% and 0.5% respectively. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs rose by 1.8% month-to-month or 20.1% year-on-year to MOP169.1 billion. Residents accounted for 87.6% of the loans. Compared with a month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents and non-residents increased by 1.3% and 6.0% respectively. Delinquency ratios At the end of June 2016, the delinquency ratio for RMLs was 0.10%, down 0.01 percentage point from a month ago or up 0.03 percentage points from a year ago. The ratio for CRELs was 0.02%, up 0.01 percentage point from a month ago or down 0.05 percentage points from end-June 2015.
…

Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on tissue papers, household cleansing products, and oral care products on 10 August 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, as well as on the Council’s WeChat account page. For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
…

One of the tourist seriously injured during the accident has now been transferred from the intensive care unit to the general ward. There are still 2 seriously injured tourists in the intensive care unit, 1 of which underwent craniofacial surgery and remains in serious condition and in coma, with stable vital signs. The third injured is in stable condition. All 3 injured tourists are being accompanied by their families who arrived in Macao. 7 more injured tourists remain in the hospital for observation and are stable and fine. No further tourists were discharged from the hospital today. Eight other injured tourists that were treated on the day of the accident today returned to the hospital for follow up treatment on their wound dressings. Yesterday 4 family members of the injured tourists arrived in Macao and were provided accommodation by the local Macao tour operator. Later today 2 additional family members will arrive in Macao. The tourists that were discharged from the Hospital went once again today to the Public Prosecutions Office in order to handle the necessary legal formalities. As of 6:00 p.m. today, 12 tourists had already reached an agreement with the local Macao tour operator and have left Macao and 2 more will leave later today. The remaining 8 tourists will continue to negotiate with the local tour operator and once an agreement is reached, the tour operator will make the necessary arrangements for them to leave Macao. The tour bus accident affected a total of 44 tourists, 24 of which have left Macau, 2 will that leave today while 18 still remain here. If necessary, affected tourists and their families can contact the 24-hour Tourism Hotline: (853) 2833 3000.
…