News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 5 hospitals in Macao in 2015, providing a total of 1,494 in-patient beds, up by 73 year-on-year. The occupancy rate of in-patient beds was 76.6%, up by 0.8 percentage points. Number of in-patients increased by 4.0% year-on-year to 54,000; those aged 65 and above (12,000) rose by 14.1% while those aged under 15 (11,000) dropped by 1.0%. The average in-patient stay was 7.4 days, up by 0.1 day year-on-year. The hospitals provided a total of 1,627,000 out-patient consultations, up by 7.5% year-on-year. Owing to a decrease in live births in 2015, consultations in Gynecology/Obstetrics (97,000) dropped by 3.6% year-on-year. Consultations in Chinese Medicine rose by 16.5% to 183,000. Meanwhile, dialysis treatments (83,000 cases) registered continuous growth, up by 8.1% year-on-year. Attendances to emergency services totalled 475,000, up by 2.7% year-on-year. Emergency attendances in Macao Peninsula (361,000) rose by 7.3% while those in Taipa (113,000) dropped by 9.4%. There were 708 primary health care establishments (including public health centres and private clinics) in 2015. Total number of consultations edged up by 0.2% year-on-year to 3,984,000. Consultations in Chinese Medicine (1,136,000) decreased by 2.6% year-on-year, while those in General Practice (1,112,000) and Regular Services such as Adult Health Care, Child Health Care, etc. (843,000) increased by 0.7% and 8.2% respectively. A total of 310,000 doses of vaccine were administered in hospitals and primary health care establishments in 2015; vaccinations against Influenza totalled 93,000 doses. Number of blood donors totalled 10,157 in 2015, up slightly by 1.4% year-on-year; first-time blood donors (2,948) increased by 8.1%. In 2015, there were 1,674 doctors and 2,279 nurses, up by 5.2% and 14.5% respectively year-on-year; number of doctors and nurses per 1,000 population was 2.6 and 3.5 respectively, up by 0.1 and 0.4 compared with the ratios in 2014.
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For decades now Belgium has been known world-wide for its diamonds, fashion and top-quality food and beverage products. However, in the last 10 years Belgium has also stepped to the forefront of the industrial and product design world, and this small country of 11 million people is now recognised as one of the world’s top 10 countries in design and creativity. Especially in the fields of fashion, diamonds & jewellery, food & beverages, Belgium continues to surprise the world with the unique quality and craftsmanship of its products. Products from Belgium have experienced years of solid growth and increased visibility in China, and more particularly in Hong Kong and Macau. However, there is still room for new products and services, particularly in Macau. With its vibrant economy and unparalleled tourism sector, Macau is the ideal platform to introduce Belgian products to local customers and to guests from China and the rest of Asia. “A Taste of Belgium” is jointly organised by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the Consulate-general of Belgium in Hong Kong and a dozen local suppliers of Belgian products. The event will be held at the Seasons Restaurant, Macau University of Science & Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa on May 23, at 6 pm to 8:30 pm. The event gives representatives of the Hospitality and Retail sectors in Macau the exclusive opportunity to experience Belgium’s unique expertise in F&B products. The event will start with an introduction of the participating Belgian brands and products. During the booth visiting and meeting session guests can enjoy the tasting of some of Belgium’s fine beers, chocolates, premium cream puffs and other products. “A Taste of Belgium” is an exclusive promotion event which introduces top Belgian products for the hospitality and retail business, including food & beverages and lifestyle products suitable for Macao SMEs. Hong Kong and Macau-based suppliers will be present at the event to showcase their Belgian products. Registration will be processed on a first come first served basis and business matching session will be held during the event. For more details about the event, please contact Ms. Leong of SME Service Center on: +853 87989711; Email: smec@ipim.gov.mo.
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For the implementation of the policy objectives of the Macao SAR Government to promote the Constitution and Basic Law to Macao residents from different strata of society, the Identification Services Bureau, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau cooperated again, together with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, to jointly organize a thematic seminar on “Constitution and Basic Law – Nationality Law and Consular Protection and Consular Services” at the Macao Science Center on 19 May 2016. Mr. Chen Xiongfeng, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs and Director of the Centre for Consular Assistance and Protection, was invited to be the keynote speaker, and about 150 Macao civil servants attended the seminar. In the seminar, the Deputy Director-General, Mr. Chen Xiongfeng, introduced China’s consular protection, including the definition and basic principles of consular protection, the determination of Chinese nationality and the works of consular officers. In addition, Mr. Chen analyzed the situation and features of consular protection, its challenges and countermeasures, and also introduced the consular protection services in Macao. Ms. Ao Ieong U, Director of the Identification Services Bureau, expressed in her speech that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been making every effort to provide immediate assistance to overseas Macao Residents, safeguard their lives and properties and defend their legitimate rights and interests abroad. Moreover, Ms. Ao Ieong added that she hoped that civil servants of the Macao SAR Government would have better understanding of consular protection and consular service though this seminar.
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The Government would work closely with the Legislative Assembly on the revision process and related follow-up work, in a bid to optimise the system for elections to that body, said the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan. Ms Chan made the comments on Wednesday (18 May) during a public consultation on revisions to the Legislative Assembly Election Law. The session was attended by 180 people, with 20 of those present offering comments. The range of opinions expressed included: the need for further effort to maintain just, fair and untainted elections; the need to monitor online campaigning; and the necessity for supervision of election campaign materials provided by campaign teams. The Director of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, Mr Kou Peng Kuan, said the relevant Electoral Affairs Commission would provide clear guidelines in relation to online campaigning during elections by candidates to the Legislative Assembly. Mr Kou said under the proposed revisions, candidates would be held accountable for declaring the names of all people campaigning on their behalf. The Government also suggested that all campaign materials provided by a candidate’s campaign team should be published via an open platform. This would enable members of the public to be more easily involved in the election process. If any element of the campaign effort – as publicly declared – was found to be contrary to the revised Legislative Assembly Election Law, candidates could risk facing bribery charges, said the Assistant Commissioner of the Commission Against Corruption, Mr Lam Chi Long, at Wednesday’s session. The Government launched on 7 May a public consultation – lasting until 5 June – on revisions to the Legislative Assembly Election Law. The next consultation session for members of the public will be held on 29 May. To register for it, please refer to the website http://www.elections.gov.mo; by telephone on +853 8866 8866; or by fax to +853 8987 0011 or +853 8987 0022; or visit in person the Edifício “Administração Pública” at Rua do Campo, nº 162. During the consultation period, the Government had held a total of three sessions for representatives of different sectors, such as: consultative bodies under the Chief Executive and the Secretary for Administration and Justice; associations for legal professionals and civil servants; groups for the commerce and finance sectors; consultative bodies under the Secretary for Economy and Finance and the Secretary for Transport and Public Works. There will be an addition session for representatives from sectors including labour, social services and education, to share their opinion regarding the Government’s proposal. Members of the public are welcome to contribute their opinions before the end of 5 June to the website http://www.elections.gov.mo; or by post to: Rua do Campo, nº 162, Edifício “Administração Pública”; or by telephone on +853 8866 8866; or by fax to +853 8987 0011 or +853 8987 0022.
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Consumer Council conducted its third ‘Supermarket price survey’ in May on 19 May 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors in the first quarter of 2016 amounted to MOP 11.54 billion, down by 13.6% from MOP 13.36 billion in the same quarter of 2015 and by 11.6% from MOP 13.05 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015. Total spending of overnight visitors (MOP 8.86 billion) and same-day visitors (MOP 2.68 billion) decreased by 14.8% and 9.6% respectively year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2016, per-capita spending of visitors was MOP 1,547, down by 14.1% year-on-year. Visitors coming to Macao for MICE events had the highest per-capita spending, at MOP 3,132, up by 9.9% year-on-year; meanwhile, spending of those who mainly came for vacation (MOP 2,177) and shopping (MOP 2,074) dropped by 19.1% and 10.4% respectively year-on-year. Per-capita spending of visitors from Mainland China decreased by 18.1% year-on-year to MOP 1,762, with those from Guangdong Province and Fujian Province spending an average of MOP 1,437 (-7.5%) and MOP 1,415 (-4.8%) respectively. Per-capita spending of Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) declined by 10.4% year-on-year to MOP 2,043, with spending of those from Fujian Province (MOP 3,084) rising by 9.7%. Meanwhile, per-capita spending of visitors from Japan (MOP 1,692) and Hong Kong (MOP 950) increased by 12.5% and 11.8% respectively year-on-year, while spending of those from Singapore (MOP 1,635), Malaysia (MOP 1,619) and Taiwan (MOP 1,579) dropped by 8.3%, 1.3% and 2.3%. Among the long-haul visitors, per-capita spending of visitors from Australia (MOP 1,412) increased by 15.1% year-on-year, while spending of those from the United Kingdom (MOP 1,329) and the United States (MOP 1,249) recorded decline. Per-capita spending of overnight visitors decreased by 21.8% year-on-year to MOP 2,525, and that of same-day visitors dropped by 3.9% to MOP 679. Analysed by countries and places, per-capita spending of overnight visitors from Mainland China (MOP 2,897), Malaysia (MOP 2,507), Singapore (MOP 2,491) and Taiwan (MOP 2,973) recorded decrease, while spending of those from Japan (MOP 2,627) and Hong Kong (MOP 1,550) increased. Moreover, per-capita spending of same-day visitors from Mainland China (MOP 813) decreased by 5.5%, and spending of those from Singapore (MOP 556) increased by 12.1%. Analysed by consumption structure, visitors spent mainly on shopping (43.7%), accommodation (27.8%) and food & beverage (20.4%). Per-capita shopping spending decreased by 22.3% year-on-year to MOP 677, of which spending of local food products (MOP 223) dropped by 8.7%. Visitors from Mainland China spent an average of MOP 923 (-23.0%) on shopping, with IVS visitors spending MOP 1,269 (-11.6%). In the first quarter of 2016, visitors’ satisfaction towards various services increased compared with the fourth quarter of 2015. There were 89.9% of the visitor-users satisfied with the services and facilities of hotels, up by 2.0 percentage points quarter-to-quarter, while those who expressed satisfaction with the services of travel agencies surged by 11.3 percentage points to 89.8%. Moreover, those who complimented about the services of public facilities and public transport both accounted for 71.3%, up by 0.3 and 3.5 percentage points respectively quarter-to-quarter. Visitors who commented that points of tourist attractions were adequate dropped by 1.3 percentage points to 41.1%, while those considered them inadequate rose by 0.9 percentage points to 15.9%.
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The Macao Orchestra under the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), presents the concert Distant Worlds – music from FINAL FANTASY, featuring music by Japanese video games music composer Nobuo Uematsu, on Saturday, 11 June, at 7:45pm, at The Venetian Theatre. The Macao Orchestra performs for the first time, under Grammy award winner conductor Arnie Roth, themes from the popular video game “FINAL FANTASY”, developed by world-renowned producer SQUARE ENIX. Images from the game will be synchronously projected on screen, offering a visual and aural experience to the public. This concert is supported by Sands China Ltd. The “FINAL FANTASY” video game, published in 1987, which introduced a world of fantasy made up of delicate images and a rich narrative, was highly acclaimed by game players all over the world. The concert “FINAL FANTASY” had its debut in Japan in 2002, followed by sought-after performances in world tours which earned the composer Nobuo Uematsu several awards. The concert Distant Worlds – music from FINAL FANTASY premiered in Hong Kong in 2013 with great success, and is now coming to Macao under the baton of music director and award-winning conductor Arnie Roth. Roth has previously directed the London Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, among others. It is well-known that Roth has been collaborating with Uematsu and SQUARE ENIX regarding video game music. He was the music director and conductor of the concerts Dear Friends - music from FINAL FANTASY, More Friends - music from FINAL FANTASY, Voices - music from FINAL FANTASY and Play! Video Games Symphony Music. The tickets for Distant Worlds – music from FINAL FANTASY are available from Friday, 20 May, at 10am at Cotai Ticketing and the Macau Ticketing Network, at the prices of MOP/HKD300 (A Reserve), MOP/HKD200 (B Reserve) and MOP/HKD100 (C Reserve); purchasers with BOC Multi-Currency Credit Card or BOC Card will receive a 30% discount. For reservation, please visit the Cotai Ticketing website at www.cotaiticketing.com, or call through tel. (853) 2882 8818 (Macao), (852) 6333 6660 (Hong Kong) or through the free ticketing hotline 4001206618 (Mainland China). Reservations are also available through the webpage www.macauticket.com, through tel.(853) 2855 5555 or in person at the designated counters. For more details and programme enquiries, please visit the Orchestra webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om or contact OM through tel. (853) 2853 0782 during office hours.
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Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the 27th Macao Arts Festival (MAF) presents ground-breaking shows between Friday and Sunday, as well as the Outdoor Performing Arts Showcase, which will be held at Iao Hon Garden, catering to the different tastes of the audience. This weekend the 27th MAF presents the ground-breaking performances Krapp’s Last Tape and Obsession. Krapp's Last Tape, Samuel Beckett’s famed work directed and performed in a minimalistic version by internationally acclaimed theatre and opera director Robert Wilson, will be held on 21 and 22 May. The dance piece Obsession by renowned Japanese choreographers Saburo Teshigawara and Rihoko Sato, will be held on 20 May, illustrating how an inner obsession torns the conscious. On 21 and 22 May, the concert Journey to the Last Frontier features pieces selected and composed by Álvaro Barbosa and played jointly by local musicians and the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, using specially designed musical instruments and installations, transporting the audience to the majestic nature of the Antarctic. In the concert Mullova and the Macao Orchestra, to be held on 22 May, legendary Russian violinist Viktoria Mullova cooperates for the first time with the Macao Orchestra. Don’t miss this rare chance to see this splendid collaboration. The Outdoor Performing Arts Showcase will be staged again at Iao Hon Garden, featuring plenty of distinctive spectaculars including juggling clowns, traditional Thai dance, a marching band, children’s theatre and puppet theatre staged by local and foreign groups. This gala creates an artistic ambience in the heart of the local community, allowing the audience to experience the fun the arts. Admission is free. The children’s puppet play Circles will be held from Friday to Sunday, taking children and parents on a journey of life education. Both of the two programmes will be held from 20 to 22 May. Only a few tickets are available for some of the performances and those interested should purchase tickets as soon as possible. For more information about the programme of the 27th Macao Arts Festival, please visit the webpage www.icm.gov.mo/fam, or follow the MAF’s page on Facebook or subscribe to IC’s WeChat account. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555.
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Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in May on 18 May for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Iao Hon Market and the Border Gate area (Portas do Cerco ) 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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IFT Tourism Retail and Marketing Management students conducted a project to help a local restaurant, The Darling Buds of May, to develop marketing strategies for enhancing their promotional effort, building greater awareness of its presence in Macao and improving their service quality. In this project led by IFT Visiting Assistant Professor, Dr. Fernando Lourenço, students carried out market research, developed and analysed marketing and promotional campaign, in order to promote the latest hot pot promotion of the restaurant and to use this as a launch pad to build greater exposure and awareness of the restaurant. The Darling Buds of May were very satisfied with the results and accepted the marketing measures developed by the winning group of the students and would put them into action. This was an excellent way for IFT to build a stronger link with the industry and offer support to local enterprises. Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 97 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has now 7 bachelor degree programmes with the Certification. Currently, the Institute has the most number of bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
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