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The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. will hold the "Parade through Macao, Latin City" in commemoration of the 14th Anniversary of Macao's Handover to China on December 20th, the day marking the establishment of the Macao S.A.R. The Parade is once again held under the slogans "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration" and "An annual celebration for the entire city – VIVA!", and this year is themed "The Rhythm of Life", hoping to attract even more residents and tourists and inviting them to dig deep into the diverse cultural atmosphere of Macao. A press conference to present this year's Parade took place on November 19, at the Tourism Activities Centre. Present were the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Dr. Ung Vai Meng; the Vice-President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Dr. Leong Hio Ming; the President of the Board of the Macao Association for the Promotion of Exchange between Asia-Pacific and Latin America, Mr. Gary Ngai; the Chief of the Cultural Affairs Department, Mr. Ieong Chi Kin; and the Chief of the Special Projects Division, substitute, Ms. Chris Tang, as well as representatives of the local participating groups. Last year's parade took the Region by storm, attracting an aggregate viewership of several million including the audience present at the parade, those who watched the live televised broadcast and the simulcast on outdoor screens at various locations, plus those who tuned in to the special Parade programme on TV. The "Parade through Macao, Latin City" is organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and is co-organised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Macao Government Tourist Office, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of Macao, the Public Security Police Force, the Transport Bureau, the Fire Services Bureau, the Social Welfare Bureau and the Macao Association for the Promotion of Exchange between Asia-Pacific and Latin America. It is also supported by various organisations, including the Macao General Union of Neighbourhood Associations, the Macao Sam Pa Mun Residents Mutual Aid Association, the Macao Soi Ho Cheok Residents Mutual Aid Association, as well as VIVA Ambassadors supporters, namely the Scout Association of Macao, the Macao Community Youth Volunteers Development Association, the Association of Social Service Volunteers Macao, the General Volunteers Association of Macao and the Recreation Club of the Bank of China, Macao Branch. This edition is also fully supported by Air Macao Co, Ltd. In addition, TDM (Teledifusão de Macau, S.A.) is serving as the designated television broadcaster. Artists bring the Ruins of St. Paul's to life; "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration" at the grand finale at Tap Seac Square The opening ceremony takes place at 3.30pm in front of the Ruins of St. Paul's, where a wondrous journey of revival kicks off. Artists from around the world raise the curtain on a series of fascinating shows, spreading joy all over the city. The Parade route will be the same as last year's, beginning on Rua de S. Paulo and winding its way past St. Anthony's Church, Companhia de Jesus Square, Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro, Rua dos Artilheiros, Rua de Sanches de Miranda, Calçada da Igreja de São Lázaro, the Old Ladies' House (Albergue), Rua de São Roque, Rua Nova de São Lázaro, St. Lazarus Church, Rua do Volong, Rua do Tap Seac and Rua de Afonso de Albuquerque, culminating in a grand joint performance at Tap Seac Square, at 6pm. Residents and tourists can contribute to this day's joyous ambience by joining and following the parade at any point on the route. This year's Parade embraces performing groups from over 10 countries and regions including Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Burkina Faso, among others, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. This extravaganza includes performances by PIA – Projectos de Intervenção Artística from Portugal, French group Les Grandes Personnes, Hong Kong Youth Marching Band, the Peruvian Teatro del Milenio, Italian Flag Wavers and Be Fantasy Bubble Arts from Taiwan. Joining them in the Parade are 50 local groups, bringing the total estimate of performers to an amazing 2,000 creative participants. Cultural diversity culminates with grand joint performance at Tap Seac Square This year's parade features shows for all ages and tastes, welcoming the audience at any point on the route. The Rua de S. Paulo this year hosts humorous Mime Shows that will break the barrier between the stage and the audience. An Enchanted Dance Floor will take over St. Anthony's Square, where Latin and belly dance with join Chinese folk dances, while pure voices and bells spread Enchanting Sounds through the Companhia de Jesus Square reminding the audience of traditional nursery rhymes. Pátio do Espinho witnesses an exciting Street Dance Game while the Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro will be filled with western and eastern Lingering Melodies. Portuguese Folk Dance and Music brings Portuguese flavours to Rua de Sanches de Miranda. The peaceful Old Ladies' House comes to life amid a Wonderland of Dance and Creative Giants invade the Rua Nova de São Lázaro. Finally, artists performing Stunts on Stilts welcome the parade to Tap Seac Square, where artists and audience come together for the Grand Finale "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration", which brings the event to a close with hypnotising performances. Related Events and Enquiries To promote this extravaganza far and wide and create a joyous ambience throughout the entire city, TDM will broadcast the event live. Furthermore, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will install outdoor screens at several locations – St. Dominic's Square, Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, Iao Hon Garden, Avenida do Infante D. Henrique (near Hotel Sintra) and Travessa de S. Paulo (Tourism and Cultural Activities Centre) – displaying a live simulcast from 3 to 7pm on December 20th. The organiser is also holding a series of related events in parallel, including a photography contest and a Facebook lucky draw. Hong Kong's TVB will also cover the Parade: the event will be featured on the programme 'Scoop', on Parade day, from 7.30 to 8pm, as well as on a Parade Special Programme, to be broadcast on December 25, from 7 to 7.30pm. Streets along the parade route will be temporarily closed to traffic on the parade day, and first-aid stations and souvenir and information service centres will be available along the route. Crowd entry and exit control mechanisms will be installed at the Ruins of St. Paul's and Tap Seac Square at 2.30 and 4.30pm, respectively. For convenience and environmental health, residents are encouraged to walk to the parade venues on foot or use public transportation. For more details about the event and its contents, please visit the Bureau's website at www.icm.gov.mo/macaoparade or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/macaoparade.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) grew in September 2013 whereas those of commercial real estate loans (CRELs) dropped. With regard to outstanding balance, RMLs and CRELs both witnessed increases. New Lending Approved In September 2013, new RMLs approved by Macao banks grew 38.0% month-to-month to MOP4.6 billion; of which, 93.1% was extended to residents. In terms of value, new RMLs to residents and non-residents expanded 29.6% and 1,010.1% respectively. When compared with the same period of 2012, new approvals of RMLs witnessed decrease of 1.5%. New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) rose significantly by 76.4% month-to-month to MOP77.9 million. When compared with the same period of 2012, this type of bank mortgage increased 10.4% New CRELs dropped 17.8% month-to-month to MOP3.4 billion; of which, 96.0% was granted to residents. In terms of value, new CRELs to residents decreased 19.7% whereas the amount to non-residents expanded 86.8%. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs grew 7.6%. Outstanding Balances As at end-September 2013, the outstanding value of RMLs reached MOP113.1 billion, an increase of 2.5% from one month earlier or 23.6% from a year ago. The resident component made up 94.6% of the total. Compared to end-August 2013, outstanding RMLs to residents grew 2.7% whereas the amount to non-residents dropped 0.9%. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs increased 1.8% from end-August 2013 and was up 22.0% from end-September 2012 to MOP81.2 billion. Residents accounted for 92.3% of the loans. Compared with one month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents and non-residents grew 1.9% and 0.9% respectively. Delinquency Ratios At the end of September 2013, the delinquency ratio for RMLs stood at 0.04%, which decreased 0.01 percentage point from one month earlier and from a year ago. The ratio for CRELs went down 0.03 percentage points from end-August 2013 and 0.04 percentage points from end-September 2012 to 0.04%.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) completes the year long data collection process of the 2012/2013 Household Budget Survey; total sample size of this Survey comprises 6,500 residential units and the unit of observation includes individual living in those units. Director of DSEC, Ms. Vanessa Kong is satisfied with the response rate reaching 70% and wants to convey her appreciation to the hard-work of the DSEC colleagues, as well as support and cooperation of the respondent-households. She emphasizes that every single income or expenditure entry enables us to understand better on the consumption structure, type of goods and services purchased, as well as income distribution of Macao's households. At present, DSEC is working on data processing, extrapolation of results and analysis, while detailed results will be published in the first quarter of 2014. As a token of appreciation to the cooperation and support of the households, DSEC has prepared small souvenirs to the respondent-households during data collection; besides, the cooperating households will automatically enter the Cooperating Household Lucky Draw upon completion of the set of questionnaires, with a chance to win supermarket vouchers worth up to MOP5,000. DSEC held the final round Lucky Draw earlier, drawing the list of ten winner-households; consequently, Household Reference No. 20246 is the winner to the MOP5,000 supermarket vouchers; list of the nine winner-households to the MOP1,000 supermarket vouchers is: 22083, 26043, 25051, 22030, 24223, 26067, 23037, 21001 and 25180. To collect their prizes, winner-households shall bring the prize notification letter and Identity Card to the Promotion and Data Dissemination Division of DSEC, at Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpção, No.411-417, Dynasty Plaza, 17/Floor.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that purchase and sale of building units plummeted after the laws regulating pre-sale of buildings under construction (Regime jurídico da promessa de transmissão de edifícios em construção) and intermediary activity of real estate agent (Lei da actividade de mediação imobiliária) take effect. In the third quarter of 2013, a total of 3,193 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold at MOP13.84 billion as per Stamp Duty record, down substantially by 51% and 59% quarter-to-quarter; purchase and sale of residential units totalled 1,908, of which pre-sale residential units purchased and sold (90 units at MOP900 million) plunged by 95% from the previous quarter. Subsequent to a sharp decline in purchase and sale of the expensive pre-sale residential units, the average price of all residential units tumbled from MOP88,957 in the second quarter to MOP66,936 per square metre of usable area, down by 25% quarter-to-quarter. Purchase and sale of existing residential units totalled 1,818 and the average price per square meter rose by 2% quarter-to-quarter, amounting to MOP64,561; the average price of residential units in the Macao Peninsula and Taipa Island increased by 3% and 2% respectively, but average price of those in Coloane Island dropped by 12%. Analysed by district, most of the existing residential units purchased and sold were in Baixa da Taipa (284), NATAP (203) and Areia Preta & Iao Hon (182), and the average price amounted to MOP70,960, MOP82,387 and MOP58,119 respectively per square metre. The average price of pre-sale residential units decreased by 10% quarter-to-quarter, at MOP97,902 per square metre; the average price of residential units in the Macao Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island fell by 1%, 27% and 10% respectively. The majority of pre-sale residential units purchased and sold were in NATAP (33), Coloane (17) and Pac On & Taipa Grande (17), and the average price amounted to MOP119,748, MOP94,489 and MOP89,553 respectively per square meter. Analysed by year of completion, there were 878 residential units built more than 20 years ago (106 in Areia Preta & Iao Hon, 101 in Barca) and the average price amounted to MOP51,992 per square metre, up by 7% quarter-to-quarter. For the 688 residential units completed between 11 to 20 years ago (184 in Baixa da Taipa, 80 in NATAP), the average price rose by 2%, at MOP63,352 per square metre. The average price of the 144 residential units completed within 5 years or less (35 in NATAP, 27 in Baixa da Taipa) increased by 7%, at MOP100,401 per square metre. Analysed by floor area, a total of 891 residential units having a floor area of 50.0 to 99.9 square metres and the average price plunged by 26% quarter-to-quarter, amounting to MOP64,361 per square metre. For the 686 small-sized units having a floor area of less than 50 square metres, the average price was MOP59,187 per square metre, down by 13% quarter-to-quarter. In the third quarter of 2013, the average price of office units amounted to MOP79,592 per square metre, an increase of 23% quarter-to-quarter. The average price of industrial units rose by 1%, at MOP34,637 per square metre. In the third quarter of 2013, real estate sale contracts signed included 3,186 immovable properties, and mortgage contracts signed involved 4,288 real estate properties, down by 18% and 7% respectively quarter-to-quarter. As regards construction in the private sector, floor area of construction of new buildings in the third quarter totalled 1,606,786 square metres, providing 439 units (413 are residential units), 4,794 parking spaces for cars and 1,502 parking spaces for motorcycles upon completion. Meanwhile, floor area of buildings completed totalled 5,882 square metres, altogether providing 82 units (69 are residential units). Purchase and sale of building units and parking spaces totalled 15,130 in the first three quarters of 2013, down by 17% year-to-year, while the total value rose by 6% to MOP73.52 billion. Among them, residential units purchased and sold decreased by 23% to 9,552, while the total value increased by 4% to MOP53.67 billion. Real estate sale contracts signed included 10,343 immovable properties, and mortgage contracts signed involved 12,787 properties in the first three quarters. Floor area of construction of new buildings totalled 2,302,583 square metres, providing 1,712 units (1,657 are residential units), 6,726 parking spaces for cars and 1,950 parking spaces for motorcycles upon completion. Floor area of buildings completed was 491,170 square metres, altogether providing 933 units, of which 862 were residential units.
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Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kouk Va, said today that the police will study more effective ways to prevent and combat crime. Mr Cheong said this at a press conference to release the crime statistics for the first nine months of this year, which saw a slight increase of 8.9 per cent to 10,193 cases, up 834 cases. This increase was attributed to crimes against society: arson, the use of forged doucments, and transferring counterfeit money and forgery. Meanwhile, thanks to promotional anti robbery campaigns, the number of such cases went down 29.4 per cent, from 401 cases to 283 cases, compared with the same period last year. In crimes against the person -- one of the five major categories of crimes classified in the Penal Code of Macao – wounding accounted for a rise of 3.5 per cent to1,271 cases. Criminal intimidation cases increased 71.4 per cent to 108 cases. Crimes against property increased 6.5 per cent to 5,707 cases while robbery cases recorded a drop of 19.2 per cent to 105 cases; theft cases dropped 5.2 per cent to 2,880 cases. Employment of illegal immigrants cases increased 15 per cent to 361 cases and drug abuse recorded an increase of 94.7 per cent and 23.6 per cent respectively. Juvenile crimes recorded 36 cases with a drop of 47.1 per cent from the corresponding period last year. The police also caught 32,321 illegal immigrants and overstayers in the first nine months. Among the overstayers, 963 (+88) were Mainland visitors who had entered Macao illigally, and 25,678 (+4,245) were Mainland visitors with identification documents of others. There were 2,179 (-143) foreign visitors who overstayed.
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The 18th European Union-Macao Joint Committee meeting was held in Macao on 15 November 2013, in accordance with Article 16 of the Agreement for Trade and Cooperation between the European Economic Community and Macao of 15 December 1992. This was the 12th annual meeting since China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). The previous meeting was held in Brussels on 4 December 2012. The Delegation of the Macao SAR was headed by Ms. Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, Secretary for Administration and Justice. The Delegation of the European Union (EU) was led by Ambassador Viorel Isticioaia Budura, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service. The 18th Joint Committee meeting coincided with the very special occasion of the 20th anniversary of the EU-Macao Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which has been in force since 1993. Macao and the EU jointly applauded the fruitful implementation of the Agreement over the past 20 years. The Agreement has given shape to an active cooperation agenda in many different sectors ranging from trade to culture. As a result of the Joint Committee mechanism established under the Agreement, a number of useful cooperation programmes and exchanges were successfully undertaken, fostering closer ties between Macao and the EU. Both sides reiterated their appreciation for the annual bilateral meeting as an effective forum to discuss issues of common interest and to explore further cooperation initiatives. They looked forward to the special events to mark the 20th anniversary of the Agreement, in particular a commemorative conference and an exhibition of artistic photographs of European capitals. They also noted the upcoming visit of the European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso to Macao on 23 November 2013. During the meeting, the parties reviewed the latest developments in the bilateral relationship and took stock of ongoing bilateral cooperation activities, including in areas identified during the previous meeting. Macao informed the EU of recent developments in the Special Administrative Region, including the steady growth of its economy over the last year, the new campus of University of Macau as well as the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Industrial Park in Hengqin, new infrastructure developments, the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with Mainland China, and efforts towards diversification of the economy. The EU updated Macao of its political and economic priorities, noting that the EU economy had returned to growth and the ongoing efforts in strengthening the governance of the financial sector. The EU pointed out the importance of EU-China relations with significant potential for further expanding trade and investment and strengthening of the relations. On EU-Macao cooperation, both sides welcomed the satisfactory implementation of the EU-Macao Legal Cooperation Project, which was aimed at strengthening Macao's legal system and enhancing public administration, legal and judicial expertise, and agreed to continue the project in due course. The two sides also expressed satisfaction with the start of the EU Academic Programme launched in 2012, and showed keen interest in the progress of the Programme. Macao and the EU welcomed the forthcoming signature in Macao of the EU-Macao Air Services Agreement during the visit of the European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso to Macao on 23 November 2013. Finally, the EU and Macao authorities expressed their shared intention to explore new areas of cooperation and to continue to cooperate in environmental protection, cultural and creative exchanges, all of which have been the subject of initiatives and events involving both sides following the last meeting in Brussels.
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A carnival and an exhibition featuring the services of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' will be held by Consumer Council this Saturday (16th November) from 3PM to 5PM at D Assumpção Park. Citizens are welcome to participate in the event. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', series of activities were held earlier this year in different local communities to promote the Regulations and services of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre. Consumers were able to know more about the fair, efficient, and free of charge services provided by the Centre as well as the win-win benefits resulting from the solution of disputes through mediation and arbitration. Consumer Council continues to hold its carnivals and 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' exhibitions on Saturdays in November. Last week, consumers were excited to participate in the Q&A session at the carnival held at Flower City Garden in Taipa. The Council will have another carnival held at D Assumpção Park from 3PM to 5PM this Saturday. On-site quiz games, booth games and information about 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' will be exhibited during the event. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 28 banks in Macao and number of full-time employees totalled 5,503 at the end of the third quarter of 2013, an increase of 232 year-on-year. Analysed by occupation, directors and managers reached 1,322 and 2,163 were clerks, including 832 bank tellers. In September 2013, average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees amounted to MOP21,470, up by 1.5% year-on-year. Average earnings of bank tellers was MOP12,450, up by 1.0%. At the end of the third quarter of 2013, job vacancy totalled 159, similar to 155 a year earlier; vacancies for clerk stood at 95, including 57 for bank tellers. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 44.7% of the vacancies required working experience, 80.5% required tertiary education, and requirement for knowledge of Mandarin and English stood at 98.1% and 94.3% respectively. In the third quarter of 2013, the Banking Sector hired 376 new employees; the employee recruitment rate (6.9%) and turnover rate (5.4%) edged down by 0.4 and 0.3 percentage points year-on-year, indicating that human resources of the Banking Sector was stable in this quarter.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP129.1 billion (USD16.16 billion) at the end of October 2013. The reserves fell by 0.9% from the revised value of MOP130.3 billion (USD16.31 billion) for the previous month. When compared with a year earlier, the reserves dropped by MOP4.8 billion or 3.6%. Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves at end-October 2013 represented 15 times the currency in circulation or 124.4% of Pataca M2 at end-September 2013. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency's exchange rates against the currencies of Macao's major trading partners, dropped 0.97 points month-to-month and 0.56 points year-on-year to 96.51 in October 2013. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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"The Agreement for Trade and Cooperation between the European Economic Community and Macao" was signed on 15th December 1992 and implemented since 1993. In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Agreement, the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao have organized a series of commemorative activities, including a "Conference on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of EU-Macao Trade and Cooperation Agreement", together with a reception and a soft launch of the EU photo exhibition titled "Homo Urbanus Europeanus" to be held in the afternoon on 15th November at the Macao Science Centre. Delegation of the EU led by Ambassador Viorel Isticioaia Budura, Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, European External Action Service, will arrive at Macao to attend the "18th EU-Macao Joint Committee Meeting" with the delegation of Macao headed by Secretary for Administration and Justice Florinda Chan, and the celebrations for the 20th anniversary on the same day.
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