News

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is to lead an official delegation to Shenzhen from 7 to 8 January to attend the 2012 Shenzhen-Macao Co-operation Meeting, according to a statement by the Office of the Government Spokesperson. This is the annual meeting for 2012 between the two cities, which has been postponed to early next week. Mr Chui is scheduled to meet with the Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shenzhen Municipal Committee Mr Wang Rong, and Mayor of Shenzhen Mr Xu Qin, and exchange views on extending co-operation and exchanges in various areas. Co-operation with Shenzhen, under the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement, is an integral part of Macao's effort for regional co-operation. In the meeting, officials from Macao and Shenzhen are scheduled to sign memorandums and agreements on co-operation in different areas, including the regulation and inspection of medicine, inspection techniques, inspection of frozen poultry, as well as education. Members of Mr Chui's delegation include the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen; the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng; the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms Wallis O Lam, and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today the Government would introduce long-term planning in various areas, including social security, healthcare, education and housing. Reviewing the achievements of the past 12 months, Mr Chui said Macao had remained stable with its economy growing steadily, as the Government continued to carry out its principle of putting the people first. He said the Government had dealt with various issues in the past year, such as constitutional development, inflation, the needs of the under-privileged, housing market, public housing, emergencies and buildings with structural problems. During the process of dealing with these matters, the Government kept placing the benefits of the residents as priority and paid attention to the suggestion and advice of community organisations and the general public. This brought the residents and the Government even closer, and also contributed to the attainment of a more prosperous, harmonious and stable society, Mr Chui said. He expressed his gratitude to all members of our community for their love of Macao and their support to the Government. Speaking on his plan for new year, Mr Chui said that in addition to introducing tax exemptions and other measures that would benefit the people, the Government would focus on formulating long-term planning in the areas of social security, healthcare, education, housing, transport and environmental protection. He acknowledged that there were still different problems that had to be addressed amid our community, and that there was still room for improvement for the Government. He stressed that with the concerted efforts and endeavour of the whole community, Macao will be able to overcome these difficulties and challenges and achieve even better results. He said that the development of Macao would continue as the Mainland optimised the policy of reforming and opening-up, for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Government would extend co-operation and exchanges with the Mainland in trade and other areas to diversify Macao's industrial spectrum and enhance its competitiveness. He expressed his gratitude to residents and public servants who had to work over the New Year holidays and wished everyone a good year ahead.
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Two slightly injured people remained in hospital for observation after a Hong Kong-bound jetfoil hit a buoy on a marine lane off the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal about 12:27 today. According to statements by the Office of the Government Spokesperson, Fire Services Bureau and Maritime Administration, there were 175 passengers and eight crew members on the vessel, which departed the ferry terminal at 12:15 for Hong Kong. At 12:27, the vessel hit a buoy in a marine lane off the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. After the accident, the Macao Vessel Traffic Control Centre kept communicating with the crew to obtain information about the injuries and the condition of the vessel. To minimise risks, the authorities decided to send a tugboat to tow the vessel back to the terminal after they were assured that it faced no danger of sinking and that no passengers were injured seriously. The vessel reached the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal at 13:30 and the 26 injured people were taken to hospital by waiting ambulances, most of them with scratches and bruises: 24 of them were discharged after treatment. As of 18:00, a 60-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man, both Mainland visitors, remained in hospital for observation. Both were in normal condition.
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Under the provisions of Administrative Regulation nº 30/2011 as amended by Administrative Regulation nº 5/2012, the Macao Branch of Bank of China Limited and the Banco Nacional Ultramarino, S.A. are authorized to issue Lunar New Year Snake Banknotes. Macao residents (Macao permanent and non-permanent identity card holders) can openly register online for exchange of the banknotes in stages. Arrangement for online registration
Online registration for the Lunar New Year Snake Banknotes will commence in January next year. The registration period will start at 9:00 am on 2 January and end at 6:00 pm on 31 January 2013. Macao residents can log onto the systems of the Macao Branch of Bank of China Limited and the Banco Nacional Ultramarino, S.A. respectively via the webpage of the Monetary Authority of Macao (www.amcm.gov.mo). Each Macao resident is entitled to one online registration for 30 Snake Banknotes from each Issuing Bank, namely, 60 Snake Banknotes from the two Issuing Banks in total. The quantity has been predetermined and cannot be altered. Apart from the two Issuing Banks, other locations available for exchange include the selected branches of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Limited, Tai Fung Bank Limited, Weng Hang Bank Limited, Luso International Banking Limited and Banco Comercial de Macau. Moreover, the registrants can log onto the above-mentioned systems via the webpage of AMCM for inquiry of their confirmed registration details. Arrangement for the note exchange
Starting from 1 March till 30 August 2013, the Snake Banknotes can be exchanged at the specified banks during their business hours. Registrants can proceed in person to exchange the notes by cash at the chosen locations on the selected day. The Snake Banknotes will be exchanged on random basis. Registrants are not allowed to choose and pick serial numbers of the exchanged banknotes. The arrangement for proxy applicants will be announced at a later date.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on milk powder. Survey result showed that prices of the 8 surveyed products recorded various price differences. The highest price difference recorded was over 30 percent and a Japanese brand recorded price increase of over 10 percent in many retail outlets. Consumer Council collected prices of 8 brands of milk powder, mainly infant formulas for new born babies, from 28 retail outlets on 26th December. Survey result showed that one surveyed brand was sold at the same price in all surveyed retail outlets, the rest of the 7 brands recorded price differences from the lowest 2.4 percent to the highest 31.52 percent. The greatest price discrepancy was recorded in 'Snow Brand Smart Baby 1/900g', which was sold at $230.0 to $302.5. In comparison with October's figures, prices of 'Snow Brand Smart Baby 1/900g' in many retail spots had been raised by more than 10 percent while prices of other surveyed brands remained stable. The specific price survey on milk powder is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals decreased by 1.8% year-on-year to 2,374,110 in November 2012, and same-day visitors (1,214,337) accounted for 51.1% of the total. The average length of stay of visitors stood at 1.0 day, up by 0.1 day year-on-year, with overnight and same-day visitors staying 1.8 days and 0.2 day respectively. Visitors from Mainland China increased by 2.9% from November 2011 to 1,503,158, coming mostly from Guangdong Province (654,625) and Fujian Province (68,307); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme increased by 12.8% to 632,640. Visitor arrivals from the Republic of Korea (34,686) increased by 14.2%; however, those coming from Hong Kong (529,911); Taiwan, China (79,884); and Malaysia (34,318) decreased by 10.0%, 11.0% and 3.3% respectively. Long-haul visitors from Europe (28,763) increased by 7.7%, while those from the Americas (29,847) and Oceania (10,359) decreased by 3.0% and 7.3% respectively. In the first eleven months of 2012, visitor arrivals totalled 25,586,441 but the rate of increase narrowed to 0.5% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China (15,407,183), the Republic of Korea (400,623) and Japan (369,048) increased by 5.0%, 11.2% and 3.8% respectively, while those from Hong Kong (6,469,327) and Taiwan, China (983,238) decreased by 6.6% and 12.9%.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that Gross National Income (GNI) at current prices amounted to MOP 255.05 billion in 2011, up by 17.4% in real terms. In comparison with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at MOP 295.54 billion, value of GNI was lower than GDP by MOP 40.48 billion, equivalent to 13.7% of GDP. Besides, per-capita GNI (MOP 464,300) was lower than per-capita GDP (MOP 537,993) by MOP 73,693. In 2011, value of both GNI and per-capita GNI were lower than that of GDP and per-capita GDP, implying that the income earned by non-resident investors from Macao was higher than the foreign investment income earned by resident investors from abroad. With rapid growth of the Gaming sector, income earned by non-resident investors from Macao surged by 62.2%; meanwhile, foreign investment income earned by resident investors from abroad also increased by 51.8%. Therefore, the difference between GNI and GDP widened further from MOP 24.41 billion in 2010 to MOP 40.48 billion in 2011. In 2011, GNI increased by 25.9% in nominal terms and 17.4% in real terms year-on-year, lower than the respective GDP growth of 30.2% and 21.9%. GNI is the total income earned by residents of an economy from engaging in various economic activities within or outside the economy, corresponding to GDP plus total inflow of external factor income minus total outflow of external factor income.
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Consumer Council released its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated 17th December. In comparison with last month's records, about 63 percent of the surveyed products recorded price decreases or no change in price. Prices of rice and canned food remained stable while those of cooking oil had decreased lightly. A total of 350 products were surveyed this time and in comparison with last month's records, 220 of the surveyed products, mainly rice, canned foods, cereal and infant formulas recorded price decreases or no change in price. Survey result also showed that prices of rice and canned food remained stable and some products even recorded minimal price decreases. Meanwhile, dairy products were found to observe price drop. Prices of milk and yogurt surveyed this time had been decreased by up to 5 percent, though prices of several brands of butter and cheese recorded minimal price increases. In the current survey, half of the cooking oil brands surveyed remained at the same price level of last month and prices of some had dropped by 1 to 3 percent. Prices around 120 products, mainly snacks and beverages, had been increased by 1 to 2 percent; price increases from minimal to over 10 percent were observed in tissue papers. Consumer Council reminds consumers that among the various supermarket chain stores surveyed, selling prices were found to vary in different branches in different regions due to special discounts offered. A price discrepancy of over 40 percent was discovered this time in one brand of evaporated milk due to a special price offered in one branch of the same supermarket chain. Further, about one third of the surveyed products sold at San Miu supermarket R. dos Mercadores branch and Taipa Wui Keng Garden branch were found to have different selling prices of up to over 50 percent. Price discrepancies were found mainly in snacks, with prices differed for about 2 to 10 percent in the two mentioned branches. Prices of around 20 products were also found to differ at different branches of both Royal Supermarket and Park'n Shop. Consumers are advised to check with the information available on the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform', especially the function of 'Top Ten Price Differences' for the surveyed products.
The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. 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. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for November 2012 amounted to MOP691 million, up by 6.1% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP514 million) increased by 18.9%, but that of domestic exports (MOP177 million) decreased by 19.1%. Total merchandise import amounted to MOP6.41 billion, up by 6.2% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.72 billion for November 2012. In the first eleven months of 2012, total value of merchandise export increased by 19.9% year-on-year to MOP7.48 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP5.38 billion) increased by 32.2%, but that of domestic exports (MOP2.09 billion) decreased by 3.3%; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import increased by 15.4% to MOP64.47 billion. Merchandise trade deficit for the first eleven months of 2012 amounted to MOP56.99 billion. From January to November 2012, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP3.78 billion) and Mainland China (MOP1.24 billion) increased by 37.4% and 25.1% respectively year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP470 million) and the EU (MOP285 million) decreased by 6.5% and 18.2% respectively. Exports of Non-textiles (MOP6.50 billion) in the first eleven months of 2012 expanded by 30.0% year-on-year, of which exports of Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof (MOP1.33 billion) and Travel goods & handbags (MOP193 million) surged by 146.9% and 108.1% respectively; yet, exports of Textiles & garments (MOP975 million) decreased by 21.0%. Domestic exports of Tobacco & wine (MOP475 million) rose by 13.3%, while exports of Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP309 million) declined by 24.8%. Re-exports of Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof (MOP1.32 billion) soared by 149.3%. In the first eleven months of 2012, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP20.94 billion) and the EU (MOP15.19 billion) increased by 22.6% and 9.1% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 14.2% to MOP39.44 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP6.91 billion), Watches (MOP4.69 billion) and Motor cars & motorcycles (MOP2.99 billion) increasing by 17.6%, 33.4% and 34.3% respectively. However, imports of Tobacco (MOP436 million) dropped notably by 40.4%. Moreover, imports of Capital goods (MOP11.85 billion) registered a year-on-year increase of 23.0%. External merchandise trade reached MOP71.95 billion in the first eleven months of 2012, up by 15.9% compared with MOP62.09 billion a year earlier.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that economic growth sustained in 2011, of which Gross Value Added, Intermediate Consumption and Compensation of Employees of all economic activities increased by 29.0%, 35.2% and 16.9% respectively year-on-year. Analysed by industry, respective indicators of Gaming increased by 40.3%, 45.0% and 14.2%; industries relative to the gaming and tourism sector, namely Wholesale & Retail, and Hotel registered favourable increase in Gross Value Added, up by 43.8% and 33.6%. Gross Value Added of Construction reversed the decrease in 2010 on account of rising public investment when Gross Value Added of Manufacturing posted a rebound. Ratio of Gross Value Added to Gross Output of all economic activities declined from 46.2% in 2010 to 45.1% in 2011; moreover, ratio of Compensation of Employees to Gross Value Added decreased from 34.4% in 2010 to 31.1% in 2011. Regarding changes in the industrial structure, Gross Value Added of Manufacturing and Construction rose by 4.1% and 14.8% respectively, yet the rate of increase was lower than that of economic growth, thus bringing the relative importance of the secondary sector to GDP to drop by 1.0 percentage point to 6.4%. Relative importance of Construction (4.9%) decreased by 0.6 percentage point, and that of both Electricity, Gas & Water Supply (0.8%) and Manufacturing (0.7%) fell by 0.2 percentage point year-on-year. Gross Value Added of the tertiary sector increased by 30.4%, with the notable increase in Wholesale & Retail (43.8%), Gaming (40.3%) and Hotel (33.6%). Consequently, relative importance of the tertiary sector to GDP increased further from 92.6% in 2010 to 93.6% in 2011. Analysed by industry, relative importance of Gaming (44.7%), Wholesale & Retail (7.8%) and Hotel (4.8%) rose by 3.6, 0.8 and 0.2 percentage point respectively year-on-year. However, relative importance of the remaining economic activities decreased, of which that of Real Estate Activities declined by 0.6 percentage point over 2010. Industrial structure of Macao is the compilation of GDP under the production approach, which equals the sum of Gross Value Added (Gross Output minus Intermediate Consumption) of all economic activities, plus taxes on products.
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