News

Consumer Council recently conducted a price check on 6 brands of over-the-counter drugs. Survey result showed that price differences of the same product sold in different retail outlets ranged from 19 percent to 81 percent. Consumer Council collected prices of 6 over-the-counter drugs from 28 drugstores on 20th September; surveyed drugs included remedies for cold and flu, cough syrup, and stomachache medicine. The specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs revealed that selling prices of the same product in certain drugstores were especially higher than prices in other drugstores. 'Advance Cough Suspension/120ml', which was sold at $31.9 to $58.0, revealed a price difference of 81.8 percent. 'WEISEN-U/30 tablets', which was sold at $43.5 to $62.0, had a price difference of 42.5 percent. Prices of the surveyed drugs were generally stable, only 'Coltalin - Cold & Flu / Allergy Formula/12 tablets' recorded a price increase of about 10 percent in 10 drugstores. Consumer Council indicates that its specific price survey aims at helping consumer make price comparison for the same product, consumer are therefore advised to check with the 'Specific product price information platform' prior to making purchase. The specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo).
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) had a meeting and signed the first cooperative agreement in tourism among the four places with Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TICHK), Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sport and Tourism and Zhuhai Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism together this morning (September 25) to strengthen the cooperation and communication in terms of tourism promotion as well as tourist market supervision and management among Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai, to jointly develop "multi destinations in one trip" itineraries and to regulate the tourist market order of the four cities. Director of MGTO, Joao Manual Costa Antunes, Executive Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Anthony Lau, Chairman of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Michael Wu, Director of Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Chen Wei and Secretary of Leading Party Committee, Zhuhai Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Zhang Mei Sheng, signed the first "Cooperative Agreement in Tourism among Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai" under the witness of Secretary of CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Wang Rong, Secretary-General of CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Li Hua Nan, Deputy Secretary-General of the People's Government of Shenzhen Municipality, Huang Guo Qiang, Director of Asia Tourism Exchange Centre Limited (China National Tourism Administration, Hong Kong and Macau Office), Xu Hui Fang, Deputy Director of Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Mei Qi Jie, and Commissioner for Tourism of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Philip Yung, etc. in Shenzhen on September 25. According to the agreement, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai will set up a Liaison Team of Cooperation and a regular communication mechanism to facilitate cooperation and contact among the four cities in terms of tourism promotion and tourist market management and supervision, to jointly develop "multi destinations in one trip" itineraries and to mutually promote relevant policies and rules of tourism industry management and market regulation among the four cities. During his speech at the meeting, Director Antunes addressed that Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai each possesses unique advantages and can complement each other; the four cities can extend one another's respective tourist market scale while jointly developing their regional tourist market, attracting a great number of international visitors to visit Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai with multi stops in one trip. It is anticipated that by signing the first cooperative agreement in tourism, it can greatly enhance mutual cooperation and communication among the four cities and facilitate their tourism business while further upgrading their tourism industry management and service quality. MGTO Deputy Director, Manuel Pires, Head of Licensing and Inspection Department, Ines Chan and Head of Communication and External Relations Department, Cecilia Tse also attended the meeting and signing ceremony.
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Consumer Council recently collected prices of 'wash, cut, and blow-dry' service from 70 local salons. Result showed that the average price of this kind of service mostly ranged from $100 to $150, followed by $50 to below $100, and most surveyed salons had their price lists clearly displayed. Consumer Council collected prices of 'wash, cut, and blow-dry' service from 70 different salons in Macao earlier and categorized the price range into four levels: below $100, $100 to $150, $151 to $100, and $200 and above. 27 salons or 38.6 percent of the surveyed salons, mostly located at Horta e Costa region, charged $100 to $150 for wash, cut, and blow-dry. The second largest group of 26 salons or 37.1 percent of the surveyed salons, mainly located at S. Lourenço and northern area, charged $50 to $100 for the same kind of service. Some salons located in central area were found to be charging only $50 to $100. 11 salons charged $151 to $200 while less than 10 percent of the surveyed salons charged over $200. The lowest price recorded in this survey was $50 whereas the highest was $680. Price difference may be caused due to scale of businesses and popularity of salons, some salons were also found to charge differently for different stylists and therefore displayed their prices as 'From $XXX'. Most of the surveyed salons had their detailed price lists clearly displayed, only 2 salons located at Rotunda de Carlos da Maia did not have any price list displayed at their shopfronts. The above-mentioned price survey on salon's 'wash, cut, and blow-dry' service is available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The negotiation process for the mutual visa exemption arrangement between the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Government of the Republic of Albania has been completed. This arrangement starts to be effective from 24 September 2012. According to the arrangement, holders of Macao SAR Passport will be exempted from visa requirements when entering the Republic of Albania, with a maximum stay of 90 days. Meanwhile, nationals of the Republic of Albania will also be exempted from visa requirements when entering the Macao SAR, with a maximum stay of 90 days. Up to date, the total number of countries or territories that have agreed to grant Macao SAR Passport holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access has increased to 103, while 9 countries have agreed to grant Macao SAR Travel Permit holders visa-free access to their region. On the other hand, the Agreement between the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Government of the Russian Federation on mutual exemption of visa requirements starts to be effective from 30 September 2012. According to the Agreement, holders of Macao SAR Passport will be exempted from visa requirements when entering the Russian Federation, with a maximum stay of 30 days.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals decreased slightly by 0.6% year-on-year to 2,681,141 in August 2012; same-day visitors (1,346,349) accounted for 50.2% of the total. The average length of stay of visitors stood at 1.0 day, down by 0.1 day year-on-year, with the overnight and same-day visitors staying 1.8 days and 0.2 day respectively. Analysed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China increased by 4.1% year-on-year to 1,635,080, coming mostly from Guangdong Province (789,957), Fujian Province (77,800) and Hunan Province (64,274); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme rose by 10.6% to 772,534. Visitors from the Republic of Korea (48,035), Japan (42,506) and Indonesia (31,549) increased by 6.4%, 9.4% and 23.1% year-on-year respectively, while those from Hong Kong (677,074) and Taiwan, China (106,263) decreased by 10.3% and 8.5% respectively. Long-haul visitors from Europe (22,592), the Americas (21,938) and Oceania (7,989) also decreased by 2.3%, 9.9% and 2.0% respectively. In the first eight months of 2012, visitor arrivals totalled 18,703,119, with the year-on-year growth slowing to 1.1%. Visitors from Mainland China (11,202,643), the Republic of Korea (298,850) and Japan (283,771) increased by 6.6%, 8.3% and 14.6% respectively. On the contrary, visitors from Hong Kong (4,790,983) and Taiwan, China (719,917) decreased by 7.8% and 14.6% respectively.
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Following a notice issued by the China National Tourism Administration, Macao's Tourism Crisis Management Office reminds Macao residents planning to travel or currently in Japan to pay close attention to their person safety. Macao residents may call the 24-hour Tourism Hotline at (853) 2833 3000 for assistance if necessary. The full announcement of the China National Tourism Administration is as follows: "In view of the situation and in order to ensure the safety of Chinese tourists, CNTA reminds Chinese citizens planning to travel or currently in Japan to pay close attention to their person safety. When there are signs of threat that might affect person safety or violation of property, Chinese tourists should immediately report to the Japanese police (Tel: 110), and inform at the same time to the nearest Chinese embassies and consulates stationed in Japan in order to obtain consular assistance. The consulate protection phone number of Chinese Ambassador in Japan as follows: 1. The Chinese Embassy in Japan Weekday working hours: (0081) 3-3403-3064, (0081) 3-3403-3065. Holiday and non office hours: (0081) 90-8776-1119. 2. The Chinese Consulate General in Osaka Weekday working hours: (0081) 6-6445-9427, (0081) 6-6445-9481, (0081) 6-6445-9482. Holiday and non office hours: (0081) 90-6673-6659. 3. The Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka Throughout the day: (0081) 90-6298-9986. 4.The Consulate General of China in Sapporo Weekday office hours: (0081) 11-563-5563. Holiday and non office hours: (0081) 90-5076-6279. 5. The Consulate General in Nagasaki, Weekday office hours: (0081) 95-849-3311. Holiday and non office hours: (0081) 90-9569-2067. 6. The Consulate General of China in Nagoya Throughout the day: (0081) 52-932-1098. 7. The Consulate General of China in Niigata Weekday business hours: (0081) 25-228-8887. Holiday and non working hours: (0081) 25-228-8888. "
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the Vice Minister of Commerce, Mr Jiang Yaoping, to exchange view on enhancing the level of internationalisation of the convention and exhibition industry. Mr Chui also extended a warm welcome to Mr Jiang and his entourage, who were in Macao to take part in the third China Catering Expo, co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the MSAR Government. According to international experience, the convention and exhibition industry is one of the important industries, and would help Macao diversify its economy moderately. Therefore, Mr Chui said, the Government had high priority in the development of the industry. Following the establishment of some large-scale integrated tourism facilities in recent years, the hardware was good enough for large-scale convention projects. Mr Chui said he believed Macao's convention industry might get a further boost to international level with the support from the Central Government and the Ministry of Commerce. Mr Jiang thanked the MSAR Government's for its support in organising the third China Catering Expo and said he believed the Expo would achieve success. He said the Expo might provide an opportunity for Macao and mainland catering industries to exchange experience, this would also help to enhance the catering industry towards internationalisation. They also talked of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries, which would celebrate its 10th anniversary next year. Mr Chui said Macao would strengthen co-operation and exchange with the Portuguese-speaking countries and the Romance language-speaking countries next year. Meanwhile, Mr Jiang said that during his overseas visits he had learned that the Portuguese-speaking countries generally agreed that the Forum had served as a important platform, and that he was confident in Macao's development. The third China Catering Expo, hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Macao SAR Government, is being held from 21-23 September. It is a high-quality branded and professional exhibition with objectives to disseminate the Chinese food culture, build up branded catering enterprises, provide innovative development direction to the catering sector and strengthen international exchange and business co-operation in the food and beverage industry.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will lead an official delegaton to Beijing from 26 to 28 September for the first Beijing-Macao Economic Co-operation Symposium. Announcing this in a statement today, the Government Spokesman Office said Mr Chui is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony on 27 September. During his stay there he would also meet with Beijing's leaders. The first ever symposium, to be held from 27-30 September, is jointly hosted by the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, the Macao SAR Government, and undertaken by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Council for Promotion of Trade of Beijing, and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. During the four-day event, a string of activities will be held including a forum about Beijing and Macao's development, special presentations, trade negotiations, signing protocols and the sale of Macao's feature products. Members of the official delegation include Secretary for Economy and Finance Mr Tam Pak Yuen, Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive Mr Tam Chon Weng, Secretary-General of the Executive Council Ms O Lam, Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, President of Macao Trade Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Cheong Chou Weng, Director of the Office of the Macao SAR Government in Beijing Ms Hong Wai, Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office Mr Fung Sio Weng and the Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Kou Chin Hung The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be acting Chief Executive until Mr Chui and his delegation return on 28 September.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) dropped whereas commercial real estate loans (CRELs) rose in July 2012. With regard to outstanding balance, both RMLs and CRELs witnessed increases. New Lending Approved In July 2012, new RMLs approved by Macao banks fell 5.9% month-to-month to MOP3.8 billion; of which, 94.6% was extended to residents. In terms of value, new RMLs to residents and non-residents decreased 5.4% and 13.7% respectively. New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) rose 13.6% month-to-month to MOP164.9 million. The equitable mortgage extended to residents, which accounted for 94.0% of the total, rose 6.9%. New CRELs increased notably by 123.3% month-to-month to MOP4.9 billion; of which, 98.5% was granted to residents. In terms of value, new CRELs to residents surged by 140.4% whereas those to non-residents declined by 60.2% compared with the previous month. Outstanding Balances As at end-July 2012, the outstanding value of RMLs reached MOP86.2 billion, an increase of 3.1% from one month earlier. The resident component made up 92.7% of the total. Outstanding RMLs to residents and non-residents grew by 3.2% and 0.8% respectively. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs rose 2.5% from end-June to MOP64.3 billion. Residents accounted for 90.4% of the loans. Compared with one month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents and non-residents grew by 2.7% and 0.4% respectively. Delinquency Ratios At the end of July 2012, the delinquency ratio for RMLs stood at 0.06%, down 0.01 percentage point from one month earlier. The ratio for CRELs went down 0.02 percentage points from end-June to 0.08%.
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Consumer Council released its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated 19th September. In comparison with last month's data, over 60 percent of the surveyed items remained stable or recorded light decrease in prices. Survey result also revealed that price differences of up to over 100 percent existed for the same product being sold in different supermarket chain stores located in different areas of Macao. A total of 316 items were surveyed in the Council's latest 'Supermarket Price Survey'. In comparison with August's figures, prices of 94 products had decreased and 100 products recorded no change in price, most of these products included cooking oil, rice, cereal products, sanitary and hygienic products. Prices of 122 products had been raised lightly but most of them recorded an increase of less than 5 percent. Only 'Mr. Juicy Orange/2L' and 'Abbott Ensure Powder/900g' recorded more obvious price increases of 15.53 percent and 10.10 percent respectively. The current price survey also showed that among the various supermarket chain stores surveyed by the Council, selling prices of many products were found to vary in different branches. 'Vitasoy Pure Soyabean Extract/1L', which was on sale at Grandeur Heights Park'N Shop, recorded a price difference of 115.94 percent when compared with the same product sold at R. Areia Preta Park'n Shop. Further, for products sold at both R. dos Mercadores San Miu and Mercado de Iao Hon San Miu, 94 products were found to bear different selling prices. Consumers are advised to check with the information available on the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' and in the platform iPhone and Android apps. 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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