News

A delegation of 8 members led by the Vice-Chairman of Hong Kong Consumer Council, Mr. Ambrose Ho, SC, JP, visited Macao Consumer Council earlier. The President of the General Committee of Macao Consumer Council, Mr. Vong Kok Seng, welcomed the delegation. Mr. Vong indicated that the close co-operation between the two Councils would continue and more frequent collaboration would be strengthened. The Vice-Chairman of HK Consumer Council, Mr. Ho, not only thanked Macao Consumer Council for participating in the 19th Consumers International Congress held in HK last year but also summed up the results of the tests commonly conducted by both HK and Macao Consumer Council in recent years. The Chief Executive of HK Consumer Council, Ms. Connie Lau, also provided suggestions and proposals to the price survey works in both areas. The HK delegation expressed its praise to the mechanisms of 'Certified Shops' and 'Adherents' of Macao Consumer Council and both shared experiences on the supervision of over 1,000 businesses under the mechanisms. The delegation further inquired about the operations of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre'. The President of the Executive Committee of Macao Consumer Council, Mr. Wong Hon Neng, indicated that the experience of HK Consumer Council in dealing with comprehensive consumer disputes in the past 38 years was very valuable and worth learning. Mr. Wong also expressed his thanks to HK Consumer Council for the prompt responses and support that had been given to Macao Consumer Council. Both Councils agreed on the importance of paying attention to industries like beauty and telecommunications, as they have a great impact on consumers nowadays. The two Councils will enhance communication and better the exchange of information on any kind of phenomenon that will affect consumers' health or rights. The HK delegation also paid visits to 'Certified Shops' under the souvenir (specialty foods) industry, Chinese medicine retail industry, goldsmith and jewellers, etc.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that there were 1,320 establishments operating in the Construction Sector in 2011, up by 142 over 2010; number of persons engaged increased by 4,764 to 20,048. Despite a decrease in construction projects, the increase in large-scale public works and private residential buildings drove up total value of construction by 10.4% year-on-year to MOP24.59 billion in 2011. Intermediate Consumption (MOP19.99 billion) and Labour Cost (MOP3.56 billion) went up by 7.2% and 29.1% respectively. Gross Value Added (MOP4.84 billion), measuring the sectoral contribution to the economy, increased by 26.4% year-on-year. Value of private construction projects totalled MOP19.18 billion (78.0% of total), up by 7.5% year-on-year, attributable to a 47.4% surge in the construction of residential buildings (MOP4.21 billion); however, construction of hotels, tourism and gaming facilities (MOP13.05 billion) decreased by 1.9% year-on-year. As regards public works, value of construction of public housing amounted to MOP1.95 billion, up by 32.4% year-on-year as the Government accelerated the progress of construction. Construction of infrastructure such as ferry terminal and land preparation totalled MOP2.21 billion, up by 29.8%. Consequently, total value of public construction reached MOP5.41 billion in 2011, up by 22.0% year-on-year. In 2011, a total of 1,502 construction projects were carried out, down by 255 year-on-year. Number of private construction projects (1,009) decreased by 286 on account of a substantial reduction (349) in the government-funded Scheme for Common Parts Maintenance of Building, as against an increase of 16 in construction of residential buildings. Furthermore, number of public works (493) increased by 31 year-on-year. Coverage of the Construction Survey includes establishments engaging in licensed construction work in 2011.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, broad money supply continued to grow in September. Driven by an increase in non-resident deposits, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector dropped from a month earlier.
Money supply
Currency in circulation rose 3.7% while demand deposits dropped 2.4%. M1 thus decreased 1.4% from one month earlier. Concurrently, quasi-monetary liabilities grew 1.2%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, increased by 0.9% to MOP351.3 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 rose 12.2% and 26.2% respectively. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 24.4%, down 0.2 percentage points from a month ago or 1.1 percentage points from a year earlier. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 56.4%, up 0.9 percentage points month-to-month or 3.4 percentage points year-on-year.
Deposits
Resident deposits rose 0.8% from the preceding month to MOP343.9 billion. Of which, MOP deposits and other foreign currency deposits decreased at respective rates of 0.3% and 2.6% while HKD deposits grew 2.5%. In the meantime, non-resident deposits increased 4.5% to MOP121.1 billion while public sector deposits with the banking sector rose 1.6% to MOP41.6 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector rose 1.8% from a month earlier to MOP506.6 billion. The shares of MOP and HKD in total deposits were 20.8% and 47.9% respectively.
Loans
Domestic loans to the private sector increased 2.0% from a month ago to MOP191.4 billion. Among which, MOP54.3 billion was MOP-denominated and MOP120.9 billion was denominated in HKD, representing 28.4% and 63.2% of the total respectively. Compared with a quarter ago, loans to "education", loans to "restaurants, hotels and similar" and "car loans" increased at respective rates of 150.7%, 9.1% and 10.3% whereas those to "information technology" and "manufacturing industries" dropped 20.8% and 13.7% respectively. External loans decreased 1.1% to MOP213.3 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP and HKD accounted for 0.7% (MOP1.6 billion) and 24.4% (MOP52.0 billion) respectively.
Loan-to-deposit ratios
As domestic loans to the private sector grew faster than resident deposits, the loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector at end-September rose 0.5 percentage points month-to-month to 49.6%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors was 79.9%, down 1.1 percentage points from end-August.
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At Tap Seac Gallery, on the 1st of November, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, in cooperation with the British Council, held the opening ceremony of Exposure! Clive Barda – A Retrospective Photographic Exhibition. Attending the ceremony were the Representative of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macau S.A.R., Ms. Zhang Yunfei; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Mr. Ung Vai Meng; Member of the Cultural Consultative Committee, Mr. Lai Wing Chiu; and the Director of the British Council, Mr. Robert Ness.
This exhibition will showcase 102 well-chosen quintessential photographs taken between 1968 and 2011 by renowned British stage art photographer Clive Barda. His works cover a wide range of content across different eras. Apart from opera and concert, the works also encompass dance and performance rehearsals. This exhibition will also specially display two photographs taken in Macao in the 1980s and 1990s.
Clive Barda excels at capturing the 'decisive moment'. He is able to freeze the personality, characteristics and concentration of musicians whilst they are performing. Moreover, he is an expert in allowing viewers to perceive what happens before or after a particular moment via his photography, reproducing unforgettable moments. Clive Barda has photographed numerous distinguished classical musicians, including cellist Jacqueline du Pré, Italian conductor Riccardo Muti and Luciano Pavarotti, one of the most famous tenors in the world, in addition to famous operas and the world premiere of the musical Phantom of the Opera.
Exposure! Clive Barda – A Retrospective Photographic Exhibition is part of UK Now, the largest ever British culture and arts festival held in China. From April to November 2012, UK Now hosts over 100 wonderful activities embracing all kinds of art forms in 26 Chinese cities. UK Now showcases the richness, colour and creativity of British culture and arts.
Exposure! Clive Barda – A Retrospective Photographic Exhibition will run until the 9th of December 2012. The Tap Seac Gallery is open from 10am to 7pm and admission is free.
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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 nearly 50 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 31st October. Price differences from the lowest 1.8 percent to the highest 49 percent were recorded in the current survey. In comparison with August's figures, prices of 'Snow Brand Smart Baby 1/900g' in many retail spots had been raised 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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A carnival will be held this Sunday (4th November), from 2PM to 4PM, at Luís de Camões Garden, for the promotion of the regulations and services of Consumer Arbitration Centre by Consumer Council. Different promotional activities, including a carnival held last week at Taipa Flower City, have been organized this year to promote the services of Consumer Arbitration Centre. Another carnival will be held this Sunday (4th November) from 2PM to 4PM at Luís de Camões Garden. Booth games, on-site quiz games and legal counselling services on consumer arbitration will be available, information on the services, development, and regulations of Consumer Arbitration Centre will also be exhibited from 2PM to 10PM on 4th November as well as 6AM to 4PM on 5th November. Residents are welcome to participate. Schools and organisations interested in exhibiting information on Consumer Arbitration Centre are welcome to contact the Council for further arrangements. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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The 40th Border Liaison Meeting and the 15th Identification Services Bureau Liaison Meeting between Guangdong Province and Macao was held in Macao on 30th October 2012. A delegation was led by Ms. Chen Min, Director of the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of the Public Security Department of the Guangdong Province, and Mr. Li Han-xiong, Deputy Director of the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of the Public Security Department of the Guangdong Province, together with Mr. He Dong, Deputy Supervisor of Zhuhai Visa Office of Guangdong Provincial Public Security Bureau of PRC, Mr. Liang Jian-wei, Operation Division Director of Zhuhai General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection of the PRC, Mr. Zeng Xiao-ping, Political Commissar of Gongbei Station of Exit and Entry Fronter Inspection of the PRC, and other superiors and chiefs came to Macao to attend the meeting. On the other hand, the Macao delegation was led by Mr. Lai Ieng Kit, Director of the Identification Services Bureau of the Macao SAR, Mr. Lai Kam Kun, Deputy Commissioner of the Public Security Police Force of the Macao SAR, and Mr. Cheang Kam Va, Chief of the Border Control Division of the Immigration Department of the Public Security Police Force of the Macao SAR. Besides, the representative of the Police Liaison Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region has also attended the meeting.
In the meeting, both parties of Guangdong and Macao announced the report on document application verification and immigration cooperation. In addition, both parties discussed mutual concerned topics particularly marriage fraud and information notification. Consensus has been reached and it will further strengthen the cooperation between both parties on combating marriage fraud and also motivate their information exchange and communication. Moreover, both parties will conduct further investigation into all suspicious cases.
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The statistical data of joint operations of combating illegal workers by PSP and DSAL during September 2012 is as follows: During the operations solely launched by our Force, we have inspected 533 locations, 12 of which were referred by DSAL, and a total of 20 illegal workers were caught. During the operations solely launched by DSAL, they have inspected a total of 29 locations, and 8 illegal workers were caught. Moreover, no joint operation was done within this month. The above locations of inspection consisted of construction sites, private flats, business and industrial venues, etc.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 0.8% quarter-to-quarter to MOP556 in the third quarter of 2012, but that of local construction workers decreased by 0.4% to MOP671. Among the skilled & semi-skilled workers, average daily wages of welders (MOP669) and levellers (MOP666) increased by 13.3% and 10.0% respectively quarter-to-quarter; on the contrary, average daily wages of carpenters (MOP528) and painters (MOP531) decreased by 17.9% and 13.8% respectively, attributable to declining demand for these workers with the conclusion of tourism and gaming facilities. Moreover, the average daily wage of unskilled workers (MOP364) increased by 3.4% quarter-to-quarter. After discounting the effect of inflation, wage index of construction workers was 86.7 in real terms, down by 0.3% quarter-to-quarter. Meanwhile, wage index of local construction workers increased by 0.6% to 100.1 in real terms, on account of rising wage indices of electricians & electrical workers and bricklayers & plasterers. As regards construction materials, in the third quarter of 2012, the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP5,570 per tonne) decreased by 6.5% quarter-to-quarter, while the prices of ordinary portland cement (MOP746 per tonne) and concrete (MOP437 per cubic metre) increased by 2.6% and 2.2% respectively. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings was 118.9, down by 1.5% quarter-to-quarter.
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To further enrich tourism products and source market profile, Macau Government Tourist Office will launch the "Wedding Incentive Scheme" as well as an enhanced version of "Student Excursion Incentive Scheme" on November 1.
In view of the growing popularity of overseas wedding as an ideal wedding style for the new generation, MGTO will launch the "Wedding Incentive Scheme" from November 1 to tap this market segment, with an aim to promote Macau's multi-faceted tourism image and to attract couples, wedding planners and companies to choose Macau as a destination for overseas wedding.
To apply for the scheme, the wedding should have a minimum of 50 non-local guests with 2 consecutive nights of stay in Macau's hotels. The scheme will provide support to wedding related activities in Macau, offering tourist information kits, welcome gifts and facilitate in liaison with other relevant Macau SAR Government entities. A maximum of MOP$300 will be granted per non-local guest for their activities in Macau based on actual consumption.
On the other hand, the "Student Excursion Incentive Scheme" launched last October has been enhanced. From November 1, the scheme, which requests the student group to have a minimum of 50 non-local students with 2 consecutive nights of stay in Macau, will facilitate in liaison with relevant Government entities or local university and institutes in addition to supporting their related activities in Macau, offering tourist information kits and welcome gifts. Furthermore, the maximum amount granted to each non-local student for their activities in Macau will be increased from MOP$200 to MOP$300 based on actual consumption.
MGTO is striving to enrich the tourism product portfolio of Macau to cater for the interest of different tourist markets. With various tourism incentive schemes, MGTO hopes to encourage more visitors, organizations and enterprises will choose Macau as destination for wedding tourism, student tours and business tourism which will facilitate the diversification of tourism development.
To be in line with the positioning of Macau as a World Center of Tourism and Leisure, MGTO will adjust policies and measures to give priority to develop a comprehensive tourism development plan and at the same time, devote efforts to explore different tourist segments and enrich source market profile to build Macau into a quality tourism destination.
Details of the incentive schemes and application are available at MGTO's website http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo
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