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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 4 hospitals in Macao, having 1,354 in-patient beds, an increase of 132 beds year-on-year; number of in-patient admissions totalled 48,000, rose by 9.6%, bringing the occupancy rate of in-patient beds to 69.6%. A total of 1,371,000 out-patient consultations and 430,000 emergency treatments were carried out in hospitals, up by 4.6% and 8.0% year-on-year respectively. Number of emergency treatments administered in Taipa surged notably by 46.5% to 110,000. Meanwhile, primary health care establishments comprising health centres and private clinics totalled 675 establishments, providing 3,404,000 consultations, up by 1.8% year-on-year, among which consultations in Chinese medicine and therapy services and General Practice reached 1,135,000 and 1,058,000 respectively. For the whole year of 2012, 254,000 vaccinations were administered in health care establishments; vaccinations against Influenza (84,000) shared 33.1% of the total. There were 1,482 licensed doctors and 1,751 nurses at the end of 2012; number of doctors and nurses per 1,000 population stood at 2.5 and 3.0 respectively, similar to 2011.
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In order to encourage parents to visit museums with their children, institutions that play an important educational and social role, the Macao Museum, under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will offer free admission for children under the age of 12 and two accompanying adults on the 1st June (Saturday), International Children's Day. Two free guided public tours are also available on that day at 3pm (in Cantonese) and 4pm (in Mandarin). In addition, on June 8th to 9th (Saturday and Sunday), in celebration of China Cultural Heritage Day, admission to the Macao Museum is free to the general public. Museums today are concerned with supporting the development of the younger population and educating society. The Macao Museum has been constantly updating the educational contents of its permanent exhibitions and adopting more interactive and multi-media activities. As for temporary exhibitions and other events, the Museum strives to design relevant activities and games suitable for children and youth, allowing children and their parents to gain a better understanding of the Museum's exhibitions and of Macao's history and culture. At present, the Macao Museum is hosting Fantasy World – Chinoiserie, an exhibition that reveals Europeans' enthusiasm for Chinese culture and arts in the 17th and 18th centuries and the origins of Chinoiserie, through everyday objects, images and videos, hoping to increase the younger population's interest in Chinese culture. The exhibition includes interactive games for children, and other activities are also available in the Educational Corner. This exhibition allows children to improve their knowledge and hopes to raise their interest in Chinese culture and arts. Fantasy World – Chinoiserie exhibition runs until the 18th August, daily from 10am to 6om (closed on Mondays). Guided tours are also available; group and school registrations should be made in advance. Admission to the Museum in free on Sundays for Macao citizens or students. For more details or enquiries, please call 2835 7911, during office hours, or visit the Macao Museum's website at www.macaumuseum.gov.mo or the Cultural Affairs Bureau at www.icm.gov.mo.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for April 2013 amounted to MOP724 million, up by 13% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP549 million) increased by 22%, but that of domestic exports (MOP175 million) decreased by 10%. Total merchandise import reached MOP6.70 billion, up by 18% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.97 billion for April 2013. In the first four months of 2013, total value of merchandise export increased by 17% year-on-year to MOP3.06 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP2.43 billion) increased by 31%, but that of domestic exports (MOP633 million) decreased by 17%. Total value of merchandise import increased by 12% to MOP25.56 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP22.49 billion for the first four months of 2013. From January to April 2013, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.75 billion) and Mainland China (MOP473 million) increased by 36% and 7% respectively year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP126 million) and the EU (MOP87 million) decreased by 29% and 22% respectively. In additon, exports of Non-textiles (MOP2.77 billion) expanded by 23% year-on-year, of which exports of Diamond & diamond jewellery (MOP279 million) and Electronic components (MOP279 million) surged by 100% and 77% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP298 million) decreased by 20%, of which exports of Non-knitted or non-crocheted garments (MOP157 million) and Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP104 million) declined by 8% and 32% respectively. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP8.23 billion) and the EU (MOP6.14 billion) increased by 13% and 16% respectively year-on-year in the first four months of 2013. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 17% to MOP16.20 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP2.57 billion), Watches (MOP1.90 billion), Motor cars & motorcycles (MOP1.06 billion) and Beauty, cosmetic & skin-care products (MOP702 million) increasing by 18%, 26%, 16% and 41% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP28.62 billion in the first four months of 2013, up by 13% compared with MOP25.37 billion a year earlier.
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The AMCM representative was invited to attend the "2013 Internationalization of RMB Global Forum" in Shanghai on 26 May 2013 and make a speech on the relevant theme, which is summarized as follows: In the 12th Five-Year Plan, the Central Government has explicitly set out the strategic plan of "expansion of RMB cross-border use and gradual realisation of RMB capital account convertibility". The Forum focused on the RMB internationalization, which has attracted lots of attention in the Mainland as well as global financial markets. After the eruption of the global financial crisis, the international financial landscape has undergone significant transformation. While the world would welcome China's currency reform towards free convertibility, concerns for destabilising capital flows, against a backdrop of prolonged adoption of quantitative easing policies by advanced countries, have notably heightened. The AMCM representative believes that although relaxation of capital control towards free convertibility and hence the internationalization of the RMB remain the ultimate goals of the currency reform, the process would proceed at a gradual pace, ensuring the stability, safety and soundness of the Chinese financial system. As a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, Macao is small in economic size but can contribute to the internationalization of the RMB. In fact, Macao is always an advocate of free market system; there is no exchange control; the financial markets and institutions operate freely; there is free flow of funds into and out of the SAR, which together have formulated its uniqueness and competitive edges. Furthermore, Macao has relied on its special geographical and historical conditions in performing its function as a liaison platform for economic cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The 12th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Macao's development into a service platform for economic cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, whereby the appropriate economic diversification of Macao can be enhanced. As a matter of fact, banks with capital from Mainland China and Portugal have accounted for the lion's share in Macao's banking industry. Some banks of Chinese capital have executed business cooperation agreements with financial institutions in some Portuguese-speaking countries. In view of the existing competitive advantage, the SAR government is leading local financial institutions to make full use of the development opportunity offered by Portuguese-speaking countries, aiming at further business expansion. As such, Mainland China could direct suitable financial institutions and enterprises to invest in Portuguese-speaking countries through Macao as the platform, following the nation's strategic direction of "internationalization". Such a move would have spill-over effect on other economic/trade activities, while the Macao financial system can provide the supporting services. In November 2010, the then Premier of the State Council, Mr. Wen Jiabao, visited Macao for the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the "Forum for Economic Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries". He announced a series of policy measures to promote Macao to be the platform for economic cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. He hoped that Macao would perform "core function" in promoting RMB trade settlement in the process, which would further embody Macao's position as platform for economic cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. At the moment, Shanghai is the "onshore" RMB centre while Hong Kong is the leading "offshore" centre. Macao can strengthen its cooperation with Shanghai and Hong Kong, exploring the opportunity arising from the orderly financial reform in the Mainland. To cope with the need of the country, Macao can serve as a platform for regional economic and trade cooperation, through which it can help create an accommodative environment conducive to external trade and overall economic development of the country. Under such positive interaction, we can promote jointly the process of the internationalization of the RMB. For the full text of the speech, please browse the Internet website: http://www.amcm.gov.mo/cms_upload/general/press_release/20130526_Speech_English.pdf
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The People's Republic of China (including the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) will undergo its second Universal Periodical Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council in the second half of October 2013.
For this purpose, the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region is preparing to submit the human rights report in relation to the part of the Macao SAR, in accordance with the rules of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which forms part of the second National Human Rights Report of the People's Republic of China.
The second National Human Rights Report (the part of the Macao Special Administrative Region) mainly includes contents related to laws and legal frameworks, policies and practices on the promotion and protection of human rights, and objectives and challenges of future work, etc., since the submission by the Macao Special Administrative Region of its initial report in 2008. Should any individual or organization have any opinions or comments about the contents of the Report, please transmit their opinions in writing to the Law Reform and International Law Bureau before 30 June 2013 through the following means: Email: info@dsrjdi.ccrj.gov.mo
Post: Alameda Dr. Carlos D'Assumpção, n.º 398, Edf. CNAC, 6.º andar, Macau
Fax: (853) 28750814
For individuals who would like to have their opinions kept completely or partially confidential, please indicate it clearly when providing their written opinions.
The Chinese text of the second National Human Rights Report (the part of the Macao Special Administrative Region) (draft) and its translation into English were uploaded to the webpage of the Law Reform and International Law Bureau: www.dsrjdi.ccrj.gov.mo.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on eggs on 28th May for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2013 expanded by 10.8% year-on-year in real terms. Economic growth in the first quarter was underpinned by increase in exports of services, private consumption expenditure and investment, of which exports of gaming services and other tourism services increased by 8.9% and 4.9%, private consumption expenditure rose by 10.2% and investment expanded by 13.8%. Besides, the implicit deflator of GDP that measures changes in prices increased by 6.5% year-on-year. The job market stayed robust as total employment and working income rose simultaneously, pushing private consumption expenditure to expand by 10.2% year-on-year. Household final consumption expenditure in the domestic market increased by 10.0% and consumption expenditure abroad went up by 9.5%. Government final consumption expenditure increased slightly by 1.7% year-on-year, of which compensation of employees posed a 4.5% growth but net purchases of goods and services decreased by 3.5%. As the gauge of investment, gross fixed capital formation expanded by 14.7% year-on-year. Private investment increased by 8.7%, of which construction investment grew by 24.2%, while equipment investment shrank by 21.7%. Government investment soared by 40.6%, attributable to the construction in full swing of the Hengqin Campus of the University of Macau, Light Rail Transit and public housing, leading public construction investment to surge substantially by 40.4%; besides, equipment investment went up by 71.5%. Increase in merchandise exports sustained, up by 16.4% year-on-year; merchandise imports also benefited from rising private consumption expenditure, visitor spending and investment, up by 10.4% year-on-year. In respect of trade in services, gross gaming receipts, visitor arrivals and visitor spending saw continuous growth, which fuelled exports of services to increase by 8.5% year-on-year, of which exports of gaming services rose by 8.9% and exports of other tourism services grew by 4.9%. Moreover, imports of services went up by 1.6% year-on-year.
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Organized jointly by the Department of International Trade Promotion, under the Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government, by Koelnmesse Co., Ltd., and by the Thai Chamber of Commerce, THAIFEX – World of Food Asia 2013 was held from May 22 to 26, 2013 at the IMPACT Challenger, in Bangkok, Thailand. Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) organized a 37-member Macao Business Delegation to visit the event, on May 21-23. THAIFEX – World of Asia 2013 is currently Thailand´s fair specialized in food products fair, in terms of scale, level of professionalism, prestige and degree of internationalization. There are 1,340 exhibitors in this edition of THAIFEX, occupying 3,100 booths, up 10% from last year. THAIFEX is one of the most important food products fair in Asia and an ideal platform for the sourcing of merchandises and exchange of information. A number of trade professionals gather at this event annually, for mutual introduction, to explore and discuss about the latest international trends and products and to identity the business opportunities. During the period of their stay in Bangkok, members of the Macao Business Delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Assistant Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion, under the Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government, Mr. Phusit Ratanakulsereroengrit, who briefed the delegation on the latest investment environment in Thailand and the import and export laws and regulations currently in force in Thailand. On the other hand, the Executive Director of IPIM, Mrs. Irene V. K. Lau, and the Senior Manager of IPIM´s Promotional Activities Department, Mr. Sam Lei, also paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Mr. Nopparat Maythaveekulchai. Both sides exchanged valuable views on how to support the development of the convention and exhibition industry and the best way to attract more MICE activities to their respective territories. The above-mentioned activities facilitated the business contacts and negotiations between members of the Macao Business Delegation and the exhibitors at THAIFEX, in the areas of food ingredients, foodstuff, frozen food, dairy products, wine, kitchen utensils, cutlery and food production equipment. It was the first time that IPIM has organized a 37-member business delegation to visit the subject event. Principal members of the said delegation included the Executive Director of IPIM, Mrs. Irene V. K. Lau, the President of the Macao Federal Commercial Association of Wine and Food Industries in Portuguese Speaking Countries and Regions, Mr. Ip Sio Man, the Vice-president of the Board of Directors of the "Associação de Pequenas e Médias Empresas de Macau", Mr. Iong Ieng Chun, the President of the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, Mr. Wong Kin Chong, the President of the Board of Directors of the Macau Small and Medium Enterprises of Catering, Mr. Ieong Weng Seng, the President of the Board of Directors of Macau Small and Medium Enterprises Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Lam Cheok Wa, the Executive Director of Macau Importers and Exporters Association, Mr. Antonio Wong Chung Tak, the Vice President of "Ou Mun Peng Sek Sao Son Ip Seong Wui", Mr. Ling Man Yi, the Vice-President of the Macau Union Suppliers Association, Mr. Derek Szeto Bickong, and the Vice-President of the Board of Directors of Macau Chain Stores and Franchise Association, Mr. Sio Chan Tim.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 230 MICE events were held in the first quarter of 2013, down by 41 year-on-year. The average duration stood at 2.2 days, bringing a total of 203,000 participants and attendees, and the floor area used totalled 161,000 m2. There were 217 meetings and conferences held in the first quarter of 2013, drawing 29,000 participants. At the same time, 13 exhibitions were organized that drew a total of 175,000 attendees, an upsurge of 64% year-on-year; total floor area used stood at 36,000 m2. In accordance with the information collected from 10 exhibition organizers, a total of 8 exhibitions were repeated events, engaging 242 full-time workers. Besides, there were 1,144 exhibitors participated in these exhibitions and the majority came from Mainland China (39%) and Macao (34%). Professional visitors totalled 8,996, with 50% from Macao and 22% from Mainland China. Revenue of the exhibition organizers increased by 51% year-on-year at MOP5.33 million, of which Rental of Exhibition Booth accounted for 82% of total. Expenditure increased by 13% to MOP34.75 million, and the majority expenses were Publicity & Public Relation (23%), and Production, Construction & Decoration Services (22%). Information from 120 exhibitors indicated that Sales of Products took up 90% of the revenue while Rental of Exhibition Booth shared 59% of the expenditure.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Survey on Manpower Needs and Wages for the first quarter of 2013. Besides comprising Manufacturing, Hotels & Restaurants, Insurance, Financial Intermediation Activities and Electricity, Gas & Water Supply, this survey has also been extended to Child-care and Elderly Care. This survey excludes the self-employed, as well as insurance agents and brokers not directly employed by insurance companies. At the end of the first quarter of 2013, Manufacturing had 11,193 persons engaged, down by 2.5% year-on-year, of which Manufacture of Wearing Apparel and Manufacture of Food Products had 3,400 and 3,541 respectively. Average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees for March 2013 rose by 7.5% year-on-year to MOP7,890. Hotels & Restaurants took on 69,619 persons engaged, up by 9.0% year-on-year, with those working in Hotels increased by 9.3% year-on-year to 45,599. Average earnings of full-time employees for March 2013 in Hotels & Restaurants rose by 7.9% year-on-year to MOP12,050; with waiters/waitresses of Hotels earning MOP8,500 and Housekeeping staff earning MOP7,830. Waiters/waitresses of Restaurants earned an average of MOP6,940. Electricity, Gas & Water Supply had 1,085 persons engaged, up by 2.2% year-on-year. Average earnings of full-time employees for March increased by 7.3% year-on-year to MOP24,530. Insurance took on 472 persons engaged, up by 3.1% year-on-year. Average earnings of full-time employees for March rose by 5.4% year-on-year to MOP21,560. Financial Intermediation Activities had 388 persons engaged, down significantly by 13.0% year-on-year. For March 2013, average earnings of full-time employees increased by 3.9% year-on-year to MOP13,250. Child-care and Elderly Care totalled 843 and 614 persons engaged respectively. Average earnings of full-time employees for March amounted to MOP10,280 and MOP9,900 respectively. At the end of the first quarter of 2013, Restaurants reported 2,107 vacancies, down significantly by 37.3% from a year earlier. Hotels had 2,086 vacancies, while Manufacturing offered 1,260 vacancies, on account on Manufacture of Wearing Apparel (447) and Manufacture of Food Products (515). In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 92.9% of the vacant posts in Insurance required working experience. As regards educational attainment, 77.2% of the vacancies in Restaurants required junior secondary education or lower, while 85.7% of those in Insurance required tertiary education. Besides Cantonese, all vacant posts in Financial Intermediation required knowledge of Mandarin, while 78.6% of the vacancies in Insurance required English. Meanwhile, 80.9% and 61.1% of the vacant posts in Hotels required knowledge of Mandarin and English respectively. Restaurants had the highest employee turnover rate (6.9%) and employee recruitment rate (7.6%), while the vacancy rate stood at 9.5%, the second highest vacancy rate after Manufacturing (11.0%), indicating that most of the vacancies are not filled and that the turnover of employee is prevalent.
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