News

To prepare for 1st May festive holiday, Consumer Council, Economic Services Department (DSE), Macau Government Tourist Office (DST), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Judiciary Police (PJ), Public Security Police Force (PSP), Macao Custom Service and Provisional Municipal Council (IACM) met earlier to discuss measure on protecting consumer rights and combating 'unscrupulous shops'. In order to enhance the knowledge of 'Adherents' and 'Certified Shops' about intellectual property, and to improve professional knowledge and service quality of retail salespersons, Consumer Council and representative from Macao Custom Service reached a mutual agreement on the meeting to co-organize talks for 'Adherents' and 'Certified Shops' of the Council about regulations concerning intellectual property in Macao. Participating departments agreed to keep on strengthening communication and cooperation with one another, especially in protecting the interests of tourists in Macao, and to work closely and enhance their surveillance work during this peak shopping season. Further, business owners in all industries, especially restaurants, are called on to take note that price setting is regulated by law in Macao (Section 8, Article 3 of Decree Law No. 16/96/M), business owners should abide by this. Businesses, especially 'Certified Shops' and 'Adherents', should let customers well informed of the prices charged. Consumer Council will also assign its staff to receive consumers' phone calls during '1st May Golden Week' (11AM-18PM, 30th April to 1st May, office will resume service on 2nd May). For enquiry and complaint, please call 8988 9315.
…

Consumer Council published its issue no. 224 of Consumer Report. In the current issue, the assessment mechanism for evaluating 'Certified Shop' is introduced, and an interview with the owners of 'Certified Shops' awarded Class A in 2012 is featured. Last year, Consumer Council reviewed and renewed its assessment mechanism for evaluating 'Certified Shop' which had been using for ten years and adopted the new mechanism featuring classes. 'Certified Shops' are classified according to their scores into six classes; those which acquire the highest class are publicly announced and awarded while those which fail the assessment lose their entitlement as 'Certified Shops'. Consumer Council believes that the new mechanism helps better the work of monitoring 'Certified Shops' and encourages 'Certified Shops' to improve by awarding them or ceasing their qualifications as 'Certified Shops'. The assessment mechanism for evaluating 'Certified Shop' is introduced in the latest issue of Consumer Report to let consumers and business owners informed of its contents, an interview with the owners of two Class A 'Certified Shops' is also featured in the magazine. The latest Consumer Report also covers an article on 'Electricity Subsidy Scheme', stating the rights and responsibilities of consumers. Recent activities of the Council, worldwide information about consumer rights, and other articles are also covered. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the office of Consumer Council (Rua Inácio Baptista, Nº 6-6A Edificio Seaview Garden R/C), and the service counter of Consumer Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources online at the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for March 2012 amounted to MOP704 million, up by 15.8% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP503 million) increased by 24.4%, but that of domestic exports (MOP200 million) decreased by 1.2%. Total merchandise import amounted to MOP6.02 billion, up by 26.1% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.32 billion in March 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, total value of merchandise export increased by 22.1% year-on-year to MOP1.98 billion, of which value of re-exports and domestic exports rose by 33.2% and 1.4% respectively; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import increased by 32.1% to MOP17.35 billion. Merchandise trade deficit for the first quarter of 2012 widened by 33.6% year-on-year to MOP15.37 billion. Merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.02 billion) and Mainland China (MOP283 million) in the first quarter of 2012 increased by 40.7% and 21.9% respectively year-on-year. Exports of Non-textile (MOP1.69 billion) expanded by 32.0%, of which exports of Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof (MOP294 million) and Articles for casino (MOP73 million) surged by 152.5% and 247.1% respectively; however, exports of Textile & garment declined by 15.5% to MOP285 million. In the first quarter of 2012, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP5.39 billion) and the EU (MOP4.09 billion) expanded by 39.2% and 21.4% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 32.2% to MOP10.63 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP1.66 billion), Watches (MOP1.15 billion) and Handbags & wallets (MOP1.02 billion) increasing by 57.5%, 49.4% and 49.8% respectively. Moreover, imports of Capital goods (MOP3.34 billion) registered year-on-year increase of 38.9%. In the first quarter of 2012, total value of external merchandise trade amounted to MOP19.32 billion, up by 31.0% compared with MOP14.75 billion a year earlier.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that favourable situation of the job market prevailed. The unemployment rate for January-March 2012 was 2.0%, down by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period (December 2011-February 2012); the underemployment rate held stable as the previous period, at 0.8%. Total labour force was 347,000 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.9%. Total employment reached 340,000, an increase of 1,100 over the previous period. Analyzed by industry, employment of Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities and the Construction Sector saw increase. Number of the unemployed decreased by 300 from the previous period to 6,800, with 12.4% being fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job, up by 0.5 percentage point. In the first quarter of 2012, the unemployment rate of local residents was 2.5%, down by 0.3 percentage point quarter-to-quarter; the overall unemployment rate also decreased by 0.2 percentage point. Total labour force registered an increase of 2,500 in the first quarter of 2012, with total employment increasing by 3,300, while number of the unemployed decreasing by 800. Analysed by industry, 25.8% of the employed were working in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services; and 15.1% in Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed stood at MOP11,000 and that of local residents amounted to MOP13,000 in the first quarter of 2012, up by MOP700 and MOP1,000 respectively quarter-to-quarter.
…

In order to provide our customers more choices with good quality of service in sending EMS items to United Kingdom and Canada, customers can choose either TNT or postal operators (Royal Mail and Canada Post) as the delivery agents in sending EMS items to United Kingdom or Canada with effective from 2nd May 2012. Moreover, starting from 2nd May 2012 to 31st July 2012, customers can enjoy a discount for sending items to United Kingdom or Canada via postal operators if the weight of item reaches 5 kg, 10 kg or 30 kg. The highest discount rate is up to 24 % off. Please contact our service hotline for more information at 8396-8521. Thank you for your attention.
…

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized the annual "Meet-in-Macau" in Malaysia and Singapore respectively, held on 24th and 26th April, as an effort to promote Macau's business tourism. The "Meet-in-Macau" programmes in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore both included a seminar and mini mart, as well as a corporate networking luncheon. There were 70 participants from the Malaysia trade and 70 participants from the Singapore trade attended the seminars and mini marts, while there were 40 participants comprising Malaysia corporate clients and media partners, as well as 30 participants comprising Singapore corporate clients and media partners attended the networking luncheons. The promotional activities held in the two markets aimed to network and update key business tourism planners, travel agents, corporate clients and airline partners about the latest tourism developments and incentive programmes in Macau, while encouraging more international companies to choose Macau as their desired destination for business tourism events in Asia. A delegation of 14 with MGTO staffs and Macau trade organizations comprising representatives from shipping company, airline, hotels and resorts, convention and exhibition, attractions, entertainment and tour operators participated in the event. Feedback from both guests and Macau trade partners indicated that the event was both fruitful and informative. The MGTO Representative Office in Malaysia and Singapore also had an influx of enquiries from meeting planners after the event. Last year, the MGTO Representative Office in Malaysia and Singapore has successfully assisted and brought 21 and 69 meeting, exhibition and incentive events to Macau respectively.
…

Owing to the electronic communication system breakdown in Romania, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet and Parcel) from Macao to Romania are subject to delay until further notice.
…

The Government would formulate 10-year plans for public health, social security and education this year to enhance people's livelihood through long-term schemes, the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today. Mr Chui disclosed this when he attended a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly, his first this year, to answer questions raised by the legislators on his governance and social issues. The Government had accumulated a surplus every year since the establishment of the Macao SAR and the figure has amounted to almost 290 billion patacas since the new financial reserve law went into effect earlier this year, he said. Aided by such stable financial conditions, the Government could further enhance and even introduce more long-term mechanisms that could benefit the public. Mr Chui said to guarantee the stable functioning of the Social Security Fund, the Government would inject 4 billion patacas this year and could reserve 10 billion patacas for the fund between 2013 and 2014. He revealed that the Government would review the amount of non-mandatory contributions and premiums based on an actuarial report to be completed this year in view of enhancing the sustainability of the fund. As for the Central Provident Fund systems, a savings scheme initiated by the Government, Mr Chui reiterated that it would inject funds into the accounts of individuals depending on public financial conditions. On public health policies, he said the Government would continue to allocate resources to enhance the public health network, such as the continued training and education of local medical talents. He stressed that the Government would carry on the policies of 15-year free non-tertiary education and would provide scholarships and loans to support higher education students and future students. Speaking on housing policies, the Chief Executive said the Government would consider the possibility of accepting new applications for public housing at the end of this year or early next year. In addition to the 19,000 public housing units in the pipeline, Mr Chui said the Government had been planning some 6,300 units, of which more than 3,000 units were awaiting tender procedure. Mr Chui also dealt with questions about population, tourism, constitutional development, labour rights and other issues.
…

The online quiz on the knowledge about 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' co-organized by Consumer Council and Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) has ended. 20 winners have been drawn by members of the General Committee of Consumer Council and the list of winners is now posted on the organizers' websites. The mentioned online quiz co-organized by Consumer Council and DSAJ lasted one month and over 9,200 entries were recorded to have correct answers to the questions. Each winner is awarded MOP1,000 cash and the list of winners has been posted on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and DSAJ's website (www.dsaj.gov.mo). Winners of the online quiz are: 周李淑芬、WONG KA CHON、陳智佳、IU CHI HANG、賴志勇、黃嘉雯、凌子欣、甘柏盈、郭愛琳、林惠琼、馮慧嫦、吳培行、CHAN SAI ON、張華龍、Ha Sao Kun、屈志碩、施惠瑩、Wong Yung Mui、Iao Pou Kun及 IAO MEI KUAN。 For inquiry, please call Consumer Council at 8988-9315.
…

Today the University of Macau (UM) and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) co-organized a book launching ceremony for Macau Through 500 Years: Emergence and Development of an Untypical Chinese City, a collection of the most representative Chinese and foreign historical maps in East Asia and Macao, at UM's University Library. The ceremony was attended by Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On, Legislative Assembly President Lau Cheok Va and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U, among others. In his speech, UM Rector Wei Zhao said that the book not only "shows once again the path of development of Macao into a city of commerce and culture interflow between east and west", but also "greatly enhances the readers' knowledge in the aspects of the economy, and the socio-political changes that have taken place." He also expressed his confidence that UM will "inherit the five hundred years of Macao's history" and continue to "play its role as the confluence of east and west". Prof Victor Sit, honorary research fellow at UM, director of the Advanced Institute for Contemporary China Studies at the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and author of the book, said that the purpose of the book is to present Macao's development over the past five hundred years through visual aids like maps, different images of the city, and graphs and charts. He said the special coloring and cutting of the maps and imageries provide readers with a clear and vivid understanding of what Macao and its neighboring regions looked like in different historical periods. Macau Through 500 Years: Emergence and Development of an Untypical Chinese City has been published with sponsorship from UM and Macao Foundation. The book is published in three languages (Chinese, English and Portuguese). The Chinese edition has been co-published by UM and Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co. Ltd, and the English and Portuguese editions have been co-published by UM, Enrich Professional Publishing and HKBU. The book consists of five chapters, namely "Changing Perspectives of China and the Western World on Power at Sea and Their Convergence in Time and Space", "The Golden Century", "Protracted Decline: Opium Trafficking and an Aggressive Imperial Outpost", "Colonization: Expansion and Modernization", and "Contemporary Macau: Global City of Gaming, Tourism and Exhibitions". Also present at the book launching ceremony were Zhang Xiaoguang, deputy director of the Department of Education and Culture, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao SAR; Yin Juming, director-general of the Department of Policy Research, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC in Macao SAR; Tse Chi Wai, chair of UM's University Council; Simon Ho, vice rector (academic affairs) of UM; Rui Martins, vice rector (research) of UM; and Prof. Franklin Luk, vice-president (academic) of HKBU.
…