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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today the First Beijing Macao Economic and Trade Exchange Symposium would serve as a platform for the Beijing and Macao governments to strengthen and open up more room for co-operation.
He said this in a keynote speech as he officiated the opening of the symposium in Beijing, together with the Secretary of CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Mr Guo Jinlong and the Acting Mayor of Beijing, Mr Wang Anshun.
Mr Chui said Beijing and Macao have close exchanges and contacts and the symposium was the fruit of the dedication of two governments. It could help to further expand co-operation on trade, tourism, convention, cultural and creative and city management, which would meet the needs in the economic and social development of the two places, he said.
In his speech, Mr Wang Anshun said the symposium was seen as a new chapter for co-operation between Beijing and Macao and it was one the major initiative of the Central Government on strengthening economic and trade co-operation between the Mainland and Macao.
The Beijing Government looked forward to using this platform to foster co-operation with the Macao Government, Mr Wang added.
During the opening ceremony, three strategic co-operation agreements on tourism, investment and trading, and convention and exhibition were signed.
According to the agreements, the tourism authorities of the two governments would jointly establish a tourism co-operation and co-ordination mechanism for tourism promotion, communication, and stipulate regulations and to develop multi-destination travel.
On trade co-operation, both areas would enhance the exchange of information on business and exhibitions, jointly host conventions and exhibitions, introduce business partners and provide commercial opportunities.
Mr Chui told reporters after the ceremony that more that 100 local business units were participating in the symposium to promote their products and described it as a good foundation of co-operation between the Beijing and Macao. He also revealed that he met with Mr Guo and Mr Wang earlier and that they have agreed to deepen co-operation on business, trade and culture, and had particularly discussed strengthening business promotion to the Portuguese-speaking countries and the Romance-speaking. Leaders of the two governments toured and inspected the exhibition hall before the opening of the symposium.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for June-August 2012 held stable at 2.0% in comparison with the previous period (May-July 2012); the underemployment rate was 0.8%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force increased to 351,000; the labour force participation rate stood at 72.3%, up by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period. Total employment reached 344,000, up by 2,400 from May-July 2012. Analysed by industry, employment of Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities and the Manufacturing Sector saw increase. Number of the unemployed was similar to the previous period, at 7,000 in June-August 2012; besides, fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 21.9% of the unemployed, an increase of 7.0 percentage points caused by school graduates entering the labour market. In comparison with June-August 2011, both the labour force participation rate and the unemployment rate decreased by 0.7 percentage point; the underemployment rate also went down by 0.1 percentage point.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) launches the iPhone App named "Experience Macau" which comes with the latest and popular travel information. It is also equipped with the augmented reality (AR) and trip planner functions which enable users to experience Macau freely and easily at anytime. The "Experience Macau" App comprises six items and functions namely Experience Macau, What's On, Plan Your Trip, Game, Map and AR View. Certain selected attractions are even provided with audio introduction and 360o panorama photos. Among the functions, Experience Macau offers a variety of information about Macau World Heritage, Museums and Galleries, Shopping, Shows and Entertainment, Hotels and Guest Houses, etc. Visitors can use the function of Plan Your Trip and self-design their own travel itineraries or follow the Suggested Routes for sightseeing in Macau. They may also gain various attractions' background information instantly through the AR technology. Users can check in at the designated attractions in the Game and immediately gain a virtual coin. On the other hand, they can share their travel fun and footprints in Macau with friends around the world through the social network Facebook. The MGTO's App provides user platform and information in English, traditional and simplified Chinese. Citizens and visitors are welcome to download the App for use. Users can search "Experience Macau" on App Store or download the App for free from MGTO's web link:http://www.macautourism.gov.mo/en/ezone/apps.php In near future, MGTO will also launch the App in Android version for more visitors to use.
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In response to nine Dengue fever cases recorded, the Inter-departmental Taskforce on Prevention of Dengue Fever decided to start the third level of response measure against local diffusion.
The Co-ordinator of the taskforce, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, today presided over the working meeting, listened to the latest epidemic development and discussed with members who are heads of government departments, on preventive measures to be taken.
According to information from the Health Bureau, nine infected cases were confirmed and pathogenic point was in northern istrict. The taskforce decided to mobilise the public to implement mosquito control and personal protection measures. More detail will be announced soon.
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Under the provisions of Administrative Regulation nº 30-2011 and amended by Administrative Regulation nº5-2012, the Macau Branch of Bank of China Limited and the Banco Nacional Ultramarino S.A. are authorized to issue additional Dragon Lunar Year Banknotes and new Lunar New Year Snake Banknotes. Macao residents (Macao permanent and non-permanent identity card holders) can proceed to conduct the online registration process for the subsequent exchange of these banknotes. Arrangements for the Lunar Year Dragon Banknotes
From 9.00 am of 4 October to 6.00 pm of 31 October 2012, Macao residents can register for the Dragon banknotes on the websites of Bank of China Limited and Banco Nacional Ultramarino S.A. via the webpage of the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) (www.amcm.gov.mo). Each Macao resident is permitted to log-onto the website of the two Issuing Banks once to perform the on-line registration for 15 Dragon banknotes from each Issuing Bank, or 30 Dragon banknotes from the two Issuing Banks in total. The quantity has been predetermined and cannot be altered. Registered residents can proceed to exchange their Dragon banknotes at the chosen bank between 3 December 2012 and 31 January 2013. Apart from the Macau Branch of Bank of China Limited and Banco Nacional Ultramarino S.A, other exchange locations available for selection include the selected branches of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Limited, Tai Fung Bank Limited, Wing Hang Bank Limited, Luso International Banking Limited and Banco Comercial de Macau. Arrangements for the Lunar New Year Snake Banknotes
The online registration for the Lunar New Year Snake Banknotes will commence in January next year. Starting 9.00 am of 2 January to 6.00 pm of 31 January 2013, Macao residents can register for the Lunar New Year Snake Banknotes by following the aforementioned method. Each Macao resident is entitled to register for the exchange of 30 Snake banknotes from each Issuing Bank, or 60 Snake Lunar Year banknotes from the two Issuing Banks in total. The quantity has been predetermined and cannot be altered. Registered residents can go to exchange for their Snake banknotes at the chosen bank between 1 March 2013 and 30 August 2013. Appointment of Representative to Conduct the Note Exchange
If the registered residents cannot conduct the exchange of the lunar year banknotes on the selected date, then they can 1.) appoint representatives to conduct the note exchange on their behalf, who should present the original and signed copy of his / her ID card and those of the registered resident that he / she represents for verification purpose. 2.) fill in the representation authorization form that can be downloaded from the website of AMCM and have his / her signature verified by a private or public notary. In this case, the appointed representative will only need to present the duly filled and verified representation authorization form along with his / her own ID card when conducting the note exchange. AMCM reiterated that to ensure that the normal business operations of the banks involved will not be disrupted and the logical sequence of the process, different time periods have been assigned for the online registration and exchange of the two types of lunar year banknotes. This arrangement is also intended to cope with the printing and delivery schedule of the banknotes and to facilitate the handling procedure of the banks. Above all, such arrangement will also streamline the exchange in an orderly fashion. In the exchange of both types of the lunar year banknotes, serial number of the notes cannot be selected.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, led an official delegation to Beijing today to attend the First Beijing Macao Economic and Trade Exchange Symposium, which opens tomorrow. On his departure, Mr Chui told reporters at Macau International Airport that the Symposium was the fruit of the dedication of Beijing and Macao. More than 100 business units from Macao would actively participate in the event, and agreements on some 16 co-operative projects would be signed, said Mr Chui. He said that the Beijing authorities would come to Macao to jointly host the event next year, and that this would further strengthen the co-operation between Beijing and Macao in the future. 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 on Beijing and Macao's development, special presentations, trade negotiations, signing protocols and the sale of Macao's feature products.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today instructed the health and related departments to step up their internal preparations and keep close contact with the World Health Organization (WHO), Mainland and Hong Kong authorities to monitor any new cases of the novel coronavirus.
After the warning issued by the WHO, Mr Chui convened a meeting with high-ranking officials from the health sector on the preparedness and response for the novel coronavirus infection cases found abroad.
He said Macao could fully make use of the communication mechanisms, such as the Meeting of Senior Health Officials and the Response Mechanism for Public Health Emergencies between Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, to keep each other informed and work jointly to prevent the spread of the new disease.
The departments should view the precautionary health facilities and personal protection equipment, and depending on the development of the virus, consider to launch the health report at checkpoints for better monitoring, said the Chief Executive.
Meanwhile, the Health Bureau and relevant departments should enhance the dissemination of health and prevention messages to the people, stressing on attention to personal hygiene.
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Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) from Macao to Mainland China are subject to delay during the Mainland's National Day holidays from 30th September to 7th October 2012.
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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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