News

From November 16 until 5p.m. today (22), the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed one more premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally. A tout and a managing staff were seized on site. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has waged a total of 87 sanctions, among which one sanction proceeding has been completed and an operator who provided accommodation illegally was fined 200 000 patacas. Other cases are in different stages of sanction proceedings. Since the Cross-departmental Working Team started operations, to date, 1086 premise-checks were conducted, involving 754 premises, of which 87 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 116 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the Public Security Police Force (PSP) will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found 18 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 892 occupants, among whom 389 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 17 overstayers and 14 illegal immigrants. 13 operators, 13 touts, 13 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (managing staff) and six occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized on site. MGTO has begun sanction proceedings on offenders according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation". If the operator who provided accommodation illegally, who was fined 200 000 patacas, does not pay within the statutory period, the Financial Services Bureau will enforce the collection of fine. Meanwhile, the six occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3 000 patacas each, among which three have paid the fine. For those who fail to pay the fine within the statutory period, MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine and informed PSP that the involved persons should pay the fine or their reentry into Macau will be denied. According to the law, operators and persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas, persons who fail to cooperate can be fined up to 20 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Composite CPI (105.07) for October 2010 increased by 3.95% year-on-year, attributable to the price increase in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Miscellaneous Goods & Services and Clothing & Footwear. Analyzed by section of goods and services, Clothing & Footwear (+8.25%); Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+6.77%); Health (+5.45%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.35%); and Transport (+4.76%) recorded notable increase on account of dearer prices of men’s clothing, women’s footwear, gold jewellery, gasoline, fresh seafood and vegetables, as well as higher charges for out-patient medical services and meals bought away from home. Meanwhile, reduced charges for mobile phone services caused the price index of Communication to fall by 3.59% year-on-year. The CPI-A (104.60) and CPI-B (105.19) for October 2010 increased by 3.69% and 4.08% year-on-year respectively. The Composite CPI for October 2010 increased by 0.39% month-to-month, with the price indices of Clothing & Footwear; and Transport rising by 2.12% and 0.95% respectively on account of rising prices of new arrivals of Autumn and Winter clothing and gasoline. However, price index of Recreation & Culture fell by 0.92% due to lower charges for outbound package tours. The average Composite CPI for the first ten months of 2010 increased by 2.58% year-on-year. For the 12 months ended October 2010, the average Composite CPI rose by 2.21% from the preceding period. The 2008/2009-based Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP6,000 to MOP18,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP19,000 to MOP34,999.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2010 amounted to MOP 7.54 billion, up notably by 35% year-on-year. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 1.92 billion) took the largest share of 25%, which was followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (14%), Leather Goods (10%), Adults' Clothing (8%), Goods in Supermarkets (8%), Motor Vehicles (8%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (3%), Automotive Fuels (3%), Goods in Pharmacies (3%) and Communication Equipment (3%). In comparison with the revised figure (MOP 6.86 billion) in the second quarter of 2010, value of retail sales for the third quarter increased by 10%, with marked increase in the retail sales of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+19%), Leather Goods (+18%), Communication Equipment (+17%), Goods in Supermarkets (+17%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+15%). In the first three quarters of 2010, the cumulative value of retail sales reached MOP21.33 billion, up by 35% year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2010, about 43% of the retailers reported decrease in the sales volume from the second quarter, down by 16 percentage points from the previous quarter; 57% reported that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase. In terms of retail prices, about 55% reported that the prices were stable; 19% stated that the prices increased whereas 26% reported the prices decreased. Compared with the third quarter of 2009, about 51% expressed that the stock level was normal in the third quarter of 2010, while 28% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the business outlook for the fourth quarter of 2010, about 78% anticipate that the sales volume will increase or remain stable compared with the third quarter, while 22% expect a decrease. Meanwhile, about 89% predict that the retail prices will remain stable or increase whereas 11% forecast a decrease. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2010 rose by 25% year-on-year, with remarkable increase being observed in the sales volume of Leather Goods (+71%), Motor Vehicles (+37%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+36%), Goods in Pharmacies (+35%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+32%) and Goods in Department Stores (+22%). Volume of retail sales in the third quarter of 2010 registered a quarter-to-quarter increase of 10%, with that of Communication Equipment rising by 20%, Leather Goods by 19% and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles by 18%, while sales volume of Motor Vehicles decreased by 3%.
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In recently years, travel becomes a hot topic among young people. However, they are busy at their work or studies, with limited money and time, it is difficult for them to feel and enjoy different cultures and experiences from different parts of the world. Therefore, Tourism and Event Management Year 3 students from Institute for Tourism Studies are going to hold a charity event named “Earth play for a day” at 27th November 2010, providing a platform for the participants to experience worldwide culture in a day and do charity at the same time. This platform is presented in the style of a country - Marveland, where people can experience and share different cultures as well as treasure and respect each of them. A series of activities such as games, exhibition, shows and photography competition related with the theme of world travel are included which targeted at teenagers. All the profit generated from the event will be donated to Caritas Macau for child care purpose after deducting necessary expenses. Besides, one of the “Earth Play For A Day” series activities – Charity Souvenir Sales was successfully held in November. The activity aims at advocating the importance of respect and appreciation of the unique culture around the globe through souvenirs collection and charity sale. Without travelling abroad, by joining our event; you can also have a taste of the exotic culture around the world. The event day included two main parts which are Carnival and Masquerade. The carnival will be held in “Expo” style from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at Inspiration Building, Main Campus, IFT. Venue will be designed into two pavilions with theme of Mysterious culture and Traditional culture and one social area for participant to rest and socialize. Around 300 participants are expected to visit the “Pavilions”, we hope that the participant can enjoy and learn worldwide culture in this event. For the Masquerade, it will be started at 7:15pm on the same day at Amphitheatre, Main Campus, IFT. It is in the format of cocktail party which provides a platform for participants to socialize. There will be entertainments and at the same time through the performance and games, participants can enjoy a wonderful night with their friends.
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The Historical Archives of Macao will hold another of its popular conservation workshops on Saturday 27th of November from 14.00 to 17.00. This time the focus will be on mounting works of art. No previous experience is required but participants must be at least fifteen years old. Starting 22nd of November, please visit the Historical Archives of Macao (open Mon-Fri, 09:30-18.30, Sat, 13.00-18.00) on Tap Seac Square to register and pay the workshop fee of MOP$20 (inclusive of materials and equipment for the workshop). Places are limited and will be distributed according to order of registration. For more information about individual workshops this year, please visit http://www.archives.gov.mo. For further details, please contact Ms. Esther Chu of the Macao Historical Archives of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at 85986537.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Employment Survey for the third quarter of 2010, of which the principal indicators such as labour force participation rate (71.8%) and unemployment rate (2.9%) have been published in October. Total labour force was 329,600 in the third quarter of 2010, comprising 320,200 employed and 9,400 unemployed. Compared with the second quarter of 2010, total labour force registered an increase of 3,300, with number of the employed and the unemployed rising by 3,200 and 100 respectively. Analyzed by industry, the majority of the employed were engaging in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services (24.3%) and Wholesale & Retail Trade (13.4%). In terms of occupation, most of the employed were Clerks (including casino dealers, floorpersons, betting service operators, etc.) and Service & Sales Workers, accounting for 26.7% and 21.9% respectively. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed increased by MOP 500 from the previous quarter to MOP 9,000, while that of the local residents held stable at MOP10,000. Number of the underemployed totalled 5,400, with 66.9% engaging in Construction and 12.0% in Transport, Storage & Communications. In respect of the unemployed, 81.0% were searching for a new job and 19.0% were fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job. With regard to educational attainment, 30.9% had primary education or lower, 26.9% had junior secondary education and 26.6% had senior secondary education. For the unemployed that were searching for a new job, analyzed by industry previously engaged, 29.8% had worked in Construction and 17.2% in Wholesale & Retail Trade. Analyzed by previous occupation, 25.7% were Service & Sales Workers, and 22.3% were Craftsmen and similar workers.
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For the first time in its 56-year history, the Macau Grand Prix will feature an F1-style driver parade as part of Sunday’s spectacular pre-race festivities, which have been designed to showcase the city’s rich, East-meets-West cultural and sporting diversity. In an exciting month for the SAR, which has seen a visit from China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao followed by its first-ever gold medal in the Asian Games being held in neighbouring Guangzhou won by Wushu athlete Jia Rui, Sunday’s festivities will add to the celebratory atmosphere. Macau’s first ever Asian Games gold medalist Jia Rui will lead the world’s finest young racing talent, who will be aboard an open-top double decker bus, from the main grandstands at the Grand Prix building all the way down to the famous Lisboa Bend, giving spectators an opportunity to see the drivers ahead of the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix. The afternoon track parade will begin at 13:45pm on Sunday, with a mix of dance and music performed by groups which participated in the Macau Week opening ceremony parade during the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. The cultural parade will feature the Lo Liang Athletic Association, which will perform a Dragon Dance, a superb visual element of Chinese culture. The “Heart of Macau” Portuguese Folk Dance Association will perform traditional Portuguese folk dancing, illustrating the fascinating multicultural elements of the city. Music takes centre stage with a band performance by the Scout Association of Macau, before an energetic ensemble dance featuring the Hou Kong Middle School Dance team, the Regina Dancing Association and Casa de Portugal em Macau, showcasing the artistic and creative element of the city.
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To prepare for the establishment of the Macao Database for Cultural and Creative Industries, the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries (DPICC) is now calling for the submission of data from the visual arts and performing arts industries from today until 31st December, 2010. The submission date for the data from the design industry initiated earlier will also end on the abovementioned date. All relevant professional companies or institutions are welcome to submit their data. The establishment of the Macao Database for Cultural and Creative Industries is one of the key projects in the development of Macao’s cultural and creative industries. The DPICC will conduct the data collection in phases. The collection of data from the design industry has been recently initiated. Starting today, the Database will collect data from the visual arts and performing arts industries. When the Database is established, it will facilitate the holistic analysis and research of Macao’s cultural and creative industries, thereby strengthening communication and co-operation between government and the industries in order to formulate policies and development direction promoting the cultural and creative industries. In addition, the Database will help promote business networking between industries, shape a mechanism promoting cross-discipline co-operation and exchange in research & development and marketing, and expand the industrial chain, all of which are conducive to shaping an early model of cultural and creative industries rich in local characteristics in Macao, achieving the short-term development goal of Macao’s cultural and creative industries and laying the foundation for long-term development. To accelerate the implementation and establishment of the Database, the DPICC of the Cultural Affairs Bureau welcomes all locally registered professional companies or institutions in design, the visual arts and performing arts industries to submit data to the DPICC within the abovementioned period. Data collection form can be downloaded from the Cultural Affairs Bureau website at www.icm.gov.mo/dpicc. Interested parties may complete the form and submit with supporting electronic files to the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, located at Praça do Tap Seac. For enquiries, please call 8399 6919 (Ms. Lam or Lao) during office hours or email info.dpicc@icm.gov.mo.
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Following the hosting of the “3rd Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries” in Macao, a “Financial Theme Seminar for Chinese and Portuguese Financiers” organized by the Development Bank of China and the Monetary Authority of Macao, was successfully held on 14 November 2010. More than 300 representatives from 4 continents / 8 countries conducted dialogues on the topic of deepening the financial cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries. Financial professionals from the Mainland of China and the 7 Portuguese speaking countries who attended as invited the “3rd Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries” participated, jointly with representatives from local financial institutions, totalling 320 representatives, in the “Financial Theme Seminar for Chinese and Portuguese Financiers” organized by the Development Bank of China and the Monetary Authority of Macao. Mr. Lu Shumin, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wang Xindong, Director of Economic Department of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, Mr. Hou Shaoze, Director-General of the Development Bank of China, Mr. Anselmo Teng, Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Macao together with the representatives of the central banks of the 7 Portuguese speaking countries and Mr. Ye Yixin, Chairman of the Macao Association of Banks, officiated the inauguration ceremony. Mr. António Félix Pontes, Executive Director of the Monetary Authority of Macao acted as the facilitator of the Seminar. The theme surrounded the methodology of how to better the implementation of the conclusions arrived at in the Forum relating to the promotion of cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries in the financial realm. Simultaneously, the Seminar enabled the Chinese and Portuguese financiers who came afar for the Forum to have sufficient time to discuss and communicate with a view to promoting the cooperation and development in the financial field as well trade and commerce. In the Seminar Mr. Vitor Pessoa, Member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Portugal, who had been the Secretary for Economic Co-ordination before Macao’s return to China, had an indepth understanding of the Macao economy and its financial sector. He deemed that, through the platform of the Forum, the economic and trade activities of China and Portuguese speaking countries would increase. The participation in trade finance by the financial sector would certainly enlarge the trade volume between China and Portuguese speaking countries. Mr. J. Fadia, President of the Central Bank of Guiné-Bissau, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Monetary Authority of Macao. This is the 6th memorandum of such nature between the Monetary Authority of Macao and an overseas central bank. Mr. Fadia deemed that the execution of such a document had fulfilled the purpose of his visit in formulating a closer working relationship with the financial regulator of Macao. Mr. Abraão Vasconselos, Chairman of Banking & Payments Authority of Timor-Leste, said in the Seminar that he was glad to see so many new achievements, specifically the setting up of a special purpose fund and a training centre, which would facilitate the nurturing of professionals of the participating countries. This was a long term development arrangement. Mr. Lo Bochuan, President of People’s Bank of China Guangzhou Regional Branch, said that by making use of Macao as the bridge, institutions of the Mainland could expand and develop more financial business in view of the fact that Macao has long term friendly relationship with these countries. In addition, he saw potential of diversified development in the financial cooperation between the territories. The two representatives of Macao Association of Banks, Mr. Ye Yixin, General Manager of Bank of China Macao Branch and Mr. Artur Santos, President of the Executive Committee of Banco Nacional Ultramarino, made speeches respectively. As the accountable persons of Chinese and Portuguese capital banks in Macao, they endorsed in an affirmative manner the cooperation of China and Portuguese speaking countries in the financial realm. They were willing to make use of their banking networks to serve as channel of cooperation with banks of Portuguese speaking countries. In this way, the liaison between the financial institutions of the Mainland and Portuguese speaking countries could be enhanced which would certainly embody the principles laid down in the Action Plan outlined in the Forum. Mr. Hou Shaoze, Director-general of the Development Bank of China, made the final conclusion. He raised a number of proposals which would help to realize the financial cooperation mechanism under the framework of the Forum.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 5,838 building units were purchased and sold at MOP10.57 billion in the third quarter of 2010 according to Stamp Duty records, down by 31.9% and 37.1% respectively quarter-to-quarter. There were 3,649 residential units amounting to MOP8.22 billion, down by 32.1% and 40.4% respectively over the previous quarter, of which 980 residential units were purchased and sold under Intermediate Transfer of Title, down by 44.7% quarter-to-quarter, and the total value decreased by 52.1% to MOP4.04 billion. Regarding the price of transaction, 1,146 residential units were sold for over MOP1,000,000 to MOP2,000,000, and 1,144 units for MOP1,000,000 or less. Analyzed by year of completion of building, 1,303 residential units were completed in 2000 and after, 1,426 units in 1990-1999 and 920 units in 1989 and before. As regards floor area of unit, 1,744 units (47.8% of total) had an area of 50 to 99.9 square metres. In the third quarter of 2010, the average price of all residential units amounted to MOP30,347 per square metre, down by 5.2% quarter-to-quarter, attributable to a substantial decrease of 93.4% in the number of units purchased and sold in Coloane that posted an above-average price in the previous quarter. The average transaction price of residential units in the Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane increased by 6.9%, 4.3% and 7.7% quarter-to-quarter to MOP29,517, MOP29,583 and MOP64,087 per square metre of usable area respectively. With regard to transaction of residential units under Intermediate Transfer of Title, the average price stood at MOP45,363 per square metre, down by 5.7% from the preceding quarter. The average price of office units increased by 5.4% quarter-to-quarter to MOP23,374 per square metre, and that of industrial units rose by 4.3% to MOP6,998 per square metre. There were 2,717 cases of real estate sale and purchase contracts made in the third quarter of 2010, down by 19.0% quarter-to-quarter; the number of units transacted dropped by 28.1% quarter-to-quarter to 3,287. Moreover, there were 2,238 cases of mortgage contracts signed, of which 1,844 were residential mortgages. In the third quarter of 2010, gross floor area of construction of new buildings totalled 22,260 square metres has been started, which will provide 132 units, 64 parking spaces for cars and 23 parking spaces for motorcycles upon completion. In addition, gross floor area of buildings completed totalled 241,248 square metres, altogether providing 466 units (of which 142 are residential units), down sharply by 60.4% and 75.1% respectively quarter-to-quarter; number of parking spaces for cars decreased by 65.1% to 804, while those for motorcycles rose by 76.0% to 667. Average transaction price of building units covers building units with Stamp Duty paid in the reference quarter, excluding gift of property, inheritance, transfer of partial ownership of property, etc. cases bearing peculiar transaction prices.
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