News

From October 10 until 5p.m. today (Oct 18) the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed one premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally and seized one operator, one managing staff and one overstayer at the premise.
Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 953 premise-checks were conducted, involving 658 premises, of which 77 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 105 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 12 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, the operations involved more than 745 occupants, among whom 342 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 15 overstayers and 12 illegal immigrants. 12 operators, 10 touts, 10 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (managing staff) and 4 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized. Among the four occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation, only two have paid the fine. MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine on the other two and informed PSP that the involved occupants should pay the fine or their reentry into Macau will be denied. 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. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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To make the best use of Macao’s strength as a business service platform and foster trade and economic communication and co-operation between the EU and Macao’s creative industries, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) will be co-organising the Seminar on EU-Macao Business Opportunities - Fostering co-operation and exchange in cultural and creative industries with various local and overseas EU-related organisations during the 15th MIF. The Seminar on EU-Macao Business Opportunities is jointly organised by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Institute of European Studies of Macau (IEEM), European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (ECCHK) and the European Union Business Information Programme (EUBIP). The Seminar will be held from 2:30-4:30pm on 23 October 2010, in the Sicily Room at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. The theme of the Seminar is Fostering co-operation and exchange in cultural and creative industries, major topics include: positioning of Macao’s Cultural and Creative Industries, discussions on the development trends of EU countries’ cultural and creative industries and the inspiration for Macao, exploring the prospects of the EU-Macao creative industry co-operation. Thematic speeches and a panel discussion will be organised as well as the setting up of a business-matching area to assist entrepreneurs’ in their search for potential business partners. Representatives from local and overseas EU-related organisations, chambers of commerce and enterprises have been invited to give speeches on topics including EU-Macao trade and economic communication and co-operation, expansion of the EU market and creative industry development. Moderator of the Seminar is Dr. José Luís de Sales Marques, President of Institute of European Studies of Macau. Guest speakers include Mr. Pal Pang, Director of Another Design (a European-funded designing company), Ms Mary Kwok, Commercial Director – Asia Pacific of Folli Follie, Ms. Lisa Wong, Managing Director of Lasvit Hong Kong office, Mr. Wilson Lam, CEO and Creative Director of Macau Creations Limited and Mr. James Chu, Curator of Arts for All Society (AFA) Anyone interested is welcome to attend the Seminar. A simultaneous translation service is available in Cantonese, Putonghua and English. For further enquiries and registration, please contact Ms. Kuan of IPIM’s Research and Information Division on 8798 9127, Fax: 2859 0309 or email: winnievai@ipim.gov.mo.
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The third Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries will take place in Macao on the 13th and 14th of November 2010. Under the main theme “Diversified Cooperation, Harmonious Development”, various activities will be held during the conference, namely the “Opening Ceremony”, the “Ministerial Conference”, the “Conference for Businesspeople” and the “Conference for Professionals in Finance”. The Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was created in October 2003 in Macao, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and with the joint participation of seven Portuguese-speaking Countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor. As an intergovernmental and multilateral mechanism for economic and trade cooperation, the Macao Forum aims at promoting and developing economic and commercial relations between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries in economic and commercial fields, using Macao as a platform for the promotion of common development in mainland China, the Portuguese-speaking countries and the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). Two Ministerial Conferences of the Macao Forum were held in Macao in October 2003 and September 2006. Within the ambit of the two Action Plans for Economic and Commercial Cooperation approved by the Ministers of the countries participating in the Macao Forum different cooperation areas were laid out, namely cooperation between governments and in the areas of: trade, investment and business, human resources, agriculture and fishing, construction of infrastructures, natural resources and cooperation development. Since the creation of this initiative seven years ago, countries participating in the Macao Forum have effectively fulfilled their Action Plans and offered a positive contribution in reinforcing and raising the level of their economic and trade cooperation.
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High-level economic forums are a major component of the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF). Every year, senior government officials, leader of business organisations and industrial entrepreneurs are invited to attend the Forum to work together to promote regional co-operation and industrial development. During this year’s MIF, the International Trade and Investment Forum 2010, organised by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Investment Promotion Agency of Ministry of Commerce, P.R.C., All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Macao Chamber of Commerce and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), will be held at 3pm on 21 October 2010, in Sicily Room at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. Mr. Jackson Chang, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr. Dong Songgen, Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Mr. Liu Zhiqiang, Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and Mr. Vong Kok Seng, Vice President of the Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce will deliver speeches at the Forum. Speeches will be made by various ministerial officials from Portuguese-speaking countries and other regions, including Mr. António Manuel Soares Serrano, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Portugal, Ms. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Undersecretary of Department of Agriculture of Philippines and Mr. Cristiano da Costa, Vice Minister of Economy and Development of Timor-Leste. The theme of Forum is “New Horizon, New Opportunities” and the invited guest speakers will speak on how enterprises can strengthen regional co-operation, enhance competitiveness and explore new business opportunities in the current international economic situation. Guests attending will include leading officials and representatives of municipal governments, as well as leaders and representatives from Mainland, local and overseas enterprises and business organisations. All local and overseas entrepreneurs are welcome to participate in the International Trade and Investment Forum 2010, one of the major events of this year’s MIF. Simultaneous translation service will be provided in Putonghua, Cantonese, Portuguese and English. For further enquiries and registration, please contact Ms. Kuok of IPIM’s Research and Information Division on 8798 9127, Fax: 2872 8208 or 2859 0309 or email winnievai@ipim.gov.mo.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP169.7 billion (USD21.23 billion) at the end of September 2010. The reserves rose by 2.7% from the revised value of MOP165.2 billion (USD20.62 billion) for the previous month. When compared with a year earlier, the reserves increased by MOP27.4 billion or 19.3%. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-September 2010 represented 33 times the currency in circulation or 257.0% of Pataca M2 at end-August 2010. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency’s exchange rates against the currencies of Macao’s major trading partners, fell by 0.35 points month-to-month but increased by 0.91 points year-on-year to 90.50 in September 2010. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the third quarter of 2010 rose by 11.16% year-on-year to 164.15. The price indices of Miscellaneous Goods (+22.74%), Accommodation (+14.20%), Restaurant Services (+5.44%), and Transport & Communications (+5.15%) recorded notable increases, attributable to dearer prices of gold jewellery and airfare, as well as higher hotel room rates and charges for restaurant services. On the contrary, price index of Entertainment & Cultural Activities decreased by 0.44% year-on-year. For the third quarter of 2010, TPI went up slightly by 0.07% quarter-to-quarter, of which the price indices of Miscellaneous Goods; and Clothing & Footwear increased by 2.14% and 1.76% respectively, on account of rising prices of gold jewellery and new arrivals of adults’ clothing. However, price index of Accommodation dropped by 7.72% as a result of lower hotel room rates compared with the second quarter. The average TPI for the last 4 quarters ended the third quarter of 2010 rose by 10.52% from the preceding period, with marked increase observed in the indices of Miscellaneous Goods (+22.86%); Accommodation (+13.96%); Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+4.65%); and Restaurant Services (+4.53%). For the first three quarters of 2010, TPI went up by 10.95% year-on-year, of which the price indices of Miscellaneous Goods and Accommodation surged by 21.86% and 14.26%, respectively. TPI reflects the price changes of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled according to the consumption pattern of visitors. TPI covers 8 sections of goods and services, namely Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods. The base period of TPI is from July 1999 to June 2000.
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The Historical Archives of Macao will hold another of its popular conservation workshops on Saturday 23rd of October from 14.00 to 17.00. This time the focus will be on making a Book sleeve. No previous experience is required but participants must be at least ten years old. Starting 18th of October, 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 23.1% year-on-year to 477,072 in August 2010. In comparison with August 2009, visitors from Mainland China (350,005); Hong Kong (25,893); Japan (24,070) and the Republic of Korea (14,276) rose by 28.4%, 8.3%, 3.9% and 152.6% respectively, while those from Taiwan, China (23,455) decreased by 16.5%. In the first eight months of 2010, visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 36.9% year-on-year to 4,000,979. In August 2010, Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours up by 13.4% year-on-year to 30,048, with Mainland China (63.7% of total); Taiwan, China (8.2%); Japan (7.5%) and Malaysia (7.4%) being the most popular tour itineraries. In the first eight months of 2010, residents travelling in package tours totalled 165,712, an increase of 24.6% over 2009. Meanwhile, outbound residents travelling under own arrangements using services of travel agencies rose by 9.8% year-on-year to 50,384 and the main destinations were Mainland China (34.0% of total), Hong Kong (27.5%) and Taiwan, China (19.0%). In the first eight months of 2010, outbound residents travelling under such arrangements rose by 11.2% year-on-year to 317,709. At the end of August 2010, total number of available guest rooms of the hotel sector increased by 1,577 (+8.7%) year-on-year to 19,767 rooms. A total of 696,013 guests checked into hotels and guest-houses in August 2010, up by 10.2% year-on-year, with the majority coming from Mainland China (52.0% of total) and Hong Kong (23.6%). The average occupancy rate of the hotels and guest-houses increased by 2.2 percentage points year-on-year to 82.4% and that of the hotels reached 83.0%, with 4-star hotels leading at 85.0%. The average length of stay of the guests went up by 0.03 night to 1.5 nights. The cumulative number of guests reached 5,150,974 in the first eight months of 2010, an increase of 20.9% over the same period of 2009. In the first eight months of 2010, visitor-guests of hotels and guest-houses accounted for 60.2% of the total number of tourists, down from 61.0% in the same period of 2009.
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Macao’s participation in Expo 2010 Shanghai China prominently displayed MSAR’s cultural dimensions and development process, the Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On said today. Speaking at the opening ceremony of Macau Week in the Expo, Mr Chui said Macao could learn from the experience of other countries participating in the Expo, to better promote advances and progress in Macao. With the support of the Central Government, Mr Chui said, Macao had the honour to build Macao Pavilion in the Expo site and Tak Seng On in the Urban Best Practices Area to promote its harmonious atmosphere and efforts in preserving its cultural heritage. Mr Chui presided over the opening ceremony of Macau Week, attended a string of promotional activities and toured “The Decade of Achievements Exhibition for the 10th Anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR)”. Attending these events with Mr Chui, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, told reporters that the Government would continue to listen to public opinion in deciding how to display Macao Pavilion in Macao in the long-term. According to the plan of the Expo authorities, the Macao Pavilion would be dismantled after the completion of Expo, while Tak Seng On would remain intact. Mr Tam said the participation of Macao in the Expo had received positive feedbacks. Macao Pavilion and Tak Seng On received several awards: the former was host to more than 1.3 million visitors. Mr Chui will leave for Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on Friday for a two-day visit to learn more about the development of the Yangtze River Delta region.
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A test on 14 biscuit samples for their hygienic condition and safety of additives has been conducted by Consumer Council and all tested samples are satisfactory. Test result has been published in the Council’s Consumer Report issue no.205.
Biscuit is a common snack and non-staple food. The Council tested 14 samples of normal and sandwich biscuits for their freshness, hygienic condition, preservatives and heavy metals contained. Acid value and peroxidation value are important indices for the evaluation of food freshness, and no samples in this test shows any potential sign of spoiling. No pathogenic bacteria have been found, and the values of mold and heavy metals contained are acceptable. For additives, preservatives and sweetener are tested and both values conform to the national standard. The levels of aluminium contained in all samples are satisfactory, though aluminium is considered a contaminant according to the national standard quoted this time and significant difference of aluminium value contained in the samples is observed, ranging from 1.6mg/kg to 73.7mg/kg.
Among the 14 samples tested, 80 per cent contain trans fat and have it stated on labels. Trans fat is vegetable oil after hydrogenation, the most common trans fat include margarine and shortening. Consumers need to pay attention to product labels when choosing biscuits as studies have shown that coronary artery disease can be caused by excessive intake of trans fat. As suggested by both WHO and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), daily intake of trans fat should be kept as low as 1 per cent of a person’s daily calories intake, which amounts to less than 2.2g if one takes in 2,000 calories a day. The Council reminds consumers to look for biscuits with longer expiration date and those in good condition with no shrinking in sizes or any contaminants. Result of this biscuit test can be found in the latest Consumer Report.
Reports on the signing of cooperation protocols between Macao Consumer Council and the Consumer Association of Jilin and Consumer Rights Protection Committee of Qingdao in September, as well as the participation of the Council in the promotional event held in Zhangchun, Jilin by the Macao SAR Government can be found in this issue of Consumer Report. Information about the 2010 symposium of the alliance for consumer rights protection is also covered, together with an article on the risks of prepaid consumption. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the two offices of the Consumer Council, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources online at the Council’s official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo) or through WAP channels on their mobile phones. For inquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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