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The Shenzhou-6 manned space flight mission delegation this afternoon attends a briefing for an audience of almost 1,000, including representatives of the science and technology sector, professionals, educators and tertiary-education students. Deputy Chief Engineer of the Space Flight Project of China, Mr Xia Changfa, briefed the audience on the mission while the two astronauts talked of their experience during their training and on the space mission. A video documentary on the mission was shown during the session, while delegation members answered questions raised by the eager audience. The Secretary for Transports and Public Works, Mr Ao Man Long said in his speech that the achievement of the country in space missions had demonstrated the earnestness, team spirit of our astronauts, aerospace scientists, technicians and officers, and their love for the country. He encouraged the young people of Macao to learn from the earnest and meticulous spirit of those involved in the mission.
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The Shenzhou-6 Manned Space Flight Mission delegation continued their visit to Macao today with a sightseeing tour of world heritage sites and tourist attractions. People gathered in the streets that led to the Ruins of St Paul Church to greet the astronauts, colonels Fei Junlong and Nie Haiseng, who in turn shook hands and chatted with some of them. Delegation members took a short walk up to Fortress Hill to view the ancient fortress and visit the Macau Museum located on the hill. At the second stop of their tour, they visited the Grand Prix Museum and the Wine Museum at the Outer Harbour District, where they sampled the vintages in the cellar. Later, they went to Macau Tower where they had bird’s eye view of Macao and neighouring Zhuhai from their vantage point on the 58th floor. From the tower they went on to a welcoming luncheon hosted by the Macao Garrison Troop of the People’s Liberation Army. In the afternoon, the delegation met more then 2,000 primary and secondary school students where the astronauts talked of the experience during their training and on the space flight. The two astronauts encouraged the students to be persistent and have confidence in themselves, and to strive to overcome all odds and challenges. In the evening, members of the delegation will be joined by an audience of more than 3,000 at a variety show, which will also feature a dialogue session between the astronauts and Macao youth representatives.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today that Macao was embarking on to a new stage in history and the astronauts’ contributing spirit is a model for the people of Macao in the implementation of the “One Country Two Systems” policy. Mr Ho said this as the Shenzhou-6 manned space flight mission delegation attended a welcoming banquet hosted by the SAR Government in the evening. Addressing the visitors, Mr Ho conveyed his regards and gratitude for the astronauts’ selfless contribution to the country. He said the success of the Shenzhou-6 manned space mission demonstrated the strengthening of the country’s overall comppetitiveness and the advancement of its technology level, as well as showing a strong team of talents had been raised, and the country had achieved greater international status. He said the advancement achieved by the country in this science in the last two years would make every Chinese proud. The leader of the delegation, Mr Hu Shixiang said he was touched by the warmth of the Macao people, as shown when they welcomed the delagation. “The success of the mission is a good start to the second phase of the ‘three-phase strategy’ in our country’s manned space flight project,” said Mr Hu He said that space walk and spacecraft coupling missions would take place in 2012. More than a 100 guests attended the banquet, including principal officials, Central Government Officials based in the Macao SAR, members of the Executive Council, the Legislative Assembly and the Science and Technology Commission.
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Macao people today turned out to offer a warm welcome to the delegation of Shenzhou-6 Manned Space Flight Mission as they arrived in the SAR for a three-day visit. Led by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of China's Manned Space Flight programme Mr Hu Shixiang, the delegation included astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, three deputy delegation leaders -- Mr Zhou Bo, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office; Mr Su Shuangning, Deputy Director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, and Mr Xu Dazhe, Deputy General Manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Ao Man Long, Vice-Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Wang Jinxiang and representatives of the Science and Technology Commission, Mr Liu Chak Wan and Mr Eric Yeung met the delegation at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal on their arrival. Members were greeted by 500 people, and a small group of schoolchildren presented bouquets to Mr Hu, the two astronauts and the three deputy delegation leaders. The delegation’s schedule today includes a brief session on the Shenzhou-6 Manned Space Flight Mission and a banquet hosted by the SAR Government.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, today hosted a reception in Beijing to thank officials of the Central Government and the relevant Ministries and Commissions in the State Council for their support in having Macao's scenic spots listed by the United Nations as World Heritage. Mr Ho was in Beijing to receive the World Heritage Certificate for ''the Historic Centre of Macao'', a cluster of Macao's historic sites which presence highlighted the blending of Eastern and Western cultures in the city, which earned the recognition of the United Nations Educational and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Addressing guests at the reception, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Fernando Chui Sai On, said Macao would enhance its efforts in conserving its heritages. Mr Chui expressed his gratitude for the support of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and other departments. Among the guests at the reception were Minister of Culture Mr Sun Jiazheng, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Qiao Zonghuai, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Mr Zhang Xiaoming, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR Mr Wang Jinxiang, and Director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Mr Shan Jixiang.
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At the invitation of the Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the Shenzhou-6 delegation will commence their three-day visit to Macao on Wednesday (November 30). Delegation members are scheduled to arrive in the morning and will meet local professionals from science and technology fields, as well as teachers and students from tertiary colleges, to share with them their with experience with the Shenzhou-6 Manned Space Flight Mission. In the evening, the members will attend a welcoming dinner to be hosted by the SAR Government. On December 1, the two astronauts, colonels Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, will meet primary and secondary school students. They will also meet local residents. While in Macao they will also visit scenic spots before leaving on a special flight on December 2. Members of the 30-strong delegation, led by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of China's Manned Space Flight Programme, Mr Hu Shixiang, include Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Mr Zhou Bo, Deputy Director of China Manned Space Engineering Office, Mr Su Shuangning, Deputy General Manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group, Mr Xu Dazhe.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah today received the World Heritage Certificate for “The Historic Centre of Macao” in Beijing. State Councilor, Ms Chen Zhili relayed the certificate to Mr Ho at the ceremony, held in the Great Hall of the People, during which the certificates for the world heritages in Jilin and Liaoning provinces were also relayed. Mr Edmund Ho pledged the SAR’s commitment to conserve, display, educate, publicise and promote its world heritage, alongside other mainland cities and provinces with world heritages, making them last for generations. “We are delighted to be here today to receive the World Heritage Certificate distributed by the Central Government. While acknowledging that this is a hard-won honour, we recognise our responsibilities have been increased given that “The Historic Centre of Macao” along with the classified sites in Liaoning and Jilin Provinces, part of China’s heritage and the common wealth of humankind” he said. ‘“The Historic Centre of Macao’ is one of the most unique reflections of the meeting of Chinese and western cultures on Chinese soil. For more then four centuries, not only did Macao produced many “First in China”, but it also demonstrated the peaceful coexistence of different religions, cultures and ways of life, as well as reflecting the extent of Chinese culture’s vitality and tolerance. This tradition of peaceful coexistence and cultural, religious and ethnic diversity is of universal value to human progress and also serves as concrete inspiration for the Chinese people and their Macao compatriots to work together in building a harmonious society.” He said the inscription of “The Historic Centre of Macao” and other historical sites in the Mainland on the World Heritage List had “contributed to a more balanced and representative selection of China’s cultural heritage at the same time as it has enriched the treasures of the world.” Mr Ho convey his gratitude to the UNESCO, especially to the Director-General, Mr Koichiro Matsuura, the Central Government for its great support and meticulous care throughout the process of Macao’s inscription on the World Heritage list, and the Invaluable guidance and assistance of the experts and various organs of the State Council Vice Minister of Education, Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO and China’s representative to UNESCO’s Executive Board, Mr Zhang Xinsheng and the Director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, Mr Shan Jixiang also spoke at the ceremony.
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Due to the conclusion of the exhibition “When China Ruled the Seas”, and the necessity to rearrange the setting of the museum, the Maritime Museum (including the esplanade) will be temporarily closed to the public on Thursday, 1st December 2005. The Museum will be reopened on Saturday, 10th December 2005. Our apologies for any inconvenience caused.
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According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for August - October 2005 was 4.1%, which remained at the same level as recorded in July - September 2005 and decreased 0.4 percentage point compared with the same period of 2004. The underemployment rate was 1.5%, unchanged compared with July - September 2005 and the same period of 2004. Number of the unemployed searching for their first job was about 1,700, which represented 16.1% of the total unemployed population, down by 2.6 percentage points over July - September 2005. Compared with July - September 2005, unemployment situation was improved in Construction, Transport, storage & communications and Manufacturing sectors, while it was worsened in Wholesale & retail trade and Hotels, restaurants & similar activities. Total labour force was estimated at 253,000 in August - October 2005; the employed and the unemployed populations were 243,000 and 10,000 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 63.6%, up by 0.2 and 1.0 percentage point compared with July - September 2005 and the same period of 2004 respectively.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that in the first nine months of 2005, 19,149 acts of deed, with a total value of MOP20.29 billion, were notarized on sales and purchases of real estate and mortgage credits. The number and value of these deeds were up 27.5% and down 12.7% respectively in comparison with the same period of 2004. In the third quarter of 2005, 5,376 acts of deed were notarized on sales and purchases of real estate and mortgage credits, down 1.1% year on year. The total value of these acts of deed was MOP5.20 billion, down 62.1% year on year. The number and value of the acts of deed decreased 30.2% and 37.2% respectively compared with the second quarter of 2005. In the first nine months of 2005, 16,638 contracts of sales and purchases of real estate were made, and their value amounted to MOP13.73 billion. The number and value were up 21.9% and 34.0% respectively over the same period of 2004. In the third quarter of 2005, 4,502 contracts of sales and purchases of real estate were made, of which 6,160 real estate units were transacted, amounting to MOP3.55 billion. The number and value went down 10.1% and 3.9% respectively over the third quarter of 2004. In comparison with the second quarter of 2005, the number and value decreased 31.5% and 36.7% respectively. In terms of end-use, transactions of residential units still topped the list (60.8%) in the third quarter of 2005. According to the records of the notary offices, in the first nine months of 2005, the total value of mortgage credits reached MOP12.12 billion, down 26.5% year on year. In the third quarter of 2005, the total value of mortgage credits amounted to MOP3.31 billion, of which MOP1.66 billion (50.2%) was related to purchases of real estate and MOP1.65 billion to mortgage credits not involving actual property transactions. The total amount decreased 70.9% over the third quarter of 2004; credits involving actual property transactions registered an increase of 21.7%. In comparison with the second quarter of 2005, the above indicators fell 30.6% and 20.9% respectively.
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