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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, today paid a visit to some 200 Macao students studying in Huaqiao University in Xiamen. Mr Ho, who was in Xiamen, Fujian, to attend the 9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, arrived at the Chinese Language and Culture College of the university in the afternoon and was greeted by the Deputy Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Liu Zepeng, and the Principal of the Hauqiao University, Mr Wu Chengye, Supervisor of the University, Mr Tong Chi Kin and student representatives. Mr Ho spoke with the Macao students, who told him about their activities and studies in Xiamen. Mr Ho also expressed his gratitude to the university for its help in nurturing talents from Macao. Mr Ho encouraged the students to capitalise on the excellent conditions offered by the institution and grasp the opportunity to study in order to contribute to Macao and the country in the future. After meeting with students, Mr Ho visited various facilities of the university. Mr Ho will end his two-day visit to Xiamen and return to Macao in the afternoon. Up to June, Huaqiao University has admitted 886 Macao students -- 412 to its campus in Xiamen and 474 to its distant courses held in Macao.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today that the Macao SAR would fully maximise its unique advantages as an intermediary platform and to support the development of the economic zone along the western coast of the Taiwan Strait. In his speech at the International Investment Forum in the 9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, Mr Ho said the establishment of the Economic Zone on the west coast of the Strait would not only drive development in Fujian Province, but also strengthen the complementary effect of the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta, and facilitate a breakthrough in trade and economic co-operation across the Strait. He said that With the full support of the Central Government and the cooperation of the general public, Macao had achieved accelerating progress in recent years. To promote Macao’s economic development, Mr Ho said, Macao would grasp the opportunities of the recent inscription of ‘The Historical Centre of Macao’ on UNESCO World Heritage List and Macao’s entry into the WHO Alliance for Health Cities to strengthen Macao’s flagship industries in the tourism and entertainment sector, and to seek to integrate culture, entertainment and leisure into a diversified tourism experience. “Secondly, we are devoting a greater effort to optimise our industrial structure and participate in regional co-operation. At the same time, we are committed to establishing the three trade and commercial service platforms.” Mr Ho highlighted the MSAR Government’s high priority in promoting technological innovation, which is the theme of this year’s forum. He said while reinforcing the work of our Technology Committee, The MSAR had set up the Science and Technology Development Fund and was taking a pragmatic approach in uniting business and academic forces to promote technological innovation and industrial applications. Among these, Chinese medicine was one of the projects the SAR were focusing on. Mr Ho also told the delegates that Macao and its sister Mainland provinces were well received and welcomed by the government and the business community during the business promotion in Portugal last year, which further consolidated Macao’s role as an intermediary platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr Ho stressed that the MSAR Government would fully exploit Macao’s prospect as a unique intermediary platform in supporting the development of the economic zone along the western coast of the Strait. The Forum was hosted by the Assistant Minister of Commerce, Mr Chen Jian, with the theme of Promoting technological innovation. In the morning, Mr Ho attended the opening of the 9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, which was officiated by Vice Premier, Mr Zhang Peiyan. Later, he toured the fair and visited the Macao Pavilion, accompanied by Fujian provincial leaders. After the forum, Mr Ho attended a luncheon hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, where Mr Zhang Peiyan delivered a speech. The 9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, organised by the Minister of Commerce, is attended by delegates from more then a dozen countries and regions in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, in addition to delegates from Mainland provinces and regions, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah is scheduled leave for Xiamen tomorrow to attend the opening of the “9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade”. Mr Ho is scheduled to speak at the International Investment Forum of the Fair Thursday morning, 8 September. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, who is to head an 80-member entrepreneurs delegation to the fair, will be with the delegation from the Portuguese-speaking countries at a presentation on investment environment and policies of Portuguese-speaking countries. The “9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade” is organised by the Ministry of Commerce. While Mr Ho is away, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On, will be Acting Chief Executive.
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, said today that the opening of Disneyland in Hong Kong would be advantageous to regional tourism and the economy. He said that in the global development of regional tourism, enhancement of tourism facilities in any member city would be advantageous to the whole region, and the MSAR Government welcomed this kind of development, as Macao would eventually benefit from the growth of regional market. Mr Tam, who is heading an 80-member business delegation to Xiamen for the 9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, said the participation of ministers from Portuguese-speaking countries in the fair had highlighted Macao’s mediating role. In response to press questions about a reported theme park project in Macao, said to be initiated by a foreign investor, Mr Tam said many foreign investors had shown interests in Macao in recent years, as the MSAR Government was actively developing the local economy. However, many plans were still in the very initial stages. Plans would be submitted to the Government when they become more substantive, he said. He stressed that the Government would carefully select projects that would benefit the economic development of Macao.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, has arrived in Xiamen, where he will attend the opening of the “9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade” tomorrow. Later in the afternoon, he met the Vice Premier, Mr Zhang Peiyan. Mr Ho and the Macao SAR delegation were greeted by officials from Fujian Province when they arrived about 1:50 pm. Mr Ho and some Macao officials in the delegation also met with the Secretary of the CPC Fujian provincial Committee, Mr Lu Zhangong and the Governor of Fujian Province, Mr Huang Xiaojing, where they exchanged views on economic development and co-operative opportunities in trade and tourism. Both sides agreed that the bileteral cooperation had achieved significant results. Mr Ho met the Vice Premier later in the afternoon. Present at the meeting with Mr Zhang were the Commerce Minister, Mr. Bo Xilai and Vice Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr He Xiaowei. Tomorrow Mr Ho will attend the opening ceremony of the “9th China International Fair for Investment and Trade”, which is organized by the Ministry of Commerce, and deliver a speech at the International Investment Forum. Meanwhile, the Secretary for Economic and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen had lead an 80-member bussiness delegation to the fair. He will accompany the Portuguese-speaking countries delegation in a briefing conference under the theme of the investment atmosphere in China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Representatives from seven countries, including Portugal, Brazil and Mozambique, will make presentations to mainland entrepreneurs. In the conference, Macao representatives will promote Macao’s role the bridge with the Portuguese speaking countries. Earlier today, Mr Ho said before departure that the participation of ministerial officials from Portuguese-speaking countries in this year’s Fair is helpful to the promotion of Macao’s mediating role and the second “Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries” to be held in Macao next year. In response to media questions on the damage to a branch office of a Hong Kong property agency in Macao, Mr Ho said the Police was investigating the incident and stressed that the MSAR Government would not tolerate any act or threat to public security, especially those that affected the livelihood and properties of the people. He said that the Government would continue to enhance investment environment and maintain social stability.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) releases summarized information on the expenditure-based GDP for the second quarter of 2005 as follows. Growth rates refer to the real growth rates of the second quarter over the same period of the previous year, unless otherwise specified. In the second quarter of 2005, GDP registered real growth of 8.2%. Meanwhile, the real growth rate for the first quarter was revised upwards from 8.5% to 8.6%. In the second quarter, gross gaming receipts went up 17.2% in nominal terms and investment soared on the back of several large-scale construction projects in progress. Total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) dropped 4.8% in real terms as a result of a decrease in per-capita spending, despite the increase in the number of visitor arrivals. In addition, exports of goods fell further by 33.6% in real terms. In terms of major GDP components, private consumption expenditure in the second quarter of 2005 increased 8.9%, slightly lower than the 9.0% in the first quarter. Household final consumption expenditure in the domestic market and abroad rose 8.1% and 17.5% respectively. The government final consumption expenditure increased 9.0%, higher than the 5.1% in the first quarter. Compensation of employees went up 3.7% and net purchases of goods and services surged 31.3%. Gross fixed capital formation, a gauge of investment, continued to expand robustly, up 61.1%, higher than the 38.8% in the first quarter. In the private sector, total investment recorded an increase of 66.7% mainly because investment in construction went up sharply by 133.2%; investment in equipment rose 10.0%. Moreover, total government investment rose 25.2%, among which investments in construction and equipment increased 19.2% and 139.7% respectively. Based on the data of the private sector and the government, total investment in construction expanded 105.4% in the second quarter of 2005, higher than the 75.0% in the first quarter; total investment in equipment increased 11.9%, higher than the 1.2% in the first quarter. In terms of visible trade, the total value of exports of goods declined further to 33.6% in both nominal and real terms in the second quarter, from 18.1% in nominal terms and 18.9% in real terms in the first quarter. In nominal terms, exports of goods to the United States and the European Union fell 36.0% and 70.5% respectively. The total value of imports of goods grew 1.5% in nominal terms and fell 1.6% in real terms, both lower than the corresponding 4.7% and 2.4% in the first quarter. As regards invisible trade (exports of services), exports of gaming services rose 16.8%; total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) fell 4.8%, as the 12.1% decrease in per-capita spending completely offset the effects of increase in number of visitor arrivals; exports of transportation services surged 26.3%. Based on integrated data of the exports of services, total exports of invisible trade recorded an increase of 10.7%, slightly down from the 10.9% in the first quarter. Moreover, imports of services grew 10.4%, lower than the 17.5% in the first quarter.
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As part of the Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao and starting tomorrow, September 7, at 6:30 pm, in the Legal and Judicial Training Centre (Luso-International Bank Building, 10th floor), is a seminar on “Mutual Legal Assistance – Civil Matters – Recognition and Enforcement of Judicial Decisions”. This seminar will take place until Friday, September 9, and will have as its speaker Carla Cristina Ribeiro Mendonça, holder of a Masters in Law by the University of Lisbon, Portugal. The subjects that will be discussed throughout the three days of the seminar are “Introduction and General Concepts”, “Recognition and Enforcement of Judicial Decisions in the MSAR” and “Recognition and Enforcement of Judicial Decisions in Europe – Tendencies and Evolution”. The responsibility of organising this seminar befalls to the Legal and Judicial Training Centre and the International Law Office. The seminar targets Law degree holders and will count on the participation of around fifty local participants. The Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao, which incorporates this seminar, has as its main objective the “Consolidation of the Macao Legal System” and is currently in its fourth year. The total budget for the programme is of 1.980.000 euros, shared in equal parts by the European Union and Macao. The co-ordination of the Co-operation Programme is at the responsibility of the International Law Office, being the organisation of the pertaining actions ensured by several other entities of the MSAR’s Government, namely the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Economic Services and the Institute of European Studies, other than the International Law Office itself.
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Vice Premier Wu Yi will be visiting Macao in October to preside over the opening of the Fourth East Asian Games, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today. Speaking to the press after his two-day visit to Beijing, Mr Ho said the Vice Premier would attend on behalf of the Central Government. The Games will be held 29 October to 6 November 2005. Mr Ho was in Beijing to attend the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of China's victory in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the victory of the world's war against fascism. During his visit, the Chief Executive met with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Liao Hui, and exchanged views on various issues. He briefed Mr Liao on the current situation in Macao, including the coming election of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Ho said. Mr Liao expressed keen interest in developments in Macao. Mr Ho also disclosed that the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Mr Donald Tsang, had invited him to attend the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Disneyland next week.
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The Legislative Assembly Election Commission today issued a new guideline to ban the use of cellular phones, pagers, walkie-talkies and all telecommunication and photography devices in polling stations. Speaking after a meeting today, Commission Chairman, Judge Fong Man Chong, said the ban was the to protect the secrecy of the ballot. He called on candidates and assistants to run for the seats by strictly abiding by the electoral law and relevant regulations. In accordance with the newly published 6/CEAL/2005 guideline, offenders would violate Article 312 of the Penal Code and face a maximum penalty of one-year imprisonment. Judge Fong said the Commission had formulated a complete plan to protect the secrecy of ballots, which included removing the curtains of the polling booths to enable staff to monitor the process and not reveal the total number of eligible voters of each polling station. The Commission also issued a guideline, 7/CEAL/2005, to regulate the candidate's income and expenditure related to the election. The Commission held a meeting with representatives from Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau and Public Security Police to discuss measures to keep the traffic smoothly on Election Day, 25 September 2005. Detailed arrangements will be announced later.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the second quarter of 2005, the available amount of all types of energy recorded growth. The available amount of Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and Gas oil & diesel rose markedly by 19.7% and 17.9% respectively compared with the second quarter of 2004. Compared with the first quarter of 2005, the available amount of Gas oil & diesel and Electricity increased markedly by 44.6% and 41.9% respectively, whereas LPG registered the only decrease of 15.1%. In comparison with the second quarter of 2004, consumption of Electricity and Gasoline (unleaded) rose notably by 13.4% and 11.7% respectively, while Gas oil & diesel registered the only decrease of 6.1%. Compared with the first quarter of 2005, consumption of LPG recorded the only decrease of 20.1%, whereas Gas oil & diesel registered the largest rise of 47.5%. With respect to the import quantity of fuels in the second quarter of 2005, when compared with the second quarter of 2004, Fuel oil and Gas oil & diesel increased significantly by 23.1% and 21.5% respectively, while Common kerosene (kerosene for illumination) registered the only decrease of 10.9%. In comparison with the first quarter of 2005, import quantity of Gas oil & diesel and Fuel oil increased markedly by 73.1% and 29.4% respectively, while LPG and Common kerosene (kerosene for illumination) decreased significantly by 19.9% and 19.4% respectively. In the second quarter of 2005, the total import value of liquid and gas fuels reached the amount of MOP728 million, representing an increase of 58.1% over the second quarter of 2004 and an increase of 43.2% over the first quarter of 2005. At the end of the second quarter of 2005, the list prices of all fuels increased compared with the end of the second quarter of 2004, among which those of Common kerosene (kerosene for illumination) and Gas oil & diesel (for automotive use) rose markedly by 25.9% and 24.2% respectively. Compared with the end of the first quarter of 2005, the list prices of all fuels increased, among which those of Gas oil & diesel (for automotive use) and Gas oil & diesel (for industrial use, 200 l) rose notably by 6.4% and 5.2% respectively.
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