News

Chief Executive Edmund Ho today (15 September) continued his visit in Berlin where he meets with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics and Labour, Dr. Alfred Tacke. Mr. Ho updated Dr. Tacke on the latest development of China and Macao in which Dr. Tacke had shown much interest. Mr. Ho reiterated in the meeting that Macao could be a platform for German enterprises to enter the Mainland China market, especially the Pan-Pearl River Delta Market. During his second day in the German Capital, Mr. Ho had visited the German National Parliament, and the Reichstag building. In the afternoon, Mr. Ho and the delegation left Berlin for Leipzig where they attended a banquet host by the Leipzig chamber of Commerce. Tomorrow (16 September), Mr. Ho and the delegation will meet with the mayor of Leipzig, Mr. Wolfgang Tiefensee and businessmen from Leipzig. They will also visit a manufacturing plant of Porsche in Leipzig and the Leipzig Fair.
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Chief Executive Edmund Ho urged German entrepreneurs to visit Macao when he speaks at a luncheon hosted by “Invest in Germany” a state-own investment and trade promotion institute in the German capital. Mr. Ho delivered a speech at the luncheon, saying that Macao had benefit from the smooth implementation of the “One Country Two System” policy since its reversion to Chinese rule in 1999. He said that Macao’s tourism, for instance, had developed vigorously and tourist arrival for this year was expected to exceed 12 million. He told the German enterprises that Macao is not just a tourism and gaming destination but also an important business-service platform that could help foreign small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) to enter the Mainland China market. He said that he anticipated cooperation between SMEs from Macao and Germany and promotion of cooperation’s in the areas of culture and tourism. The parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Economics and labour, Dr. Ditmar Staffelt told the guests that Macao was an important element of Germany’s economic relations with East Asia, and Particularly with China. He also said that he hope Macao could help German SMEs to enter the China Market.
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Chief Executive Edmund Ho today (14 September) met with German Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who expressed interest in the possible inclusion of Macao into his China visit next year. On the second day of his visit in Germany, Mr. Ho arrived in Berlin to meet with the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and the Foreign and Security Policy Adviser to the Federal Chancellor Bernd Mutzelburg. Mr. Ho told the press after the meetings that he was “thrilled” by the Chancellor Schrolder’s interest to visit Macao next year. Mr. Ho also said that he had discussed with Mr. Mutzelburg about cooperation between Macao and Germany in different levels, such as launching a series of co-operation programme in the future; Macao’s role as a platform for German small and medium-size enterprises to enter the Pan-Pearl river delta market which had a collective population of 400 million and to use Macao as a “showcase” for German technology and science such as environmental-protection technology. Mr. Ho also paid a courtesy call on the German foreign ministry’s state secretary, Jurgen Chrobog, and attended a banquet hosted by China’s ambassador in Germany, Ma Canrong. Tomorrow, Mr. Ho and the delegation will meet with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics and Labour, Dr. Alfred Tacke.
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Chief Executive Edmund Ho began his official visit to Germany today (13 September) in Munich, the capital of Bavaria where he met with Bavarian officials and visited two of the leading enterprises there. In the morning, Mr. Ho met with the Vice-minister of the Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology, Mr. Hans Spitzer. Mr. Spitzer said that there were some 50,000 small and medium enterprises in Bavaria now and they were all keens to enter the Chinese market. Although Hong Kong and Singapore were the traditional hub for those enterprises in the Asia market, they would certainly consider Macao for the Mainland China market in the future as Macao provides the advantage of lower operation cost and an up-to-date telecommunication systems. He said that he would consider including Macao in the visit of a Bavarian trade delegation to Asia scheduled for next year. Chief Executive Edmund Ho said that all Bavarian or German enterprises were welcomed to use Macao as a platform to enter the Mainland China market, especially the Pearl River Delta and the Pan-Pearl River Delta region. At the same time, the SAR was glad to help Bavarian enterprises to set up offices in Macao to strengthen trade links. He also said that enterprises in the Pearl River Delta were moving toward the direction of high technology and the advance technological background of German enterprises would be in great demand there. Later, Mr. Ho and the delegation visited Giesecke & Devrient Co. and Siemens AG, which were contracted to develop the computer system for electronic identity card to the SAR Government. In the Afternoon, Mr. Ho had a half-hour meeting with the Bavarian Premier Edmund Stoiber. Premier Stoiber was briefed about the latest development of Macao and he said that Bavarian enterprises wished to enter the China Market through Macao. Mr. Ho said that Macao was developing into a service hub between foreign countries and China, especially the Pearl River Delta so the SAR was willing to help all Bavarian Enterprises to enter the China market. Tomorrow, Mr. Ho and the delegation will go to Berlin and meet with the Federal Chancellor, Mr. Gerhard Schroeder at the German capital. They will also meet with the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Jurgen Chrobog.
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Chief Executive Edmund Ho today started his two-day visit in Xiamen, where he will attend the opening of the 8th China International Fair for Investment and Trade tomorrow. Mr. Ho met with Vice-premier Wu Yi late this afternoon and Ms. Wu congratulate him on his re-election, also at the meeting were commerce minister, Mr. Bo Xilai and director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Bai Zhijian. Mr. Ho also met with Governor of Fujian Province, Mr. Lu Zhangong and vice secretary of CPC Fujian Committee, Mr. Huang Ruilin. Mr. Ho will attend the opening of the 8th China International Fair for Investment and Trade Tomorrow in the Morning.
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The Secretary for Economy and finance, Francis Tam today forecasted a two-digit growth in the economy as recent statistics revealed growth in many sectors besides rapid growth in gaming sector. The statistics and census department recently announced a 47.5% GDP growth in the second season of 2004, and a 36% growth in the first six months. Mr. Tam said that the 47.5% growth was due to a low record in last summer, when SARS hits the neighbouring regions and thus hindered the Economy of Macao. He disagreed with the opinion that the gaming was the only industry that enjoy significant growth in Macao, saying that statistics had shown that many sectors, including merchandise exports, public investment in large-scale construction project and tourist spending had also contributed in the growth. He predicted a two-digit GDP growth for the year-round performance but expressed reservation about the prediction that the growth would exceed 30%. He also said that the government was monitoring Macao’s rapid economic development to avoid “risk situations or abnormal situations “ that would affect the livelihood of the population or the objective of sustainable development; however, the Government would always act in line with free-market principles.
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Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah will lead a delegation to Germany on Sunday (12 September) for a six-day official visit set to strengthen economic and tourism ties. During the visit, Mr. Ho will meet with the German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroeder, the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Mr Jurgen Chrobog, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics and Labour, Dr. Alfred Tacke, Bavarian Premier Edmund Stoiber, and the Head of the Hessian State Chancellery, State Minister Mr. Stefan Gruttner. The visit will start in Munich, followed by Berlin, Leipzig, Wiesbaden and Frankfurt. Mr. Ho will be accompanied by the president of the Legislative Assembly, Ms Susana Chou, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen and other officials. A dozen of local businesspeople are also part o the delegation. Mr. Ho and the delegation will visit a number of enterprises including Giesecke & Devrient Co., Siemens AG, and Porsche, and attend activities hosted by the German Federation of Chambers of Commerce.
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Chief Executive Edmund Ho said today (12 September) before leaving for Germany that he anticipated that the visit would help promote bilateral trade and economic ties. Mr. Ho left Macao to go to Germany today for his 6-day official visit there. He said that he would take the opportunity to promote Macao’s advantages under the one country two systems policy and the opportunities opened to foreign investors to enter the Mainland Market through Macao by the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). He also said that he hopes Macao could contribute to the economic and trades relations between China and Germany. During the visit, Mr. Ho will meet with the German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroeder and other officials, and will visit a number of enterprises including Giesecke & Devrient Co., Siemens AG, and Porsche, and attend activities hosted by the German Federation of Chambers of Commerce. The visit will start in Munich, followed by Berlin, Leipzig, Wiesbaden and Frankfurt. Mr. Ho was accompanied by the president of the Legislative Assembly, Ms Susana Chou, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen and other officials. A dozen of local businesspeople are also part o the delegation.
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Chief Executive Edmund Ho returned to Macao after his two-day visit to Xiamen where he participated in the 8th China International Fair for Investment and Trade. Mr. Ho talked to the press when he arrived at the Macao International Airport, saying that with the good foundation of cooperation and the realisation of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional cooperation, the economic ties and tourism collaborations between Macao and Fujian were expected to progress. In Xiamen this morning, Mr. Ho visited the venue of the 8th China International Fair for Investment and Trade at the company of the Governor of Fujian Province, Mr. Lu Zhangong. He also attended the International Investment Forum where Vice-Premier Wu Yi delivered a speech. The 8th China International Fair for Investment and Trade and the International Investment Forum was hosted by the Ministry of Commerce. Delegations from Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Taiwan and other mainland provinces were met with participants from more then a dozen of countries and regions in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
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Macao Special Administrative Region and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed today a memorandum on easier entry regulations for Macao SAR residents. According to the memorandum, permanent residents of Macao SAR who have the Electronic Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card (with computer chips included) may enter Hong Kong SAR with their resident identity Card and a special declaration form. The new regulations do not extend to those who need a traveling visa to enter Hong Kong currently, including nationals of 41 countries and holders of certain traveling documents. However, they may enjoy visa-free entry to Hong Kong by applying to a special varification arrangement, if they agreed to have the Macao SAR Identity Bureau submitting their personal information to the Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department. There are currently 435 Macao SAR permanent residents who need visa to enter Hong Kong; they will be contacted by the identification Department individually for their willingness to do so. The new regulations also include a lift of the ban on non permanent Macao residents who obtained their identity card for less than two years to apply for the Visit Permit to HK SAR. The new regulations were scheduled to be in effect from 18 October. The Special declaration form can be obtained through Self-Service Kiosk at the Macao Ferry Terminal and the Macao Identification Bureau. Currently, the number of Electronic Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card holder is approximately 124,000. DSI will start the mass replacement process by the end of this year. Consequently, when travelling to Hong Kong. Furthermore, once the replacement process finishes in early 2007, the number of individuals involved will increase to 440,000.
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