News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that in June 2005, visitor arrivals in package tours totalled 214,932, up 14.3% over June 2004. Visitors from Mainland China (167,430) increased 8.7% year-on-year; visitors from Taiwan, China (22,901) jumped 88.5% and those from Hong Kong (6,299) dropped 50.7%. In the first half of 2005, visitor arrivals in package tours grew 6.9% over the same period of 2004 to 1,237,100. Number of Macao residents travelling in package tours totalled 28,206 in June 2005, a year-on-year increase of 33.4%. Mainland China, Thailand and Taiwan, China were the three more popular tour itineraries, which accounted for 79.1%, 4.6% and 3.5% of the total respectively. In the first half of 2005, Macao residents travelling in package tours surged 51.6% compared with the same period of 2004. Meanwhile, 27,224 Macao residents travelled under own arrangements with the assistance of travel agencies, an increase of 3.0% over June 2004; Mainland China (40.0%), Hong Kong (20.1%) and Taiwan, China (18.5%) were the major destinations. In the first half of 2005, Macao residents travelling under such arrangements decreased slightly by 0.5% compared with the same period of 2004. At the end of June 2005, there were 10,571 rooms available in hotels and similar establishments, an increase of 1,271 rooms (13.7%) over June 2004. In June 2005, a total of 335,215 guests checked into hotels and similar establishments in Macao, a growth of 5.3% over June 2004. The average hotel occupancy rate fell 7.3 percentage points to 67.7% compared with the same month of 2004. The highest occupancy rate was in 3-star hotels, at 78.3%. The average length of stay of hotel guests dropped 0.06 night over June 2004 to 1.14 nights. The majority of the guests came from Mainland China (58.0%), Hong Kong (26.8%) and Taiwan, China (3.5%). In the first half of 2005, number of hotel guests showed a year-on-year increase of 1.6% to 1,904,927. In the first half of 2005, hotel guests (excluding Macao residents) accounted for 42.4% of the total number of tourists, which was lower than the 46.5% recorded in the same period of 2004.
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The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) organized a large-scale promotional campaign “Macau Week” in Las Vegas to woo the long haul North American market. Led by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Dr. Chui Sai On, the MGTO delegation went to Las Vegas of the United States to participate in the “Macau Week” series of promotional activities. The 75 people delegation included Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, Engineer João Manuel Costa Antunes, Head of Promotion and Marketing Department, Ms. Cecilia Tse, Head of Product Development and Special Projects Department, Mr. Licenio da Cunha, Head of Marketing Division, Ms. Betty Fok, Head of Cultural Activities & Recreation of the Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau, Mr. Henry Ma Kam Keong, officials of the Cabinet of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, staff of MGTO and IACM as well as performers. MGTO held a press conference on August 8 in Las Vegas for the purpose. Secretary Chui Sai On expressed that to be an international destination, it is essential to maintain a balanced market structure. Macau SAR will therefore continue to explore more potential source markets. To this end, MGTO has appointed new representatives for the market of the United States. It is believed that the representatives will put every effort to develop this potential market of North America. Director of MGTO introduced the latest tourism situation of Macau at the press conference. From August 8 to 14, a grand line up of activities of the “Macau Week” will take place in hot spots such as Fashion Show Mall, Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino, Wynn Las Vegas as well as MGM Grand. The unique East meets West activities include demonstrations of Chinese calligraphy and silhouette portrait, Portuguese folk dance, Chinese lion & dragon dances and musical performances of the East and West. Restaurants of the three hotels will offer special menus of Macanese cuisine. Two photo and art exhibits are also lined up for the Las Vegas promotion. “24 hours in Macau” shows pictures of Macau by day and by night through the lenses of one hundred photographers from Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. With the assistance of the Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau, 53 art pieces of the “XXI Collective Exhibition of Macau Artists” are also displayed, which are masterpieces of local artists. MGTO specially arranged a display of the newly inscribed UNESCO’s World Heritage, “The Historic Centre of Macau” to arouse the interest and awareness of Macau’s unique cultural heritage. Macau-born world-class pianist brothers Lio Kuok-Man and Lio Kuok-Wai also gave special performances during the “Macau Week”. Promotions through radio, newspapers and magazines complemented the “Macau Week” activity in the United States. In its effort to expand the long haul markets, MGTO wishes to attract more visitors from North America and Europe, so as to diversify tourism sources. This year, MGTO has appointed new representatives for the market of the United States in Los Angeles on the west coast and New York, the first representation office on the east coast. ###
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the second quarter of 2005, 838 companies were newly incorporated, with MOP227.36 million in registered capital. Compared with the second quarter of 2004, the number of newly incorporated companies and their registered capital increased 48.6% and 125.5% respectively. These newly incorporated companies were mostly in Wholesale and Retail sector (224), followed by Construction (185), Real Estate (156) and Business Services (132). On the other hand, 55 companies were dissolved in the second quarter of 2005, with MOP63.68 million in registered capital. Among them, most had been engaging in Wholesale and Retail (17), followed by Business Services (12). Among the stockholders of the newly incorporated companies, 58.4% were Macao residents. In addition, newly incorporated companies with a capital of 50 thousand Patacas or less accounted for 63.0% (528 companies) of the total number, and their capital only made up 6.8% of the total. Meanwhile, 779 of the newly incorporated companies were limited companies. Based on the residence of the stockholders, the capital of the newly incorporated companies in the second quarter of 2005 mostly came from Portugal (MOP60.08 million), followed by Macao (MOP57.99 million) and Mainland China (MOP44.66 million). Among the capital from the Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces, Guangdong province topped the list with MOP12.43 million. According to the combination of the residence of stockholders, 692 of the newly incorporated companies were established by stockholders from a single country/region, the majority of which (405 companies) were established solely by Macao stockholders, followed by those from Hong Kong (191 companies). The number of the newly incorporated companies with stockholders from Macao and other countries/regions was 121, of which 53 were joint ventures of Macao and Hong Kong stockholders and 50 were of Macao and Mainland China stockholders. The newly incorporated companies with stockholders solely from countries/regions other than Macao totalled 25, of which 8 were joint ventures of Hong Kong and Mainland China and 4 were of Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.
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A warm welcome was given to the Acting Director of Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), Miss Mok Iun Lei and her co-workers by the President and Director of the Macao General Association of Neighbours (UGAMM), Mr. Ng Si Meng and Mr. Io Hong Meng, in a recent visit to UGAMM. The meeting focused on the By-census operation in 2006 and the coming Pilot Survey scheduled to start from 20 August to 5 September 2005. Mok Iun Lei told representatives of UGAMM that Macao would follow international practice in undertaking a by-census between two population censuses to update the demographic database of Macao. She emphasized that By-census 2006 was closely related to the daily life of all residents because the results would form the basis of future government policies, considerable resources had been put in to ensure its success. As one of the more respectable organizations in Macao, Mok Iun Lei called for the support of UGAMM and its subsidiaries in advocating residents’ collaboration. She also highlighted major issues of the Pilot Survey and new arrangement in data collection, i.e. questionnaires would be mailed to the households prior to data collection, they could complete the form at home or wait for the visiting enumerator to assist them when had doubts, the arrangement was intended to minimize the duration of visit to the households. President of UGAMM, Ng Si Meng responded that the By-census operation would be a vital project of the Macao SAR Government in 2006; up-to-date demographic statistics of Macao became increasingly important in view of its rapid economic developments in recent years. He expressed that as a social organization, UGAMM pledged its full cooperation to the By-census operation, would mobilize its subsidiaries and the associations of apartment owners to collaborate. Ng Si Meng trusted that the new arrangement could streamline the data collection process, while DSEC could strengthen promotion of such arrangement to the public. In ensuring smooth operation of the Pilot Survey, directors of the UGAMM subsidiaries in the survey districts, namely Fai Chi Kei; Tamagnini Barbosa; Mong Ha; Mercado Vermelho and Ouvidor Arriaga, were also present in the meeting. Participants from DSEC included Miss Kong Pek Fong, Miss Tong Kaui Fong, Miss O Hak Wai, Miss Lei Wai Peng and Mr. Ao Kuan Kin. The Deputy Directors of UGAMM present at the meeting were Mr. Leong Hang Kao, Mr Song Hao Cheong, Miss Lo Heng Peng (Director of Association of Neighbours of Tamagnini Barbosa) and Mr. Wong Io Kao. Other representatives included the Secretary-general of UGAMM, Mr. Lam Fok I; Deputy Secretary-general, Mr. Mok Wai Seng; Director of Association of Neighbours of Mercado Vermelho and Ouvidor Arriaga, Mr. Lam Leng; Deputy Director of Association of Neighbours of Fai Chi Kei, Mr. Ng Fat Seng; and Board member of Association of Neighbours of Mong Ha, Miss Lam Wai Lan.
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The Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuok Va, said today Macao's public order remained stable, with violent crimes and offences against the person dropping by 10.7% and 3.6% respectively. Disclosing crime figures for the first half of the year, the security secretary said the number of violent crimes saw a drop of 45 cases over the same period last year: blackmail and arson cases were also down, by 31.1% and 4%. All five cases of homicide reported in the same period were solved. The number of wounding, serious assault and criminal intimidation cases also experienced drops, by 6.4%, 38.5% and 6.9% respectively. There had been a 10.8% increase in the total number of crimes reported in the same period, Mr Cheong said, due mainly to the 23.1% increase in property-related offences (+525 cases), which included theft (+21.3%), loan sharking (+20.3%), criminal damage (+23%) and robberies (+8.9%). He said the authorities were very concerned with these crimes, which could affect the daily lives of residents and Macao's image as a tourist attraction and the authorities would step up its efforts to combat crime. A total of 82 of crimes committed by juveniles were recorded, a rise of 17.1% over the same period of last year. Mr Cheong said the police force would work together with other departments and also step up street patrols to prevent and deter young people from committing juvenile crimes.
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This October, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (CAB) will unveil the new music season with the 19th Macao International Music Festival, which is scheduled to run from 7th October to 6th November 2005. This year festival will feature 16 different programmes over a total of 24 performances. The Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) brings annually internationally renowned artists from all over the world to Macau, and has gradually evolved into the major musical event in the territory. The MIMF seeks to promote a balanced range of events in order to reflect the diversity and uniqueness of Macao and seeks also to enrich its cultural life while meeting the expectations and aspirations of the community. This year’s programme is vast and rich, and embraces opera, symphonic music, chamber music, contemporary music, pop and modern music, and offers one more dynamic encounter between East and West. Opera is the ‘flagship’ of the MIMF and this year the Festival presents Madama Butterfly - one of the most popular operas by Giacomo Puccini - with libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on the play of the same name by David Belasco (7th to 9th October inclusive with subtitles in Chinese, Portuguese and English). The opera features an international cast and will be performed by The Macao Orchestra and the Fujiwara Opera Chorus, conducted by Alberto Veronesi, in a co-production by the Fujiwara Opera (Japan) and the CAB, under the direction of Yasushiko Aguni. In addition to opera, MIMF presents the evergreen musical West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein (1st/ 2nd/ 4th/ 5th/ 6th November). Produced by The Broadway Asia Company, Inc. and the CAB, the play features the Macao Orchestra and a cast from New York, and is undoubtedly one of the premier attractions of the event. The Macao Orchestra will also perform the Centenary of the Birth of Xiang Xinghai Commemorative Concert (16th October) and City of the Name of God of Macau – Contemporary Music Concert featuring two world premieres by Macao-born composer Lam Bun Ching and American composer Eli Marshall (19th October). Several world-renowned artists will participate in the event: outstanding pianist Ivo Pogorelich will deliver a recital (29th October); the outstanding Borodin String Quartet from Russia returns to Macao to give two concerts on the occasion of its 60th anniversary (14th and 15th October); renowned Cuban singer Omara Portuondo and her band presents her latest album Flor de Amor (18th October); (23rd and 24th October); and the exceptional Swiss based Camerata de Lausanne, conducted by Pierre Amoyal (28th October). Performances range from Canadian artists Julie Nesrallah and Daniel Bolshoy’s voice and guitar recital (12th October); American The Romeros-Classical Guitar Quartet performance (26th October); the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (29th October); the American ensemble Empire Brass (3rd November); the Portuguese composer Rodrigo Leão’s Cinema performance (21st October); to two concerts by the Macao Chinese Orchestra: 10th Anniversary of the Death of Teresa Deng featuring Chinese pop singers Fong Yi Kee from Hong Kong and Tsai Xing Juan from Taiwan (22nd and 23rd October); and The Macau Chinese Orchestra and Katia Guerreiro, featuring the remarkable Portuguese Fado singer in a unique combination of Fado and Chinese instruments (27th October). Pang Ka Pang will conduct both concerts. Chinese traditional music is represented by the The Oriental Angels ensemble, composed by five Chinese female virtuosi, whose repertoire includes classical and modern works emphasizing especially the combination of Chinese instruments and world music (30th October). In keeping with the Cultural Institute’s policy of promoting heritage sites throughout the city, several concerts will be staged in representative sites of Macao’s cultural and architectonic heritage, now proudly inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The Ruins of St. Paul’s, Mount Fortress, St. Dominic’s Church, Cathedral and Dom Pedro V Theatre will serve as stunning backdrops. Performances will also take place in venues representative of the city’s modernity, such as the Macao Cultural Centre, where the public may benefit from the extraordinary acoustics and convenience offered by this state-of-the-art facility, and the Macao Tower auditorium. The MIMF also includes an extensive programme of workshops, open rehearsals and master classes targeted specifically at students, to take advantage of the fact that experienced professionals in several different areas are on hand, aiming at helping youngsters to understand, learn and appreciate music, its different languages and genres. CAB believes that the large diversity of performances, workshops and master classes on offer by established artists, plus ticket discounts, will stimulate the participation of Macao’s younger generation and permit a valuable contact with classical music whilst cultivating aestheticism and creativity. Every year, the MIMF attracts audiences from all over the world. In addition to the Macau Government Tourist Office’s overseas representative agencies, the CAB has taken a step further to strengthen its cooperation with China and Hong Kong by signing a contract with China National Radio, Canton Radio, Hong Kong Metro Broadcasting Corporation Ltd. and Guangzhou Daily to distribute MIMF news and information to residents all over China. In order to attract more mainland music lovers, MIMF has launched a ticket booking hotline and set up four ticket sales and pick-up counters in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongshan and Zhuhai in the Pearl River Delta region. N.b: In special cooperation with the 2005 East Asian Games Organizing Committee, the CAB will extend the musical West Side Story for a further two days. Tickets for the Festival will be available for reservation and sales from 7th August 2005 at 10:00am at Kong Seng Ticketing outlets; tickets are reasonably priced from MOP80 to MOP400 with discounts available under certain conditions: 40% discount for tickets for four different performances bought at the same time or for four different performances of the same show; group bookings for 10 or more tickets bought at the same time; and holders of Senior Citizen Cards. Holders of full-time Student Cards also benefit from a 40% discount, although this is restricted to the cheapest seats. There will be a special offer of a 20% discount for holders of Teachers Cards and Youth Cards. The tickets for church performances are free of charge and will be distributed from 7th August at the same outlets but are limited to two tickets per person per pickup. For further information on the MIFM, please contact the CAB via the Festival hotline on (853) 3996699 or visit www.icm.gov.mo/fimm or email fimm@icm.gov.mo.
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The Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah today praised the contribution of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison in Macao. Addressing a reception to celebrate the 78th anniversary of the founding of the PLA, Mr Ho said the garrison had adhered steadfastly to the Basic Law and the law for the garrison since the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). He said the bill that the Legislative Assembly passed last week, which enabled the MSAR to call on the garrison to help maintain public order in case of an emergency or assistance in case of a disaster, laid a solid cornerstone to the stability and good governance of Macao. Mr Ho said the excellent performance of the PLA garrison in Macao had won the confidence of Macao residents over the past six years. The Chief Executive thanked the garrison for its contribution and said the SAR Government would fully co-operate with the garrison to continue to strive for the stability of Macao and the success of the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that, in June 2005, Macao’s total value of exports amounted to MOP1.46 billion, down 38.6% over the same month of 2004. Among this, the value of domestic exports decreased 44.6% to MOP1.01 billion, and the value of re-exports also went down 18.6% to MOP445 million. Value of imports amounted to MOP2.56 billion, up 4.0% over the same period of 2004. A trade deficit of MOP1.10 billion was recorded this month. During the period of January – June 2005, the value of total exports recorded a year-on-year decrease of 27.0% to MOP7.39 billion. Among this, the value of domestic exports decreased 35.8% and the value of re-exports fell 1.1%. Meanwhile, the value of imports amounted to MOP13.38 billion, up 3.8% over the same period of 2004. In the first six months of 2005, Macao’s trade balance registered a deficit of MOP5.99 billion. During this period, the exports/imports ratio decreased from 78.5% in the corresponding period of 2004 to 55.2%. In the first six months of 2005, the value of Textile & garment exports, which accounted for 72.5% of the total exports, decreased 32.9% over the same period of 2004. Moreover, the value of Non-textile exports also dropped 4.9%. As the major components of non-textile exports, Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof expanded 2.1%, whereas Footwear fell 90.1% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2005, the USA and the EU remained as Macao’s major export markets, together making up 57.0% of the total value of exports. Among this, exports to the USA, which made up 45.9% of the total value of exports, decreased 26.5% over the same period of 2004; exports to the EU, which made up 11.1% of the total value of exports, also decreased 64.6% over the same period of 2004. During the period of January – June 2005, Macao’s total value of imports increased 3.8% year-on-year. In terms of broad economic categories, Fuels & lubricants, Capital goods and Consumer goods rose 37.6%, 24.5% and 3.5% respectively, whereas Raw materials & semi-manufactures registered a year-on-year decrease of 10.2%. Meanwhile, Macao’s main suppliers of imported goods still concentrated in the Asian region. Imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong together constituted 50.6% of the total value of imports. Compared with the same period of 2004, the value of imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong fell 3.2% and 2.4% respectively.
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This year's Macau Grand Prix will boast the best-ever race line-up in its 52 year history. The Far East Classic will be held from November 17 to 20, 2005, on Macau's legendary Guia street circuit, and will include the FIA Intercontinental Cup of Formula 3, the final round of the all-new FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), the FIA WTCC LG - Guia Race of Macau, and the 39th running of the ever-popular Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix - Hotel Fortuna. In addition to the three prestigious headline events, the action-packed schedule also includes a further six races for touring, saloon, junior single-seater and sports cars. As motorsport in Asia continues to develop at a rapid pace, the Macau Grand Prix has strengthened its unique position on the international racing calendar. As Mr. João Manuel Costa Antunes, Co-Ordinator of the Macau Grand Prix Committee explains: "For more than two decades, since Ayrton Senna won the Formula 3 Grand Prix in Macau, the event has been the one race every young single seater driver dreams of winning. When it comes to deciding the best of the best in the unofficial "world cup" in the category each year, the attention of the international motorsport community - as well as the media - is firmly fixed on Macau. "In addition, for the first time this year, not only will Macau host a round of one of only three official FIA World Championships, the WTCC, it will also be the final – and possibly deciding – event of the most prestigious touring car series on earth." "The Macau race programme also includes a Motorcycle Grand Prix which has become famous across the globe and is often compared to the Isle of Man TT. The mixture of cars and motorcycles on the same bill is a true rarity and adds to the broad appeal of the event." Macau's Guia street circuit itself, often described as the "Monaco of the Far East", provides a real test for man and machine as well as a picturesque backdrop for the race weekend, adding to the event's uniqueness. Practice and qualifying sessions for the 52nd Macau Grand Prix will be held on Thursday and Friday (November 17 and 18), with the racing getting underway on Saturday morning, with the final chequered flag on Sunday afternoon. The FIA Intercontinental Cup of Formula 3 - for the most promising Formula 1 aspirants - will once again be held in the new format introduced last year. The 10-lap Qualification Race will be held on Saturday afternoon, with the 15-lap Grand Prix run as the grand finale of the race weekend, and 2005 international Formula 3 season closer, on Sunday. Following the successful re-scheduling of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix from its traditional early-morning slot last year, the 15-lap race will immediately follow the Formula 3 Qualification Race on Saturday afternoon this year. The FIA WTCC LG - Guia Race of Macau is scheduled to begin late Sunday morning, and will be held as two separate races of nine laps each with a 15 minute break between races. Support races include events for international, regional and local competitors and on the programme are the Hotel Fortuna Trophy, the Macau Cup/Asian Touring Car, the 2005 Asian Formula Renault Challenge, the Porsche Infineon Carrera Cup Asia, and the Macau Grand Prix Committee Scooters Cup for Macau residents. In addition, the ever-popular all-Hong Kong race for Group N 2000cc cars, will this year have a brand new title sponsor and be known as the Macau 2007, 2nd Asian Indoor Games Cup. The exciting new games, the second edition of which Macau will host, were created by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for its 45 member National Olympic Committees. The games include a wide variety of disciplines including extreme sports, aerobics, acrobatics and short-course swimming. Confirmation that the games will be staged in Macau, currently gearing up for the 4th East Asian Games later this year, is the latest feather in the cap of a city fast becoming a major regional venue for important sporting events. New to the regulations for the car races this year will be changes to procedures in the event of a race stoppage in order to keep the racing action flowing throughout the race days. The changes follow the latest Formula 1 rules on which the Sporting Regulations for the Macau Formula 3 event are based. Should the Clerk of the Course decide the race must be stopped, the red flag will be shown at all points around the circuit indicating to the drivers they must stop racing immediately. Previously, drivers would then proceed to the pits slowly, wait while the track was cleared and for the start procedure to begin again. The new regulations begin when the red flags are shown. Instead of returning to the pits, drivers will slowly proceed - in the same order as when the red flag was shown - until indicated to stop by race officials at the nearest practicable point. This point is known as the "red flag line". The cars line up in single file behind the line, and team personnel may then work on the cars and race officials will give ten minutes'notice of the restart. The race will restart from the "red flag line" behind the Safety Car, which will lead the field for one lap before pulling off allowing racing to resume. The new procedure will save considerable time, benefiting the teams, television broadcasters and spectators with more on-track action.
Entries for this year's Macau Grand Prix will be announced at a later date, but motorsport fans can expect to see the full compliment of FIA WTCC touring car stars, the leading drivers from the world’s top Formula 3 Championships, and the most daring road racing motorcycle specialists on the planet. Tickets for the Macau Grand Prix are on sale now, and may be purchased from the Macau Grand Prix Committee at email: macaugp@cgpm.gov.mo Price details can be found on the official website at www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo, and tickets range from US$19 to US$88 for race day seats. Two-day race ticket packages are available, as are concessions for students.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the second quarter of 2005, the average daily nominal wage of construction workers was MOP396, of which the average daily nominal wage of skilled workers & semi-skilled workers was MOP424 and unskilled workers MOP238. The overall nominal wage index increased 5.3% compared with the first quarter of 2005. Nominal wage index of skilled workers & semi-skilled workers rose 6.4%, and that of unskilled workers declined 2.1%. The overall real wage index increased 4.5% compared with the first quarter of 2005. Real wage index of skilled workers & semi-skilled workers rose 5.5%, and that of unskilled workers declined 2.9%. Among the various occupations of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers, the real wage index of iron workers rose the most, up 14.1%; whereas that of truck drivers registered the largest decline, down 4.4%. Compared with the second quarter of 2004, the overall real wage index increased 26.0%, of which the index of skilled workers & semi-skilled workers rose 25.1%, and that of unskilled workers went up 33.3%.
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