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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that number of licensed vehicles in Macao was 147,237 at the end of June 2005, of which 51% (74,921) were motorcycles and 45% (66,003) were light vehicles. New registration of vehicles in the first half of 2005 surged 21% year-on-year to 8,347, the majority were motorcycles (58%) and light vehicles (39%). In the first six months of 2005, there were 6,503 cases of traffic accident, an increase of 7% over the same period of 2004, resulting in 2,073 casualties and 7 of them were killed. Traffic flow by land between Macao and Mainland China increased by 11% to 1,477,816 vehicle trips. The Border Gate was the major passage that took up 77% of the total; meanwhile, the Checkpoint of CoTai recorded 337,634 vehicle trips. In the first half of 2005, arrivals and departures of commercial flight at the Macao International Airport totalled 20,607 flights, a jump of 18% over the same period of 2004. Taiwan, China and Mainland China were the major routes that accounted for 53% and 36% of the total commercial flights to/from Macao. At the Outer Harbour, 7,952 helicopter flights were recorded (-11% year-on-year) between Macao and Hong Kong and 1,361 flights were recorded between Macao and Mainland China. Passenger transport by sea between Hong Kong and Macao increased by 8% over the first six months of 2004 to 39,356 ferry trips, while number of passenger ferry trips between Macao and Mainland China (5,272) was identical to the same period of 2004. Number of cargo vessel departures was 6,224 with a total capacity of 1,485,000 net registered tons, within which 4,324 vessels (69%) were flying the Chinese flag. In the first six months of 2005, total seaborne container throughput was 49,960 TEUs, or 36,387 seaborne containers handled, which fell by 11% and 8% compared with the same period of 2004. Number of container flow by land increased by 20% year-on-year to 4,732. In addition, gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo in the first five months of 2005 increased by 1% over the same period of 2004 to 112,358 tonnes, of which 39,103 tonnes were transshipment goods. Meanwhile, containerized cargo by land rose by 14% to 39,058 tonnes, including 31,012 tonnes of transit goods. Total weight of outward cargo handled at the Macao International Airport showed a year-on-year decrease of 6% to 41,007 tonnes in the first six months of 2005; at the same time, inward cargo decreased by 8% to 13,263 tonnes. At the end of June 2005, there were 173,281 fixed telephone lines in Macao; number of mobile telephone and stored value GSM card users totalled 476,212. Besides, number of internet subscribers increased to 82,712 at the end of June 2005 and the total hour of usage reached 34.61 million hours in the first six months of 2005, up by 13% and 43% over the same period of 2004.
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The website of the Government Information Bureau (GCS) of the Macao SAR offers RSS service from Monday (1 August), facilitating Internet users to receive feeds of official news and photos disseminated by the bureau, in Chinese, Portuguese and English. RSS, known as Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication, is an XML-based format for sharing and distributing Web content (such as news headlines) without requiring readers to constantly visit a website to see what’s new. RSS feeds contain headlines and hyperlinks to longer articles or web pages. Internet users who have installed an RSS reader, such as Sharp Reader, Newz Crawler, FeedDemon, can subscribe GCS RSS service. Users will receive easy syndication of news and photos about Macao by copying one of the following channels to an RSS reader: Chinese news: http://www.gcs.gov.mo/ugcs/files/txt/rss_news_C.xml Portuguese news: http://www.gcs.gov.mo/ugcs/files/txt/rss_news_P.xml English news: http://www.gcs.gov.mo/ugcs/files/txt/rss_news_E.xml Chinese photos: http://www.gcs.gov.mo/ugcs/files/txt/rss_image_C.xml Portuguese photos: http://www.gcs.gov.mo/ugcs/files/txt/rss_image_P.xml English photos: http://www.gcs.gov.mo/ugcs/files/txt/rss_image_E.xml GCS RSS service will keep Internet users the up-to-date information of Macao SAR. Interested users please visit http://www.gcs.gov.mo/ugcs/index.php?PageLang=E&PassType=RSS for details of the service.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the second quarter of 2005, price indices rose in most of the surveyed construction materials compared with the first quarter of 2005. Among them, steel, sand, concrete, lime, aggregates, timber, red bricks, ceramic products, glass, paint, pipes, sanitary articles, cement and electric wires rose between 0.4% and 7.0%. However, the price index of aluminium fell 2.3%, which was the only decline recorded. Among the above changes in price indices, steel recorded the largest increase of 7.0%, followed by red bricks, up 6.5%. Compared with the second quarter of 2004, price indices rose in most of the surveyed construction materials, with the biggest increase in electric wires, up 37.2%, whereas sanitary articles decreased the most, by 0.4%.
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The MSAR Government is firmly committed to the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage so that future generations would be proud of the legacy of Macao, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today. Mr Ho was speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Children’s Performing Arts Festival of East Asia 2005. “I would like to take this opportunity to express our heart-felt thanks and highest regards to UNESCO for their consistent support in our endeavours in education, science, culture, and especially in our successful world heritage application,” said Mr Ho. He said the successful inscription of ‘The Historic Centre of Macao’ on ‘UNESCO’s World Heritage List’ clearly indicated that the lifestyle and community model held so dear by the people of Macao people is now recognised by the world. “The inscription evidences the universal significance of the humanistic values of openness, tolerance, equality, harmony and the unique historical experience of Macao,” Mr Ho said. He said the Historic Centre of Macao’ belonged not only to Macao, but also to the whole world and all humanity. And like the shining guiding principle of UNESCO, this precious historic legacy will glow with the traditional wisdom of coexistence with differences and unity, which embraced diversity for mankind.
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According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate was 4.2% for April - June 2005, up slightly by 0.1 percentage point over March - May 2005 but dropped by 0.8 percentage point over the same period of 2004. The underemployment rate was 1.6%, up by 0.3 percentage point over March - May 2005 but down by 0.7 percentage point compared with the same period of 2004. Number of the unemployed searching for their first job was about 800, or 7.9% of the total unemployed population, an increase of 1.1 percentage points over March - May 2005. Compared with March - May 2005, unemployment situation was improved in Construction sector, Real estate, renting & business activities and Hotels, restaurants & similar activities, while it was worsened in Other community, social & personal service activities (except Gaming) and Manufacturing sectors. Total labour force was estimated at 242,000 in April - June 2005; the employed and the unemployed populations were 232,000 and 10,000 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 62.2%, down slightly by 0.1 percentage point compared with March - May 2005 but up by 1.3 percentage points over the same period of 2004. Administrative information from Public Security Police indicated that number of non-resident workers with working permits totalled 31,097 at the end of June 2005, an increase of 8.5% over March 2005. Please refer to the attached table for detailed information on non-resident workers by industry.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, today attended the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair and Contract Signing Ceremony in Chengdu, Sichuan, before leaving for the popular Jiuzai Valley. The Secretary for Economic and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, led the Macao business delegation, which comprised 204 officials and entrepreneurs, to take part in the fair, which is regarded as one of the most important components of the forum. During the Contract Signing Ceremony, the Macao delegation signed agreements on 14 joint ventures with business organisations from the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD), with a total value of about MOP2.4 billion. Three specialised forums were held this morning, namely “Exploiting financial market in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region”, “Development of modern logistic in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region” and “Intelligence properties protection in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region”. The Macao business delegation attended all three forums. Meanwhile, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) built a Macao SAR Booth jointly with other government departments and business organisations. A presentation with the theme of ‘jointly trading in PPRD and Portuguese-speaking countries’ was introduced to the mainland businessmen who want to promote the advantages of using Macao as business platform and to facilitate contacts with the local business sector. The Chief Executive and the Macao delegation will visit Deyang and Guanghan, and the local business sectors tomorrow. Mr Ho will return to Macao in the evening after attending a banquet to be hosted by the Chengdu municipal government.
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The second session of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and the first session of Pan-Pearl River Delta Region Chief Executive Officers’ Meeting had completed today. Governors of the nine provinces and Chief Executives of the two SARs meet the press after the joint meeting. The Vice-Governor of Sichuan Province, Mr Jiang Jufeng, who chaired the organising committee for this session of the forum, hosted the press conference. Mr Jiang said the session brought extensive and profound discussion in the co-operation and development in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region. The Governors and Chief Executives had suggested many ideas in the mechanism to enhance regional co-operation, the establishment of an open and harmonised market system, and the promotion of experience exchanges in harmonising social and economic development. Meanwhile, academics and specialists had analysed and discussed new ideas in regional co-operation base on practical experience. During the Pearl River Delta Region Chief Executive Officers Meeting in the afternoon, the progress of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional co-operation in the past year was reviewed and future plans were formulated. The participants also discussed and approved the “Guideline of Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation in the scope of the “Tenth Five-Year Plan”, the “Opinions in the Pragmatic Promotion of Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation” and the ”Chief Executive Officers Meeting Memorandum”. It was also agreed during the meeting that that Yunnan would host the next session of the Forum. Other achievements of the forum included the deepening of understanding in Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation, drafting of the plan for the integration of Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation in the 11th Five-Year Plan, defining the short-term focus of co-operation, enhancing co-operation and widening the effect of regional co-operation.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today it was essential to promote tourism resource-sharing in the Pan-Pearl River Delta to achieve integrated development. Mr Ho, who is leading a delegation to Chengdu, Sichuan, for the second Pan-Pearl River Delta Cooperation and Development Forum, met the press together with the other Governors and Chief Executives this afternoon. He said the listing of Macao’s Historic Centre as World Cultural Heritage demonstrated Macao’s historical significance in culture that merged East and West. This also helped in promoting Macao internationally and had a realistic significance in Macao’s tourism development. Mr Ho said the development of tourism co-operation was an important part of Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional co-operation, and, instead of selfishly seeing tourism resources as competitive advantages, it would be more appropriate to co-operate with other members in the region and develop a relation based on resources-sharing, interactions and complements. Mr Ho said the future of the Pan-Pearl River Delta regional tourism would definitely be a situation of integrated development, which would not be possible without integrated competitiveness. The listing of Macao’s Historic Centre as World Cultural Heritage would also contribute to the overall development of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho is scheduled to head an official delegation to Chengdu, Sichuan on Sunday (24 July) to participate in the second Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum, which will be held there from 24 to 28 July. On Monday (25), Mr Ho will take part in the opening ceremony and speak in the high-ranking Officials Forum session in the morning and attend the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region Chief Executive Officers Meeting in the afternoon. During the Chief Executive Officers meeting, the progress of the Pan-Pearl River regional cooperation in the past year will be reviewed. After the meeting, all participating chief executives will meet the press and sign the “Chief Executive Officers Meeting Memorandum”. In Tuesday morning, Mr Ho and the delegation will attend the second “Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair” and then visit the Jiuzai Valley and the Sanxing Dui Ruins. Also in the delegation are the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam and the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Ao Man Long, MSAR Government bureau chiefs and entrepreneurs. During the Forum, Ministerial officials and the provincial heads will deliver speeches on topics such as enhancing regional co-operation mechanism, establishment of open and harmonised market systems and promotion of experiences exchanges in harmonising social and economic development. The participants will also discuss and approve the “Guideline of Pen-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation in the scope of the Tenth five-year plan”, the “Opinions in the Pragmatic Promotion of Pan- Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation” and the hosting region of the next Forum. Three specialised forum with the theme of “Exploiting financial market in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region”, “Development of modern logistic in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region” and “Intelligence properties protection in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region” will also be held at the time. The Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation Forum is co-hosted by the provincial governments of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi (Zhuang Autonomous Region), Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhao, Yunan and the SAR governments of Hong Kong and Macao. The first forum was jointly held by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao last year. The Chief Executive will return to Macao on Wednesday (27 July) and during his stay in Sichuan, The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan will serve as Acting-Chief Executive.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today that the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional co-operation was essential to Macao’s future economic development and that Sichuan and Macao complements each other in many aspects.. Mr Ho, who is heading a delegation to Sichuan for the second Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum, met with the provincial Party Chief Mr Zhang Xuezhong and Governor Mr Zhang Zhongwei shortly after arriving in Chengdu in the afternoon. He said that Sichan could play an important role in Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional co-operation Mr Ho said Macao’s achievements since the establishment of the MSAR, such as economic growth and social stability, could not be dissociated with the support of the Central Government and people in the Mainland. “Neither could Macao’s future economic development be dissociated from close co-operation with other members of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region.” A strong degree of compatibilities existed between the tourism sectors of Macao and Sichuan, Mr Ho said. He said member-entrepreneurs, totaling some 200 on the current visit, was the biggest since the founding of the MSAR, which demonstrated that Macao entrepreneurs were very interested in the Sichuan’s business environment and had great expectations for Sichuan’s role in the overall development of the northwest region. The second Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum could be helpful for Macao enterprises using Sichuan as a window of opportunities in the northwest and that Macao-Sichuan co-operation could be further strengthened.
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