News

The "22nd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest" kicks off today (September 11) as the fireworks teams from the United Kingdom and Chinese Taiwan light up the sky of Macau with splendid fireworks. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Cheong U and Director of Macau Government Tourist Office João Manuel Costa Antunes joined with other guests to officiate the opening ceremony at the Macau Tower Outdoor Plaza.
Held on September 11, 18, 22, 25 and October 1 at the sea area across the Macau Tower, 22nd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest has attracted ten teams from around the world to vie for the contest.
The contest this year features teams from the United Kingdom, Chinese Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia, Portugal, Korea, Japan, France, Italy and China, each will show off their pyrotechnic wizardry to spectators both from Macau and overseas. Pyro 2000 Limited from the United Kingdom lifts the curtain on the fireworks extravaganza. Established in 1996, Pyro 2000 has participated in various fireworks displays and competitions around the world. The team staged a fireworks display for the closing ceremony of World Cup Cricket Final in 2007 and pocketed the second prize of the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest 10 years ago.
Wan Dar Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd. from Chinese Taiwan is a veteran in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest as well as other international celebrations and competitions. It took part in this contest as early as 1989 and attained the third prize in 2008. Wan Dar is all set for this year’s prize which it missed last year.
This year MGTO and Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM) jointly launch “SMS Game” to promote citizen participation in the event. During the period of fireworks display contest, CTM will send out short message to their mobile service subscribers to introduce the game, in addition to promotion of the game on the websites of MGTO and CTM. Macau residents can send one text message to CTM through their mobile to vote for their favorite team after each night of display. The citizen who voted for the most popular team on that night is eligible for lucky draw to win two sets of reservoir stand tickets for the 57th Macau Grand Prix (Saturday and Sunday) and souvenir. The 5 teams who get the most SMS votes will be awarded with “The People’s Choice” certificates and souvenirs. However the voting result will not affect the jury’s decision on the fireworks display contest. MGTO will also post web banner on CTM’s website to enhance the promotion effectiveness.
Each participating team is requested again this year to complement their display with music to enthrall the audience with a light and sound spectacular. To enhance the enjoyment, the organizer will install sound systems at the waterfront of the Macau Tower Outdoor Plaza, at the Macau Tower Street seaside and at the square in front of Kun Iam Statue on Ave. Dr Sun Yat Sen so that the public can enjoy synchronized music to the spectacular displays. Spectators are able to listen to live music of the fireworks displays through Radio Macau's live broadcast at FM100.7.
MGTO and the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau will again jointly present the Fireworks Carnival to offer an array of live entertainment, cultural activities and culinary delights on the fireworks display nights. The opening ceremony of the Fireworks Carnival 2010 will be held today (September 11) at 7:30pm. Citizens can enjoy an array of live entertainment, cultural activities and culinary delights at the carnival between 5:00 - 11:00 p.m. on each of the fireworks display nights. 26 stalls offering snacks and souvenirs will also add sparkle to the party.
This press release is available on MGTO’s website: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/
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From yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 11), the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed a premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally. The premise comprised 25 bedspaces and an illegal immigrant found on site was handed over to the police for investigation. MGTO joined forces with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) on September 10 to raid a premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally according to information provided by a citizen. The premise, which comprised four rooms, offered 25 bedspaces. Nine occupants from the Mainland, including one suspected to be illegal immigrant, were found and investigated. The Cross-departmental Working Team has been carrying on operations to combat premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, adjusting inspection strategy and search methods continuously. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 433 premises were checked, of which 56 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 55 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the PSP will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found four premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, the operations involved more than 460 occupants, among whom 247 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, with seven overstayers and seven illegal immigrants. 11 operators, nine touts, nine persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Cheong U, congratulated today members of the Cross-departmental Working Team for their cooperation and results achieved, which have met the expected target to combat the problem of providing accommodation illegally. “Through the efforts of all and the cooperation of different government departments involved, the expected results have basically been achieved,” Cheong U said, while calling members of the Cross-departmental Working Team to “keep the team spirit” in future works in combating illegal accommodation. Cheong U met members of the Cross-departmental Working Team this morning after their first meeting since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13. To date, the Cross-departmental Working Team was able to access 176 premises for inspections, of which 55 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed and the supply of water and electricity suspended. During the operations, 238 occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were investigated, including 11 operators, 9 touts, 9 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) already began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff. After almost one month since the new law took effect, representatives of different government departments of the Cross-departmental Working Team met this morning to evaluate the work done so far, as well as exchange ideas on ways to improve the operations and solve new problems and situations which have emerged. The Cross-departmental Working Team coordinator, MGTO director, João Manuel Costa Antunes, mentioned that the results of the operations have shown the effectiveness of the joint efforts of MGTO and the Public Security Police Force to access the suspected premises, as well as the support in related works from other departments that join the Team. Antunes pointed out that based on the good results achieved so far, along with the execution of the penalties in the law, conditions are in place for the success of the operations to combat illegal accommodation. According to the new law, operators and persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty of up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Meanwhile, MGTO together with Legal Affairs Bureau are preparing a new campaign to raise the awareness on the problem of illegal accommodation. The new campaign targeting visitors seeks to alert them about the problem before their arrival in Macau, and will be launched before the “golden week” of October 1, of the National Day of People’s Republic of China.
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The Cross-departmental Working Team this morning raided a three-storey building suspected to provide accommodation illegally. The involved operator offered online reservation service for clients. The building was sealed and 2 occupants found on site were investigated. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) joined forces with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) this morning around 10am in an operation to investigate the building in question, which constituted of seven rooms. The operator was seized on site. Two occupants pointed out that they booked the rooms online after joining as a member. They were not required to pay membership fee but only the daily rate for the room. Prior to the operation, the Inspection Department of MGTO worked on intelligence collection and inspected the site to gather evidence. This morning MGTO and PSP took action to enter the building and found that the premise offered hotel-like service and facilities, including computers and amenities. Supported also by the occupants’ statements, the 3-storey building was suspected to provide accommodation illegally and was sealed with electricity and water supply cut. Other Cross-departmental Working Team members were also informed to assist on site. MGTO received in the past inquiries regarding applications to establish guesthouses, and provided related information accordingly. MGTO will also require the inquirer to provide more detailed information for analysis when approached with unclear cases. After reviewing internal data, to date MGTO has not received any application to set up guesthouse at the location of the concerned building. According to existing regulation, guesthouses are rated as 3-star and 2-star and their location should be approved for usage as hotel establishments. Regarding the regulations and conditions for establishing guesthouses, please refer to Administrative Act 83/96/M (http://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/96/14/port83_cn.asp)
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The Cross-departmental Working Team checked one building from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 9). A three-storey building was sealed for being suspected to provide accommodation illegally, and 1 operator was caught on site. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 417 premises were checked, of which 54 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 51 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the Public Security Police Force (PSP) will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 429 occupants, among whom 231 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 11 operators, 9 touts, 9 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Among the occupants, there were 7 overstayers and 6 illegal immigrants. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, on a monthly basis, money supply M2 continued to grow in July. Total deposits rose while external loans decreased, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio dropped from a month earlier. Money supply Currency in circulation grew 1.3% whereas demand deposits decreased slightly by 0.2%. M1 thus stayed flat when compared with the previous month. Meanwhile, quasi-monetary liabilities rose 3.2%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, increased 2.7% to MOP228.3 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 rose 19.8% and 9.5% respectively. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 28.1%, up 0.6 percentage points over a month ago or 0.3 percentage points from a year earlier. Concurrently, the share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 54.5%, down 0.4 percentage points month-to-month or remained unchanged year-on-year. Deposits Resident deposits grew 2.8% from the previous month to MOP223.2 billion. Of which, MOP deposits, HKD deposits and other foreign currency deposits increased at respective rates of 5.4%, 2.1% and 1.2%. Concurrently, non-resident deposits rose 2.0% to MOP72.2 billion and public sector deposits with the banking sector grew significantly by 25.6% to MOP18.9 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector grew 3.7% from the previous month to MOP314.3 billion. The shares of MOP and HKD in total deposits were 23.5% and 46.6% respectively. Loans Domestic loans to the private sector expanded 4.3% in July to MOP116.8 billion. Among which, MOP35.7 billion was MOP-denominated and MOP73.7 billion was denominated in HKD, representing 30.5% and 63.1% of the total respectively. Meanwhile, external loans decreased 3.2% to MOP108.1 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP and HKD accounted for 0.8% (MOP0.9 billion) and 42.1% (MOP45.5 billion) of the total respectively. Loan-to-deposit ratios As the growth pace of domestic loans to the private sector is similar to that of resident deposits (including public sector deposits), the loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector at end-July 2010 remained virtually unchanged from a month ago at 48.2%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors was 71.5%, down 2.3 percentage points from the previous month.
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The Cross-departmental Working Team checked 2 premises from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 8). One premise was sealed for being suspected to provide accommodation illegally, and 2 occupants found on site were investigated. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 408 premises were checked, of which 56 were normal residences, while 53 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the Public Security Police Force (PSP) will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 415 occupants, among whom 237 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 10 operators, 9 touts, 9 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Among the occupants, there were 7 overstayers and 6 illegal immigrants. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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This year, the regular maintenance of Macao Museum is scheduled between 13th to 17th September (5 days in total, from Monday to Friday). During the maintenance, the Mount Fortress Garden will be open as usual, people are welcome to visit through the south entrance of the Mount. As Macao Museum is situated in the Historic Centre of Macao and becomes one of the main tourist attraction sites, it receives many visitors every year and therefore the condition of the facilities is gradually deteriorating by frequent usage. In order to keep the Museum in good condition, there is regular repair and maintenance to be carried out every year. After the maintenance, the Museum will reopen to the public on 18th September (Saturday). We apologize for any inconvenience caused. For further information about opening hours, please visit www.macaumuseum.gov.mo or contact Macao Museum on 2835 7911 during office hours.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released summary of the GDP for the second quarter of 2010. The rates of change refer to the year-on-year change in real terms, unless otherwise specified. Favourable performance of the gaming and tourism sector sustained in the second quarter of 2010, with gross gaming revenue (excluding gratuities) soaring by 76.5% year-on-year in nominal terms, and total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) rising further from the 14.3% increase in the first quarter to 30.9%; decline in merchandise exports narrowed from 12.8% in the first quarter to 7.5%; gross fixed capital formation contracted by 30.9%. Integrating the respective information, GDP for the second quarter of 2010 expanded by 49.1% in real terms; meanwhile, economic growth for the first quarter revised upward from 30.1% to 31.4% in real terms. For the first half year of 2010, GDP grew by 40.2% in real terms. As regards major GDP components, private consumption expenditure rose by 6.6% in the second quarter of 2010, higher than the 2.3% increase in the first quarter. Household final consumption expenditure in the domestic market grew by 6.4% and that abroad rose by 1.2%, with the expenditure in Mainland China amounting to MOP 760 million. Government final consumption expenditure increased by 5.0%, a rebound from the 1.0% decrease in the first quarter, with compensation of employees and net purchases of goods and services rising by 4.1% and 7.7% respectively. As a gauge of investment, gross fixed capital formation contracted by 30.9%, moderating from the 38.0% decrease in the first quarter. Total private investment shrank by 31.3%, with construction investment decreasing by 44.2%, while equipment investment rising by 7.5%. Total government investment went down by 24.4%, in which construction investment dropped by 35.4%, while that of equipment grew by 34.4%. Integrating data of both sectors, decrease in overall construction investment narrowed from 53.9% in the first quarter to 43.6% whereas overall equipment investment rebounded to increase by 8.6% after shrinking by 2.6% in the first quarter. In terms of visible trade, decrease in the total value of merchandise exports tapered off from the first quarter to drop by 4.2% in nominal terms or 7.5% in real terms. Analyzed by destination, merchandise exports to the United States and European Union decreased by 42.4% and 46.1% respectively in nominal terms, while exports to China; Hong Kong; and Taiwan, China rose by 8.9%, 14.1% and 49.4% respectively. Total value of merchandise imports rose by 17.8% in nominal terms, higher than the 15.5% in the first quarter, or rose by 13.2% in real terms, also higher than the 12.1% in the first quarter. As regards invisible trade (exports of services), exports of gaming services soared by 78.6%; total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) also increased by 30.9% upon rising visitor arrivals and their per-capita spending. Integrating the principal data on exports of services, overall exports of services expanded by 70.9%, up from the 51.3% increase in the first quarter; meanwhile, imports of services went up by 48.1%, lower than the 53.8% increase in the first quarter.
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In the first half of 2010, a total of 227 applications for temporary residency for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders were received by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) (a decrease of 231 compared with the same period last year), 7 applications for major investment and investment plans (a decrease of 6 compared with the same period last year), representing 97% and 3% of the total of 234 new applications in the first half-year of 2010. Approved cases for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders amounted to 310 (an increase of 145 compared with the same period last year), approved applications for major investment and investment plans totalled 9 (an increase of 1 compared with the same period last year). In accordance with the Administrative Regulation No. 7/2007, temporary residency applications for fixed asset purchases have been suspended since 4 April 2007. There were over 4,000 applications lodged before the closing date of the policy and are still being processed. Therefore, there were no new residency applications for fixed assets purchases while all of the 120 already approved cases were lodged before 4 April 2007. Statistics of Investment Residency Applications and the Cases and Number of Beneficiaries in the First Half-Year of 2010 (1) Figures of approved applications for fixed asset purchases only refer to those registered cases as of 4 April 2007 when the Administrative Regulation were in effect, figures of approved cases in other categories include all applications submitted during and before 2010.
(2) figures only cover the number of additional family members in the application; For further enquiries on the residency application guidelines, please contact IPIM by visiting the website: www.ipim.gov.mo, email: gjfr@ipim.gov.mo, tel: 28712055 or fax: 28713950. Applicants may also visit the website and enquire about the progress of their residency application status online.
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