News

In recently years, travel becomes a hot topic among young people. However, they are busy at their work or studies, with limited money and time, it is difficult for them to feel and enjoy different cultures and experiences from different parts of the world. Therefore, Tourism and Event Management Year 3 students from Institute for Tourism Studies are going to hold a charity event named “Earth play for a day” at 27th November 2010, providing a platform for the participants to experience worldwide culture in a day and do charity at the same time. This platform is presented in the style of a country - Marveland, where people can experience and share different cultures as well as treasure and respect each of them. A series of activities such as games, exhibition, shows and photography competition related with the theme of world travel are included which targeted at teenagers. All the profit generated from the event will be donated to Caritas Macau for child care purpose after deducting necessary expenses. Besides, one of the “Earth Play For A Day” series activities – Charity Souvenir Sales was successfully held in November. The activity aims at advocating the importance of respect and appreciation of the unique culture around the globe through souvenirs collection and charity sale. Without travelling abroad, by joining our event; you can also have a taste of the exotic culture around the world. The event day included two main parts which are Carnival and Masquerade. The carnival will be held in “Expo” style from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at Inspiration Building, Main Campus, IFT. Venue will be designed into two pavilions with theme of Mysterious culture and Traditional culture and one social area for participant to rest and socialize. Around 300 participants are expected to visit the “Pavilions”, we hope that the participant can enjoy and learn worldwide culture in this event. For the Masquerade, it will be started at 7:15pm on the same day at Amphitheatre, Main Campus, IFT. It is in the format of cocktail party which provides a platform for participants to socialize. There will be entertainments and at the same time through the performance and games, participants can enjoy a wonderful night with their friends.
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The Historical Archives of Macao will hold another of its popular conservation workshops on Saturday 27th of November from 14.00 to 17.00. This time the focus will be on mounting works of art. No previous experience is required but participants must be at least fifteen years old. Starting 22nd of November, please visit the Historical Archives of Macao (open Mon-Fri, 09:30-18.30, Sat, 13.00-18.00) on Tap Seac Square to register and pay the workshop fee of MOP$20 (inclusive of materials and equipment for the workshop). Places are limited and will be distributed according to order of registration. For more information about individual workshops this year, please visit http://www.archives.gov.mo. For further details, please contact Ms. Esther Chu of the Macao Historical Archives of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at 85986537.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Employment Survey for the third quarter of 2010, of which the principal indicators such as labour force participation rate (71.8%) and unemployment rate (2.9%) have been published in October. Total labour force was 329,600 in the third quarter of 2010, comprising 320,200 employed and 9,400 unemployed. Compared with the second quarter of 2010, total labour force registered an increase of 3,300, with number of the employed and the unemployed rising by 3,200 and 100 respectively. Analyzed by industry, the majority of the employed were engaging in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services (24.3%) and Wholesale & Retail Trade (13.4%). In terms of occupation, most of the employed were Clerks (including casino dealers, floorpersons, betting service operators, etc.) and Service & Sales Workers, accounting for 26.7% and 21.9% respectively. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed increased by MOP 500 from the previous quarter to MOP 9,000, while that of the local residents held stable at MOP10,000. Number of the underemployed totalled 5,400, with 66.9% engaging in Construction and 12.0% in Transport, Storage & Communications. In respect of the unemployed, 81.0% were searching for a new job and 19.0% were fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job. With regard to educational attainment, 30.9% had primary education or lower, 26.9% had junior secondary education and 26.6% had senior secondary education. For the unemployed that were searching for a new job, analyzed by industry previously engaged, 29.8% had worked in Construction and 17.2% in Wholesale & Retail Trade. Analyzed by previous occupation, 25.7% were Service & Sales Workers, and 22.3% were Craftsmen and similar workers.
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For the first time in its 56-year history, the Macau Grand Prix will feature an F1-style driver parade as part of Sunday’s spectacular pre-race festivities, which have been designed to showcase the city’s rich, East-meets-West cultural and sporting diversity. In an exciting month for the SAR, which has seen a visit from China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao followed by its first-ever gold medal in the Asian Games being held in neighbouring Guangzhou won by Wushu athlete Jia Rui, Sunday’s festivities will add to the celebratory atmosphere. Macau’s first ever Asian Games gold medalist Jia Rui will lead the world’s finest young racing talent, who will be aboard an open-top double decker bus, from the main grandstands at the Grand Prix building all the way down to the famous Lisboa Bend, giving spectators an opportunity to see the drivers ahead of the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix. The afternoon track parade will begin at 13:45pm on Sunday, with a mix of dance and music performed by groups which participated in the Macau Week opening ceremony parade during the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. The cultural parade will feature the Lo Liang Athletic Association, which will perform a Dragon Dance, a superb visual element of Chinese culture. The “Heart of Macau” Portuguese Folk Dance Association will perform traditional Portuguese folk dancing, illustrating the fascinating multicultural elements of the city. Music takes centre stage with a band performance by the Scout Association of Macau, before an energetic ensemble dance featuring the Hou Kong Middle School Dance team, the Regina Dancing Association and Casa de Portugal em Macau, showcasing the artistic and creative element of the city.
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To prepare for the establishment of the Macao Database for Cultural and Creative Industries, the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries (DPICC) is now calling for the submission of data from the visual arts and performing arts industries from today until 31st December, 2010. The submission date for the data from the design industry initiated earlier will also end on the abovementioned date. All relevant professional companies or institutions are welcome to submit their data. The establishment of the Macao Database for Cultural and Creative Industries is one of the key projects in the development of Macao’s cultural and creative industries. The DPICC will conduct the data collection in phases. The collection of data from the design industry has been recently initiated. Starting today, the Database will collect data from the visual arts and performing arts industries. When the Database is established, it will facilitate the holistic analysis and research of Macao’s cultural and creative industries, thereby strengthening communication and co-operation between government and the industries in order to formulate policies and development direction promoting the cultural and creative industries. In addition, the Database will help promote business networking between industries, shape a mechanism promoting cross-discipline co-operation and exchange in research & development and marketing, and expand the industrial chain, all of which are conducive to shaping an early model of cultural and creative industries rich in local characteristics in Macao, achieving the short-term development goal of Macao’s cultural and creative industries and laying the foundation for long-term development. To accelerate the implementation and establishment of the Database, the DPICC of the Cultural Affairs Bureau welcomes all locally registered professional companies or institutions in design, the visual arts and performing arts industries to submit data to the DPICC within the abovementioned period. Data collection form can be downloaded from the Cultural Affairs Bureau website at www.icm.gov.mo/dpicc. Interested parties may complete the form and submit with supporting electronic files to the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, located at Praça do Tap Seac. For enquiries, please call 8399 6919 (Ms. Lam or Lao) during office hours or email info.dpicc@icm.gov.mo.
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Following the hosting of the “3rd Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries” in Macao, a “Financial Theme Seminar for Chinese and Portuguese Financiers” organized by the Development Bank of China and the Monetary Authority of Macao, was successfully held on 14 November 2010. More than 300 representatives from 4 continents / 8 countries conducted dialogues on the topic of deepening the financial cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries. Financial professionals from the Mainland of China and the 7 Portuguese speaking countries who attended as invited the “3rd Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries” participated, jointly with representatives from local financial institutions, totalling 320 representatives, in the “Financial Theme Seminar for Chinese and Portuguese Financiers” organized by the Development Bank of China and the Monetary Authority of Macao. Mr. Lu Shumin, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wang Xindong, Director of Economic Department of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, Mr. Hou Shaoze, Director-General of the Development Bank of China, Mr. Anselmo Teng, Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Macao together with the representatives of the central banks of the 7 Portuguese speaking countries and Mr. Ye Yixin, Chairman of the Macao Association of Banks, officiated the inauguration ceremony. Mr. António Félix Pontes, Executive Director of the Monetary Authority of Macao acted as the facilitator of the Seminar. The theme surrounded the methodology of how to better the implementation of the conclusions arrived at in the Forum relating to the promotion of cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries in the financial realm. Simultaneously, the Seminar enabled the Chinese and Portuguese financiers who came afar for the Forum to have sufficient time to discuss and communicate with a view to promoting the cooperation and development in the financial field as well trade and commerce. In the Seminar Mr. Vitor Pessoa, Member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Portugal, who had been the Secretary for Economic Co-ordination before Macao’s return to China, had an indepth understanding of the Macao economy and its financial sector. He deemed that, through the platform of the Forum, the economic and trade activities of China and Portuguese speaking countries would increase. The participation in trade finance by the financial sector would certainly enlarge the trade volume between China and Portuguese speaking countries. Mr. J. Fadia, President of the Central Bank of Guiné-Bissau, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Monetary Authority of Macao. This is the 6th memorandum of such nature between the Monetary Authority of Macao and an overseas central bank. Mr. Fadia deemed that the execution of such a document had fulfilled the purpose of his visit in formulating a closer working relationship with the financial regulator of Macao. Mr. Abraão Vasconselos, Chairman of Banking & Payments Authority of Timor-Leste, said in the Seminar that he was glad to see so many new achievements, specifically the setting up of a special purpose fund and a training centre, which would facilitate the nurturing of professionals of the participating countries. This was a long term development arrangement. Mr. Lo Bochuan, President of People’s Bank of China Guangzhou Regional Branch, said that by making use of Macao as the bridge, institutions of the Mainland could expand and develop more financial business in view of the fact that Macao has long term friendly relationship with these countries. In addition, he saw potential of diversified development in the financial cooperation between the territories. The two representatives of Macao Association of Banks, Mr. Ye Yixin, General Manager of Bank of China Macao Branch and Mr. Artur Santos, President of the Executive Committee of Banco Nacional Ultramarino, made speeches respectively. As the accountable persons of Chinese and Portuguese capital banks in Macao, they endorsed in an affirmative manner the cooperation of China and Portuguese speaking countries in the financial realm. They were willing to make use of their banking networks to serve as channel of cooperation with banks of Portuguese speaking countries. In this way, the liaison between the financial institutions of the Mainland and Portuguese speaking countries could be enhanced which would certainly embody the principles laid down in the Action Plan outlined in the Forum. Mr. Hou Shaoze, Director-general of the Development Bank of China, made the final conclusion. He raised a number of proposals which would help to realize the financial cooperation mechanism under the framework of the Forum.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 5,838 building units were purchased and sold at MOP10.57 billion in the third quarter of 2010 according to Stamp Duty records, down by 31.9% and 37.1% respectively quarter-to-quarter. There were 3,649 residential units amounting to MOP8.22 billion, down by 32.1% and 40.4% respectively over the previous quarter, of which 980 residential units were purchased and sold under Intermediate Transfer of Title, down by 44.7% quarter-to-quarter, and the total value decreased by 52.1% to MOP4.04 billion. Regarding the price of transaction, 1,146 residential units were sold for over MOP1,000,000 to MOP2,000,000, and 1,144 units for MOP1,000,000 or less. Analyzed by year of completion of building, 1,303 residential units were completed in 2000 and after, 1,426 units in 1990-1999 and 920 units in 1989 and before. As regards floor area of unit, 1,744 units (47.8% of total) had an area of 50 to 99.9 square metres. In the third quarter of 2010, the average price of all residential units amounted to MOP30,347 per square metre, down by 5.2% quarter-to-quarter, attributable to a substantial decrease of 93.4% in the number of units purchased and sold in Coloane that posted an above-average price in the previous quarter. The average transaction price of residential units in the Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane increased by 6.9%, 4.3% and 7.7% quarter-to-quarter to MOP29,517, MOP29,583 and MOP64,087 per square metre of usable area respectively. With regard to transaction of residential units under Intermediate Transfer of Title, the average price stood at MOP45,363 per square metre, down by 5.7% from the preceding quarter. The average price of office units increased by 5.4% quarter-to-quarter to MOP23,374 per square metre, and that of industrial units rose by 4.3% to MOP6,998 per square metre. There were 2,717 cases of real estate sale and purchase contracts made in the third quarter of 2010, down by 19.0% quarter-to-quarter; the number of units transacted dropped by 28.1% quarter-to-quarter to 3,287. Moreover, there were 2,238 cases of mortgage contracts signed, of which 1,844 were residential mortgages. In the third quarter of 2010, gross floor area of construction of new buildings totalled 22,260 square metres has been started, which will provide 132 units, 64 parking spaces for cars and 23 parking spaces for motorcycles upon completion. In addition, gross floor area of buildings completed totalled 241,248 square metres, altogether providing 466 units (of which 142 are residential units), down sharply by 60.4% and 75.1% respectively quarter-to-quarter; number of parking spaces for cars decreased by 65.1% to 804, while those for motorcycles rose by 76.0% to 667. Average transaction price of building units covers building units with Stamp Duty paid in the reference quarter, excluding gift of property, inheritance, transfer of partial ownership of property, etc. cases bearing peculiar transaction prices.
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Owing to the heightened aviation security measures taken by the United States of America (USA) regarding mail transportation to the country, Macao Post announced that all air mail services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and Speedpost) from Macao to the USA are subject to delay until further notice. Thank you for your kind attention.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today the Government would introduce a host of measures to share the economic gains among the residents. Speaking at a press conference after delivering the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2011, Mr Chui said the Government would inject 6,000 patacas into each eligible Central Provident Fund account, and give cash handout of 4,000 patacas to every permanent resident and 2,400 patacas to every non-permanent resident. He said other tax cuts, waivers, subsidies, Healthcare Voucher Scheme and the new Continuing Education Programme were also means to help allocate economic benefits to the people. Macao would not establish a Community Care Fund as Hong Kong did since a wide range of community organisations in Macao had long been assisting the disadvantaged groups in diversified means and the Government would continue to support these organisations, Mr Chui said. He assured disadvantaged groups that the Government would continue to support them and would introduce more measures to help if there is an increase in inflation rate. He re-iterated that with the support of the Central Government, Macao would discuss with the relevant Mainland authorities for a more diversified source of daily essentials and food. Speaking on rising housing prices, Mr Chui said the Government would not only ensure the construction of 19,000 public housing units by 2012, but also relax the income restrictions for future first time house buyer who could not afford to buy a housing unit in the private market. He said he believed that it is necessary to separate the private and public housing market and the Government placed great importance to guarantee that Macao people could live in peace and contentment. The Government would also revise housing related laws and restrictions, such as releasing market data, enhancing real estate agent systems and control inflation on actual floor space in flats, he said. He also reiterated that about 72 per cent of Macao people own a home and some of them had to repay the mortgage for a long time, and these people were very concerned about the healthy development of the housing market. On gaming industry, the Government would ensure its healthy and adequate development, he re-iterated.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, delivered his Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2011 at the Legislative Assembly today where he outlined a string of policies and measures to promote a quality urban life, achieve adequate diversification of the economy and to promote a ‘Sunshine Government’. Entitled ‘Adopting a scientific approach to public administration; Drawing a blueprint for future development’, this was Mr Chui’s second Policy Address. On promoting a quality urban life, Mr Chui said the Government would introduce tax exemption for environmental friendly light vehicles with up to 60,000 patacas of tax waivers per vehicle, and set up an environmental protection and energy conservation fund with a start-up fund of 100 million patacas, to sponsor efforts by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and community groups to improve air quality and save energy and water. The Government would also establish a food safety centre to enhance information exchanges and dissemination as well as collaboration among industry communities, local residents and the Government. It would officially initiate discussions between employers and employees on the issue of minimum wages and said he expected that relevant work would commence next year. It would also formulate a long-term housing policy with a view to seeking equilibrium between public housing supply and the private property market, and press forward with the plan to build 19,000 public housing units in phases before the end of 2012. It would formulate long-term welfare policies for the elderly, support the “Aging in place” policy and make necessary plans to meet their demands in housing and healthcare, he announced. The Government would continue to improve the healthcare system and provide residents with better healthcare protection and services, in accordance with the Plan for Perfecting the Medical and Healthcare System. On tax cuts, waivers, financial allowances and subsidies, the Chief Executive said the Government proposed a 25 per cent reduction in personal income tax for all employed citizens, coupled with an increase in the basic allowance for personal income tax from 95,000 patacas to 144,000 patacas. It would waive all business taxes, hawker licence fees, wet market stall rents, and stamp duties on life insurance, non-life insurance and bank service charges. In addition, the Government proposed to waive signboard taxes (excluding tobacco and cigarette signboards) for businesses, tourism tax for restaurants, the first 3,500 patacas of real estate tax, and increase the profit tax allowance from 32,000 patacas to 200,000 patacas. Others waivers which would continue include stamp duty on entrance passes and tickets for cultural and arts performances, exhibitions and entertainment programmes, and real estate stamp duty on the first three million patacas of a home’s value for Macao permanent residents buying residential properties for the first time. The Government would also extend financial allowances to low income, full time employees, textbook allowances of 1,500 patacas per school year to all eligible Macao school students and 150 patacas a month electricity fee subsidy for residential households for 12 months. Other allowances include financial assistance to families with difficulties, special subsidies and special living allowances to three categories of disadvantaged families and Old Age Allowance of 5,000 patacas for elderly Macao permanent residents. It would also continue the Healthcare Voucher Scheme to improve community medical service networks and the quality of medical services, Mr Chui said. The Government would initiate the Continuing Education Programme to encourage residents to pursue continuing education and training courses. Under the programme, which is estimated to cost 500 million patacas, Macao residents aged 15 or above would receive a subsidy for a period of three years, subject to a maximum ceiling of 5,000 patacas per applicant. To gradually turn the temporary cash subsidy into a systematic and long-term welfare policy - the two-tier social security system, the Government proposed to inject 6,000 patacas into each eligible Central Provident Fund account, and a cash handout of 4,000 patacas to every permanent resident and 2,400 patacas to every non-permanent resident. To support small and medium-sized enterprises, the Government would refine the SME Assistance Programme and the Loan Credit Assurance Scheme and launch financial incentive plans to facilitate business for small and medium-sized enterprises. On co-operation with Guangdong, the Government would strive to press forward with the construction of the Chinese medicine industrial park on Hengqin Island and foster the progressive transformation of the Zhuhai-Macao Crossborder Industrial Zone into a cross-border co-operation zone. To realise a ‘Sunshine Government’, the Government would promote implementation of central co-ordination and management systems for civil servants and implementing central recruitment and promotion mechanisms and strengthen the Commission Against Corruption’s supervision of public authorities and private organisations. The Government would also introduce new regulations and measures to reinforce the accountability system for officials and demonstrate the accountability of governance, and officials of every rank should strictly abide by and enforce the Basic Law and related international conventions and laws. It would improve communications with the Legislative Assembly, enhance the central co-ordination mechanism of law drafting and revision and draw up plans for legislative work. The Government would proceed on revising the System of Seniority Premiums, Housing Allowances and Family Allowances, and would raise each point on the civil service salary scale to 62 patacas. To enhance communication with the public, the Government would further improve the spokesperson system, which should more proactively deliver to the public the latest information concerning policies or unexpected events, he said.
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