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To define the principles for aviation accident and incident investigation, and the protection of safety information, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) has completed the draft law on “Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Aviaton Safety Information Protection Law”. On 02 September 2010, the Authority invited a number of government bodies and the local aviation industry to attend a consultation session to collect their opinions on the draft text. The consultation of the draft law started in August 2010 and will continue for two months. To ensure that the law can be implemented upon approval and implementation, AACM will study into the opinions thoroughly and make amendments when appropriate. In accordance with the draft law, the scope of application includes civil aircraft accident or incident occurred in Macao or in Macao airspace, and accident or incident in a foreign state involving Macao registered aircraft or aircraft operated by a Macao operator, in the latter case that the state of occurrence does not conduct any investigation. The draft law stipulates that an accident or a serious incident shall be investigated. AACM is empowered with the authority to conduct the investigation and operators have the responsibility to report to the Authority the occurrence of an accident and an incident. In such occurrence, AACM will appoint an investigator in charge (IIC) to conduct the investigation with independent and unhampered investigating authority. The IIC decides the tasks necessary for the investigation in accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and cooperate with the other government departments (with the appropriate authority) to collect evidence; the pilot in command, the operator or the owner, the director of the airport or heliport, and the air traffic controller or air traffic service provider concerned with the accident or incident are obliged to report to AACM within a specified time frame; the flight crew concerned is also obliged to submit reports to AACM within a specified time limit. In addition to accident or serious incident, AACM can investigate any incident, if it considers that the investigation will facilitate collection of reference information in regard to aviation safety. Inquiring into the factors that affect safety from an aviation accident investigation can help to lower the possibility of occurrences. The Authority emphasizes that the purpose of investigation is to find out the factors so that improvement measures can be taken to prevent accidents and incidents, and not to apportion blame or liability. Further to the above provisions, for the purpose of encouraging the industry to report safety concerned issues to the Authority, the draft law also establishes the confidential and non-punitive Aviation Safety Data Collection and Processing System (SDCPS). In accordance with the relevant provisions, unless there is evidence that the occurrence was caused by intentional conduct or gross negligence or the appropriate judicial authority determines that the release of safety information is necessary for the proper administration of justice and its release outweighs the adverse impact that such release may have on the future availability of safety information, the entity responsible for analyzing and processing aviation safety information contained in SDCPS shall ensure that the internal and external confidentiality of relevant information and the source of such information, and establish formal procedures for protection of safety information, in order to avoid inappropriate use of such information; the aviation safety information shall not be used for purposes different from the purposes for which it was collected; an employer cannot take disciplinary action against an employee using information received through a SDCPS. AACM states that with the rapid development of the world economy, the frequencies for tourism and business travels have also increased along with the rise of an individual’s average income. Aviation has expanded tremendously and air transport has become an indispensable travelling channel. Under the great demand for aviation, the aeronautical authorities all over the world have actively studied into ways of balancing between the quality of flight and the protection of lives and properties of passengers. For this reason, establishing safety culture has always been an on-going important work for AACM. In 2009, AACM started to devise the Macao Safety Programme which includes safety policies and objectives, safety risk management, safety protection measures and safety enhancement measures. The principles regarding the protection of safety information that are stipulated in the draft law is one of the important tasks to fulfill the objective of the Macao Safety Programme. In what regards the functions of AACM in aviation accident and incident investigation and the collection of safety information, in accordance with the statute of the Authority, AACM carries the responsibility of investigating into an aviation accident which occurs in Macao or involves a Macao registered aircraft outside Macao. The present Aircraft Accident or Incident Investigation Procedures and the Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Sytem which were issued through an aeronautical circular have been implemented some years ago. In order to increase the legal status of the authority to investigate and collect information, and taking into consideration the recommendation from ICAO at the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme carried out in Macao, AACM started the studies on the legislation since 2009. Reference was made to similar legislation in Europe, USA and Australia during the drafting process. Apart from the legislation, with the purpose of gaining experience from foreign states on this aspect and achieving resources sharing through regional cooperation, AACM signed cooperation programmes with the Investigation Bureau for Civil Aviation of France and the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China respectively in 2008 and 2009 in order to build up a long-term cooperative relationship as well as offer each other technical assistance and the use of facilities in the investigation relating to aviation safety. AACM is also committed to providing their staff with continuous training of aviation accident investigation to enhance the professionalism of their investigators. The consultation session took place between 15:00 to 17:00 in the Multi-Function Room of AACM. More than 30 representatives attended the session, including the Procuratorate, the Public Security Forces Bureau, the Judiciary Police, the Fire Services Bureau, the Port Authority, the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau, the Office for Personal Data Collection, the Office for Law Reformation, and CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd., Administration of Airports Ltd., Air Macau, Macau Jet, East Asia Airlines and Menzies Macau Airport Services Ltd.
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The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Cheong U, today led a delegation to Taiwan for a five-day visit aimed to bolster exchanges between the two places. Talking to reporters before departing for Taipei, Mr Cheong said the visit was to fulfill a key mission outlined in the Chief Executive’s 2010 Policy Address last March, which was to boost co-operation between Macao and Taiwan on all fronts. The secretary underlined that the major goal of his trip was to foster better understanding between the two sides and to make friends, thereby paving the way for further co-operation in future. He added that he believed Macao’s ties with Taiwan would grow with time. During the visit, a Macao Week will be held in Taipei to promote Macao’s tourist industry and cultural resources in a bid to attract more visitors from Taiwan to Macao. Meanwhile, the delegation would meet with representatives of Taiwan’s cultural, tourism and health authorities for experience-sharing. It would also meet with Macao students studying in Taiwan to learn more about their lives there. Mr Cheong will meet with the President of the Friends of Hong Kong and Macao Association and Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang party, Mr Tseng Yung-Chuan. He would also make a courtesy call on the "Mainland Affairs Council". The Macao delegation comprised from the cultural, tourism and health authorities as well as industry representatives.
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Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 395 premises were checked, of which 55 were normal residences, while 47 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 388 occupants, among whom 220 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 9 operators, 7 touts, 6 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 5 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, new SME lending approved by Macao banks increased in the first half of 2010. Concurrently, the utilisation of SME credit in proportion to the credit limit approved by banks continued to decline. New Lending Approved In the first half of 2010, new SME credit limit approved by Macao banks totalled MOP10.3 billion, 16.7% up on the second half of 2009 or 67.7% up on the same period last year. The collateralised ratio, which indicates the proportion of credit limit with tangible assets pledged, was 36.3%, down significantly by 28.1 percentage points when compared with the second half of 2009 or down by 3.1 percentage points when compared with the same period of the preceding year. Credit Utilisation As at end-June 2010, the outstanding value of total SME loans reached MOP22.5 billion, which represented a growth of 8.7% from end-December 2009 or 14.9% from a year earlier. When compared with end-December 2009, SME loans to sectors of “manufacturing”, “transport, warehouse and communications” and “restaurants, hotels and similar activities” increased at respective rates of 23.4%, 5.6% and 1.2%, whereas those to “construction and public works” and “wholesale and retail trade” dropped 6.5% and 3.4% respectively. These sectors accounted for 73.0% of the total SME loans outstanding. The utilisation rate, defined as the proportion of outstanding credit balance to the credit limit granted, declined 7.3 percentage points from six months ago to 53.3% . Delinquent Loans At the end of June 2010, the outstanding balance of delinquent SME loans decreased 5.2% from six months ago to MOP483.4 million. Compared to a year ago, the balance grew by 11.6%. The delinquency ratio, a ratio of delinquent loans outstanding balance to total SME loans outstanding, dropped 0.32 percentage points from end-December 2009 or 0.06 percentage points from a year earlier to 2.15%.
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The Cross-departmental Working Team checked 2 premises from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 1). Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 385 premises were checked, of which 52 were normal residences, while 47 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 383 occupants, among whom 220 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 9 operators, 6 touts, 6 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 5 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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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, left for Jilin today to attend the 6th China Jiling- Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo. Mr Chui told the media at Macao International Airport before his departure that aside from attending the Expo, he would also attend a Macao promotional event. He said this kind of promotional events had been held in Beijing, Shanghai, Shengzhou and other cities and they had a significant effect in promoting Macao commodities. Mr Chui said that this visit would enable him to promote Macao commodities to the northeast region as well as to the international market.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, on an annual basis, new approvals of mortgage lending continued to increase notably in the second quarter. On outstanding balance, residential mortgage loans (RMLs) rose at a faster pace than commercial real estate loans (CRELs). New Lending Approved For the second quarter of 2010, new RMLs approved by Macao banks increased by 21.7% quarter-to-quarter to MOP8.5 billion; of which, 92.7% was extended to residents. In terms of approved value, new RMLs to residents and to non-residents rose 21.3% and 26.5% respectively. When compared with the same period last year, new approvals of RMLs increased markedly by 115.2%. After falling 16.0% in the previous quarter, new CRELs approved increased by 55.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP8.3 billion; of which, 85.9% was granted to residents. In terms of approved value, new CRELs to residents and to non-residents rose by 40.4% and 337.2% respectively. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs surged by 231.4%. Outstanding Balances As at end-June 2010, the outstanding value of RMLs reached MOP54.2 billion, an increase of 11.9% from three months earlier or 47.3% from a year ago. The resident component made up 88.9% of the total. Outstanding RMLs to residents and to non-residents grew by 13.5% and 0.3% respectively during the second quarter of 2010. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs rose 3.6% from end-March 2010 or 14.6% from end-June 2009 to MOP40.7 billion. Residents accounted for 86.2% of the loans. Outstanding CRELs to residents rose 5.5% whereas those to non-residents fell 6.9% in the second quarter of 2010. Delinquency Ratios At the end of June 2010, the delinquency ratio for RMLs stood at 0.13%, down 0.02 percentage points from three months earlier or 0.10 percentage points from a year ago. The ratio for CRELs went up 0.05 percentage points from end-March 2010 but down 0.12 percentage points from end-June 2009, to 0.39%.
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The Cross-departmental Working Team checked 2 premises from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (August 31). One premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally was sealed and 4 illegal immigrants were found at the premise. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 376 premises were checked, of which 47 were normal residences, while 45 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 369 occupants, among whom 214 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 9 operators, 6 touts, 6 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 5 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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The Government would spare no efforts to support the cultural and creative industries, the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today. Speaking to the members of the Cultural Industry Council before its first plenary meeting, Mr Chui said cultivating new industries to optimise industrial portfolio is the focal point to Government’s public policies. The Government had established the Council and a designated department to co-ordinate the development of cultural and creative industries, he said. He urged the Council to provide opinions over the development of cultural and creative industries, especially in areas of laws, regulations, policies and regional co-operation.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is to lead an official delegation to Jilin Province tomorrow to attend the 6th China Jilin – Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo. Soon after his arrival in Changchun, Mr Chui is scheduled to meet the Secretary of the Jilin CPC Provincial Committee, Mr Sun Zhengcai, and attend a welcome reception for guests of the trade expo. On Thursday, Mr Chui will attend the opening ceremony of the trade event and officiate at the opening of a Macao goods pavilion and a trade and tourism promotion event. He is scheduled to return to Macao on the same day, after visiting several attractions. Members of Macao’s delegation include the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, and senior officials from the Office of the Chief Executive and information, economy, trade promotion and tourism departments. The Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Ms Gao Yan, will be with Mr Chui’s delegation during the event. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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