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Consumer Council conducted its seventh ‘Supermarket price survey’ in July on 27 July for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 12 supermarkets in Sé Parish. The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM’s Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for April-June 2015 remained stable at 1.8% as in the previous period (March-May 2015); the underemployment rate was 0.4%, up by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force was 405,400 and the labour force participation rate stood at 73.9%. Total employment decreased slightly by 200 from March-May 2015, at 398,300. Number of the unemployed was 7,200, similar to that in March-May 2015; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 9.5% of the total unemployed, up by 3.6 percentage points over the previous period. In the second quarter of 2015, both the general unemployment rate (1.8%) and the unemployment rate of local residents (2.5%) increased by 0.1 percentage point quarter-to-quarter. Total employment decreased by 1,200 quarter-to-quarter, with those aged 55-64 dropping by 900. Analysed by industry, employment in Real Estate & Business Activities (29,600) and Gaming & Junket Activities (83,800) dropped by 1,400 and 800 respectively, while that in Hotels & Similar Activities (28,400) rose by 2,300. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed held stable as the previous quarter, at MOP15,000 in the second quarter; median earnings of the employed residents stood at MOP17,500, down by MOP500 quarter-to-quarter, as seasonal effect of the thirteenth month salary, bonuses, etc. of the first quarter receded.
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Leong Ka Chon, a fourth-year student from the University of Macau’s (UM) Department of Computer and Information Science, recently won a gold medal for his invention, ‘TongueMove’, at the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region Universities IT Project Competition 2015. TongueMove allows physically disadvantaged people to use their tongues to control electronic devices, such as wheelchairs and computer keyboards. Equipped with a webcam, TongueMove captures the user’ tongue movements before sending the photos to a cellphone or tablet for processing. After interpreting the meaning of the movements, the programme would give appropriate instructions to electronic devices that the user wishes to control. Leong’s project was supervised by Prof Pun Chi Man. ‘The competition broadened my horizons and gave me an opportunity to exchange ideas with students from different parts of China,’ Leong said. ‘This is my most rewarding experience in the competition.’ Leong also thanked Prof Pun Chi Man for his teaching and patience: ‘Without Prof Pun I would not have learned so much about computer vision and certainly would not have won a gold medal in the competition.’ Held in Macao, this year’s final is the largest and the most competitive in the competition’s history, attracting nearly 200 guests and 52 teams from 13 provinces, cities, and regions, namely Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao.
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On July 23, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, presided over the third meeting of the Macau Grand Prix Committee. Mr. Tam, President of the Committee, met the leaders of each Subcommittee who reported on preparations for this year's Grand Prix. Mr. Tam provided guidance and direction with regard to preparations for the second half of the year, and encouraged members to work together to ensure the smooth running of the event. Training of personnel continues and the Macau Grand Prix Committee, through the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC), has invited members of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) to conduct seminars. From the middle of this month onwards, technical training for scrutineering personnel are held, while at the end of September specific management courses will be arranged for the more experienced track marshals. Amongst the Macau residents who have registered as volunteers, more than 800 have signed on for the track personnel training programs. The theoretical courses are divided into six classes whereas practical exercises are held at karting events on Coloane. For medical and rescue personnel, training of the local teams was carried out in June, with further courses schedule for July and September. Last month almost 50 medical and fire department staff completed training courses. In October, the international medical delegate will visit Macau to give local doctors and firefighters medical and rescue training. The Macau Grand Prix Committee and AAMC are working continuously to enhance the professional skills of personnel in order to maintain the highest international standards. The first round of the Macau Touring Car Championship, which is organised and supported by the AAMC, was held on June 26-28 at the Zhuhai International Circuit, while the second round will run from July 24-26. Drivers achieving the best race results will be eligible to participate in the races for local competitors at November’s Macau Grand Prix. The Macau Grand Prix Committee is also actively promoting awareness of the event via activities with schools in cooperation with the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau. Students from 10-local schools were invited to participate in promotional activities. In June, more than 320 teachers and students from two local schools visited the Grand Prix Building. It is anticipated that approximately 500 teachers and students will participate in similar activities. The 62nd Macau Grand Prix will be held from November 19 to 22.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), in order to expand the sales channels for its publications and take them beyond borders, has authorised the company Sup Publishing Logistics (HK) Limited as distributor. Through the company’s webpage, the publications can be sold in Hong Kong and abroad, allowing readers from all over the world to acquire IC publications. Sup Publishing Logistics (HK) Limited is a subsidiary of Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Limited, which has business relations with over 400 publishing houses and close to 1000 bookstores in Hong Kong and all over the world. This alliance of publishing houses launches each day close to 200,000 volumes. As the biggest online publishing house in Hong Kong, it has a vast sales network, including business links to convenience stores chains, online bookstores, department stores chains and cross sector industries. IC Chinese language publications, which are launched in the recent five years, are already delivered to Sup Publishing Logistics (HK) Limited and are available for sale in 16 sales points belonging to the group, including the webpages of Chung Wa bookstore (located in Yau Ma Tei and Tseung Kwan O New Town) at www.chunghwabook.com.hk, Joint Publishing bookstore (located in Central, Tsuen Wan, Wan Chai, Yuen Long and Kwun Tong’s APM) at www.jointpublishing.com and Commercial Press (located in Causeway Bay, Jordan, North Point, Sha Tin, Kornhill in Quarry Bay, Miramar Commercial Center in Tsim Sha Tsui, the City University of Hong Kong, Telford Plaza in Kowloon Bay and the Chinese University of Hong Kong) at www.cp1897.com.hk. Overseas readers who wish to purchase the publications online can browse the group’s webpage at www.superbookcity.com.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the Minister of Tourism, Investment and Enterprise Development of Republic of Cape Verde, Ms Leonesa Fortes, to exchange views in strengthening bilateral co-operation. After welcoming Ms Fortes to Macao at a meeting on 22 July, Mr Chui said Macao and Cape Verde had laid a solid foundation for co-operation over the years and would forge closer ties to every aspect. He thanked the Government of Cape Verde for the continued efforts and contributions in maintaining friendly relations between the two places, adding as an important member of the Portuguese-speaking countries - Cape Verde had a close partnership with Macao. Ms Leonesa Fortes, who visited Macao for the first time, said Cape Verde was able to develop a leisure and tourism project thanks to the support of Macao Government and the long-term friendly co-operative relations. She said Cape Verde-Macao co-operation had been achieving good results, adding Cape Verde Government would take advantages of Macao’s network in trade and commercial services to step up ties with other Portuguese-speaking countries, and said she hoped to establish economic co-operation with the mainland. The Government would make strong efforts to transform Macao to a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, Mr Chui stressed. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, who was also present in the meeting, said the tourism project in Cape Verde would further expand its co-operation scope with Macao. He also thanked the long-term support of the Chinese Embassy in Cape Verde to the co-operation. Officials who were also in the meeting included Secretary for Economy and Finance Mr Leong Vai Tac; Honorary Consul of Cape Verde in Macao and President of Macau Legend Development Ltd Mr David Chow; Ambassador of the Republic of Cape Verde in China Mr Júlio Morais; Cape Verde Delegate of the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Mr Mário Vicente.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals totalled 2,248,281 in June 2015, down by 7.6% year-on-year and 11.8% month-to-month. Same-day visitors decreased by 9.7% year-on-year to 1,172,411 (52.1% of total); overnight visitors dropped by 5.2% to 1,075,870. The average length of stay of visitors increased by 0.2 day year-on-year to 1.2 days; overnight and same-day visitors had an average stay of 2.2 days and 0.2 day respectively. Most Asian countries or places recorded year-on-year decline in visitor arrivals in June 2015. Visitors from Mainland China decreased by 10.1% to 1,435,189; those travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme dropped by 4.2% to 644,207. Mainland visitors came primarily from Guangdong Province (632,449), Fujian Province (66,804) and Hunan Province (59,448). Visitors from Taiwan (80,272), the Republic of Korea (31,406) and India (21,428) decreased by 5.9%, 24.8% and 3.3% respectively year-on-year, while those from Hong Kong (523,789) and the Philippines (22,222) increased by 2.0% and 6.5%. Long-haul visitors from Canada (4,718) and the United Kingdom (4,210) registered year-on-year increase, whereas those from the United States (15,180) and Australia (6,487) saw decline. Regarding mode of transport, visitor arrivals by land totalled 1,234,229, down by 8.3% year-on-year; visitors entering through the Border Gate accounted for 88.7% of the total, at 1,094,901, down by 10.2%, while those arriving via the Checkpoint of Cotai rose by 11.0% to 137,416. Visitor arrivals by sea decreased by 7.8% year-on-year to 851,151, of which visitors entering via the Outer Harbour (544,565) and the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa (285,862) dropped by 4.7% and 10.7%. Visitor arrivals by air rose marginally by 0.3% year-on-year to 162,901, with 161,829 entering via the airport, up by 1.4%.
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The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai and the Macao Chamber of Commerce on 22 July co-hosted the “Seminar for Macao Enterprises – Investment Policy of Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone”. The seminar introduced participants to the investment policies and other relevant procedures in the Hengqin Area, including: the approval procedures for Macao investors; the existing real estate policies; the start-up hub INNO Valley HQ; the reform for commercial registration in Hengqin; and related policies. More than 300 Macao enterprises took part in the seminar, held in Macao. Special guests attending the event included: the President of IPIM, Mr. Jackson Chang; the Director of the Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area, Mr. Niu Jing; and leaders of the Macao Chamber of Commerce. During the seminar, representatives from the Commerce Bureau of the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area, the Hengqin New Area Administration of Industry and Commerce and the Hengqin Financial Investment Co, Ltd. made detailed presentations of the policies applicable to Hengqin New Area. The explanations covered: the simplified and innovative policies for commercial registration in Hengqin and the registration procedures for different types of Macao enterprises in Hengqin; the application procedures of INNO Valley HQ and its financial support policies; and other relevant policies. In his speech, the President of IPIM, Mr. Jackson Chang, highlighted that, accompanied with the opening of the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Hengqin New Area had implemented a series of innovative policies and adopted a full range of support measures for the investments of Macao enterprises. He noted the establishment of an examination and approval ‘green channel’ for Macao investment enterprises to set up investment projects there and also the establishment of the start-up hub INNO Valley HQ. The aim of such initiatives is to simplify the administrative procedures for companies and to improve support for Macao’s young entrepreneurs and young people starting businesses, he stated. Mr. Jackson Chang said these measures and policies would help to boost the participation of the entire Macao community in the development of the Hengqin Area. He added Hengqin would provide a broader stage for the development of Macao capital funds, technology and talent. In addition, the Hengqin Area provides good conditions for Macao to integrate with regional economic co-operation and to promote moderate economic diversification, as well as developing the city into a world centre of tourism and leisure and as a services platform for economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, Mr. Chang added. He added that Macao has actively supported and participated in the development of Hengqin in recent years. To promote further the participation of Macao small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the development of Hengqin Area, IPIM will assist in business promotion for projects that have been recommended for – and purchased land plots in – the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park. The aim of such a policy is to enhance the potential of larger companies to help smaller ones and thus assist SMEs and youth entrepreneurs in Macao to participate actively in Hengqin investment projects. The Director of the Administrative Committee of the Hengqin New Area, Mr. Niu Jing, stated at the seminar that, in line with national policies, the Hengqin Area would be developed as a pilot zone for culture and education, international business services, and tourism and leisure, becoming a positive factor for encouraging the development and diversification of the economy of Macao. He added that, since the pilot free trade zone was established, Hengqin introduced more than 100 innovative policies, mainly focused on the opening of its service sector to Macao enterprises in order to promote convenient and fast access to the Hengqin market, deepen financial cooperation, and also provide full support in the development and diversification of the economy of Macao. Mr. Niu said that the Hengqin Area plans to launch a series of pilot measures in order to promote internationally its opening up. The Administrative Committee would also continue to organise seminars to introduce to investors the regulations and policies, tax rules, projects and cross-border financial services available at the Hengqin Area. Through the seminars, he noted, Macao enterprises can have a better understanding of the results already achieved by ‘Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone’ and the opportunities available. The “Seminar for Macao Enterprises – Investment Policy of Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone” attracted more than 300 participating Macao enterprises. According to representatives from participating Macao enterprises, this type of event is useful to help business people understand better the new policies available at Hengqin, so they hoped the information could be widely available to all the Macao community, in order to enable more local enterprises to enter the Hengqin market, thus promoting a deeper urban integration between Hengqin and Macao and supporting the development and diversification of the economy of Macao.
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Consumer Council conducted its sixth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in July on 22 July for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets in São Lázaro and São Lourenço Parishes. The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM’s Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, said merging the Human Resources Office and the Labour Affairs Bureau could consolidate resources for better policy in non-resident workers and labour services. But this would be decided after revision to the departments’ organisational law, he added. Speaking to reporters after a committee meeting at the Legislative Assembly on 21 July, Mr Leong said that two departments, shared similar duties, had to step up communication following the change in number of non-resident workers and the formulation of law for non-resident workers. On the “Protection of Creditor’s Rights Arising from Labour Relations”, Mr Leong said his team would strive to complete the legislation work within this legislative session, which will end in this October. He said the meeting with members of the committee had reached consensus in the draft bill: the Government would deliver a final version in the coming few days to accelerate the legislative process. The Human Resources Office was established in 2007, with the aims to conduct sustained analyses on the changes in human resources in labour market and administer applications for the importation of non-resident workers. Its establishment is in bids to centralise and enhance efficiency of processing and approving applications for importing non-resident workers, to help alleviate small- and medium-sized enterprises’ problems arising from shortage of human resources.
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