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A team of faculty members and students from the University of Macau’s (UM) State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI (AMS-VLSI Lab) presented their research findings at the 64^thIEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) held in San Francisco, the United States. Six papers from UM were accepted at this year’s conference, making the university one of the top institutions with the most papers presented at the 64^th ISSCC. This shows international recognition of UM’s leading position in the field in Asia.A total of 208 papers were accepted at this year’s conference. Among them 11 are from the Greater China region, with 6 from UM, 4 from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and 1 from Analog Devices Inc. The papers deal with five broad subjects, namely wireless communication, RF circuits, digital structure and system, data transformation, and analogue circuits.Lei Kameng, a doctor of microelectronics and Macao Fellow at UM, received the Pre-doctoral Achievement Award from the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society at the conference, in recognition of his outstanding research in the field. Two other PhD students from the lab were invited to make presentations in the Student Research Previews sectionUM professors U Seng-Pan and Mak Pui-In, deputy director and associate director (research) of the lab, have been invited to serve as members of the Technical Programme Committee of the ISSCC, which has four members from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. The other two members are from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Fudan University, respectively. In addition, Prof U is currently the China Representative of the ISSCC Technical Programme Committee, responsible for the coordination of ISSCC activities in China.Organised by the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society and internationally recognised as the Chip Olympics, the ISSCC is the most prestigious international conference in the field of semiconductor integrated circuits, with a rigorous paper selection process. It is also the world’s largest and highest-level conference on solid-state circuits, representing the latest trends in global solid-state circuit research and development. This year’s conference attracted more than 3,000 chip designers from around the world.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ inFebruary on 17 February 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 seven 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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Organized by the Macau Society of Biomedical Engineering and co-organized by Communications Museum, the 2017 exchange trip to Chengdu for teachers will be held during the Easter holidays from April 13 to 16, 2017. Through this activity, teachers will learn about the development and prospects of Biomedical Engineering in Chengdu. As a result, it is hoped that more students will be encouraged to select the related fields when they further their studies. Teachers and professionals of related areas are welcomed to join. As it is first come first served, interested participants should complete their online registration at the museum website (http://macao.communications.museum) before 10:00pm on February 27.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 5,132 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold as per Stamp Duty record in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the total value of transactions was MOP29.33 billion, up by 62.1% and 70.4% respectively quarter-to-quarter. Purchase and sale of residential units totalled 3,575 at MOP23.38 billion, up by 49.0% and 60.7% respectively. Driven by the release of large-scale housing estates, the transaction volume and value of pre-sale residential units surged by 187.6% and 157.7% respectively. The transaction volume of parking spaces also soared by 138.0% to 1,316 cases, with more than half of the parking spaces being pre-sale units.The average price of residential units was MOP95,044 per square metre of usable area in the fourth quarter, up by 7.3% quarter-to-quarter. The average price of pre-sale residential units increased by 4.7% to MOP123,609 per square metre, with that in Coloane, the Macao Peninsula and Taipa rising by 23.1%, 6.5% and 1.1% respectively. Many of the pre-sale residential units purchased and sold were in Baixa da Taipa (378 units), Coloane (325 units), Cidade & Hipódromoda da Taipa (80 units), with an average price of MOP122,461, MOP127,235 and MOP127,461 respectively per square metre.The average price of existing residential units increased slightly by 0.1% quarter-to-quarter to MOP81,360 per square metre, with that in the Macao Peninsula and Coloane rising by 6.4% and 21.2% respectively while that in Taipa dropping by 9.1%. Many of the existing residential units purchased and sold were in Baixa da Taipa (428 units), NATAP (272 units) and Areia Preta & Iao Hon (233 units), and the average price was MOP86,983, MOP96,674 and MOP74,355 respectively per square metre.Analysed by year of completion, most of the transactions were residential units built between 21 and 30 years ago, totalling 1,188 units (147 in Baixa da Taipa, 141 in Areia Preta & Iao Hon), and the average price increased by 3.4% quarter-to-quarter to MOP72,543 per square metre. For the 504 residential units completed between 11 and 20 years ago (151 in Baixa da Taipa, 78 in NATAP), the average price went up by 4.1% to MOP79,910 per square metre. The average price of the 423 units completed over 30 years ago (81 in Barca, 59 in Areia Preta & Iao Hon) was MOP53,691 per square metre, up by 7.3% quarter-to-quarter. The average price of the 239 units completed within 5 years or less (46 in NATAP, 36 in Baixa da Taipa) was MOP117,062 per square metre, down by 9.1% quarter-to-quarter.Analysed by usable floor area, there were 1,644 residential units with a floor area of 50.0 to 99.9 square metres, and the average price rose by 11.2% quarter-to-quarter to MOP90,256 per square metre. Among the 1,251 small-sized residential units with a floor area of less than 50 square metres, the average price grew by 22.3% to MOP88,288 per square metre.The average price of office units was MOP108,397 per square metre, up by 15.9% quarter-to-quarter, while that of industrial units fell slightly by 0.4% to MOP51,483 per square metre.The volume and value of real estate transactions in 2016 increased year-on-year; a total of 14,108 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold, amounting to MOP74.13 billion, up by 44.4% and 43.5% respectively. Purchase and sale of residential units totalled 10,170 at MOP58.76 billion, up by 70.2% and 75.7% year-on-year. The total values of pre-sale residential units (1,710) and existing residential units (8,460) were MOP16.26 billion and MOP42.5 billion respectively.The average price per square metre of usable area of residential units (MOP86,342) in 2016 decreased slightly by 0.6% year-on-year. The average price of those in Taipa (MOP98,696) and Coloane (MOP110,761) rose by 0.7% and 6.5% respectively while those in the Macao Peninsula (MOP77,276) dropped by 4.5%. The average price of existing residential units (MOP78,145) rose by 0.9% year-on-year while that of pre-sale residential units (MOP118,304) fell by 1.0%. The average price per square metre of office units (MOP100,057) and industrial units (MOP47,568) decreased by 11.8% and 5.9% respectively year-on-year.In the fourth quarter of 2016, there were 4,249 real estate purchase and sale contracts signed, involving 4,254 properties, up by 14.7% quarter-to-quarter; meanwhile, 3,821 mortgage contracts were signed, involving 5,818 properties, up by 28.7%. For the whole year of 2016, a total of 14,215 real estate purchase and sale contracts were signed, and the number of properties involved (14,292) went up by 36.0% year-on-year; moreover, 13,282 mortgage contracts were signed, and the number of properties involved (18,529) rose by 11.8%.As regards construction in the private sector, gross floor area of construction of new buildings totalled 221 thousand square metres in the fourth quarter, providing 1,344 units (1,303 are residential units) and 1,114 parking spaces for cars upon completion. Gross floor area of buildings completed totalled 83 thousand square metres, altogether providing 111 units (100 are residential units) and 289 parking spaces for cars.For the whole year of 2016, gross floor area of construction of new buildings totalled 868 thousand square metres, providing 5,122 units (4,957 are residential units) and 3,882 parking spaces for cars upon completion. Gross floor area of buildings completed was 192 thousand square metres, altogether providing 498 units (404 are residential units) and 551 parking spaces for cars.

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Prof Rui Martins and Prof Mak Pui-In, from the University of Macau’s (UM) State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI (AMS-VLSI Lab) and Faculty of Science and Technology, recently gave an Invited Distinguished Seminarat Qualcomm, San Diego, United States. Qualcomm is a world-leading chip maker for mobile phones. One of their former PhD students, Dr Yan Zushu, is currently working at Qualcomm.The three-hour seminar, titled ‘N-path Filtering Techniques for SAW-less Radios’, was fully supported by Qualcomm. The topic is highly relevant to future mobile phone development with more affordable hardware in terms of silicon chips. After the seminar, Qualcomm and the AMS-VLSI Lab will keep in touch for possible future collaboration, and Qualcomm has opened internship positions at its headquarters in San Diego to students from the AMS-VLSI Lab, with possible financial support.Prof Martins and Prof Mak’s former PhD student Dr Yan Zushu has been working at Qualcomm since his graduation from UM in 2014. Dr Yan is currently a senior engineer involved in a number of cutting-edge projects using the most advanced sub-10nm FinFET CMOS technology.
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According to the statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the proportion of international business in the local banking sector dropped slightly in the fourth quarter of 2016. At end-December 2016, the share of international assets in total banking assets fell to 84.1% from 84.2% at end-September 2016, while the share of international liabilities in total banking liabilities declined to 78.7% from 79.0%.Non-local currencies continued to be the dominant denomination in international banking transactions. At end-December 2016, the shares of the pataca in total international assets and total international liabilities were 0.8% and 1.7% respectively. Hong Kong Dollar, US Dollar, Renminbi and other foreign currencies accounted for 45.5%, 42.7%, 6.4% and 4.6% of total international assets as well as 53.4%, 35.8%, 5.2% and 3.7% of total international liabilities respectively.International Banking AssetsAt end-December 2016, total international assets increased mildly by 1.6% from a quarter ago and by 2.7% from a year earlier to MOP1,170.0 billion (USD146.5 billion). Within this total, external assets declined by 2.2% year-on-year to MOP822.7 billion while local assets in foreign currencies went up by 16.8% to MOP347.3 billion. As a major component of international assets, external non-bank loans fell by 2.7% to MOP361.7 billion.International Banking LiabilitiesTotal international liabilities rose by 1.2% from three months ago and by 1.4% year-on-year to MOP1,094.0 billion (USD137.0 billion). Of this total, external liabilities fell year-on-year by 16.5% to MOP509.8 billion whereas local liabilities in foreign currencies grew by 24.9% to MOP584.2 billion. Foreign currency deposits held by residents and the MSAR government in local banks continued to form a major component of international liabilities. This type of deposits grew by 17.9% to MOP497.5 billion at end-December 2016 from MOP422.1 billion at end-December 2015.Breakdown of External Banking Assets and Liabilities by RegionThe majority of external assets and liabilities were related to Asia and Europe. At end-December 2016, claims on Hong Kong and Mainland China occupied 38.6% and 26.0% of total external assets, while claims on the United Kingdom and Portugal took up 2.9% and 2.7% respectively. On external liabilities, Hong Kong and Mainland China accounted for 52.6% and 20.2% of the total respectively, while Portugal and France each took up 0.8%. Portuguese-speaking countries represented 2.7% and 1.1% of total external assets and liabilities respectively.The compilation of International Banking Statistics follows the methodology advocated by the Bank for International Settlements in order to facilitate Macao SAR’s participation in the “Locational International Banking Statistics” project of the international organisation.
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The 43rd National Congress of the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVT, from its Portuguese acronym) will be held in Macao from November 23 to 27 this year with the support of Macao Government Tourism Office.Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and APAVT uphold a long history of close relations, with Macao having hosted four congresses of the association in the past, among which the last one was held in 2008. In conjunction with the work developed by Macao Tourism Promotion and Information Center in Portugal, this partnership has been crucial in ensuring success to make Macao an appealing destination among Portuguese tourism operators and visitors.The congress organizers estimate that around five hundred tourism professionals from the Portuguese market, mainly tourism operators and travel agents, will attend the event, and take this opportunity to have an update on the new tourism offers in Macao.MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes notes that “it is an honor to host once again this important congress, enabling Macao to enhance its role as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure and a service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Senna Fernandes emphasizes the relevance of this strategic event, on contributing simultaneously to the diversification of Macao’s tourism industry, as well as to reinforce its promotional strategy and increase international visitor arrivals. She concludes that, “we are confident that in cooperation with APAVT we will organize an even more outstanding event compared to the previous editions held in town, and our city’s transformation will certainly surprise even those that have visited the destination before.”APAVT President Pedro Costa Ferreira states that “the announcement of this decision is a great joy to all of us, implying two fundamental meanings – the fact that the economical landscape and the momentum of demand in Portugal is now more positive and confident, enabling us to once again opt for holding the congress outside Portugal; in this context, the choice of Macao, an historical destination, undergoing continuing development, gathers all the conditions to lure the interest of our tourism operators and travel agents, and through them our national clients.”This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, said local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain confident of Macao’s development prospects, as shown by the increase in bank borrowing by these companies.In the second half of 2016, loans to SMEs approved by local banks totalled 13.6 billion patacas, an increase of 36.8 percent compared to the first half of 2016. Analysed by purpose, loans for, respectively, “business development” and “development of new projects” rose by 72.2 percent and 87.5 percent, compared to the previous six-month period.The delinquency ratio – a ratio of delinquent loans’ outstanding balance to total SME loans outstanding – stood at 0.83 percent at the end of 2016. The delinquency ratio represented 0.07 percent of local banks’ aggregate lending, Mr Leong told reporters on Wednesday (15 February).The delinquency ratio of SME loans might have gone up as a result of the adjustment period in the city’s gaming industry, said Mr Leong. The Macao Monetary Authority would closely monitor the situation and any other market developments.The Secretary also commented on the Staff Report produced by the International Monetary Fund after completing the 2016 Article IV consultation discussions with the Macao SAR. Mr Leong said he was pleased to see that the report confirmed Macao’s ability to cope with economic challenges; projected growth for the city’s GDP; and expressed an optimistic view regarding efforts to diversify the city’s economy.In addition, Mr Leong disclosed that the Government on Wednesday had completed assessing a request for gaming table allocation for Legend Palace Hotel Macau. He said the property would be authorised to operate a total of 15 new-to-market live-dealer gaming tables and a total of 91 electronic gaming machines.Mr Leong noted that SJM Holdings Limited would allocate an additional 55 gaming tables – from other casinos – to complement the gaming offer in the mass-market floor and VIP lounges at Legend Palace Hotel Macau.The Government had taken into consideration the following criteria when assessing SJM Holdings Limited’s application for new-to-market gaming tables for Legend Palace Hotel Macau: the offering of non-gaming elements at the property; and its contribution to the development of Macao as a world centre of tourism and leisure.Regarding Jai Alai casino, Mr Leong said that the Government had not received any application for new-to-market gaming tables or any request to transfer gaming tables from other properties to that venue. The casino would operate under the same conditions that had been previously approved, he noted.Mr Leong stated that – when assessing applications for gaming tables – the Government would strictly follow the principle of allowing a compound annual growth rate in new-to-market tables of no more than 3 percent over a 10-year period, from 1 January 2013.
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The 2017 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2017MIECF) is hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and co-organised by the provincial and regional governments in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (Pan-PRD) Region. The event additionally has the backing of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, and the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as Special Supporting Organisations. MIECF is co-ordinated by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Macao Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA). The 2017MIECF will be held in Macao from 30 March to 1 April 2017.This year’s MIECF marks the 10-year milestone of the event and is being held under the theme “Innovative Green Development for a Sustainable Future”. The event brings together renowned worldwide experts from the environmental sector, government officials, business people and professional organisations. They will participate in various official activities, exchange sessions and policy discussions, taking the opportunity to debate opportunities in the green business sector and to promote the development of the local environmental services industry.Since its inception in 2008, MIECF has become a leading event in the Pan-PRD Region and a reference for other countries and regions regarding international environmental issues. The activities during the 2017MIECF include a “Green Showcase”, a “Green Forum”, “Green Matching” and a “Green Public Day”. MIECF acts as a ‘green platform’ for environment-friendly business, as well as an information and technology exchange platform between the Pan-PRD Region and international markets, generating fresh business opportunities and promoting environmental awareness. In 2011 the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) certified MIECF.MIECF – nine years of growthThe size of the exhibition area – known as the “Green Showcase” – has been significantly expanded over the years. It covered more than 16,900 square metres last year, compared to 6,900 square metres in 2008. During that period, the number of exhibitors has increased to more than 460 from 20 countries and regions (including the “9+2” provinces and regions from the Pan-PRD Region), compared in 2008 where there were 164 exhibitors from eight countries and regions. MIECF receives continuous support from the provincial and regional governments and relevant public departments in the Pan-PRD Region. Last year the event attracted more than 215 organisations. A total of 60 forums of sectoral professionals have been held across the past nine years of MIECF. More than 240 co-operation agreements have been signed, of which more than 90 percent have been implemented, involving a number of countries and regions: Mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Macao, Mozambique, Portugal, Singapore and Taiwan;. All participating parties have indicated that MIECF has gradually become a key platform between the Pan-PRD Region and the environmental sector internationally.In order better to complement community progress in environmental protection, MIECF has continued enriching and optimising its content and initiatives, promoting exchanges and showcasing the latest eco-friendly products and technologies. In 2011, a number of local hotels were for the first time invited to participate in MIECF’s “Green Matching” activity. Since 2013, the aisles of the event were left uncarpeted and recyclable building materials have been used for setting-up of the venue in order to promote the concept of MIECF as a truly green exhibition. Since they were implemented, these measures have on average helped reduce the waste of MIECF by nearly 80 percent. That year the organisers also worked in collaboration with environmental sector organisations from Guangdong province in order to organise the “MICE Through-train Service”, facilitating the participation of Pan-PRD Region professionals in MIECF-related activities.Taking into account the State Council’s “Guidelines on Deepening the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation”, the 2016MIECF hosted a “Green Session – Solid Waste Management Policies and Technology in the Pan-PRD” and a “Pan-PRD Regional Environmental Technology Seminar”, along with related seminars. A themed exhibition area was also set up last year, covering the topics of waste management, green construction and green transportation. Additionally in 2016, guided tours of the event were introduced for representatives of the procurement divisions of government departments.2017MIECF strengthens role as ‘green platform’The 2017MIECF will be held under the theme “Innovative Green Development for a Sustainable Future”. This is in response to the global environmental campaign aimed at turning green innovation into the main driving force of social development, and in order to complement the key development guidelines of Mainland China’s 13^th Five-Year Plan. “Green Development” was not only mentioned in the “13^th Five-Year Plan for the Protection of the Ecological Environment” and in the “Guidelines on Deepening the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation” issued by the State Council last year, but is also a topic in the “Macao SAR’s Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2020)” that was promulgated by the SAR Government. In marking the 10^th anniversary of MIECF, 2017MIECF will further deliver on Macao’s role as a platform for co-operation and exchange between the Pan-PRD Region and international markets; with particular reference to the environmental sector in Mainland China, the European Union and Portuguese-speaking Countries, thus facilitating co-operation and development among international environmental protection enterprises.MIECF continues to enjoy the support of the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China, and the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Environmental Protection. This year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has joined the line-up of Special Supporting Organisations for MIECF, evidence of the prominence of the event as a ‘green platform’ to promote environmental protection in the region.Mr Achim Steiner, a former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, will be the keynote speaker of the “Green Forum” at 2017MIECF, where a range of innovations and trends related to topics including coastal development, green buildings, industrial development and climate change will be discussed. This year’s “Green Showcase” will further efforts to promote the latest green building materials and other innovative environment-friendly products and solutions.Together with the “Online Business Matching Service Platform”, 2017MIECF will promote regional environmental business exchanges and collaboration, and enhance new green business opportunities. The “Green Public Day” will serve not only to open MIECF’s doors to the community, but also to host a series of parent-child activities. These will help the public learn more about the growing trend internationally for awareness of environmental protection issues, thus enhancing regional public knowledge of such topics and encouraging the public to take the initiative in putting environmental concepts into everyday practice. For further information about 2017MIECF, please visit the official website: http://www.macaomiecf.com/miecf2017/
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The exhibition “Shanghai Portuguese Refugees in Macao (1937-1964)”, organized by the Macao Archives under the auspices of Cultural Affairs Bureau, will be held in the Alfredo Pimenta Municipal Archives of the Municipality of Guimarães, in Portugal. The exhibition’s opening ceremony will be held on Friday, 3 March 2017, at 6pm (local time). On the same day, the documentary book “Refugiados de Xangai. Macau (1937-1964)” edited by Portuguese historian Professor Alfredo Gomes Dias will also be launched.Since the mid-nineteenth century, Macanese groups migrated to different parts of the world. and Hong Kong and Shanghai had been the major destination cities of these Macanese. Due to the Japanese invasion of 1937, World War II, the Chinese civil war and other factors, the Macanese were forced to leave Shanghai and seek shelter in Macao. Some of them later settled in Macao and others stayed in the enclave for some time before they continued their journey to other destinations like North America (United States and Canada), Brazil, Portugal, Angola and Mozambique. The Macao Archives hold a few thousand records related to this topic. This exhibition showcases a selection of over one hundred records that illustrate the historical background of the Macanese diaspora around the world, the social inclusion of the Macanese in Shanghai, the journey of the Portuguese refugees to Macao and the aid they received here, as well as documentation and materials, including personal items of one of the Shanghai Portuguese refugees, Clementina Fernandes.The exhibition “Shanghai Portuguese Refugees in Macao (1937-1964)” was held previously at the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre in Lisbon. It will be open at Alfredo Pimenta Municipal Archives from 3 March to 1 September 2017. This exhibition is a manifestation of the friendly cooperation and resources sharing between cultural institutions in Portugal and Macao and an example of the growing Luso-Chinese cultural exchange.
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