News

A delegation from Guangzhou Medical University (GMU), led by the university’s president Wang Xinhua, recently visited the University of Macau (UM). During the visit, the two universities signed an agreement on increasing collaboration in health sciences and training medical professionals. The agreement was signed by Wang and UM Rector Wei Zhao. This is the second collaborative project between the two institutions. Earlier in March, a delegation from UM visited GMU’s State-Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, while in July the two universities signed a Letter of Intent. After the signing ceremony, the delegation visited the laboratories of UM’s Faculty of Health Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine to learn more their developments and achievements. The guests also exchanged ideas with the researchers from the two facilities. Wang praised UM for its faculty and lab equipment and expressed hope that the two institutions will work closely together to achieve breakthroughs in research and talent development.
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Organised by the Macao Museum under the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the exhibition “The Enchanting Red Boat – An Episode of the Cantonese Opera Culture” has been enthusiastically received by residents and tourists. In order to meet the public demand, the organiser will extend the Exhibition period until 27th November. Cantonese Opera, a performing art stylistically inspired in Lingnan culture, was inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009. Many of the early Cantonese operas originated in zaju (variety show) during the Yuan Dynasty, and its contents focused mainly on the ancient emperors and key officials of the central plains of China. Cantonese Opera has been prevalent since it appeared in Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and flourished tremendously in the Pearl River Delta in the late Qing Dynasty. In the 1930s, following efforts and reforms made by members of the sector, the contents of Cantonese Opera were diversified and catered to the style of the public. As a result, Cantonese Opera has become popular and has been highly sought, more than in the past. The Exhibition features nearly 100 artefacts, including the most representative artefacts of the Macao Museum related to Cantonese Opera, and other materials, photos and collections provided by Cantonese Opera associations and organizations, illustrating the history and development of Cantonese Opera in Macao. In order to enrich the exhibition, a series of activities including a talk and a workshop have been held. In addition, Crosswords Prizes are held until 9th October. Interested individuals can obtain a registration form on site or download it at the Macao Museum website (www.macaumuseum.gov.mo), and return the form to the “Crosswords Collection Box” on the third floor of the Macao Museum during the exhibition period. The Macao Museum will announce the list of winners and prize redemption procedures on its website on 25th October 2016. The extension of the exhibition period allows residents and tourists to have enough time to visit the exhibition and develop an in-depth understanding of Cantonese Opera, thereby promoting this traditional art deeply rooted in the Lingnan culture. Schools and community organisations are welcome to reserve docent services for students and the elderly. For enquiries, please call Ms. Leong, staff member of the Macao Museum, through tel. 8394 1218, during office hours. The Macao Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm (no admission after 5:30pm; closed on Mondays). For details about the aforementioned exhibition and activities, please call the Macao Museum through tel. no. 2835 7911, during office hours, or visit Macao Museum website (www.macaumuseum.gov.mo).
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, money supply continued to grow in August. As total deposits increased at a faster pace than total loans, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector dropped from a month earlier. Concurrently, the non-performing loan ratio, an indicator for bank asset quality, kept virtually stable. Money supply Currency in circulation dropped 0.1% while demand deposits grew 4.2%. M1 thus increased 3.2% from one month earlier. Meanwhile, quasi-monetary liabilities rose 2.4%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, increased 2.5% to MOP503.7 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 grew 9.9% and 5.3% respectively. The shares of Pataca (MOP), Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), Chinese Yuan (CNY) and United States Dollar (USD) in M2 were 30.5%, 52.3%, 6.2% and 8.7% respectively. Deposits Resident deposits increased 2.6% from the preceding month to MOP490.5 billion and non-resident deposits grew 1.2% to MOP279.0 billion. Concurrently, public sector deposits with the banking sector decreased 0.5% to MOP156.3 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector increased 1.7% from a month earlier to MOP925.8 billion. The shares of MOP, HKD, CNY and USD in total deposits were 20.6%, 47.8%, 7.9% and 21.1% respectively. Loans Domestic loans to the private sector increased 1.6% from a month ago to MOP408.4 billion. Among which, MOP119.0 billion was MOP-denominated, MOP265.0 billion was denominated in HKD, MOP2.3 billion was denominated in CNY and MOP19.3 billion was denominated in USD, representing 29.1%, 64.9%, 0.6% and 4.7% of the total respectively. External loans grew 0.3% to MOP370.3 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP, HKD, CNY and USD accounted for 1.8% (MOP6.8 billion), 27.5% (MOP101.8 billion), 12.6% (MOP46.8 billion) and 51.5% (MOP190.6 billion) respectively. Operating ratios At end-August, the loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector edged down 0.1 percentage point from the previous month to 63.1%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors dropped 0.6 percentage points to 84.1%. The one-month and three-month current assets to liabilities ratios stayed at relatively high levels of 61.6% and 59.5% respectively. Furthermore, the non-performing loan ratio was 0.2%, virtually unchanged from one month earlier and up slightly by 0.1 percentage point from one year ago.
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Creative Savings Box Construction Contest A total of 44 works from full-time primary and secondary students of Macao have been received for the Creative Savings Box Construction Contest, organized by Postal Savings and Communications Museum. The participants have constructed and submitted their unique 3 dimensional savings box under the theme “Future Pillar-Boxes”. The awards ceremony will be held in the museum auditorium on 06/10/2016. International Science Centres & Sciences Museum Day 2016 In response to the International Science Centres & Sciences Museum Day 2016 as promoted by UNESCO, ICOM and ASPAC, Communications Museum will organize a free workshop “Construction of a Bone Conduction Headphone” for a maximum of 25 participants at the museum’s E-Lab in the afternoon on 05/11/2016. From now on, students of Form 3 or above are welcomed to register for the workshop on the museum’s web. In addition, the museum will be open to the public free of charge on 10/11/2016. Please take the chance to visit “The Voice” exhibition that is going to end in mid November. Science and Arts Activity for Primary Students Organized by the Macao Society of Biomedical Engineering and Communications Museum, the online registration of the Science and Arts Activity for Primary Students can be done at the museum website, from now till 16/11/2016. Participants will use different electronic components and simple tools to create a 2 or 3-dimensional object. This year there will be Groups A, B & C for student participants of Primary 4, 5 and 6. The activity will be held on 03/12/2016. Winners of the each category will be awarded attractive prizes. Electronic Device Construction Competition 2017. In order to encourage local secondary school students to employ their theoretical scientific knowledge on practical experiments, Communications Museum and the IEEE Macao will organize the Electronic Device Construction Competition 2017. This year the theme is “The Tower of Hanoi”. The online registration can be done at the museum website, from now till 23/11/2016. Full-time students of local secondary schools can compete individually or in groups. The competition is divided into two categories: Junior Secondary Group and Senior Secondary Group. The winners of each category will be awarded trophies, winning certificates & book coupons. The explanatory session will be held in the museum auditorium in the afternoon on 12/11/2016. Reservations can be made by phone or email. Snapshot! Postal Facilities Photo-taking Contest The Stamp Festival will be launched in December. Snapshot! Postal Facilities Photo-taking Contest will be the first “warm-up” activity. We would like to invite all local residents, who are 6 years old or above to creatively record the outdoor postal facilities of Macao Post, like pillar boxes, kiosks, stamp vending machines, postal vans or post office buildings, etc., with their mobile phones or cameras. Photos can be submitted from now till 11/11/2016. The way of expression is not limited. Each participant can submit one colored or black-and-white photo to the designated mailbox. Besides the three winners that will be selected by the judges and awarded gift coupons and set of mini postal models, there will also be an online voting among qualified photos. The photo that receives the highest number of votes will win the “Best Popularity Award”. All voting participants will automatically enter the Grand Lucky Draw! For details of the activities above mentioned, please refer to the Museum website (http://macao.communications.museum).
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Respond to the Universal Postal Union for the celebration of the World Post Day, the Postal Administration achieves various activities relative to this event. Macao Post announced that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philatelic Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters at 9:00 to 17:30 on 9th October 2016 providing the commemorative cancellation service for the “World Post Day – UPU”. A commemorative envelope will be distributed to public, and various philatelic products will also be available for sale during the above activity. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps.
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The interest for Magic Squares is transversal in Chinese and Western Cultures. For this reason, a Philatelic Book “Science and Technology – Magic Squares” will be issued by Macao Post on 6th October, 2016. Macao Post intends not only to promote this theme in scientific and cultural terms, but to also create a unique product in the history of Philately. This Philatelic Book consists of 2 stamp issues, which includes: “Science and Technology – Magic Squares I” issued on 9th October, 2014 and “Science and Technology – Magic Squares II” issued on 12th November, 2015. The price for this Philatelic Book is MOP250.00 and is available for sale at the Philatelic Shop of Macao Post Headquarters, Rua do Campo Post Office, Maritime Ferry Terminal Post Office, Airport Post Office and the Communications Museum.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council on 5 October collects prices of fresh pork from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. The mentioned data collected during 28 September to 4 October are used for comparing the average selling price of the same products from Hong Kong. The relevant data has been uploaded to the Council’s website for consumers’ reference. The specific price surveys on fresh pork and vegetables are now available on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), iPhone & Android ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ app, and the Council’s WeChat Account page. The relevant surveys include the average selling prices of local fresh pork and vegetables, and comparison on the respective the average selling prices rom HK and Macao. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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To celebrate the “Exposição sobre as Realizações de Inovação em Ciência e Tecnologia do 12˚ Plano Quinquenal”, Macao Post announced that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at Venetian Macao Convention & Exhibition Center during 7th to 12th October 2016 providing the commemorative cancellation service for the “Exposição sobre as Realizações de Inovação em Ciência e Tecnologia do 12˚ Plano Quinquenal”. Opening hours as follow: 07-12/10 10:00 – 20:00 Venetian Macao Convention & Exhibition Center A commemorative envelope will be distributed to public, and various philatelic products will also be available for sale during the above activity. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps.
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To facilitate the public and philatelists for ordering new philatelic products, please note the followings: 1)Issue Name: Lunar Year of the Rooster Issue Date: 05/01/2017 Ordering Period: 01/11/2016–30/11/2016 Product Types Unit Price (MOP) Stamps Set 15.50 Sheetlet(5 sets/sheet) 77.50 Souvenir Sheet 12.00 FDC with stamps set 20.50 FDC with Souvenir Sheet 17.00 Information Brochure with stamps set 22.00 Information Brochure with Souvenir Sheet 18.50 Maximun Cards 28.00 Presentation Pack 100.00
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that receipts of restaurants and similar establishments grew by 4.6% year-on-year to MOP 10.04 billion in 2015, attributable to an increase in number of restaurants, eating and drinking places. Expenditure went up by 8.3% to MOP 9.87 billion. Number of restaurants and similar establishments totalled 2,284, up by 172 year-on-year; number of persons engaged increased by 1,897 to 32,257, of which employees accounted for 95.4%. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy rose slightly by 0.3% year-on-year to MOP 3.62 billion. Gross Fixed Capital Formation grew by 30.3% to MOP 512 million. Number of restaurants, eating and drinking places increased by 166 year-on-year to 2,209. Receipts (MOP 10.01 billion) and expenditure (MOP 9.85 billion) grew by 4.6% and 8.3% respectively year-on-year. As regards expenditure, Purchase of Goods (MOP 3.75 billion) increased by 6.2%; Compensation of Employees (MOP 3.42 billion) rose by 10.1% on account of an increase in persons engaged. Operating Expenses went up by 9.0% to MOP 2.68 billion, of which rent of establishments (43.6% of total) rose by 14.2% to MOP 1.17 billion, and expenses on electricity charges (MOP 343 million) and materials (MOP 230 million) increased by 7.8% and 15.4% respectively. Analysed by types of restaurants, eating and drinking places, local-style cafes and congee & noodle shops (920) accounted for 41.6% of the total, followed by Chinese restaurants at 25.5% (563). Chinese restaurants were larger in size, with number of persons engaged constituting 39.0% of the total; receipts and expenditure both contributed 41.6% of the respective total. With an increase of 105 shops, receipts and expenditure of local-style cafes and congee & noodle shops expanded by 22.1% and 28.1% respectively year-on-year to account for the largest shares among all types of establishments. Meanwhile, both receipts and expenditure of fast-food restaurants recorded a 12.7% year-on-year growth. Gross Value Added of restaurants, eating and drinking places amounted to MOP 3.61 billion, up modestly by 0.4% year-on-year. As the growth in receipts was lower than that in expenditure, Gross Surplus tumbled by 60.8% year-on-year to MOP 193 million and Gross Surplus Ratio dropped by 3.2 percentage points to 1.9%. However, Gross Fixed Capital Formation increased by 30.3% to MOP 512 million. A total of 75 cooked-food stalls were operating in municipal markets in 2015, up by 6 year-on-year; number of persons engaged rose by 22 to 154. Receipts of cooked-food stalls in municipal markets (MOP 33.45 million) decreased by 3.7% year-on-year while expenditure (MOP 20.43 million) grew by 7.7%. Gross Valued Added dropped by 14.3% to MOP 15.25 million. Gross Surplus (MOP 13.03 million) and Gross Surplus Ratio (38.9%) decreased by 17.3% and 6.5 percentage points respectively. Coverage of the Restaurants and Similar Establishments Survey comprised licensed restaurants, eating and drinking places, and cooked-food stalls in municipal markets in 2015, excluding restaurants and similar facilities directly operated by hotels and casinos, as well as street hawkers.
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