News

The University of Macau (UM) Parking Management Rules, published in the Macao SAR Government Official Gazette today (6 July), in the second series of the 27th issue, will take effect tomorrow (7 July). In accordance with the rules, UM on 17 July will begin to charge a fee for parking in any car park on its campus. Non-UM members whose vehicles are currently parked inside UM’s car parks must vacate the car parks before 17 July. External users’ cars that fail to vacate the car parks before the aforementioned date shall be dealt with in accordance with law. UM’s campus, including some of the facilities, has been open to the public since the university’s relocation in 2014. The Parking Management Rules aim to improve the management of the facilities, to ensure the safety of all users, and to provide convenience to all faculty members, students, and visitors. To cover the cost of managing car parks, including the cost of hiring security guards and maintaining facilities, UM has decided to charge a fee for parking in any car park on campus according to the ‘user-pays’ principle. As a government-funded public university, UM is committed to fulfilling its social responsibility and ensuring proper use of public resources. Therefore, in determining the hourly parking rate, UM has taken into account various factors, such as the market price, the demand for parking spaces, and users’ affordability. UM will start charging parking fees on 17 July at midnight according to its Parking Management Rules. In principle, the hourly rate will be roughly the same as that of all public car parks in Macao. Vehicles can be parked in UM car parks for a maximum of eight days at a time. Violators’ vehicles will be impounded by the Public Security Police Force and violators shall be liable for all the expenses incurred, including the parking fee. Parking fees will be waived for all UM staff members and students during a transitional period, which will last until 1 Jan 2017, when improvement of the relevant facilities is completed. All university staff members, students, and holders of a valid campus card will be eligible to purchase a monthly parking permit and enjoy a 50 per cent discount on hourly parking. For enquiries about the Parking Management Rules, please contact the Security and Transport Section at 8822 8651.
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The Macao Museum of Art (MAM), under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, is launching a series of contemporary sculpture exhibitions titled “A Sculpture” this year, aiming to promote the art development of contemporary sculpture in Macao. This exhibition presents the sculpture “Connection with Water” by artist Yang Xiaohua. The vernissage was held today, 5 July, at 6:30pm, in front of the MAM, taking in the lively atmosphere. Born in Guangzhou in 1959, Yang Xiaohua taught at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts upon graduating from a Bachelor’s programme at the Department of Sculpture in 1992. He studied at the International Art Centre in Paris in 2000, and received the Overseas Studies Scholarship offered by the Ministry of Education to study in Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia in August 2005, where he earned a Master’s degree in Russian Arts in 2007. A sequel to the artist’s “Water Series”, the sculpture “Connection with Water” is composed by three water droplets of different sizes and water ripples. The three droplets in the upper part of the structure represent Macao, Zhuhai and Hong Kong, while its ripple-shaped foundation alludes to the fact that the Pearl River connects Macao, Zhuhai and Hong Kong. The work is superbly finished with stainless steel, with its surface polished, implying the burgeoning prosperity of the three places following the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The sculpture exhibition “Connection with Water - Yang Xiaohua” will be held from 6 July 2016 to 8 January 2017, in front of the MAM. All are welcome. The Macao Museum of Art is located in NAPE, Avenida Xian Xing Hai, and is opened from 10am to 7pm (no admittance after 6:30pm; closed on Mondays). Admission fee is MOP5.00 and is free on Sundays and public holidays.
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The Government has established a commission to coordinate management and development of the maritime area that is under administration of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). The Commission for the Coordination in the Management and Development of the Maritime Area aims to use a scientific approach – in accordance with relevant laws – in spearheading development of the 85 square kilometres of waters demarcated by the State Council. The Commission is under the supervision of the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. The Government pays great attention to the management of the maritime area. The Government is also drafting a framework law on maritime management, in order to strengthen administration of those waters. The Government will gradually enhance Macao’s relevant regulatory framework, in order to: fulfil the need of maritime management on the mainland; satisfy Macao’s future developments; and facilitate the sustainable socio-economic development of the Pearl River Delta region. Last year, the Government issued three administrative regulations in support of the administration of the maritime boundary. They are: a regulation specifying immigration clearance procedures for crew members of vessels; a regulation on marine dumping of waste; and amendments to the articles of the Marine and Water Bureau. The Government also signed with the mainland authorities three cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening management of those waters. Development of the waters administered by the Macao SAR would accommodate the progress of: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (known as the “Belt and Road” Initiative); the administrative goals of transforming Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as “Centre and Platform” policies); the diversification on the city’s economy; and sustainability of regional cooperation. The State Council has approved a new administrative division map for the Macao SAR. According to the map, 85 square kilometres of waters surrounding Macao, and an area of land where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located, will be placed under Macao’s management. That administrative arrangement was announced in Decree No. 665 of the State Council on 20 December 2015.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council collects prices of fresh pork and vegetables from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. The mentioned data collected during 29 June to 25 July are used for comparing the selling prices of the same products from Zhuhai and 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 selling prices of local fresh pork and vegetables, and comparison on the respective selling prices rom Zhuhai, HK, and Macao. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, money supply rebounded in May. As total loans increased whereas total deposits decreased, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector rose from a month earlier. Money supply Currency in circulation and demand deposits grew 0.1% and 2.1% respectively. M1 thus increased 1.7% from one month earlier. Concurrently, quasi-monetary liabilities rose 0.2%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, increased 0.4% to MOP465.3 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 dropped 2.8% and 5.7% respectively. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 30.6%, down 0.1 percentage point month-to-month but up 3.8 percentage points year-on-year. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 51.4%, up 0.2 percentage points month-to-month or 0.5 percentage points year-on-year. The share of Chinese Yuan (CNY) was 6.2%, up 0.1 percentage point month-to-month but down 5.2 percentage points year-on-year. The share of United States Dollar (USD) was 9.4%, down 0.2 percentage points month-to-month but up 0.6 percentage points year-on-year. Deposits Resident deposits increased 0.4% from the preceding month to MOP452.6 billion. Of which, MOP deposits remained virtually stable whereas USD deposits decreased 1.2%. Meanwhile, HKD, CNY and other foreign currency deposits increased at respective rates of 0.7%, 1.2% and 1.8%. Non-resident deposits dropped 1.9% to MOP283.8 billion. Public sector deposits with the banking sector increased 1.4% to MOP152.9 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector dropped 0.2% from a month earlier to MOP889.3 billion. The shares of MOP, HKD, CNY and USD in total deposits were 20.6%, 48.4%, 8.1% and 19.8% respectively. Loans Domestic loans to the private sector increased 0.6% from a month ago to MOP397.9 billion. Among which, MOP114.6 billion was MOP-denominated, MOP259.4 billion was denominated in HKD, MOP2.4 billion was denominated in CNY and MOP18.5 billion was denominated in USD, representing 28.8%, 65.2%, 0.6% and 4.6% of the total respectively. On the other hand, external loans grew 0.2% to MOP367.8 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP, HKD, CNY and USD accounted for 1.8% (MOP6.7 billion), 27.2% (MOP100.0 billion), 15.3% (MOP56.3 billion) and 48.8% (MOP179.4 billion) respectively. Operating ratios At end-May, the loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector kept virtually stable from the previous month at 65.7%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors rose 0.5 percentage points to 86.1%. The one-month and three-month current assets to liabilities ratios stayed at relatively high levels of 55.9% and 55.8% respectively. The non-performing loan ratio, an indicator for bank asset quality, was 0.1%, virtually unchanged from one month earlier and one year ago.
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The Government strongly disagrees with the analysis on Macao contained in the “2016 Trafficking in Persons Report” by the Department of State in the United States, said today the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak. The report contained serious misunderstandings and based on misinterpretation of the figures with regard to the situation in Macao. Findings in the report were not based on fact, involved groundless speculation and failed to provide appropriate verification, he told reporters. The Government had done a large amount of work over the years in order to prevent human trafficking in Macao. The Committee on Measures to Deter Human Trafficking had made significant efforts to coordinate Macao’s security resources in order to prevent such crimes in Macao. Such efforts had produced positive results. He noted that an investigation – concerning the only case in 2014 relating to human trafficking – was ended due to insufficient evidence. Police also ended investigation of two of the three cases in 2015 for the same reason. The other case from 2015 was still under investigation. Regarding the “recommendations” for Macao mentioned in the report, Mr Wong said the Government had initiated – without any prior suggestion from any third party – optimisation in policies against human trafficking. Such efforts had been followed up and discussed in monthly meetings of the Committee on Measures to Deter Human Trafficking. The Secretary said prostitution, controlled prostitution, and trafficking in persons were three distinct issues. Prostitution occurred around the world, not just in Macao, he added.
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Macao’s casino gross gaming revenue in June amounted to 15.88 billion patacas, representing an 8.5 percent year-on-year decrease. In the first half of 2016, gaming revenue totalled 107.79 billion patacas, an 11.4 percent fall from the corresponding period in 2015. The latest figures are in line with the Government’s expectation for the gaming industry’s performance in 2016. The Government forecasts casino gross gaming revenue in 2016 would be around 200 billion patacas, with a monthly average of about 16.6 billion patacas. Casino gross gaming revenue in the first six months of 2016 represented 53.9 percent of what the Government forecast for the whole year, and amounted to a monthly average of approximately 17.97 billion patacas. The Government expected – based on conditions in the international and regional economy – that the year-on-year decline would narrow, despite gaming revenue growth in the second half of 2016 would remain in negative territory. Government efforts in promoting diversification in the city’s gaming industry have showed effectiveness. In the first half of 2016, revenue from casinos’ mass-market segment contributed 53.1 percent of overall gaming revenue, an increase of 10 percentage points compared to the first six months of 2015. In the first half of 2016, VIP revenue recorded a 17.3 percent decline, while revenue from mass-market operations fell 3.6 percent judged year-on-year. The Government noted that two more resorts are likely to open in the second half of this year. It believes the two new projects will help enhance the city’s attractiveness to tourists, and bring more of them to the city. The Government will pay even closer attention than previously to any possible negative impacts for the city’s economy and employment opportunities arising from the adjustment period of Macao’s gaming industry. The Government will provide more in-job training to local employees in order to help them improve their upward mobility in career terms, and their horizontal mobility within their chosen jobs. The Government will allocate more resources to help stimulate the development of non-gaming elements in the city’s tourism sector. This is part of the effort to coordinate the transformation of Macao as a world centre of tourism and leisure; and to propel a sustainable and healthy development of the city’s gaming industry.
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Consumer Council conducted a surveyed on cash vouchers issued by supermarkets, department stores, and cake shops, to see if sufficient information are provided to consumers or any restricting terms are used. Details of the survey can be found in the latest issue no. 273 of Consumer Report. The Council reminds consumers to consider carefully before making purchase through prepayment due to the risks involved, and not to make the consumption amount too large and time period too long. The mentioned survey reveals that most cash vouchers sold by supermarkets, department stores, and cake shops restrict the time of use by consumers, and consumers are not allowed to exchange the vouchers back into cash. Further, some merchants do not consider the purchase dates of consumers as the start dates of vouchers, therefore, consumers should consider and check carefully whether the expiry dates of the vouchers are reasonable or not. About half of the surveyed merchants are found to have detailed restricting terms, such as limitation on the number of vouchers used and amount purchased, and the use of other promotions, etc., printed on their vouchers. The Council points out that unclear terms will lead consumers to a disadvantageous position if consumer dispute arises, therefore merchants are suggested to state clearly all terms and conditions on the vouchers to safeguard and respect the right to information of consumers. Even though most surveyed merchants reply that measures will be taken to safeguard consumers in case of closedown or transfer of ownership of shops, consumers are advised not to overbuy because of promotions, and to make purchase at shops with goodwill when paying with prepayment. The latest issue also covers the 2016 accuracy test of fuel metres at petrol station, a feature on ‘Certified Shop’ Beijing Tong Ren Tang (Macau) Company Limited (Shop Mercado Vermelho), and a detailed introduction of the revised Code of Practice for Intermediary Services in Real Estate Operations. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C), and the service counter of the Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries and bookstores. Consumers may also access the magazine online on the Council’s official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo) and WeChat official account. For enquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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The Government has issued a statement regarding a report from the Department of State in the United States, called “2016 Trafficking in Persons Report” and that attributed to Macao a “Tier 2” rating. The Government notes that this report contains serious misunderstandings with regard to the situation in Macao. Findings in the report are not based on fact and involve groundless speculation. The Government cannot and will not accept groundless comments alleging cases in Macao of human trafficking, labour exploitation, child sex tourism and unlawful activities by Government officials. The Government has attached significant importance to preventing and combatting any activities relating to human trafficking. The Government’s efforts against human trafficking include the setting up of a body called the Committee on Measures to Deter Human Trafficking, and the promulgation of a law called “Combatting the Crime of Trafficking in Persons”. The Committee has done a large amount of work – in line with international standards – to prevent and combat human trafficking; to protect the rights of victims; and to enhance communication between the Government and non-governmental agencies. The achievements of the Committee have won wide recognition over the years within the local community. For years the Government has continuously stepped up efforts to: further promote awareness on human trafficking among members of different social classes and among different ethnic groups; to strive to protect the rights of local workers and non-resident workers; to ensure integrity when public workers perform their duties; and to fight against any activities relating to human trafficking and labour exploitation. The positive effect of the Government’s efforts can be seen in either a steadily reducing number of those crimes or zero instances of such offences. The Government does not tolerate any act of trafficking or labour exploitation in Macao. The Government is determined to boost enforcement efforts; to keep enhancing legislation; to strengthen public awareness of such crimes; and to maintain the Government’s high level of integrity. The Government will work closely with authorities in neighbouring regions, in order to bolster the sharing of intelligence on human trafficking and to fight against such types of illegal activities.
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The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym) of the Cultural Affairs Bureau will present the concert “Love in Italy” this Saturday, 9 July, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church featuring Austrian conductor Christian Arming and Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma to interpret Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Admission is free. Free tickets will be distributed at the entrance of St. Dominic's Church one hour prior to the performance. All members of the public are welcome to attend. Christian Arming is one of Austria’s most sought after conductors and is currently the Music Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Belgium. He has conducted many of the top European orchestras including the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony and so forth. Meanwhile, Simone Lamsma is regarded as one of the leading violinists in the world, hailed for her “brilliant... polished, expressive and intense” (Cleveland Plain Dealer) and “absolutely stunning” (Chicago Tribune) playing. On their first visit to Macao, these two musicians, in collaboration with the Macao Orchestra, will present Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor and the Symphony No. 4 “Italian” to present Italy in the eyes of the German composer and explore the world of classical music full of wonderful encounters. Admission to the Macao Orchestra’s Love in Italy concert is free. Tickets will be distributed at the venue one hour prior to the performance. Distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. The entire performance will be live broadcast on an outdoor screen installed outside St. Dominic’s Church, thereby allowing even more viewers to enjoy this exquisite concert. For details and programme enquiries, please visit the OM website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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