News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the first quarter of 2016 decreased further by 6.67% year-on-year to 136.44, attributable to lower charges for hotel accommodation, and reduced prices of handbags and women’s clothing. Price index of Accommodation decreased most significantly by 23.80% year-on-year, followed by Entertainment & Cultural Activities (-2.35%) and Clothing & Footwear (-1.98%). On the contrary, price index of Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco increased by 3.77% and that of Transport & Communications rose by 2.31%. In comparison with the fourth quarter of 2015, TPI for the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 3.43%. Price index of Accommodation and Clothing & Footwear dropped by 11.81% and 5.70% respectively due to lower hotel room rates, as well as seasonal sale of handbags and winter clothing & footwear. However, higher airfare to/from Southeast Asia during the Lunar New Year drove up the price index of Transport & Communications by 5.89% quarter-to-quarter. The average TPI for the last four quarters ended the first quarter of 2016 fell by 2.99% from the previous period, of which price index of Accommodation and Clothing & Footwear decreased by 12.70% and 3.50%. Meanwhile, price index of Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; Restaurant Services; and Entertainment & Cultural Activities increased by 4.49%, 2.46% and 2.30% respectively. TPI reflects the price change of goods and services purchased by visitors. Sections of TPI goods and services are selected according to the consumption pattern of visitors, namely Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods.
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Aiming to actively articulate with the Macao SAR Government’s policy with regards to the promotion and development of convention and exhibition industry, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), as the agency entrusted with the overall coordination of the development of Macao´s conventions and exhibitions, with the ultimate goal of elevating Macao into a City of Events, to focus on promoting the development of the MICE industry both in terms of quantity and quality, and developing the advantages of Macao´s conventions and exhibitions sector through various channels. Therefore, IPIM has organized the “Bidding for Success” Workshop on at the Venetian-Macao-Resort-Hotel, to introduce to the local business associations, chambers of commerce or relevant organizations on how to compete in biddings for the international meeting to be held in Macao, as well as to help the conventions and exhibitions sector to grasp the opportunities generated from the development of the MICE industry in Macao. Through this activity, IPIM hopes to explain to the participants on how to attract and introduce MICE-related activities to Macao, as a mean to boost the sustainable development of the said industry in the city. Mr. Mike Williams, IPIM´s consultant in the convention and exhibition area, acted as moderator for workshop. Mike has over twenty years of experience marketing of international conventions and exhibitions and has provided professional advice to the convention bureaus of Australia, Japan, South Africa, Malaysia, the United States and Eastern European countries on the development of the MICE industry. At the workshop, Mike shared with the participants the latest trends in the international MICE market, as well as the bidding procedures and advantages of the international conventions. At the respective question and answer session, many participants expressed interest in the workshop and enthusiastically asked questions. The workshop attracted over 50 representatives of Macao´s business associations and chambers of commerce, hotels, convention and exhibition venues, professional MICE organizations, and destination management companies, destination management companies, all of them are with potential to bid for the international meeting into Macao.
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its latest World Economic Outlook report, which forecast the global economy to grow 3.2% and 3.5% for 2016 and 2017, respectively, lowered by 0.2 percentage points and 0.1 percentage point from its forecasts made in January 2016. Meanwhile, this report, for the first time, covered the forecasts of Macao SAR’s major macroeconomic indicators. The IMF report indicated that the pace of the global economic recovery this year would further slow due to increased volatility in financial markets and weakened demand in large commodity-exporting countries. In addition, the global economic growth would remain imbalanced and the emerging-market and developing economies would lead drive and help speed up the pace of the global economic recovery. The IMF forecast the advanced economies to grow 1.9% and 2.0%, respectively, for 2016 and 2017. Meanwhile, it forecast the emerging-market and developing economies to grow 4.1% and 4.6%, respectively. The IMF forecast Macao SAR’s economy to contract 7.2% for 2016 and to resume a positive growth of 0.7% for 2017. Furthermore, the international organisation forecast Macao SAR’s inflation to linger around 3.0% and its unemployment rate to stay at a low level of around 2.0%. On public finance, the IMF forecast the SAR Government’s integrated fiscal account to remain in surplus in this year and next.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said the Government strictly complies with the principles of rule of law and with the need to behave with integrity; and would seek to prevent any possible conflict of interest. Mr Chui added he set the highest possible standards for his own conduct when performing his duties as Chief Executive. Preventing any possible conflict of interest was what any Macao Chief Executive was required to do and on occasion might need to do, he stressed. His comments were made following some public debate relating to a decision by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau to award to a local association some work to produce teaching materials for primary education. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday (12 April), Mr Chui said the award of such work was within the Bureau’s power, but it required the Chief Executive’s approval because payment for the work spanned more than one financial year. He added the Chief Executive’s endorsement was obtained in accordance with the requirements of the public administration’s financial management system. Asked by reporters about the recent appointment of his brother as a member of the Public Prosecutions Magistrates’ Commission, Mr Chui said he had not intervened in the process. An independent committee is responsible for proposing candidates to the Public Prosecutions Magistrates’ Commission, he added. The Chief Executive also commented on the Home-Ownership Scheme. He said the Government was stepping up efforts to increase its reserves of land; accelerating reclamation work; and not extending or renewing land concessions in cases where the land had not been developed within the time allowed. Transportation and housing were important issues for the Government, Mr Chui said, adding it would consider all appropriate ways of ensuring that public housing was distributed fairly.
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The two Issuing Banks have already started accepting the online registration, via AMCM’s webpage (www.amcm.gov.mo), for the exchange of the Monkey and Rooster Zodiac Banknotes by Macao residents since 29th March 2016. Up until now, the system functions properly and the registration process has been conducted smoothly. As the registration period will end at 6:00 pm on 15th April 2016, the Monetary Authority of Macao would like to remind those citizens who are interested in exchanging for the said notes to complete their registration before the mentioned deadline. In addition, designated branches of Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino will provide online registration service for those elderly citizens who require assistance. For enquiries regarding the online registration arrangements, please call our hotline at Tel: 2856 5071 / 2856 5072, or browse our website: www.amcm.gov.mo.
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Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in April on 12 April for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Iao Hon Market and the Border Gate area (Portas do Cerco ) in N. Sra. de Fátima 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. 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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The Commissioner Against Corruption, Cheong Weng Chon, submitted the 2015 Annual Report of the Commission Against Corruption of Macao to the Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, in March 2016 under Article 15 of Law no. 10/2000, Organic Law of the Commission Against Corruption of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The report is published in the Official Gazette of Macao SAR today (13th April). The report summarises the activities and efforts of the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) in corruption fighting, ombudsman and integrity promotion. and it also includes summaries of part of the cases investigated and handled by the CCAC in 2015. The summary of the report is as follows: Number of cases received and case processing summary: In 2015, the CCAC received a total of 793 complaints and reports, including 262 criminal cases and 482 administrative complaints which were pursuable. 568 cases were concluded, including 256 criminal cases referred to the Public Prosecutions Office or archived upon completion of investigation and 312 ombudsman cases completed and archived. Moreover, the CCAC received a total of 1,104 counts of enquiries of different natures. Anti-Corruption: Of the criminal cases investigated in 2015, most involved crimes committed by public servants and a wide range of crimes were involved, namely active and passive bribery, forgery of documents, power abuse, breach of secrecy and unexplained wealth, etc. Among these cases, the situation is more serious in the collusion between public servants and businessmen to commit bribery in conspiracy during the construction work, procurement, and outsourcing of services of the public sector. The SAR Government and all public departments should pay great attention to such situation and strengthen the discipline and conduct requirements of public servants, as well as improve the relevant laws and regulations to plug the loopholes that might trigger corruption. The corruption and bribery cases in the private sector showed a decreasing trend. No private bribery cases could be successfully referred to the judicial institutions throughout the year. To sum up the experience of investigation, the main reason is that the related crimes are semi-public offences. The private sector would choose to smooth things over and not to exercise the right to file the complaint, resulting in the CCAC not being able to follow-up such cases under the law. The CCAC deems necessary to improve the law Prevention and Suppression of Bribery in the Private Sector and to further enhance the integrity awareness of the citizens. Ombudsman: On the ombudsman front, the cases mainly concerned the system related to public service, disciplined services management and their law enforcement, land and public works, municipal affairs and traffic affairs. The CCAC also finished targeted investigations into two cases and released the “Investigation report on municipal ordinances and municipal regulations” and the “Investigation report on not declaring forfeiture of 16 land concessions”. When handling ombudsman cases and conducting targeted investigation, the CCAC found that “obsolete laws” were used as excuses for some public departments who deviated from the “principle of legality” in administrative procedures and administrative acts. The persons-in-charge of the departments should promptly find out outdated legislation and actively put forward suggestions and proposals to amend the law in order to ensure “legal administration”. Moreover, leaders and chiefs of public departments should also seriously study how to, under the circumstance of not breaching the law, exercise “discretion” vested by law to improve the administrative procedures and service models which have long been used. Promotion and education: The CCAC strived to carry out various integrity education work and do promotion at schools and the community. It proactively organised talks and promotion activities on the law of Prevention and Suppression of Bribery in the Private Sector for the local enterprises. In 2015, a total of 463 seminars and symposia were organised, with 25,540 participants. The CCAC also disseminated the message of corruption prevention through TV commercials, radio advertisement, outdoor advertisement, bus advertisement, TV programmes, special columns in newspapers and publications. In addition, activities concerning the integrity education for teenagers and the Integrity Volunteer Team were held continually.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said Hainan Province and Macao could expand cooperation in fields such as tourism, cultural affairs and services related to trade. The two places were both in the process of establishing their respective development goals: Hainan as an island known as an international tourism destination; and Macao as a world centre of tourism and leisure, said Mr Chui. Hainan and Macao could each serve as a reference point for the other in terms of development, he added. Mr Chui’s comments were made on Monday (11 April) during a meeting at Santa Sancha Palace with the Governor of Hainan Province, Mr Liu Cigui. Successful cooperation in the past between Hainan and Macao had paved a way for closer ties; in particular the launch last year of a regular direct air service between the two places. Such links would further tourism development, boost social exchanges and help trade, said Mr Chui. The visit of Mr Liu would bring Hainan-Macao cooperation to a higher level, added Mr Chui. Mr Liu said Hainan and Macao could work together to develop a greater number of two-centre holiday tours, with Hainan complementing Macao’s status as a world centre of tourism and leisure. The Governor also briefed Mr Chui on the latest developments in Hainan. Mr Liu said the province’s positioning as an international tourism destination could be realised by several means. They included: making good use of the province’s role as a place for international diplomacy via events such as the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference; using Hainan’s unique tourism resources; and by taking advantage of the development opportunities arising from the country’s Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives (referred to jointly as the “Belt and Road”). The Government’s representatives at Monday’s meeting included: the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng; and the Consultant of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Kou Chin Hung. Hainan officials at the meeting included: the Secretary General of the Hainan Provincial Government, Mr Lu Zhiyuan; the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Hainan Province, Mr Wang Sheng; and the Director of Hainan Provincial Commission of Tourism Development, Ms Sun Ying.
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Consumer Council conducted its first ‘Supermarket price survey’ in April on 11 April for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Areia Preta, Mong Há and Avenida de Venceslau de Morais in N. Sra. de Fátima 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. 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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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) joins hands with the Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao) to unfold their tourism training program in 2016 for civil servants from tourism offices of Portuguese-speaking countries. The program aims to familiarize the foreign trainees with Macao’s tourism development and MGTO’s regular operation in order to further exchange and mutual learning while assisting the involved countries to cultivate talent in the field of tourism. Around 20 government tourism personnel from Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, East Timor and Angola are coming to Macao during different periods between April and July in 2016 for training and internship opportunities at MGTO. The first group of trainees will undergo training starting from today (11 April). The departments in MGTO in charge of related training are as follow: Training and Quality Management Department, Organizational Planning and Development Department, Communication and External Relations Department, Destination Marketing Department, Licensing and Inspection Department, Tourism Product and Events Department as well as Administration and Finance Department. The training program also includes field trips to local attractions around the World Heritage site, the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), various tourism facilities and so forth. By carrying out the training program, the Office hopes to enhance mutual learning and exchange between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries in the field of tourism, while assisting the involved countries to train tourism professionals. The Macao Special Administrative Region Government is forging ahead with the goal to transform the city into a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” and a “commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries”. The SAR Government is also dedicated to unleashing Macao’s unique competitive advantages and fostering moderate diversification and sustainable development of the local economy. In line with Macao’s development goal, MGTO makes a persistent effort not only to enhance cooperation in tourism with its regional and international partners but also to promote support to Portuguese-speaking countries. Back in 2010, MGTO signed the memoranda of understanding on cooperation in tourism with Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, and following that, with East Timor and Angola in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Between 2012 and 2015, MGTO has trained a total of 73 government tourism personnel from the above Portuguese-speaking countries. This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
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