News

Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on tissue papers, household cleansing products, and oral care products on 25 February for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council’s ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, as well as on the Council’s WeChat account page. For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
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The Macao Museum of Art (MAM), under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, has launched the “Macao Arts Window” since 2012, which aims to encourage creativity and develop the contemporary arts in Macao. The theme of this edition of the “Macao Arts Window” is the exhibition “Restrained Hugs – Installation by Ella Lei”, which is open from 26 February to 10 April 2016 at the MAM - 3rd floor. The “Macao Arts Window” aims to provide an open and diverse exhibition space and exchange platform and encourage local artists to explore and express the concepts and forms of contemporary art. Ella Lei was born in Macao, and belongs to the post-1980s generation. She graduated from the Design Department, School of Art of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, majoring in Multimedia Design. She has worked as an art and animation designer for four years, while taking a Fashion Design diploma programme. She is currently a freelance designer passionate about illustration and fashion design, hoping to progress by merging both. She is actively participating in exhibitions and fashion events, and is working on her own fashion label “ella épeler”. Ella Lei believes that the society is like a spider web with various rules and systems; people living in this web have their own logic. Subconsciously, we defend our own way and beliefs. This installation is a fusion of hand-shaped sculptures and illustrations composed of hands. In the pictures, fragile animals are formed by painted hands. They are trapped and wrapped up. “Restrained Hugs” is intended to express a sense of sarcasm: the interaction of protection and restriction, and the subtle relationship between humans and animals. The exhibition “Restrained Hugs – Installation by Ella Lei” is open from 26 February to 10 April 2016 at the Macao Museum of Art, located in NAPE, Avenida Xian Xing Hai, and is open from 10am to 7pm (no admittance after 6:30pm; closed on Mondays). Admission is free on Sundays and public holidays. For enquiries, please call the MAM through tel. 8791 9882 during office hours.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals totalled 2,445,876 in January 2016, down slightly by 0.8% year-on-year and down by 7.1% month-to-month. Overnight visitors rose by 5.3% year-on-year to 1,145,902; same-day visitors dropped by 5.6%, at 1,299,974. The average length of stay of visitors increased by 0.3 day year-on-year to 1.2 days; the average stay of same-day visitors (0.2 day) held stable while that of overnight visitors (2.2 days) rose by 0.3 day. Visitors from Mainland China edged down by 0.7% year-on-year to 1,658,634 in January 2016, of which overnight visitors (757,426) rose by 3.1%. Mainland visitors came mainly from Guangdong Province (764,835), up by 8.2%, followed by Fujian Province (67,210) and Hunan Province (60,618). Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme increased by 2.6% to 784,958, with 73.6% coming from Guangdong Province. Hong Kong visitors (448,193) registered a decrease of 5.3%, and yet overnight visitors (207,271) rose by 9.3%. Visitors from the Republic of Korea (69,233) and Taiwan (85,939) increased by 0.6% and 11.6% respectively. Long-haul visitors from the United States (14,009) and the United Kingdom (4,003) increased by 3.5% and 4.5% year-on-year, while those from Australia (9,425) declined by 6.6%. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by land increased by 8.6% year-on-year to 1,501,115, with those arriving via the Border Gate rising by 9.3% to 1,327,737 (88.5% of total). Visitor arrivals by sea dropped by 17.4% year-on-year to 753,640; those arriving via the Outer Harbour (473,611) and the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa (267,918) recorded decrease. Meanwhile, visitors arriving via the Inner Harbour (12,111) decreased significantly by 60.3% due to the suspension of ferry services at this terminal starting from 17 January. Visitor arrivals by air increased by 12.1% year-on-year to 191,121, and those entering via the airport (190,411) accounted for 99.6%.
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Prof Pai Hsien-yung, one of the foremost figures of Chinese literature, today (24 February) was conferred the Doctor of Letters honoris causa degree by the University of Macau (UM), in recognition of his significant contributions to world literature and the art of Kun opera. The degree conferment ceremony, held in the University Hall, was attended by a full-house audience consisting of literature lovers from around the world, prominent members from different fields, and UM faculty and students. Dr Lam Kam Seng, chair of the UM University Council, officiated at the ceremony. Prof Hong Gang Jin, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, delivered the citation for Prof Pai Hsien-yung. She noted in the citation that Prof Pai is ‘indisputably a Chinese literature magnate’. ‘Bearing the childhood painful memories of his war-ravaged country, Pai portrays powerfully in his novels the Guilin landscapes that witnessed the vicissitudes of human lots; the war-time Chongqing around which battles were fiercely fought; the Shanghai vibes which were still veiling thinly the sorrows of a wounded nation, and the Taipei in the 50s when the new Chinese diaspora expressed a profound sense of nostalgia. In an age when appreciation of great arts has given way to commercialisation of art, he with unwavering dedication and against all odds, took upon himself the task of resuscitating the Kun opera and, in particular, admirably re-rendered one of its titles into a “youth” version for youngsters,’ read the citation. Renowned literary researchers and scholars from mainland China, Taiwan, Macao, the United States, Australia, and Southeast Asia attended the degree conferment ceremony and Prof Pai Hsien-yung’s lecture. These scholars will also participate in an international academic conference on the universal influence of Pai Hsien-yung and Chinese literature, co-organised by UM’s Department of Chinese, Research Centre for Humanities in South China, and Chao Kuang Piu College, where they will have an in-depth discussion on Pai’s contributions to literature and art.
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Prof Pai Hsien-yung, a renowned writer and a recent recipient of the Doctor of Letters honoris causa degree from the University of Macau (UM), today (24 February) delivered a lecture titled ‘My Kun Opera Journey’ at UM in the University Hall, to share his insights on Kun opera, a precious gem of traditional Chinese culture. Rector Wei Zhao delivered a speech at the lecture. ‘The fact that such Chinese literary gurus as Pai Hsien-yung, Wang Meng, Mo Yan, Yu Guangzhong, and Jin Yong received our honorary titles means encouragingly that they recognise what our university does, in particular our discipline of Chinese language and literature,’ said Rector Zhao. ‘We are pleased to say that it is one of our most established, strongest and most academically influential disciplines. Let this fact speak for itself: the number of its academic publications found in the top journals or publishers has reached or even exceeded what a top university is expected to perform as far as this field is concerned.’ He added, ‘It has also always been my stance that a top university can’t go without a strong programme of the language and literature studied in the mother tongue of that place, and in our case Chinese. For this discipline to have a well-grounded development, this view and policy have to be maintained.’ In his lecture, Prof Pai recounted how he was touched when he watched Peony Pavilion, a masterpiece of Kun opera, for the first time. He discussed the need to revitalise Kun opera, which has been on a decline since the ravages of the Cultural Revolution, and the challenges in accomplishing this task in an age where people crave constant changes. He also talked about the importance of reversing the decline of Kun opera amid the inexorable trend towards increased globalisation in the 21st century, and how the revitalisation of this precious cultural gem will serve as a prologue to the revitalisation of traditional Chinese art and culture as a whole. The lecture attracted a full-house audience. Nearly in his 80s, Pai left a deep impression on the audience with his eloquence and mental agility, both during the talk and in the question and answer session.
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The “2016 Annual Work Meeting of Joint Working Committee on Tourism to Support Macao's Aspirations to Build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure" was held in Zhuhai, Guangdong this morning (24 February). The meeting was attended by officials from the entities concerned, including China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province and the People’s Government of Zhuhai Municipality. The meeting discussed numerous issues on the agenda regarding measures to foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure in light of the latest prospect. The meeting parties also confirmed the tasks in 2016 and signed the meeting memorandum. Vice Chairman of CNTA, Du Jiang, and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam, both delivered a speech during the annual work meeting as the Conveners of the “Joint Working Committee on Tourism to Support Macao's Aspirations to Build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure" (“Joint Working Committee on Tourism”). Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Yao Jian, addressed the meeting as well. Following the remarks, Head of the Department of Affairs on Tourism of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan of CNTA, Liu Kezhi, and MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, both the Secretary General of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism, presented current trends in tourism and elaborated on the directions of tourism planning involving Macao in the 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the overall planning on Macao tourism development and regional cooperation in tourism. Major members of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism and the officials from the Mainland and Macao discussed various issues and reached a consensus during the work meeting. The agenda include new means and paths to deepen regional tourism integration and cooperation between Macao and the Mainland in 2016, application of diverse platforms to foster development and joint promotion of new tour routes and products. The meeting parties also shared the Mainland’s and Macao’s latest tourism trends, and exchanged ideas to strengthen cooperation on tourism industry management. The Convener of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism and CNTA Vice Chairman, Du Jiang, expressed congratulations on the success of the meeting and stated clear requirements for the Joint Committee’s tasks to carry out in 2016. He pointed out the necessity to take a broader perspective on the latest prospect faced by Macao along its path to develop into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. Mainland tourism industry, in its prime at present, will generate a new momentum for Macao tourism industry to go forward. The 13th Five-Year Plan, Belt and Road Initiative, free trade zones and CEPA are among the national strategies which have rolled out incredible advantages and golden opportunities in history for Macao’s transformation into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The Joint Committee is required to fully recognize that its annual tasks to foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure help to fulfill and realize the Country’s macroscopic strategies for tourism industry development in the new era at practical level. In order to do so, the Committee has to incorporate the strategies into its annual task accomplishment and give full play to the function of its system. More than that, the Committee serves to enhance communication and coordination for stronger team efforts and greater influence of its system.   The Convener of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam, remarked that the proposals in the 13th Five-Year Plan indicate the Country’s continuous support to Macao’s positioning as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, and its development into a world-famous and modern tourist destination that meets global standards. The SAR Government understood that building the city into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure is a huge project at many levels, which not only involves collaboration among departments with different functions in the SAR Government but also requires concerted efforts and support of all local residents. The SAR Government will put stronger efforts in coordination, and strive to deepen and widen the level of cooperation across various entities, fields and levels regarding urban transportation, accommodation, hospitality and manpower in tourism industry as well as promotion of tourism awareness among other aspects. By making such endeavors, the SAR Government is dedicated to transforming Macao not only into a great city to live and work in, but also into a fascinating destination to visit and explore on foot with vibrant choices of fun and entertainment. Secretary Tam believes that the work meeting will further enhance cooperation between CNTA and MGTO, and will certainly make a positive influence on the SAR Government’s formulation and implementation of work planning for the future. Last but not least, Secretary Tam expressed gratitude to CNTA for its long-term support to the SAR Government’s work in tourism which has created favorable conditions for Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Yao Jian, expressed that the Central Government highly regards and supports Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. Once again, the proposals in the 13th Five-Year Plan clearly suggest supporting Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure and a service platform for business cooperation between China and Portugal, as well as adequate diversification and sustainable development of Macao’s economy. He pointed out that despite the complex and ever-changing prospect of the global economy, the tourism industry in China and across the world is trending upward against the economic downturn. The positive trends have created important opportunities and given confidence for Macao to uplift the local economy and unleash its competitive advantages as a tourism destination. Over the years, the SAR Government has taken active measures to build the city into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure with a harvest of achievements. In 2015, the SAR Government established the Committee for Development of the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, chaired by the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, and announced a groundwork proposal for the Macao SAR’s five-year development plan. The plan has laid a key foundation for Macao to enhance its top-down design, coordination, planning and systematic implementation of tasks to build the city into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. After the Conveners made concluding remarks, the two Secretaries General of the Joint Working Committee on Tourism signed the meeting memorandum. Officials and guests who attended the meeting include: Director of Asia Tourism Exchange Center, Li Jianping; Deputy Head of the Department of Affairs on Tourism of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan of CNTA, Ren Jiayan; Deputy Heads of Economic Department of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Kou Ming and Zhu Hong; Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province Director General, Zeng Yingru, and Deputy Director General, Mei Qijie; Vice Mayor of Zhuhai Municipal People’s Government, Long Guangyan; Director of Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau, Wang Lingping; Director of the Management Committee of Hengqin New Area, Niu Jing among others. Coming from Macao, Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Ip Peng Kin, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Advisors of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Charles Lam and Stella Leong, MGTO Deputy Director Cecilia Tse, among others. In June 2015, the Macao SAR Government and CNTA signed the “Agreement between Macao and the Mainland about Establishment of a Joint Working Committee on Tourism to Support Macao's Aspirations to Build a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure”. Since establishment, the Joint Working Committee on Tourism unfolded a range of tasks, including invitations made to superiors, experts and scholars from the Mainland and Macao to participate in an expert seminar for discussions on the issue about how to foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure under the latest prospect. The Committee also arranged a delegation of Taiwanese media and travel agency executives to inspect multi-destination tour routes in Macao and Zhuhai, to enhance regional cooperation in tourism. In addition, the Committee supported Macao to host the Global Tourism Economy Forum and Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo, as part of its strenuous endeavor to foster Macao’s development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said the media plays a significant role in connecting the Government and the public by providing information on policies and social issues. He added that the contributions of the media for the development of Macao are widely recognised by the community. Mr Chui made the comments during today’s lunch he hosted for representatives of local news outlets reporting in Portuguese and English. The Chief Executive said the Government would introduce additional measures to ensure a good working environment for the media. The Government strictly upholds the freedom of the press and freedom of publishing, he added. Mr Chui said key directions for the city’s sustainability included: upholding the rule of law; maintaining social stability; allocating more resources to economic diversification policies; and providing more development opportunities to local talent, in particular in training of young people. The Government is confident about Macao’s development outlook, given that the city’s sound fiscal reserve system allows local authorities to cope well with potential challenges emerging from the ongoing adjustment period in the city’s gaming industry, said the Chief Executive. This strategy so far has proven effective, allowing the Government to continue providing support to the local economy while consistently enhancing the people’s livelihood, he added.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 amounted to MOP 15.59 billion, down by 10.5% year-on-year and up by 6.8% compared with the revised figure of MOP 14.59 billion in the third quarter. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 3.37 billion) accounted for 21.6% of the total, followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (14.4%), Adults' Clothing (13.0%), Leather Goods (9.8%), Motor Vehicles (7.1%) and Goods in Supermarkets (6.6%). As regards the rate of change, value of retail sales of Footwear (-29.1%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-22.8%), Leather Goods (-17.3%), Communication Equipment (-13.3%) and Goods in Department Stores (-11.5%) recorded notable year-on-year decline, while that of Motor Vehicles (+11.7%) and Adults' Clothing (+11.0%) showed increase. After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2015 rose by 8.5% quarter-to-quarter. Attributable to the sales promotion of automobile dealers prior to the vehicle tax hike, volume of retail sales of Motor Vehicles rose substantially by 38.9%. Moreover, retail sales of Communication Equipment (+23.9%), Leather Goods (+20.3%), Goods in Pharmacies (+18.7%) and Adults' Clothing (+18.1%) also registered notable growth. Volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter decreased by 7.7% year-on-year, with significant decrease in sales of Footwear (-24.5%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-16.0%), Leather Goods (-11.3%) and Goods in Department Stores (-10.0%); nevertheless, sales of Adults' Clothing increased by 14.1%. Total value of retail sales for the whole year of 2015 amounted to MOP 60.89 billion, down by 10.4% year-on-year. Value of retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 13.53 billion), Goods in Department Store (MOP 8.93 billion) and Adults' Clothing (MOP 6.91 billion) accounted for 22.2%, 14.7% and 11.3% of the total respectively. Notable decrease was observed in sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-25.0%), Leather Goods (-21.9%), Goods in Department Stores (-13.7%), Footwear (-12.4%) and Motor Vehicles (-9.1%). On the other hand, sales of Communication Equipment and Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles increased by 15.9% and 13.4% respectively. Volume of retail sales for 2015 dropped by 7.9% year-on-year, with marked decrease in sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (-20.0%), Leather Goods (-18.9%), Goods in Department Stores (-13.9%) and Motor Vehicles (-9.9%). Furthermore, value of retail sales of Automotive Fuels decreased by 6.6% year-on-year due to receding gasoline prices, whereas the corresponding volume of retail sales increased by 11.7% on account of the rise in number of licensed vehicles. In respect of retailers’ comments, about 60.0% of the retailers stated that sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased from the previous quarter, up by 3.3 percentage points compared with the corresponding figure in the third quarter; 29.0% reported stable sales volume and 11.0% stated an increase. In terms of the retail prices, about 61.1% reported stable prices, 34.3% noted a decrease and 4.6% stated an increase. Moreover, about 68.8% of the retailers expressed that the stock level remained stable compared with the fourth quarter of 2014, while 21.6% indicated that the stock level decreased. As regards business outlook for the first quarter of 2016, 48.0% of the retailers anticipate that sales volume will decrease from the fourth quarter of 2015, 39.4% expect sales volume to remain stable, while 12.6% predict an increase. Concurrently, 70.9% anticipate stable retail prices, 21.4% expect a decrease, while 7.7% predict an increase.
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In January 2016, IFT Multimedia Library has become the first World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Depository Library in Macao. Launched by UNWTO in 2003, the Depository Library programme aims to foster the access to the research analysis and reports which are published by UNWTO with public audience. Till now, there are approximately 60 libraries in 30 countries and regions having joined the programme and been included as the depository libraries, and IFT Multimedia Library has recently become the first one in Hong Kong, Macao and Chinese Taiwan. From 2016 onwards, IFT Multimedia Library will receive UNWTO’s all English official publications and make them accessible to the public, in order to provide more abundant and complete tourism related information and to support research in tourism related areas for Macao and neignbouring regions. In addition to IFT’s faculty and students, IFT Multimedia Library also welcomes those of other higher education institutions to borrow books and publications with the Macau Academic Library Alliance Card. Practitioner of Tourism and Hotel Industry are eligible to apply for an Industry Library Membership to borrow resources from the Library while scholars and researchers are also welcome to use the resources on site through application. Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 97 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has the most bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
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The Government is committed to promoting a balanced development of the city’s gaming and non-gaming offerings, and to encourage the use by casino operators of more services and products from local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, made the comments today, when he attended the press conference for the promotional campaign “Macau Loves Locals”. The Secretary expressed his support for the campaign, which he said was in line with the Government’s strategies to promote diversification of the city’s economy. The “Macau Loves Locals” campaign offers discounts and promotions to Macao residents – who bring along a valid identification – when enjoying non-gaming offerings at hotels and resorts operated by the city’s six casino operators. Mr Leong spoke highly of the diversification efforts made by the six casino operators during the ongoing adjustment period in the city’s gaming industry. Such efforts were helpful to enhance Macao’s tourism competitiveness internationally and to support Macao’s economic sustainability as they encouraged a greater involvement of local SMEs, he added. Asked by reporters, the Secretary said key factors taken into consideration in the mid-term review of the city’s gaming industry included how obligations set out in the gaming concessions had been executed and the opinions of the public regarding the operations of integrated resorts. Regarding the drafting of a master plan for economic diversification, the Secretary said a proposal has been submitted to the Chief Executive. Such proposal included mid- to long-term measures for diversification of the city’s economy, in a bid to accomplish the goals under the “Centre and Platform” policies. “Centre and Platform” refers to transforming Macao into a world centre for tourism and leisure and into a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. The Government would closely monitor the expansion of the city’s non-gaming offering, which is perceived as essential to implement the “Centre and Platform” policies, Mr Leong said. The Government would also continue to optimise gaming-related regulations, in a bid to strengthen supervision of the industry. The Secretary urged casino operators to take on greater social responsibility and to provide more on-the-job training to local employees in order to help them advance their careers. The Government attaches great attention to the challenges that might arise due to the ongoing adjustment period in the gaming industry. The Government will take all necessary steps to minimise any possible impact on the city’s economy, Mr Leong added.
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