News

The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, said merging the Human Resources Office and the Labour Affairs Bureau could consolidate resources for better policy in non-resident workers and labour services. But this would be decided after revision to the departments’ organisational law, he added. Speaking to reporters after a committee meeting at the Legislative Assembly on 21 July, Mr Leong said that two departments, shared similar duties, had to step up communication following the change in number of non-resident workers and the formulation of law for non-resident workers. On the “Protection of Creditor’s Rights Arising from Labour Relations”, Mr Leong said his team would strive to complete the legislation work within this legislative session, which will end in this October. He said the meeting with members of the committee had reached consensus in the draft bill: the Government would deliver a final version in the coming few days to accelerate the legislative process. The Human Resources Office was established in 2007, with the aims to conduct sustained analyses on the changes in human resources in labour market and administer applications for the importation of non-resident workers. Its establishment is in bids to centralise and enhance efficiency of processing and approving applications for importing non-resident workers, to help alleviate small- and medium-sized enterprises’ problems arising from shortage of human resources.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) will have all of its enumerators on duty to wear the new summer uniform starting 27 July, providing the team with a fresh new look. The new uniform, made of breathable and moisture wicking fabric suitable for working outdoors in the summer sun, is a light grey polo shirt with white collar and short sleeves, printed with the DSEC logo on the upper left chest and the letters “dsec” on the sleeve and at the back. The new uniform will help the responding residents and businesses to easily identify DSEC’s enumerators and allow the public to oversee the DSEC team. DSEC maintains strict compliance with the stipulations of statistical confidentiality and ensures the protection of personal and business data during the collection and processing of information. DSEC stresses that, besides the uniform, all enumerators also carry a valid Enumerator Identity Card and a satchel bearing the DSEC logo. Lastly, DSEC calls on the public to support data collection of its statistical activities, which facilitates the provision of timely and accurate official statistics to the community.
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The Macao SAR Government opens call for public opinion in regard to the “Revitalization of the Former Estoril Hotel and Estoril swimming pool”. The 30-day call for opinions period will run from 22 July until 20 August 2015. During this period, two public sessions will be held at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion - Pavilion A. The first session will be held on 2 August at 4pm, and the second session on 8 August at 11am. All citizens are encouraged to participate in these sessions. The objective of this consultation exercise is to collect opinions with a diverse range of viewpoints and thereby proceed with the subsequent works that will reflect the views of the community. Until now, 13 sessions of the “Revitalization of the Former Estoril Hotel and swimming pool” have been held, counting with over 1,800 participants, including members of the Cultural Consultative Committee, Cultural Heritage Council, Youth Affairs Committee, Committee for Non-tertiary Education, The Macau General Union of the Neighbourhood Associations (UGAMM). Included are also members of the public who live near the Tap Seac area, the central and northern parts of Macao, students, teachers, school leaders, as well as representatives from educational associations, youth associations, and individuals from different fields, covering music, dance, Chinese opera, theatre, visual arts and integrated arts, architecture, urban planning and heritage conservation. The Macao SAR Government has thereby garnered valuable opinions from these various groups, which provide important parameters in formulating the revitalization plan. The former Estoril Hotel and Estoril swimming pool complex are situated at the heart of the city’s cultural district. Surrounded by several schools and a sports complex, the location features favorably for meetings and activities directed to the youth. The Macao SAR Government is now considering revitalizing the hotel and swimming pool complex as a youth hub. The proposal is aimed at creating an integrated structure that would also house the Macao Conservatory, providing cultural, arts, education, sports and other recreational facilities in addition to creating a space that can serve other residents too. The SAR Government hopes to use this revitalization plan as a focus of integration with the cultural, educational and recreational elements of the neighbouring Tap Seac Square in order to foster collaboration and mutual development for the community. For more details regarding the “Revitalization of the Former Estoril Hotel and Estoril swimming pool”, please consult the text of the call for public opinion which can be downloaded on the following websites: Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture (www.gsasc.gov.mo), Cultural Affairs Bureau (www.icm.gov.mo), Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (www.dsej.gov.mo) and Macao Sport Development Board (www.sport.gov.mo). The text is also available in print at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building on Tap Seac Square and at the libraries under the Cultural Affairs Bureau including the Macao Central Library (Main Library), IACM Building Library, Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, Ilha Verde Library, Mong Ha Library, Red Market Library, Taipa Library (Central Park) and Coloane Library. Residents are encouraged to provide their opinions through the aforementioned websites, by post or in person at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building on Tap Seac Square.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council conducted its specific price surveys on household cleansing products, and shampoo & shower gels on 21 July. 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, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
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The Government proposed one-year imprisonment for maltreating animal after taken into account the existing penalty for criminal offences. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, spoke to reporters after a detail discussion over the penalty and legal interest for the bill of Animal Protection Law with members of the Legislative Assembly on 20 July. She said the penalty had adequate deterrence to prevent people from acting cruel to animals; the Government’s dedication to protect animal had not changed: the bill became more comprehensive by including all vertebrates except human. The initiative of the bill was to show the value of protecting animal and to improve the civil awareness by legislation. The Government has met with representatives of animal groups previously to hear their views on the bill and to state the Government’s position in protecting animal and consideration of penalty.
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To further satisfy public demand regarding zodiac notes, the two Issuing Banks have already started accepting the online registration, via AMCM’s webpage (www.amcm.gov.mo), for the exchange of the four previously issued Zodiac Banknotes (including the Dragon, Snake, Horse and Goat Zodiac Banknotes) by Macao residents on 29th June 2015. Up until now, the registration process has been conducted smoothly. As the registration period will end at 6:00 pm on 24th July 2015, 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. Besides, all branches of Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino will provide online registration service for those elderly citizens who require assistance. For any enquiry, please call our hotline for zodiac notes: (28565071/28565072), or browse our website.
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A preliminary revision of the legislature election law would be completed by this year, said the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan. This move aims to further improve competitiveness of indirect election and fairness when electing members of the Legislative Assembly. Ms Chan told reporters on 20 July that the Government would take into consideration the recent case that two defendants had been found guilty of bribery in 2013 legislature election, when drafting amendments to the electoral law. She said the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau was analysing the conclusion report compiled by the Electoral Affairs Commission for the fifth Legislative Assembly; and the result would be the ground for amendments. On co-operation of legal assistance with the mainland and Hong Kong, Ms Chan said she hoped the proposal would be endorsed by this year. The Government had drafted a bill for regional co-operation on legal and criminal issues, but it had to be dealt cautiously as it covered arrangements with the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said Ms Chan. She said she would strive to deliver the bill to the legislature within this year and would commence the discussion with Taiwan in the near future. When asked, she said the Government had not yet decided the arrangement for the surrender of political criminals and of fugitive offenders, stressing the strict adherence of “one country, two systems” was the principle to follow in regional co-operation of legal affairs.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI for June 2015 increased by 4.91% year-on-year to 105.90, down slightly from the 4.93% growth in May 2015. The increase was attributable to dearer rentals for dwellings, rising charges for eating out and higher rentals for parking spaces. In comparison with June 2014, notable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+9.17%); Health (+6.22%); Household Goods & Furnishings (+5.24%) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.15%) on account of higher rentals for dwellings, rising wages of domestic helpers, as well as dearer charges for out-patient services and eating out. On the other hand, price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (-2.94%) showed marked decrease. The CPI-A (106.07) and CPI-B (104.43) increased by 5.36% and 4.06% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for June 2015 increased by 0.48% month-to-month. Higher prices of summer clothing & footwear and automobiles, as well as rising rentals for parking spaces, pushed up the price index of Clothing & Footwear and Transport by 1.69% and 1.37% respectively. Moreover, price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased by 0.38% upon dearer prices of vegetables and fresh pork. On the contrary, price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco and Communication decreased by 0.24% and 0.22% respectively. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 0.46% and 0.67% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended June 2015, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.43% from the previous period. Price index of Housing & Fuels (+11.09%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.52%) and Health (+5.12%) showed remarkable increase. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.90% and 4.93% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the second quarter of 2015 increased by 4.79% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.25% and 3.84% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first half year of 2015 increased by 4.92% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.35% and 4.14% respectively. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP29,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP30,000 to MOP54,999.
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Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Administration Committee of Hengqin Area and Macao Chamber of Commerce will co-host the Seminar for Macao Enterprises – Investment Policy of Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone from 14:30 to 17:30 on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at World Trade Center Macau – Lotus Room (Address: Av. da Amizade, No.918, 5 Floor). Following the establishment of Hengqin Area of Zhuhai, China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the cooperation between Guangdong and Macao will be strengthened, which provides significant opportunities for Macao enterprises. Recently, numerous Macao enterprises are interested in developing their business in Hengqin Area. In order to enhance and strengthen the recognition of Hengqin investment and business environment, the Seminar will introduce the policies and procedures in Hengqin, including the approval for foreign investors, real estate policies and procedures, commercial registration in Hengqin (Macao investors) and related policies, cross-border foreign exchange management and innovative policies and Inno Valley HQ and supportive fund etc. Should you be interested to participate the Seminar, please contact Investor Service Department of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute Ms. Kan (Tel: +853 87989680, e-mail: irenekan@ipim.gov.mo) or Ms. Cheang (Tel: +853 87989707, fionacheang@ipim.gov.mo).
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Consumer Council conducted its fifth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in June on 20 July for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets at Lam Mau, Patane and San Kio areas in Santo António 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. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six 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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