News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the second quarter of 2015 increased by 0.82% year-on-year to 134.61, attributable to rising charges for restaurant services and dearer prices of local food products. Notable increase was observed in the price index of Entertainment & Cultural Activities (+5.74%); Restaurant Services (+5.13%); and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+4.50%). On the contrary, price index of Accommodation decreased by 2.82% year-on-year due to lower room rates for three-and four-star hotels. TPI for the second quarter of 2015 dropped by 7.92% quarter-to-quarter. Price index of Accommodation and Transport & Communications fell by 27.13% and 4.40% respectively on account of lower hotel room rate and airfare after the Lunar New Year. However, dearer prices of local food products drove up the price index of Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco by 2.46% quarter-to-quarter. The average TPI for the last four quarters ended the second quarter of 2015 increased by 2.37% from the previous period, with marked increase being observed in the price index of Restaurant Services (+7.34%); Entertainment & Cultural Activities (+5.32%); Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+4.56%); and Clothing & Footwear (+4.36%). For the first half year of 2015, TPI went up by 1.18% year-on-year, of which price index of Restaurant Services; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco increased by 6.48%, 5.46% and 4.21% respectively. Meanwhile, price index of Accommodation decreased by 3.70% year-on-year. 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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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) and commercial real estate loans (CRELs) declined in May 2015. With regard to outstanding balance, RMLs and CRELs both witnessed increases. New lending approved In May 2015, new RMLs approved by Macao banks decreased 14.5% month-to-month to MOP3.7 billion; of which, 96.3% was extended to residents. In terms of value, new RMLs to residents and non-residents decreased 13.0% and 41.8% respectively. When compared with the same period of 2014, new approvals of RMLs witnessed a decrease of 38.4%. New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) decreased by 79.1% month-to-month to MOP0.3 billion. The equitable mortgage extended to residents, which accounted for 93.0% of the total, decreased 78.6%. When compared with the same period of 2014, new RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units decreased by 62.2%. New CRELs dropped by 55.4% month-to-month to MOP4.1 billion; of which, 88.4% was granted to residents. In terms of value, new CRELs to residents and non-residents decreased 53.6% and 65.6% respectively. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs dropped by 26.4%. Outstanding balances As at end-May 2015, the outstanding value of RMLs reached MOP163.2 billion, an increase of 0.6% from one month earlier or 24.9% from a year ago. The resident component made up 94.1% of the total. Compared to end-April 2015, outstanding RMLs to residents and non-residents rose 0.6% and 0.5% respectively. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs increased 1.5% from end-April 2015 and was up 36.2% from end-May 2014 to MOP139.3 billion. Residents accounted for 89.0% of the loans. Compared with one month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents and non-residents grew 1.4% and 2.9% respectively. Delinquency ratios At the end of May 2015, the delinquency ratios for both RMLs and CRELs remained virtually unchanged from a month ago, at 0.08% and 0.05% respectively. Compared to end-May 2014, the delinquency ratios for RMLs and CRELs were up by 0.01 percentage point and down by 0.02 percentage points respectively.
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The Second Macao Symposium on Biomedical Sciences, organised by the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), opened at UM today (10 July). Nearly 200 renowned scholars and researchers from around the world attended the symposium. Participants discussed the breakthroughs in biomedical sciences in recent years and the future trends, and exchanged ideas on issues related to global health research. Officiating guests at the ceremony included Cheang Kun Wai, a committee member of the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao SAR; Dr Kuok Cheong U, deputy director of the Health Bureau and director of Hospital Conde S Januario; Dr Ma Hok Cheung, director of Hospital Kiang Wu; Huen Wing Ming, chair of the administrative committee of Dr Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation; Cheong Kuai Tat from the Food Safety Centre of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; and Au Chong Kit, a member of UM’s University Council. UM Rector Wei Zhao said that the event was organised by the FHS, which was founded only 18 months ago, and it was the first symposium of its kind after UM’s relocation to the new campus. Rector Zhao said the event provided a platform for experts in biomedical sciences to exchange ideas and explore new research areas. He believes that the FHS’s organising the symposium will not only benefit the faculty’s future development, but will also help to enhance public health research in Macao and its neighbouring regions. FHS Dean Prof Chuxia deng said the symposium brought together distinguished biomedical scientists and provided an opportunity for participants to learn more about the FHS’s research areas and long-term objectives. He also discussed how the state-of-the-art research facilities in the FHS supports his research team in cancer research. Participants in the symposium include Prof Mien-Chie Hung, vice president for basic research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer; Prof Ruth Aaron, president of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities; Prof Philip Hinds from Tufts University; Prof Yibin Kang from Princeton University; Prof Teh Bin Tean from Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore; Prof Liang Tong, head of the Biological Sciences Department at Columbia University; and Prof Richard Ye, deputy director of UM’s Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences. As the first part of the symposium, the Nobel laureate lecture, ‘Resistance to Antibiotics and Preserving the Microbiome’, by the Israeli scientist Ada Yonath, attracted a full-house audience. Another Nobel laureate lecture, titled ‘Are We Going to Cure All Diseases and at What Price?’, by Prof Aaron Ciechanover, will be held tomorrow (11 July). All are welcome.
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Prof Ada Yonath, a Nobel laureate in chemistry, recently gave a lecture titled ‘Resistance to Antibiotics and Preserving the Microbiome’ at the University of Macau (UM). The lecture, which was focused on the relationship between genetic code, ribosome, and antibiotics, attracted a full-house audience, including hundreds of UM faculty members and students, and researchers in the related fields. Prof Yonath discussed how most antibiotics promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Her work has not only paved the way for improving existing antibiotics and minimising antibiotics resistance, but has also helped to shed light on the design of new antibiotics that selectively target disease-causing bacteria. While traditional antibiotics wipe out both disease-causing bacteria and good bacteria, advanced antibiotics can protect good bacteria and are therefore more effective in treating diseases. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Prof Ada Yonath is an expert in ribosome research, who has successfully revealed the structure and function of the ribosome. She received the Nobel Prize in chemistry, together with two other scientists, in 2009. She is the first female Nobel laureate from Israel in the past decade and the first female Nobel laureate in chemistry in the past 45 years.
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Passengers are allowed to bring less duty-free cigarette when they entre Macao, according to the Chief Executive’s despatch which will be effective from next Tuesday (14 July). According to the despatch, passengers are permitted to bring in 19 cigarettes, or 1 cigar or 25 grams of other manufactured tobacco, for one’s personal consumption. This is in bids to prevent importation of dutiable tobacco, especially following the increase of cigarette tax. The legislature approved on 9 July the amendment bill on consumption tax: Cigarette tax would be raised to more than 70 per cent of the retail price, which was in line with the suggestion of the World Health Organization. This change was to further accommodate to the work on smoking control under the New Regime of Tobacco Prevention and Control. The Macao Customs Services and the Economic Services would act closely to stop any unlawful trade of tobacco in Macao. Details of the Despatch will be published on the Official Gazette on 13 July.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) went on a joint sales mission to Malaysia and Singapore together with five tourism entities including Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality, Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau, Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau as well as Tourism Administration of Shaoguan Municipality. The six offices joined hands to expand overseas markets and promote international visitation, branding their cities as one regional destination by promoting their multi-destination tour routes during the Mission. The joint delegation comprises nearly 60 members which is the biggest in recent years. The delegation includes MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong; Deputy Chief of Division of Affairs on Tourism of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Huang Guangzhi; Deputy Director of Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality, Chen Yongliang; Director of Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau, Wu Jiamin; Deputy Chief of Tourism Promotion Section, Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau, Lan Ge and Chief of Marketing Section, Tourism Administration of Shaoguan Municipality, Wang Yuanjian. The delegation also includes 29 trade participants representing hotels, travel agencies, airlines and ferry operators from Macau and Guangdong. The delegation visited Malaysia on 7 July and Singapore on 9 July, where they promoted multi-destination travel to Guangdong and Macau by presenting a diversity of tourism products and themed tour routes to local media and travel trade in the two countries. Director of the China National Tourist Office in Singapore, Liu Xiaohui attended the aforementioned event in Singapore. The joint promotional event namely the Guangdong and Macau Sales Mission kicked off in Kuala Lumpur. The activities include a one-on-one media session for tourism officials from Guangdong and Macau to meet and update local media on their destinations’ tourism trends; the Mission also facilitated a platform for Guangdong’s and Macau’s trade delegates to discuss business opportunities with over 100 industry partners from Malaysia. The trade participants were able to meet each other and extend their business network during networking functions and dinner in the event as well. During Macau Travel Fiesta as one of the Mission’s highlights in Singapore, the Guangdong tourism authorities took the opportunity to showcase tourism information and photos of Guangdong Province. Over 70 members of Singaporean travel trade participated in the Destination Product Presentation and business session. Nearly 100 guests joined the dinner that evening. During the visit, MGTO also held a meeting with Singapore Tourism Board to discuss opportunities for regional cooperation in tourism. Guangdong and Macau have maintained a stable collaborative relationship in tourism for a long time. Along the way, Macau has been leveraging the platform of cooperation with Guangdong/Guangdong and Hong Kong/Zhongshan and Zhuhai; by running a joint booth in travel marts and holding joint promotion events, the tourism authorities have made a continuing effort to expand visitor markets and encourage multi-destination travel through an array of promotional events across the Mainland and overseas, branding their cities as one regional destination. To carry out the key tasks for 2015 in the "Guangdong-Macau Cooperation Framework Agreement" while capitalizing on the Nation’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, Guangdong and Macau will carry out more joint promotion projects overseas especially for their multi-destination tour routes and the tour products along the “Maritime Silk Road”. They will make a concerted effort to expand their overseas markets and encourage international visitation to both destinations. Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality and MGTO co-hosted promotional activities in London, the United Kingdom and Lisbon, Portugal back in 2013 to promote multi-destination tour routes to Guangdong and Macau. Besides, the tourism offices of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau signed the “Memorandum of Cooperation in Tourism among Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau” in 2006 to enhance their collaboration in tourism and brand their cities as one regional destination around the theme of Fragrant Hill and Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s life history in the Country and overseas. The three tourism offices have held a range of destination presentations in cities across the Country including Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Hefei, Nanjing, Chengdu, Chongqing and Taipei, China; and in overseas countries like Japan, Korea, Canada, Singapore, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Portugal, Spain and so on.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs on 9 July 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, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
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Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, has met with officials in Beijing to further discuss mutual legal assistance. In the meeting on 6 July, Ms Chan had met with the Vice Minister of Public Security, Mr Chen Zhimin, to discuss measures to enhance exchanges in legal system and optimising the co-operation mechanism over legal assistance. From the results achieved in the first two rounds of discussion, the discussion this time on the arrangement for the surrender of fugitive offenders had achieved good progress. Officials who accompanied Ms Chan on her visit to the capital included representatives from the Public Prosecutions Office, the Court of Final Appeal, the Office of the Secretary for Security, and the Law Reform and International Law Bureau, and consultants of Ms Chan’s office.
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Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário, said the height of buildings in reclaimed areas was a reference only, not the final decision. Speaking to reporters after a committee meeting in the Legislative Assembly on 8 July, the Secretary said the information in the consultation document was suggested by experts after their visits to the area. The Government would take a close look into the opinion collected in the consultation and professional advice from experts, as general public might not be fully aware of technical details. He urged the public to contribute their opinion on the master plan of the five plots of reclamation area during the consultation period, which would be ended at 8 August.
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Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in July on 8 July 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. 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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