News

The University of Macau’s (UM) Class of 2015 graduates today (30 May) planted a flame tree on the Alumni Avenue on the new campus, to express their gratitude to the alma mater. This is the first time UM graduates have planted a tree on the new campus as a present for the alma mater. ‘Today is an important day in UM’s history,’ said UM Rector Wei Zhao at the tree-planting ceremony. ‘It is the first time that our graduates have planted a tree on the campus, and from now on, the flame tree will grow together with UM and our graduates.’ Rector Zhao thanked the Class of 2015 graduates for collectively donating a tree to their alma mater before graduation, saying that it is a precious present from the graduates to UM’s current and future students. ‘Educating people has often been likened to planting trees,’ said Celia Leong, one of this year’s graduates. ‘This is our gesture of expressing our gratitude to our alma mater for helping us grow in so many ways. It is also our little parting gift to future students, because when the tree grows up, it will provide shade for them.’ Iu Ieng Kit, president of the Graduation Committee, said that the graduates chose May, the flowering season of flame trees, to plant a tree for the alma mater, because they hope that all the graduates will remain in touch as they begin a new chapter of their lives after graduation. Guests attending the tree-planting ceremony included Rector Wei Zhao, Vice Rector for Student Affairs Haydn Chen, Registrar Paul Pang, Alumni and Development Office Director Vong Peng Chun, Communications Office Director Katrina Cheong, and acting Dean of Students Chau Kwai Chee.
…

A charity classical music concert was held in the Grand Hall of the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) earlier this month. The first part was a series of performances by IFT students and faculty with pieces such as Sonata No. 4 in A flat major from Beethoven played by Christine Zhen, El Tango Para Violin by Orientango played by IFT Invited Assistant Professor Suh-hee Choi, and the IFT Chamber Music Club playing three pieces inspired by the Super Mario Bros video game. The second part featured Ms. Abia Ng, a renowned young pianist and composer who played one of her own compositions and a piece by Turina. The concert was a fund raising event, the profit of MOP 293,105.41 generated was donated to two charities, namely Christians in Action and Orbis Macau. This event was designed, planned and held by Tourism Event Management Year 2 Class A students. It was also one of the celebratory events of IFT 20th anniversary.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitors on package tours totalled 806,000 in April 2015, down by 6.8% year-on-year. Package tour visitors from Mainland China (648,000) and Taiwan (45,000) dropped by 6.6% and 19.6% year-on-year, while those from the Republic of Korea (35,000) and Hong Kong (29,000) rose by 11.9% and 0.5% respectively. Visitors arriving on package tours decreased by 7.7% year-on-year to 657,000, with those from Mainland China (518,000) and Taiwan (38,000) dropping by 8.4% and 21.2% respectively. Meanwhile, visitors joining local tours totalled 150,000, a decrease of 2.6%. In the first four months of 2015, visitors on package tours reached 3,385,000, up by 6.5% year-on-year; those arriving on package tours grew by 6.1% to 2,751,000. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 113,000 in April 2015, a year-on-year decrease of 1.8%; those travelling on package tours dropped by 1.1% to 45,000, and the main destinations were Mainland China (77.0% of total), Taiwan (8.8%), the Republic of Korea (4.2%) and Hong Kong (3.5%). In the first four months of 2015, outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 497,000, up by 6.2% year-on-year. There were 99 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of April 2015, providing 28,000 guest rooms, up by 1.7% year-on-year; 5-star hotels accounted for 64.8% of the total supply, with 18,000 rooms. A total of 827,000 guests checked into hotels and guesthouses in April 2015, down by 7.1% year-on-year. Guests from Mainland China (521,000) decreased by 12.0%, while those from Hong Kong (125,000) and Taiwan (29,000) increased by 10.9% and 8.6% respectively. The average length of stay of guests held stable as April 2014, at 1.4 nights. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses was 79.4%, a rebound from March (77.2%) yet still down by 5.9 percentage points year-on-year; the rate of 4-star hotels and 5-star hotels was 82.2% and 79.5% respectively. In the first four months of 2015, hotel guests totalled 3,184,000, down by 10.4% year-on-year; the average occupancy rate stood at 79.0%, a decrease of 7.3 percentage points. Visitor-guests accounted for 68.1% of the total overnight visitors, down by 1.5 percentage points year-on-year.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for April 2015 amounted to MOP953 million, up by 15.2% year-on-year; value of re-exports expanded by 22.3% to MOP824 million, of which re-exports of Clocks & watches soared by 128.7%; however, value of domestic exports dropped by 16.0% to MOP129 million. Total merchandise import declined by 4.3% year-on-year to MOP6.88 billion, of which imports of Gold jewellery and Watches fell by 41.7% and 8.6% respectively. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.93 billion. In the first four months of 2015, total value of merchandise export grew by 10.7% year-on-year to MOP3.65 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP3.02 billion) and domestic exports (MOP629 million) rose by 12.6% and 2.2% respectively. Total value of merchandise import grew by 1.2% to MOP29.10 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP25.45 billion for the first four months of 2015. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP2.30 billion) and Mainland China (MOP522 million) in the first four months of 2015 increased by 12.2% and 25.1% year-on-year, while export to the EU (MOP83 million) and the USA (MOP67 million) decreased by 19.9% and 31.6% respectively. Exports of Non-textiles increased by 11.6% year-on-year to MOP3.40 billion, of which value of Clocks & watches (MOP576 million) and Tobacco (MOP163 million) rose by 54.8% and 55.7% respectively, but that of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP435 million) dropped by 24.8%. Exports of Textiles & garments totalled MOP254 million, down by 0.5%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP10.92 billion) in the first four months of 2015 increased by 18.6% year-on-year, while import from the EU (MOP6.70 billion) fell by 9.5%. Imports of Consumer goods dropped by 8.0% to MOP17.02 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP2.42 billion) decreasing by 33.2%, but that of Food & beverages (MOP4.08 billion) increasing by 11.6%. Moreover, imports of Mobile phones (MOP3.55 billion) expanded by 56.5%. External merchandise trade reached MOP32.76 billion in the first four months of 2015, up by 2.1% compared with MOP32.07 billion a year earlier.
…

Consumer Council conducted its eighth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in May on 28 May for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 12 supermarkets in Taipa and Coloane area. 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.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the economy of Macao continued its downward trend, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2015 shrinking by 24.5% year-on-year in real terms, down further from the 17.2% drop in the previous quarter. Economic contraction was mainly due to a substantial decline in exports of services, of which exports of gaming services plunged by 39.7% year-on-year and exports of other tourism services dropped by 17.7%. On the other hand, domestic demand remained resilient; private consumption expenditure and government final consumption expenditure increased by 6.7% and 6.8% respectively, while private investment rose by 28.1%, alleviating the impact of the economic downturn; merchandise exports also increased by 32.5% year-on-year. The implicit deflator of GDP that measures changes in prices rose by 5.6% year-on-year. Private consumption expenditure saw steady growth. Despite the lingering downward pressures on the economy, the employment situation remained satisfactory. Total employment and working income reached record high, supporting private consumption expenditure to grow by 6.7% year-on-year. Household final consumption expenditure in the domestic market and abroad increased by 4.7% and 10.6% respectively. Government final consumption expenditure expanded by 6.8% year-on-year. Compensation of employees increased by 3.6%, and net purchases of goods and services rose by 11.6%. Investment maintained robust growth. Gross fixed capital formation, the gauge of investment, increased by 32.2% year-on-year. Owing to the construction of major tourism and gaming facilities in progress, private investment expanded by 28.1% year-on-year, with investment in construction and equipment rising by 30.6% and 12.9% respectively. Government investment surged by 208.7%, of which public construction investment soared by 221.0% but equipment investment shrank by 23.9%. Merchandise trade registered slower growth. Despite a 32.5% increase in merchandise exports, decrease in visitor arrivals and shrinking spending caused merchandise imports to grow at a slower rate of 10.4%, the smallest quarterly growth in the recent two years. Service trade continued to decline. Exports of services remained sluggish; exports of gaming services deteriorated, down further by 39.7% year-on-year; exports of other tourism services decreased by 17.7% upon the negative growth in visitor arrivals and spending. The simultaneous decline in exports of gaming services and other tourism services dragged down total exports of services by 35.6% year-on-year. Imports of services also tumbled by 37.9% amid stagnant exports of services.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 200 MICE events were held in the first quarter of 2015, down by 9 year-on-year. Total number of participants and attendees decreased by 15.8% to 249,180. Total floor area used for the events was 126,029 m2, and the average duration of events was 2.3 days. There were 190 meetings and conferences held in the first quarter of 2015, down by 6 year-on-year; number of participants dropped by 40.1% to 19,152 on account of a decrease in large-scale meetings. Meetings and conferences with 200 participants or more dropped by 7 year-on-year to 21, with the number of participants (10,618) tumbling by 54.5%. Floor area used for the meetings and conferences totalled 78,078 m2, and the average duration of events was 2.2 days. Concurrently, 10 exhibitions were held, down by 3 year-on-year, of which 9 exhibitions were organized by non-government organizations. Number of attendees decreased by 12.8% year-on-year to 230,028; in particular, 4 of the exhibitions each attracted 20,000 attendees or more. Floor area used for the exhibitions totalled 47,951 m2, and the average duration of exhibitions was 3.1 days. In accordance with information collected from 10 exhibition organizers, 7 exhibitions were repeated events having held in the first quarter of 2014. The interviewed organizers had 246 full-time staff engaged in the organization of the exhibitions. Receipts of the exhibitions amounted to MOP 14.15 million in the first quarter of 2015. Receipts of the exhibitions organized by non-government organizations (MOP 13.09 million) accounted for 92.5% of the total, of which rental of exhibition booths amounted to MOP 6.71 million (51.3% of total) and financial support from government or other organizations totalled MOP 6.38 million (48.7%). Expenditure of the exhibitions amounted to MOP 39.57 million, which was mainly spent on publicity & public relations (MOP 9.74 million), production, construction & decoration services (MOP 8.47 million) and accommodation, food & beverages (MOP 6.68 million). Expenditure of the exhibitions organized by non-government organizations (MOP 13.00 million) shared 32.8% of the total, mainly incurred on publicity & public relations (MOP 3.70 million) and rental of venue (MOP 3.45 million). A total of 958 exhibitors and 5,140 professional visitors attended the exhibitions, with the exhibition organized by the government attracting 462 exhibitors and 4,162 professional visitors, accounting for 48.2% and 81.0% of the total respectively. Most of the exhibitors came from Macao (35.1%) and Hong Kong (30.2%); meanwhile, professional visitors were mainly from Macao (45.5%) and Mainland China (30.4%). Information from 350 interviewed exhibitors indicated that sales of products took up a predominant share (93.0%) of the Receipts, while rental paid for exhibition booth and construction & decoration services accounted for 64.7% and 21.2% respectively of the Expenditure. Regarding interviewed exhibitors’ comments about the MICE venue and services, 76.3% were satisfied with the language skills of the venue staff and 74.6% were satisfied with their professionalism, up by 2.5 and 6.8 percentage points respectively quarter-to-quarter; on the other hand, 38.3% of the exhibitors were satisfied with the promotion of the exhibition, down by 3.7 percentage points quarter-to-quarter, while 19.1% considered that the promotion should be improved, up by 0.6 percentage points.
…

The Identification Services Bureau introduces an electronic device (hereinafter called electronic pager) for reminding applicants to proceed to the designated service counter on time for lodging their applications. The electronic pager was put into official use in May 2015. Citizens who are in need of the reminder can register and obtain the electronic pager at the Ticketing and Service Counter or Information Counter. When the service counter calls the tag number of the applicant, the electronic pager will vibrate and show the counter number on the display. The applicant will then be reminded to go to the service counter and avoid missing the call of the tag number. Besides providing greater convenience to citizens, the electronic pager can make the front-line operations smoother and enhance efficiency. Moreover, it is unnecessary to call out the tag number loudly when using the electronic pager, which helps create a comfortable and quiet reception environment and improve the service quality.
…

The Government would recruit medical specialists from overseas and the mainland in addition to employing more local staff to meet Macao’s increasing healthcare needs. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, speaking to reporters after the opening of a healthcare centre in Taipa on 27 May, said the National Health and Family Planning Commission would provide support in recruiting medical specialists. The hiring of 529 local staff was in progress. The Government would consider extending the opening hours of health centres with great public demand, following the trials conducted in the Conde S. Januário public hospital. If this went well, all health centres would operate longer hours, he said. When asked, Mr Tam stressed the Government would not seek economic growth at the expense of the health of casino workers and tourists, noting that smoke-related illness or deaths, at 20 per cent every year, is a burden to government expenses. A full smoking ban in casino would be implemented progressively, based on researches on residents, workers and tourists, he said. Mr Tam said the Government would strengthen its tourism strategy to attract more visitors if fewer people visit casinos due to the ban.
…

A new collection of photographs on the colourful festival celebrating the birthday of the sea deity Tam Kong can be viewed at the government news mobile application “MSAR News”. The festival, including a dragon dance procession with gongs and drums, dance performance, “Piu Sik” floating parade, takes place on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar in Coloane, where the Tam Kong Temple has sat for more than 140 years. This year, the birthday of Tam Kong fell on 25th May. The celebration becomes not only a carnival among the Coloane community, but also an event for tourists to taste the tradition and the passion of Macao. The set, “Parade for Tam Kong Festival”, comprising nine photos, is captured by Government Information Bureau photographer Pedro Kong. More photos of festive celebrations and unique cultural performances are also available at “MSAR News”.
…