News

Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in January on 6 January 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. 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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The selection of the 2015 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making held by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) was completed and a total of eight entrants were selected as eligible candidates of the Programme. IC will grant each eligible candidate (individual or team) with a subsidy of up to MOP160,000 for the sample making and production of promotional materials. In order to promote the sustainable development of the fashion design industry in Macao, IC launched the 2015 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making last year. Among the 22 applicants, the adjudicating panel selected eight finalists after the initial and second reviews, six of whom are individuals and two are teams. The eligible candidates are: Cheang Chi Tat, Peng Yun, Tam Chi Kit, Cheong Kuan Peng & Wong Ha (team), Cheang Man Cheng, Leong Iok Pui, Lo Ka Heng & Choi Wai Leng (team) and Siu David. The adjudicating panel comprised of relevant professionals from Macao and Hong Kong covering various fields such as fashion design, retail, production and training. Members include Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, Walter Ma; member of the Committee of Cultural Industries of Macao and the President of Rainbow Group, Terry Sio; Senior Manager at the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM), Victoria Kuan; and Vice President of the Industrial Association of Macau, José Tang Kuan Meng. The Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making was first launched in 2013. Some 50% of the applicants for the Programme in 2015 are new applicants, revealing that the programme has continued to attract the participation of new applicants. In addition, over 60% of applicants have registered trademarks for their brands, a growth of 10% compared with 2014, showing that local fashion designers are aware of brand protection and pay close attention to intellectual property rights. One of the adjudicators remarked that the business planning of 2015’s entries is more mature than that of the past and the applicants have gradually found their market positioning. In terms of design, adjudicators said some applicants focus too much on design details whilst neglecting the practicality of the clothes. They suggested applicants consider the product design and consumers’ needs from the perspectives of their own self of use. For enquiries about the results of the Programme, please call Ms. Lam through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said the updated boundaries for Macao’s waters and land areas would further assist Macao’s long-term progress, especially economic diversification and sustainable development. Mr Chui made the remarks in a meeting with the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Feng Wei, at the Government Headquarters on Tuesday (5 January). Mr Feng led a delegation of representatives from the mainland authorities for an inspection tour of the city’s newly demarcated waters and land boundaries. Mr Chui stated the Government would make all efforts to ensure a smooth transfer of such boundary management responsibilities from the neighbouring authorities that previously held such responsibilities. The Government would also draw up a long-term plan for the newly demarcated 85-square-kilometres of waters and a land area where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located, he said. In the meeting, the Chief Executive said Macao people were delighted to learn of the new boundary demarcations, which had been announced in Decree No. 665 of the State Council on 20 December 2015. He expressed his sincere thanks for the support of the Central Government and the mainland authorities – especially the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR – as well as the Guangdong provincial and Zhuhai municipal governments. The Government would further explore opportunities with regard to the mutually beneficial development of Macao and Guangdong Province. Mr Chui said this would be based on the successful existing structure provided by the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao. Mr Feng said the relevant mainland authorities had been working closely with the Macao Government since the issuance of Decree No. 665 by the State Council. This was in an effort to support Macao’s economic diversification, to promote closer Guangdong-Macao cooperation, and to ensure smooth and effective operation of the Pearl River Delta. The discussions at the joint working meeting between the Government and the delegation – as well as three cooperation agreements signed on Tuesday related to the management of waters administered by the Macao SAR – were indicators of the direction for further development, Mr Feng said. Officials at the meeting included: the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Yao Jian; the Secretary for Security and interim Director General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Marine and Water Bureau, Ms Wong Soi Man; the Director of the Cartography and Cadastre Bureau, Mr Cheong Sio Kei; and Consultants of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Kou Chin Hung and Mr U Man Fong. Representatives of the mainland authorities that were present at the meeting included: the Vice-Minister of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Mr Gong Puguang; the Chief Security Officer of the Ministry of Transport, Mr Wang Jinfu; the Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Wang Hong; the Deputy Director of the State Oceanic Administration, Mr Zhang Hongsheng; and the Deputy Director General of the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, Mr Li Weisen.
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Consumer Council conducted its first ‘Supermarket price survey’ in January on 5 January for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Horte e Costa, Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga and Rua da Emenda 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. 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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The Government today signed with the mainland authorities three cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening management of those waters administered by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR); and at furthering development of the maritime economy within waters administered by the Macao SAR. The three agreements are: the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Macao SAR Government on Marine Traffic and Fairway Management for Waters Administered by the Macao SAR; the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Macao SAR Government on Water Resources adjacent to Waters Administered by the Macao SAR; and the Cooperation Agreement between the State Oceanic Administration and the Macao SAR Government on Maritime Development within Waters Administered by the Macao SAR. The signing ceremony for the agreements was held at the Government Headquarters this morning and was witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. The ceremony was attended by: the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Li Gang; the Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr Ye Dabo; the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Feng Wei; the Vice-Minister of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Mr Gong Puguang; the Secretary for Security and interim Director General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Deputy Director General of the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, Mr Li Weisen; and representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources and the State Oceanic Administration. The Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Macao SAR Government on Marine Traffic and Fairway Management for Waters Administered by the Macao SAR is to foster mechanisms for dealing with emergencies and to develop information sharing methods between Macao and the mainland. The Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Macao SAR Government on Water Resources adjacent to Waters Administered by the Macao SAR, seeks to ensure there is adequate capability to maintain flood prevention systems for the land adjacent to the waters and waterways of Macao and the land adjacent to the Pearl River Estuary. It also aims to protect the marine environment, local water ecology and to further the sustainable development of Macao and the areas of the Pearl River Delta. The Cooperation Agreement between the State Oceanic Administration and the Macao SAR Government on Maritime Development within Waters Administered by the Macao SAR, aims better to coordinate maritime development so that Macao is able to play a more active role in promoting the nation’s strategy for the maritime economy. The third agreement also states that any proposal for land reclamation has to be reported to the State Council; and that no commercial gaming element is permitted in any new land reclamation project. The signing of the three agreements signifies the support of the Central Government, and of Guangdong Province and its prefecture level city Zhuhai, for Macao’s adequate economic diversification, sustainable development and long-term stability. It also helps in advancing cooperation between Macao and the mainland authorities, as well as taking Macao-Guangdong ties to a new level of cooperation. After the signing ceremony, a meeting was held in the Government Headquarters between the Government and a delegation led by the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Feng Wei. Discussions at the meeting included the transfer of management responsibilities regarding Macao’s newly demarcated 85-square-kilometres of waters and a land area where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located. That administrative arrangement was announced in Decree No. 665 of the State Council on 20 December 2015. The Government is committed to realising full implementation of the three new agreements announced today. Major tasks for the next phase of such cooperation include: follow-up work on the formation of a cross-departmental task force for the development and management of waters administered by the Macao SAR. This task force is to be led by the Chief Executive. The Government will also perform its duties in maintaining security within the waters administered by the Macao SAR and in managing transportation arrangements in the coastal area for which it has administrative responsibilities. The agreements signed today are vital for Macao in its efforts to maintain close contact with neighbouring areas regarding: further cooperation opportunities; projects relating to environmental improvement, especially at Canal dos Patos; and for bettering the livelihoods of the residents of all the communities. The 30-member delegation present at today’s meeting also made an inspection tour of Macao’s waters and land boundaries. The delegation included representatives of respectively: the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; the Ministry of Public Security; the Ministry of Civil Affairs; the Ministry of Transport; the Ministry of Water Resources; the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council; the General Administration of Customs; the State Oceanic Administration; the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation; and the Guangdong Provincial Government.
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The Macao Orchestra under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau will stage the chamber music concert All About Beethoven at Dom Pedro V Theatre on 16 January 2016 (Saturday), at 8:00pm, presenting two iconic ensemble works from the maestro Ludwig van Beethoven. Tickets are now available, music aficionados are welcome to purchase tickets through Macao Ticketing Network. Macao Orchestra will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, which is highly esteemed in the history of chamber music and is an immense, remarkable and profound work. These quartets are much more difficult technically to perform, and it is an extremely valuable experience for audience to enjoy the music. In addition, another outstanding piece of work from Beethoven Serenade for flute, violin and viola in D Major will be performed in the concert. With the combination of three music instruments, this piece, which has brisk and delicate rhythm, brings audience to feel the music in the clear, soft and elegant way. Tickets for the chamber music concert All About Beethoven are priced at MOP120 and MOP100. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For details of programme, please visit Macao Orchestra website: www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, broad money supply continued to fall in November. As total deposits decreased at a faster pace than total loans, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector grew from a month earlier. Money supply Currency in circulation grew 0.8% whereas demand deposits dropped 0.4%. M1 thus decreased 0.2% from one month earlier. Concurrently, quasi-monetary liabilities dropped 2.0%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, decreased 1.7% to MOP469.7 billion. On an annual basis, M1 grew 3.4% whereas M2 dropped 3.0%. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 30.0%, up 0.8 percentage points from a month ago or 4.2 percentage points from a year earlier. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 50.6%, down 0.1 percentage point month-to-month but up 1.0 percentage point year-on-year. The share of Chinese Yuan (CNY) was 7.4%, down 0.3 percentage points month-to-month or 7.7 percentage points year-on-year. The share of United States Dollar (USD) was 9.7%, down 0.5 percentage points month-to-month but up 2.4 percentage points year-on-year. Deposits Resident deposits decreased 1.8% from the preceding month to MOP457.7 billion. Of which, MOP deposits increased 1.0%. HKD, CNY, USD and other foreign currency deposits decreased 1.9%, 5.9%, 6.2% and 0.2% respectively. Non-resident deposits dropped 2.1% to MOP268.1 billion. Public sector deposits with the banking sector increased 1.1% to MOP124.4 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector dropped 1.5% from a month earlier to MOP850.2 billion. The shares of MOP, HKD, CNY and USD in total deposits were 20.2%, 42.3%, 10.4% and 23.8% respectively. Loans Domestic loans to the private sector increased 0.1% from a month ago to MOP389.3 billion. Among which, MOP106.0 billion was MOP-denominated, MOP255.8 billion was denominated in HKD, MOP3.2 billion was denominated in CNY and MOP21.3 billion was denominated in USD, representing 27.2%, 65.7%, 0.8% and 5.5% of the total respectively. On the other hand, external loans dropped 1.3% to MOP382.0 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP, HKD, CNY and USD accounted for 1.5% (MOP5.7 billion), 24.0% (MOP91.7 billion), 19.6% (MOP74.7 billion) and 49.6% (MOP189.6 billion) respectively. Operating ratios At end-November, the loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector grew 0.9 percentage points from the previous month to 66.9%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors also rose 0.8 percentage points to 90.7%. The one-month and three-month current assets to liabilities ratios stayed at relatively high levels, marked at 58.2% and 58.7% respectively. The non-performing loan ratio, an indicator for bank asset quality, was 0.1%, virtually unchanged from one month earlier and one year ago.
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The Government has prepared contingency plans relating to implementation of the Law on Minimum Wage for Cleaning and Security Workers of the Property Management Industry, which came into force on 1 January. The Government has been giving great attention to the management of private buildings following the implementation of a minimum wage for cleaning and security workers, which might lead to a salary increase for some of these workers. Property management companies have been urged to table as soon as possible any update in their 2016 charges in order that the owners of flats in such managed private buildings can discuss them. If such tabled proposals are not accepted by flat owners, they are advised either: to seek to negotiate relevant revisions in fees; or hire a new management company; or form a commission of apartment owners to manage the building. A Housing Bureau-administered subsidy scheme for management of private residential property would provide support for things such as the holding of general meetings by apartment owners. In addition, the Housing Bureau would assist flat owners to form such a management commission if they decided to manage independently such private buildings. The Bureau would also, if required, provide support for negotiations between those newly formed commissions and the former management companies, so as to ensure the buildings’ common areas remain under proper management. In cases where no management entity exists, flat owners are reminded they are collectively responsible for waste management and the provision of water and electricity in common areas of the building. The Environmental Protection Bureau and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau would allocate more recycling facilities and waste removal services in the vicinity of such buildings to meet temporarily their management needs. The police authorities are also paying close attention to the risk of crime or of accidents in any private buildings lacking security staff. The Law on Minimum Wage for Cleaning and Security Workers of the Property Management Industry was enacted by the Legislative Assembly on 3 July, 2015. It sets the hourly minimum wage for cleaners and security workers at 30 patacas; and their daily and monthly salary at 240 patacas and 6,240 patacas respectively. The Law aims to provide better protection for low-income workers, thus enhancing their quality of life.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) will soon launch the 2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums. Each album will be granted a subsidy of up to MOP210,000. The subsidy will be given to a maximum of eight beneficiaries and the application period is open from 5 January to 4 March 2016. As part of the Subsidy Programme Series for Macao’s Cultural and Creative Industries, the Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums was launched in 2014. The Programme aims to cultivate more talented local music creators and producers and promote the development of Macao’s music industry. By giving support on the production and promotion of the original song albums, IC hopes to encourage musicians to produce and release more outstanding works and lay the groundwork for market development. Applicants for the Subsidy Programme must hold a valid Macao S.A.R. Permanent Resident Identity Card and be aged 18 or above. They must assume the role of album producer of the project on behalf of individuals, co-producers or groups, being the person-in-charge of the project and supervisor of the album. In addition, applicants must produce a specific amount of publicly released music or must acquire experience as album producers. The album applied for this Subsidy Programme can be a solo, group or band album. The adjudicating panel will select a maximum of eight eligible applicants based on six criteria: budgeting rationale, degree of perfection of the production proposals and business plans, compatibility between the market positioning and the album songs and album image, level of composition and lyrics, level of arrangement and production as well as performance level of album artist. The subsidy is granted to cover the cost of song production of the subsidised album, cover design, marketing and promotion and production of physical album. The albums must be published by at least two commercial digital music platforms upon completion. The Programme’s information, application rules and forms can be downloaded from the Cultural Affairs Bureau website (www.icm.gov.mo) or from the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com). Applicants should submit all required documents to: Cultural Affairs Bureau—Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries (No. 567, Av. da Praia Grande, Edif. BNU, 12th floor A-D, Macao) during the specific submission time. For enquiries, please contact Ms. Lao, staff member of IC, through tel. no. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said the Government – helped by the concerted efforts of Macao’s people – would strive to improve the city’s economic competitiveness and would endeavour to overcome any challenges. In his New Year Message delivered today, Mr Chui stated that participation in the nation’s development strategies would be one of the effective ways for Macao to diversify its economy – and to improve the livelihoods of its people – during the ongoing adjustment period for the gaming industry. In 2016, the Government would step up efforts to create more favourable conditions for living and working, and for transport, travel and entertainment, said Mr Chui. Macao would also use its unique advantages in order further to contribute to policies for national advancement, such as the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as the “Belt and Road” Initiative). Such a contribution was also a way for the Government to boost Macao’s economic development, Mr Chui stated. Mr Chui noted there was room to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public administration. He added the Government would continue to implement the principles of “One country, two systems”, “Macao people governing Macao” and Macao’s enjoyment of a high degree of autonomy, in full compliance with the Basic Law. He said the Government would use its best efforts in supporting the organisation of the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, an event to be held in Macao next year. The year 2015 was a remarkable period for Macao, Mr Chui said. Important milestones included: the clarification of Macao’s administrative responsibilities arising from the updating – by the State Council – of Macao’s administrative division map; and the initiation of a top-level planning system to manage Macao’s development over a five-year period, with a focus on transforming the city into a world centre of tourism and leisure. He said his cabinet would spare no effort in maintaining respectively the people’s welfare, sound public finances, and the Government’s investment proposals, in the ongoing adjustment period of the gaming industry. Regarding the people’s well-being, the Government is committed to pressing ahead with long-term mechanisms for social security, healthcare, housing, education and talent cultivation, he added. The achievements and development of Macao were attributable to the full support received from the Central Government and the joint efforts of the residents, Mr Chui further stated. On behalf of the Government, he also expressed his sincere gratitude to residents and public servants, in particular those who had to work to provide round the clock services during the holidays.
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