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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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitors on package tours totalled 769,000 in November 2015, down by 26.6% year-on-year and dropped by 6.9% month-to-month. Package tour visitors from Mainland China (622,000) decreased by 28.0% year-on-year, and those from the Republic of Korea (29,000), Hong Kong (18,000) and Taiwan (37,000) dropped by 19.2%, 27.5% and 39.7% respectively; meanwhile, visitors from Japan (17,000) rose by 27.1%. Visitors arriving on package tours totalled 727,000, down by 17.5% year-on-year, while visitors joining local tours tumbled by 74.8% to 42,000. In the first eleven months of 2015, visitors on package tours totalled 9,054,000, down by 10.2% year-on-year; those arriving on package tours (7,842,000) decreased by 5.8%. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 119,000 in November 2015, down by 9.6% year-on-year; those travelling on package tours decreased by 1.3% to 49,000, and the main destinations were Mainland China (72.9% of total), Korea (4.5%) and Taiwan (8.0%). In the first eleven months of 2015, outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 1,378,000, down by 1.5% year-on-year. There were 104 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of November 2015, providing 32,000 guest rooms, up by 13.4% year-on-year. Number of guest rooms in 5-star hotels totalled 20,000, accounting for 63.1% of the total supply. Number of guests checking into hotels and guesthouses totalled 932,000 in November 2015, up by 3.3% year-on-year. Guests from Mainland China (581,000) decreased by 1.6%, while those from Hong Kong (132,000) increased by 33.8% year-on-year. The average length of stay of guests rose by 0.1 night year-on-year to 1.5 nights. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses was 84.6%, down by 5.7 percentage points year-on-year, with 4-star hotels leading at 86.2%, down by 5.8 percentage points. In the first eleven months of 2015, guests of hotels and guesthouses totalled 9,432,000 and the average occupancy rate stood at 80.2%, down by 4.0% and 6.4 percentage points respectively year-on-year. Visitor-guests accounted for 68.2% of the total overnight visitors, down by 0.4 percentage points year-on-year.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for September-November 2015 remained stable at 1.9% as in the previous period (August-October 2015); the underemployment rate was 0.6%, up by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force was 400,900 and the labour force participation rate stood at 73.2%. Total employment decreased by 1,100 from August-October, at 393,400. Analysed by industry, employment in Gaming & Junket Activities registered decrease, while that in Hotels & Similar Activities saw increase. Number of the unemployed was 7,400, down slightly by 100 from August-October; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 11.7% of the total unemployed, down by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison with September-November 2014, the labour force participation rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points, while both the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points.
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“Macao Light Festival 2015 - Journey of Lights” will be extended for one day to 1st January 2016 to enhance the joy of New Year celebrations for visitors and local residents. Moreover, since tourist districts are expected to be crowded on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, spectators are advised to follow the instructions of police officers on site to ensure their personal safety as they enjoy the Macao Light Festival.
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The final versions of two reports on, respectively, the fifth-term Legislative Assembly Election and the fourth-term Chief Executive Election, are available from today on the websites especially set up for those elections. The reports, together with advice from the Commission against Corruption and the Public Prosecutions Office, are to be the basis for a proposed revision – by the Government – of the Legislative Assembly Election Law. A public consultation – regarding how to enhance the competitiveness of the electoral process for those Legislative Assembly seats assigned to the indirect election system; and how to increase the overall fairness of the electoral process – is to be held in the first quarter of 2016. The two reports issued today mainly cover analysis of election activities and of voting arrangements. They also provide suggestions on: the work of election affairs committees; the location of voting stations; the improvement of the voting process; the duration of the campaign period for elections; issues relating to invalid ballots; and supervision of the candidates’ campaign funding. The Chinese and Portuguese versions of the report on the Fifth Legislative Assembly Election are available at: www.eal.gov.mo. The Chinese and Portuguese versions of the report on the Fourth-term Chief Executive Election are at: www.ece.gov.mo. The Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election and the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election, respectively, composed the reports. They were prepared with reference to the Legislative Assembly Election Law and the Chief Executive Election Law. The fifth-term Legislative Assembly Election was held in 2013 and the fourth-term Chief Executive Election was held in 2014.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that Gross National Income (GNI) at current prices was MOP 380.23 billion in 2014, lower than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices (MOP 443.30 billion) by MOP 63.07 billion, representing a net external factor income outflow of the same amount, and equivalent to 14.2% of GDP. In 2014, per-capita GNI was MOP 611,999 and per-capita GDP was MOP 713,514. Total outflow of external factor income reflects income earned by non-resident enterprises and investors from investment in Macao. In 2014, total outflow of external factor income reached MOP 98.13 billion, up by 11.9% year-on-year, mainly due to a 7.7% increase in direct investment income (MOP 85.11 billion) earned by some non-resident enterprises and investors from investment in Macao. Other investment income (MOP 10.50 billion) and portfolio investment income (MOP 759 million) also increased by 47.8% and 103.4% respectively. Total inflow of external factor income reflects income earned by resident enterprises and investors from abroad. In 2014, total inflow of external factor income rose by 53.5% year-on-year to MOP 35.06 billion, attributable to a 85.9% increase in portfolio investment income (MOP 13.40 billion) and a 38.0% rise in other investment income (MOP 19.49 billion) earned by some resident enterprises and investors from abroad. Meanwhile, direct investment income (MOP 829 million) and income on reserve assets (MOP 1.34 billion) also increased by 170.2% and 11.8% respectively year-on-year. As export prices of goods and services grew more than the import prices of goods and services, the external real purchasing power of Macao rose, which was reinforced by the decrease in the net outflow of external factor income over 2013, GNI increased by 6.7% in real terms and per-capita GNI also rose by 1.8% in real terms. GNI refers to the total income earned by residents of an economy from engaging in various economic activities within or outside the economy, corresponding to GDP plus income earned by resident investors from abroad, minus income earned by non-resident investors from investment in Macao.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise import for November 2015 decreased year-on-year for the fourth consecutive month, down by 17.4% to MOP6.67 billion. However, total merchandise export amounted to MOP868 million, up by 6.0% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP716 million) rose by 8.2%, with that of Electronic components soaring by 119.5%, but value of domestic exports (MOP151 million) declined by 3.4%. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.80 billion. In the first eleven months of 2015, total value of merchandise export amounted to MOP9.79 billion, with the year-on-year growth slowing further to 9.6%; value of re-exports (MOP8.15 billion) increased by 14.6%, but that of domestic exports (MOP1.64 billion) decreased by 10.1%. Total value of merchandise import fell by 3.9% to MOP77.81 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP68.02 billion for the first eleven months of 2015. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP5.83 billion) and Mainland China (MOP1.67 billion) in the first eleven months of 2015 increased by 11.3% and 19.3% year-on-year, while export to the EU (MOP203 million) and the USA (MOP184 million) decreased by 23.1% and 34.8% respectively. Exports of Non-textiles increased by 10.0% year-on-year to MOP9.03 billion, of which value of Clocks & watches (MOP1.16 billion) and Electronic components (MOP883 million) rose by 48.4% and 47.8% respectively, but that of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP1.07 billion) dropped by 33.7%. Exports of Textiles & garments totalled MOP755 million, up by 5.4%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP29.19 billion) in the first eleven months of 2015 increased by 9.3% year-on-year, while import from the EU (MOP17.25 billion) fell by 13.1%. Imports of Consumer goods dropped by 8.4% to MOP46.40 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP6.51 billion) decreasing by 27.7%, but that of Food & beverages (MOP10.86 billion) increasing by 2.8%. Moreover, imports of Fuels & lubricants (MOP6.43 billion) and Construction materials (MOP2.91 billion) declined by 12.7% and 8.3% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP87.59 billion in the first eleven months of 2015, down by 2.6% compared with MOP89.89 billion a year earlier.
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Consumer Council conducted its last ‘Supermarket price survey’ in December on 29 December 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.
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The exhibition “The Mastery of Shipbuilding – Fishing Junk Models by Wan Chun”, organised by the Historical Archives of Macao under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, was inaugurated on the premises on 29 December (Tuesday) at 6:00pm. Several fishing junk models crafted by experienced Macao shipbuilder Wan Chun were exhibited, illustrating the aesthetics of his craftsmanship and embodying the techniques and spirit of shipbuilding. The opening ceremony was attended by the Representative of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. Government and President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Vice President of the Legislative Assembly of Macao S.A.R., Lam Heong Sang; the Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao S.A.R., Xu Ting; the President of Macao Association of Shipyard Workers, Tam Kam Kong and the Experienced Macao Shipbuilder, Wan Chun. Shipbuilding is a traditional industry of Macao, established over one and a half centuries ago. Many shipyards were scattered throughout the city. At the end of the last century, due to the high technical level of the local shipbuilders, Macao became a sizeable shipbuilding centre of wooden fishing junks in South China. Following the recent decline of this industry, experienced Macao shipbuilder Wan Chun crafted several miniatures of fishing junks based on his shipbuilding techniques experience and skills from memory, producing a series of lively miniature fishing junk replicas, allowing the public to get to know this almost extinct art. The exhibition “The Mastery of Shipbuilding – Fishing Junk Models by Wan Chun” was opened to the public at the gallery of the Historical Archives of Macao from 30 December 2015 to 9 April 2016, from 10:00am to 6:00pm except on Sundays and public holidays. Admission is free. For more information, please visit the Historical Archives of Macao website: www.archives.gov.mo or call the HAM through tel. (853) 2859 2919 for enquiries during office hours.
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