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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitors on package tours totalled 887,000 in March 2015, up by 8.3% year-on-year. Visitors arriving on package tours accounted for 82.2% of the total, at 730,000, up by 7.1% year-on-year; those joining local tours increased by 14.1% to 158,000 (17.8% of total). Package tour visitors from Mainland China increased by 14.5% year-on-year to 724,000, with 311,000 coming from Guangdong Province. Visitors from the Republic of Korea (35,000) and Japan (17,000) increased by 1.4% and 6.3% respectively year-on-year, whereas those from Taiwan (50,000) and Hong Kong (23,000) decreased by 18.5% and 15.7%. In the first quarter of 2015, visitors on package tours reached 2,710,000, up by 9.2% year-on-year; those arriving on package tours grew by 11.4% to 2,097,000. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies were 136,000 in March 2015, a year-on-year increase of 16.9%; those travelling on package tours surged by 42.9% to 65,000, and the main destinations were Mainland China (84.5% of total), Taiwan (4.3%) and Hong Kong (3.1%). In the first quarter of 2015, outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 381,000, up by 7.6% year-on-year. There were 99 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of March 2015, providing 28,000 guest rooms, up by 1.8% year-on-year; 5-star hotels accounted for 64.8% of the total supply, with 18,000 rooms. A total of 797,000 guests checked into hotels and guesthouses in March 2015, down by 16.1% year-on-year. Guests from Mainland China (505,000), Hong Kong (100,000) and Taiwan (26,000) decreased by 18.6%, 13.1% and 15.9% respectively, while those from the Republic of Korea (18,000) increased by 5.9%. The average length of stay of guests was 1.4 nights, up by 0.1 night year-on-year. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses dropped notably by 10.9 percentage points year-on-year to 77.3%; the rate of 2-star hotels (58.6%) tumbled by 20.1 percentage points and that of 5-star hotels (79.0%) decreased by 9.2 percentage points. In the first quarter of 2015, hotel guests totalled 2,356,000, down by 11.5% year-on-year; the average occupancy rate stood at 78.9%, a decrease of 7.8 percentage points. Visitor-guests accounted for 68.4% of the total overnight visitors, a drop of 1.3 percentage points year-on-year.
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The University of Macau (UM) has been ranked No 39 in the Times Higher Education (THE) 100 Under 50 Universities 2014/2015 released today. This is the first time UM has been ranked among the world’s 100 best young universities. Earlier UM was ranked among the top 300 universities in the world in the THE World University Rankings. The THE rankings are recognised as one of the most influential university rankings in the world. The 100 Under 50 university rankings employ 13 performance indicators grouped into five areas, namely teaching, research, citations, industry income, and international outlook. UM scored high in several areas, including citations and international outlook. Founded in 1981, UM has made impressive progress in teaching, research and community service over the past 34 years. In recent years the university has entered a phase of rapid development. It has stepped up efforts in internationally recruiting outstanding scholars. It has also established world-class state key laboratories, with research outcomes gaining increasing recognition at the international level. UM is very pleased with the ranking, saying it’s a great encouragement and will work harder in the future to improve its teaching and research and pursue excellence in both areas. Other Asian universities that made the 100 Under 50 list include Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea; and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Visit http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2015/one-hundred-under-fifty for detailed rankings.
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Consumer Council conducted its eighth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in April on 29 April for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 13 supermarkets in Taipa and Coloane area. The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps. 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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In response to the International Museum Day, 18 Macao museums co-organize the “2015 International Museum Day Festival”, which opening ceremony will be held on Sunday, 17 May, 3 pm, in the square in front of A-Má Temple. One of the festival’s main activities, entitled “Mobile Museum – Talks in the A-Má Bamboo Theatre”, features thematic exhibitions, stage performances, workshops and lectures, covering a wide range of topics. It is also one of the activities celebrating 10 years of the recognition of Macao’s world heritage. All citizens are welcome to attend. The thematic exhibition “Talks in the A-Má Bamboo Theatre” showcases festivities, beliefs and crafts of Macao’s fishermen such as the setting up of bamboo scaffolding and the making of decorative flowers plaques, the community’s bonds, opera for deities, among many others, combining elements such as opera aesthetics, the structure of the construction, acoustics, while also introducing local customs. It will allow the public to get to know and understand multiple aspects about the structures built for opera performance as well as perceive the essence of local culture and traditions. “Mobile Museum – Talks in the A-Má Bamboo Theatre” is opened for public from 17 May to 21 May, 10 am to 6 pm. Activities for students will also be held, allowing the younger generations to experience firsthand these long handed down cultural traditions, through exhibitions, performances and interactive workshops, thereby promoting their participation in culture preservation, and enforcing this year’s International Museum Day theme, “Museums for a Sustainable Society”. Schools can enrol through tel. no. 8394 1217, during office hours. The opening ceremony of the “2015 International Museum Day Festival” will be held on Sunday, 17 May, from 3pm to 6pm, at the A-Má Bamboo Theatre, placed in front of the temple dedicated to the goddess. 29 cultural entities from the Province of Guangzhou and 19 museums under the Hong Kong Home Affairs Bureau, among others, have been invited to participate in these activities. Additionally, the organization holds the 3rd Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Museums’ Professionals Forum as well as Seminars of the 2015 International Museum Day, on 14 and 15 May, inviting museum and academic leaders of the region to conduct talks and exchanges in four topics, namely collections, exhibitions, education and promotion, discussing museum related matters. The “2015 International Museum Day Festival” is jointly organised by 18 museums, namely the Natural and Agrarian Museum, the Grand Prix Museum, the Tung Sin Tong Historical Archive Exhibition Hall, the Heritage Exhibition of a Traditional Pawnshop Business, the Fire Services Museum, the Maritime Museum, the Communications Museum of Macau, the Museum of the History of Taipa and Coloane, the Handover Gifts Museum of Macao, the Lin Zexu Memorial Museum of Macau, the Macao Science Centre, the Macao Tea Culture House, the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial House in Macau, the Commemorative Gallery of the Macao Basic Law, the Macao Museum, the Macau Museum of Art, the Wine Museum and the Taipa Houses-Museum. Each museum also holds other commemorative activities and exhibitions and has free admission days. For more information, please visit www.museums.gov.mo or each museum’s website.
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The Government has assured the public there would be no cuts in basic services such as social benefits, the Wealth Partaking Scheme and salaries of civil servants, despite a drop in revenue from gaming. But the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, hinted that there could be reduced spending in other services, but the rate of reduction would depend on the revenue. The Chief Executive, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau and his team were closely monitoring the situation, he said. Speaking to reporters on 28 April, Mr Leong said he expected a surplus of 10 billion patacas in the fiscal year 2015 if the monthly gaming revenue reached 20 billion patacas. But if it dropped to an average of 18 billion patacas or less, the Government could experience difficulties in maintaining the budget estimates for this year. But if April’s revenue reached 18.5 billion, it would take the average for the first four months of this year to 20 billion. If this happened, he could not foresee any need to introduce any austerity measure. He said the drop in gaming revenue had affected a number of government departments, but he would not rule out that some autonomous bodies could report surpluses in the fiscal year 2014. The Government should carry out research on balancing the budget proposal for the fiscal year 2015 in view of the current situation. He said the policy is to maintain the level of social welfare and public services, but the Government should look for more opportunities in its investments, and to look at its development plans.
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As Labour Day holiday is approaching, consumption by citizens are expected to increase, so are the number of inbound tourists. The Consumer Council held a meeting earlier with Economic Services Bureau (DSE), Macao Government Tourist Office (DST), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Judiciary Police (PJ), Public Security Police Force (PSP), Macao Custom Service, Civic and Municipal Affairs Council (IACM), Health Bureau (SS), and Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation (DSRT) to discuss on the protection of consumer rights for local citizens as well as inbound tourists. Consumer Council reminds consumers and tourists that if anyone finds his or her consumer rights being infringed, he or she should file a complaint at the Council or other departments and provide all necessary detailed information. The Council will also assign its staff to provide services to consumers through its hotline during 1100 to 1800 during Labour Day holidays (1 to 3 May). Consumer Council hotline: 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for March 2015 amounted to MOP1.05 billion, up by 27.9% year-on-year; value of re-exports expanded by 32.4% to MOP870 million, of which re-exports of Diamond & diamond jewellery soared by 152.9%; value of domestic exports grew by 10.1% to MOP185 million, of which domestic exports of Tobacco increased by 78.9%. Total merchandise import rose by 1.8% year-on-year to MOP7.18 billion. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP6.13 billion. In the first quarter of 2015, total value of merchandise export increased by 9.2% year-on-year to MOP2.70 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP2.20 billion) and domestic exports (MOP500 million) grew by 9.4% and 8.2% respectively. Total value of merchandise import rose by 3.1% to MOP22.25 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP19.55 billion for the first quarter of 2015. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.69 billion) and Mainland China (MOP383 million) in the first quarter of 2015 increased by 10.2% and 25.4% year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP58 million) and the EU (MOP54 million) decreased by 29.4% and 37.1% respectively. Exports of Non-textiles increased by 9.8% year-on-year to MOP2.50 billion, of which value of Clocks & watches (MOP364 million) and Tobacco (MOP136 million) went up by 30.3% and 93.8% respectively, but that of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP346 million) dropped by 16.6%. Exports of Textiles & garments totalled MOP197 million, up by 1.4%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP7.47 billion) increased by 8.0% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2015, and that from the USA (MOP2.00 billion) surged by 94.6%; meanwhile, import from the EU (MOP5.35 billion) fell by 2.1%. Imports of Consumer goods declined by 5.3% to MOP13.18 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP1.93 billion) decreasing by 30.2%, but that of Food & beverages (MOP3.18 billion) increasing by 17.0%. Moreover, imports of Mobile phones (MOP2.70 billion) grew by 52.1%. External merchandise trade reached MOP24.95 billion in the first quarter of 2015, up by 3.7% compared with MOP24.05 billion a year earlier.
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The Commissioner Against Corruption, Cheong Weng Chon, submitted the 2014 Annual Report of the Commission Against Corruption of Macao to the Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, in March 2015 pursuant to Article 15 of Law no. 10/2000, Organic Law of the Commission Against Corruption of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The report is published in the Official Gazette of the Macao Special Administrative Region today (29th April). The report summarises the activities and efforts of the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) in corruption fighting, ombudsman, declaration of assets and interests and integrity promotion, etc. and also includes comparison and analysis of the caseloads in 2014 and the previous years and summaries of part of the cases investigated and handled by the CCAC. The summary of the report is as the following: Number of cases received and case processing summary: In 2014, the CCAC received and followed up a total of 865 complaints and reports, of which 298 were of criminal nature and 567 were about administrative impropriety. It was a slight decrease compared with the 896 cases recorded in 2013. In particular, the CCAC saw a larger decrease in criminal cases compared with the previous several years and an increase in administrative complaints. In addition, complaints and reports lodged by citizens represented 96% of all cases received, of which 453 cases were lodged by identified complainants or those willing to provide personal data. Together with the cases brought forward from 2013, the CCAC handled a total of 1,675 cases in 2014. Regarding criminal cases, investigations of 492 cases were completed in the year, which were then referred to the Public Prosecutions Office or archived. On the ombudsman front, 563 cases were handled and archived. In addition, the CCAC received 1,021 counts of enquiries of different natures throughout 2014. Anti-corruption: Of the criminal cases investigated throughout the year, most involved crimes committed by public servants, mainly forgery of documents, of which a large proportion were attendance records. Other crimes included power abuse, fraud and embezzlement. Meanwhile, there was a drop in cases of passive corruption committed by public servants. Moreover, in 2014, the CCAC also completed two cases of provision of incorrect data for declaration of assets and interests and a case of unexplained wealth. The Legal Regime of Declaration of Assets and Interests effective from 2013 introduces the requirement for disclosure of assets and interests of holders of specific public and political positions, marking an important step in fostering the “sunshine government” policy promoted by the Macao SAR Government. In 2014, the CCAC continued the work of declaration of assets and interests in a smooth way under the new law. Ombudsman: On the ombudsman front, the cases handled in 2014 were mainly about legal system governing public services, management and law-enforcement of public security force and municipal affairs. Moreover, there were 572 requests for help and consultation, a slight increase compared to the total of 2013; of which a majority was about legal system governing public services, management and law-enforcement of public security force, health care, public procurement and municipal affairs. When handling cases of administrative complaints, the CCAC mainly reviewed the legality and rationality of administrative work conducted by public departments. When they are found involving administrative illegality or irregularity, the CCAC will urge them to ratify. Moreover, depending on the characteristics of each case, the CCAC will analyse the case and conduct a review of the external services and internal operation of the department. If necessary, the improvement suggestions will be rendered to the department, with the aims to enhance its service quality and work efficiency, thus protecting the legal rights and interests of the citizens. Integrity promotion and community relations: In 2014, a total of 386 seminars and symposia were organised, with 22,142 participants which covered different sectors including public servants, civic association members, employers and employees of private entities, teenagers, secondary and primary students. In order to strengthen the knowledge of various industries on the law Prevention and Suppression of Bribery in the Private Sector, seminars on corruption prevention in the private sector were specially organised for civil associations, private entities and education institutions. Besides, the message of corruption prevention was also disseminated through TV commercials, radio advertisement, outdoor advertisement, bus advertisement, TV programmes, special column in newspapers and publications. In addition, activities concerning the integrity education for teenaged students and the Integrity Volunteer Team were held continually.
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The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, said today there would be a ceremony at the airport at 4.30 pm on Thursday (30 April) to welcome the new pair of pandas. On arrival, “Kai Kai” and “Xin Xin” would be kept apart for 30 days quarantine at a local farm before moving in to their new home, the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion. The Pavilion would also impose restricted visits until the pair is accustomed to the new environment, Ms Chan said at a press conference. She said the people were delighted with the two new friends and the Government were gearing up for their arrival. She also thanked the Central Government for the gift and the Sichuan government for its support. The Deputy Director of the State Forestry Administration and Ms Chan will endorse a certificate on-the-spot to mark the official residence of the pandas. Ms Chan, who led the co-ordinating group for the pandas’ arrival, said the Government had done a series of actions leading to the arrival, including visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, arranging a visit by an expert team to the Pavilion for facilities inspection, a visit to the Base by members of the Pavilion to familiarise themselves with the pandas and offer them bamboo from the southern area; and disinfecting the Pavilion and transport vehicles. The gift of the pandas for Macao was announced by President Xi Jinping when he was here last December for the inauguration of the new government team. They replace an earlier pair which female partner died last year: the male panda was returned to Sichuan for breeding.
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The Government Information Bureau released three new photo collections on its news application “MSAR News”, giving an inside look at the Christian churches and the rituals for disciples of Christ. “Baptism”, is the work of eight photographs taken by the Bureau’s photographer Cheong Ka Ian. The sacrament, often called the “door of the Church”, is to clean the taint of original sin. “The St. Augustine’s Church” and “The Treasure of Sacred Art of the St. Dominic’s Church” both with eight photographs each, were taken by Siu Yat Chung. St. Augustine Church, built in the late 16th century, is the spot for the most popular processions in the city - the Easter Procession. It is nicknamed “Long Song Miu” (Temple of the Long-whiskered Dragon) because the palm leaves that were used to reinforce the roof during heavy rain in the early days, looked like the whiskers of dragons. The Treasure of Sacred Art is adjacent to the world heritage St. Dominic’s Church in the city centre, showcasing around 300 religious artefacts such as gold objects, statues, ornamented canonicals, religious paintings dating back from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The app “MSAR News”, which can be downloaded in App Store and Google Play, offers government information and special photo collections in its “News”, “News Features” and “Hot News” sections.
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