News

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said in Guangzhou today that all Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) provinces and regions had been focusing more on leveraging on their unique advantages in the past nine years, bringing co-ordinated development in the improvement of people's livelihood. This deepened area of co-operation had continued to intensify and achieved encouraging results, Mr Chui told the High-level Forum of the 10th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum this afternoon. Mr Chui told the Forum, attended by leaders from the central government ministries and commissions, and the "9+2" provinces and regions, that Macao was making its bests efforts on adequate economic diversification and expediting the development of Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre and a business and trade services platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr Chui said the Government would continue to strengthen Macao's integrated competitiveness in tourism by optimising multi-destination tours to share international tourist sources, enhance promotion of innovative regional tourism in the international market, join hands to improve tourism service quality, and deepen mutual complement in tourism between sister provinces and regions. He said one of the most important missions of Macao was to establish a business and trade services platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. To achieve this, the Government is now implementing the following plans: 1. Prepare to establish an interactive and information sharing platform to facilitate co-operation and exchanges between enterprises and bilingual speakers in China and the Portuguese-speaking countries; 2. Organise more delegations of PPRD and Macao entrepreneurs to visit and invest in the Portuguese-speaking countries; 3. Support and facilitate tourism co-operation between the mainland and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and promote development of tourism businesses with each other; 4. Make improvements in organising exhibitions at international and national levels, and render support to enterprises from the PPRD provinces and regions and the Portuguese-speaking countries, enabling them to exchange views and explore international markets through the exhibition platform provided by Macao; 5. Consider ways to assist mainland enterprises, under the national policies and the principles of market operation, to establish overseas economic and trade co-operation zones in Portuguese-speaking countries. According to Mr Chui, following the success of the workshop held earlier in the year, the Government is considering to organise regular activities catered for PPRD participants to gain a better understanding of development opportunities provided through Macao. As a platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, Macao will provide targeted services to encourage deepened co-operation between PPRD provinces and regions and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Macao will spare no effort to provide quality services and play its role as a platform. The Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Mr Chui Sai On, and leaders from the other "9+2" provinces and regions attended the opening ceremony of the 10th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Trade Fair this morning, and witnessed the contract signing ceremony for numerous economic and trade co-operation projects. After the ceremony, accompanied by other honoured guests, they visited an exhibition on the achievements on the 10th anniversary of the Forum. Mr Chui is scheduled to attend the Joint Conference of Chief Executives tomorrow morning (13 October) and return to Macao in the afternoon.
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, met with the Executive Vice Governor of Yunan Province, Ms Li Jiang this afternoon (11 October) during his presence at the 10th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Trade Fair ("PPRD Forum") in Guangzhou. Mr Tam looked forward to strengthening cooperation between Macao and Yunan in tourism, economic and trade, and conventions and exhibitions, and giving full play to Macao's function as a service platform. Mr Tam, who is also leader of the Macao economic and trade delegation, said during the meeting with leading officials from Yunan that the PPRD Forum, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, has deepened the cultural and economic exchanges and interactions between Macao and Yunan. As a world tourism and leisure centre and a business and trade services platform, Macao receives full support from Yunan, and plays its unique role in economic and trade connection with the Portuguese-speaking countries. Macao is looking forward to strengthening cooperation with Yunan in tourism, economic and trade, and conventions and exhibitions, and fulfils its role as a business and trade services platform. The Executive Vice Governor of Yunan Province, Ms Li Jiang, said that there were 49 Macao enterprises investing a total of 70 million US dollars in various industries in Yunan, including manufacturing, medical and health, and tourism. The People's Government of Yunan Province expressed their gratitude to Macao for playing its special role in facilitating exchanges and cooperation. They recognised Macao's contributions to the economic development of Yunan, and hoped to strengthen interactions with the Portuguese-speaking countries through Macao as a service platform. The Yunan government also thanked the government and people of Macao for the generous donation of 100 million patacas to support the afterquake relief work in Ludian, Yunan, enabling disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction to be proceeded in good progress. The opening ceremony of the 10th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Trade Fair and the High-level Forum will be held tomorrow (12 October). Organised by the Macao SAR, the High-level Forum will be broadcast live on Southcn.com featuring speeches by leaders from all "9+2" provinces and regions.
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According to the preliminary statistics by Public Security Police Force, the overall visitor arrivals (including non-local workers and students) in Macau during 1 – 7 October (1st October Golden Week) hit 1,041,242 in total with a year-on-year surge of 16 %. Over 840,000 visitor arrivals were from the Mainland and the figure went up by 17% from the corresponding period of 2013; whereas close to 130,000 visitors came from Hong Kong. According to figures provided by local trade partners, the average occupancy rate of 3 to 5 Star hotels was 87.2% during the Golden Week, a year-on-year decline of 1.5%. Up to date, the total of rooms provided by all hotels and guest houses in Macau has climbed up to 28,892. The average occupancy rates of 3-Star and 4-Star hotels were 85.4% and 83.9 %, which dropped by 2.2% and 1.3% respectively; whereas the average occupancy rate of 5-Star hotels was 92.1%, showing a 1.1% decline. The average room rate of 3 to 5 Star hotels in Macau was 1,892 patacas during the Golden Week, a year-on-year decrease of 2.2%. On the other hand, the average room rate of local guest houses was 667 patacas, which rose by 8.4%. The average room rates of 2-Star and 3-Star hotels were 937 patacas and 1,654 patacas respectively (a drop of 2.9% and 6.8%). The average room rates of 4-Star and 5-Star hotels were 1,601 patacas and 2,421 patacas respectively, with the former declined by 2.4% and the later escalated by 1.4%. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) received 5 tourism-related complaints during the 1st October Golden Week. The complaints were mainly about taxi service, travel agency charges, optional tour activity fees, tour guide service and hotel service. The Office has followed up with the cases or referred them to relevant departments for settlement. On the other hand, 3 assistance requests were received and followed up by MGTO. During the Golden Week, MGTO carried out 109 inspections at various ports and tourist sites in total. In terms of measures against illegal accommodation, MGTO carried out 5 united actions, inspected 17 premises and sealed 3 premises allegedly operated as illegal accommodation in total. During the past 1st October Golden Week, MGTO adopted a series of measures not only to cater for the needs of local citizens and visitors but also to optimize service quality in the tourism industry. The measures include activation of tourism notification system, food guide publication and distribution, more scrupulous inspections at designated points, operation of an online system for room-rate declaration, Wechat and mobile message reminders to visitors about room reservation, etc. The Office also assigned staff and the five Macau Tourism Ambassadors to provide enquiry and attraction-guiding service for visitors at ten major tourist spots during 1 – 5 October, where they also gave out brochures recommending visitors and citizens to explore the walking tour routes themed as "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities". This press release is available at: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/index.php
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 916 establishments were operating in industrial production in 2013, with 12,987 persons engaged, similar to those in 2012. Compensation of Employees amounted to MOP1.83 billion, up by 4.6% year-on-year. Value of Production & Other Receipts rose slightly by 0.8% year-on-year to MOP9.47 billion. Intermediate Consumption that represents the costs of production decreased by 1.9% to MOP5.76 billion. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy totalled MOP3.71 billion, up by 5.3%. Gross Fixed Capital Formation dropped by 16.4%, at MOP1.09 billion. Analysed by industry, number of establishments (909) and persons engaged (11,880) in the Manufacturing industry decreased by 3 and 84 respectively year-on-year. Value of Production & Other Receipts increased by 2.1% to MOP6.80 billion; Intermediate Consumption (MOP5.06 billion) and Gross Value Added (MOP1.74 billion) went up by 1.6% and 3.5% respectively. In particular, Value of Production & Other Receipts of Manufacture of Food Products & Beverages (MOP1.46 billion) increased by 10.7% year-on-year due to the increase in visitor arrivals, representing five consecutive years of growth; Intermediate Consumption (MOP895 million) and Gross Value Added (MOP565 million) rose by 11.7% and 9.2% respectively. With the rising demand for cement and concrete in the construction of roads, Light Rail Transit, etc., Value of Production & Other Receipts (MOP1.73 billion), Intermediate Consumption (MOP1.48 billion) and Gross Value Added (MOP256 million) of Manufacture of Other Non-metallic Mineral Products surged by 38.1%, 37.2% and 43.6% respectively. On the other hand, in view of the continuous shrinkage of the traditional Wearing Apparel industry, the corresponding Value of Production & Other Receipts (MOP1.01 billion) decreased by 19.8% year-on-year; Intermediate Consumption (MOP791 million) and Gross Value Added (MOP220 million) also dropped by 23.8% and 1.0% respectively. As regards Electricity, Gas & Water Supply, the introduction of natural gas in public housing drove the number of persons engaged up by 7.6% to 1,098. With the continuous decline in local electricity generation, Value of Production & Other Receipts of the industry dropped by 1.1% year-on-year to MOP2.66 billion; Intermediate Consumption (MOP700 million) decreased by 19.8%; Gross Value Added (MOP1.96 billion) increased by 7.8%, while Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP890 million) dropped by 24.9%. Coverage of the Industrial Survey 2013 comprises all establishments engaging in industrial production in the reference year, including Manufacturing and Electricity, Gas & Water Supply.
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The 2014 Security Exercise on the theme of "bomb threat" was carried out from 09 to 10 October 2014 to simulate the occurrence of the said emergency and to test the capacity of the airport in dealing with the incident.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will lead a government delegation to attend the 10th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum ("PPRD Forum") in Guangzhou from 11 to 13 October, during which Mr Chui host the PPRD High-level Forum organised by the Macao SAR Government. This year's PPRD Forum, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is jointly organised by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. With the aim of achieving further progress based on the previously laid foundation, all "9+2" provinces and regions will again gather to discuss their regional cooperation plans, and strive to promote innovations and deepen cooperation in the PPRD region. The Chief Executive will attend the opening ceremony of the PPRD Forum at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Conference Center in the morning of 12 October, and will host the PPRD High-level Forum in the afternoon. With the theme of cooperative development to build a better future, and an emphasis on being pragmatic, innovative and open, the chief executives of all "9+2" provinces and regions will deliver speeches and participate in discussions on building an open economic system, facilitating cooperation and development. The Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr He Lifeng, and the Deputy Director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, Mr Zhang Laiming, are cordially invited to be keynote speakers of the forum. This year's High-level Forum also introduces an experts' and scholars' lecture session, providing intellectual support to deepen PPRD cooperation. During the event, Mr Chui will also attend the joint conference of chief executives, a contract signing ceremony for economic and trade cooperation projects, an exhibition of achievements on the 10th anniversary of the forum, and meetings with top officials from various provinces and regions. Members of the MSAR delegation led by the Chief Executive include: the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen; the Director-General of the Macao Customs, Mr Choi Lai Hang; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Alexis Tam; the Chief-of-Office of the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Ms Lok Kit Sim; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Victor Chan; the Chairman of the Administration Committee of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Mr Vong Iao Lek; the President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Jackson Chang; and the Director of the Policy Research Office, Mr Lao Pun Lap. During the Chief Executive's absence from Macao, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be acting Chief Executive.
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The 10th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum (PPRD Forum) and Trade Fair, co-organised by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, will be held in Guangzhou from 12 to 13 October. Activities include the opening ceremony of the PPRD Forum, an exhibition of achievements on the 10th anniversary of the high level Forum, a joint conference of chief executives, senior management meetings, and project presentations and promotions by individual PPRD provinces and regions. Macao is responsible for organising the 10th PPRD Forum. The PPRD Forum is in two phases: the pre-event activities, and the forum itself. As part of the pre-event activities, the Panel Discussion on the Economic Environment of Portuguese-speaking Countries and the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Tourism Cooperation Consultation Meeting were held in Macao last May and June, respectively. The first PPRD Forum was held in Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao during 1 to 3 June 2004, respectively. Since then, the meetings were held in other provinces and areas such as, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hunan, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, in turns, signifying the completion of the first round of Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation. Looking ahead to a new round of co-operation, the governments of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR have again co-organised the PPRD Forum and related actitivites, further enhancing and strengthening the interdependence and co-operative relationship between the three regions in the long run. In the previous year, the MSAR Government continued to deepen co-operation with the PPRD in tourism, environmental protection, culture and education, healthcare, food safety, infrastructure co-ordination, public services and contingency responses. In the past decade, with the progress of PPRD co-operation, the region as a whole maintained a co-ordinated and sustainable development momentum. With the aim of developing into a world tourism and leisure centre and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, Macao will spare no effort in promoting adequate economic diversification. The overall development strategy leverages the various strengths and concerted development of the PPRD. In the past 10 years' co-operation and development of PPRD, the pro-active participation and collaboration between all parties has led to a strengthened co-operation mechanism, improved infrastructure construction and closer co-operation in commercial and trade industries, establishing a united and open market environment. Meanwhile, the co-operation in social undertakings has deepened, ecological construction was enhanced and contingency response mechanisms were perfected, leading to closer links between Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland. Apart from PPRD co-operation, Macao has strived to expand the co-operation relationship with other regions of the PPRD in trade and commerce, tourism, and nature and environmental protection, focusing on improving people's livelihoods. In drought seasons, for instance, as the Pearl River and its branches experience saltwater intrusion, supplies of water for daily consumption in Macao and nearby PPRD cities are severely threatened. To counter these threats, through the PPRD co-operation mechanism, Guizhou and other provinces are required to work on annual projects to minimise saltwater intrusion and supplement freshwater, to ensure the safety of water supplies in the PPRD region. This exactly exemplifies the livelihood focus of PPRD co-operation. The 10-year PPRD co-operation has tightened commercial and trade co-operation, and cultural and personnel exchanges between different regions. It has pro-actively explored and made solid contributions to breaking regional administrative barriers, expanding to new regional co-operation, promoting national market formation and concerted development of the regional economy and society. The co-operation also motivates the participating regions to achieve sustainable and healthy development. Looking ahead to a new round of co-operation, the MSAR Government, as usual, emphasises and proactively participates in PPRD co-operation. As co-operation continues to be practically deepened, the entire region can realise sustainable development and provide more room and opportunities for development. The PPRD co-operation can certainly achieve a higher level of fruitful results, with a broader domain and wider scope. The Pan-Pearl River Delta Region consists of nine provinces and two regions ("9+2"), namely, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. The PPRD economic co-operation covers an area of about 1.92 million square kilometers, with a approximate populations of 400 million. The PPRD co-operation provides a platform for these provinces and regions to better foster regional co-operation and strengthen overall competitiveness.
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Jointly organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (IC), the Macau Foundation, and the Macau Artist Society, A Retrospective Exhibition of National Day Decorated Arches Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Macao's Handover to China is held at the Tap Seac Gallery. To let citizens better appreciate the exhibits, IC is offering free special guided tour services.
At the Tap Seac Gallery, professional docents will introduce the characteristics of the pailou to the general public and to groups. From 1949 to 1969, these structures were erected annually in selected spots of the city in celebration of China's National Day. Public guided tours will be available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 26 October, 2014. On each date, three sessions are offered, at 3:30pm, 4:30pm and 5:30pm in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. The guided tour services for groups are available between 10am and 1pm on Sundays from October 12 to 26, 2014, but require booking. Each session lasts around one hour. IC invites schools and groups to make reservations. The tours can be conducted in any of the three languages (Cantonese, Mandarin or English) according to the group's request, and each tour is limited to a maximum of 25 participants.
In a special initiative designed to share with citizens the joy of reviving Macao's old traditions, in this case the unique National Day pailou art, IC offers visually impaired persons one-hour audio descriptions on 25 and 26 October at 2pm. For enquiries and reservations please call 8399 6699 within office hours. A Retrospective Exhibition of National Day Decorated Acrhes Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Macao's Handover to China is open daily until 31 October, from 10am to 7pm, at the Tap Seac Gallery, located at No. 95, Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida. Admission is free.
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Consumer Council conducted its second 'Supermarket price survey' in October on 8 October 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), 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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The CCAC unveiled a case of document forgery involving a public servant. Following investigation, it was found that the suspect was an assistant officer who had earlier participated in his/her department's promotion examination. After the written examination, the suspect, finding the office was vacant, corrected the answer in his/her examination paper in attempt to obtain a higher score to increase the chance of promotion. The act of the suspect allegedly constituted the offence of document forgery. After technical verification, it was proved that the handwriting involving the corrected part matched the suspect's. During investigation, someone confessed committing the offence. According to the Penal Code, offenders of document forgery shall be liable to imprisonment for a maximum term of three years. The CCAC has referred the case to the Public Prosecutions Office.
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