News

The Stamp Vending Machine（ No.26） located at the arrival hall of the Macao International Airport will be suspended and removed on 12th September 2014.
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The 26th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest will take place at the seafront of Macau Tower on 8, 13, 20 27 September and 1 October. Due to delays of transportation, the fireworks display of Mirnovec Pirotehnika d.o.o. from Croatia originally on 8 September is now rescheduled to 10:10 p.m. on 20 September; previously scheduled on 13 September, the fireworks show presented by the French company SODIP Pyrotechnie is now postponed to 10:10 p.m. on 27 September. Due to the above changes, there will only be one fireworks display on 8 and 13 September respectively, starting at 9 p.m. The updated program is announced for audience's kind attention. The latest contest program is uploaded to MGTO's website: http://fireworks.macautourism.gov.mo
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will lead an MSAR delegation to Xiamen, Fujian, to attend the 18th China International Fair for Investment and Trade ("CIFIT") from 7 to 9 September. Hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and jointly organised by more than 50 ministries and commissions, provinces and municipalities – including the Macao SAR, CIFIT is China's biggest platform for attracting foreign capital and promoting international economic and trade cooperation. This year's CIFIT features three main categories of programmes: policy announcements, promotion of two-way investment, and seminars on investment trends. The highlight of this year's event is a summit titled "Open, Innovative, Win-Win: The Future of Global Economic Parks". The Chief Executive will attend the opening ceremony of the 18th CIFIT on 8 September, and will meet with leading officials of the People's Government of Fujian Province. Delegates accompanying the Chief Executive to Xiamen include the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Victor Chan; the President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Jackson Chang; and the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng. 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 Macao Youth Choir of the Macao Conservatory, institution under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), recently flew to Singapore in order to participate in the 1st Singapore International Choral Festival, under the leadership of the Conservatory's Music School Director, Liu Chang, conquering a gold medal in this four day long competition. In the year that marks the 15th anniversary of Macao's handover to China, the Macao Youth Choir celebrates its 10th anniversary, giving special significance to this invitation to represent the city and the remarkable result achieved in the event. Each choral ensemble competed and performed in several celebrated venues with strong artistic and cultural atmosphere, such as the Singapore Conference Hall and the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay complex. Participant groups, from over fifty countries and regions and comprising different age groups and ethnicities, came together to jointly establish an international choral art exchange platform. The Macao Youth Choir interpreted three different pieces, namely the religious Ave Maria, the Hungarian folk song Egyetem, Begyetem (Hippity, Hoppity) and the Chinese work Swallow, going through rigorous training and under the careful guidance of Conductor Liu Mingyan. Choir members put all efforts into their performances and showed remarkable singing techniques, thereby conquering a gold medal in the competition. The results for each ensemble were announced one by one by the emcee at the closing ceremony. The Macao participants, the second highest rated group in the competition, were greatly moved by coming first in the equal voices category, finally seeing their efforts throughout the years recognized in the international arena. The young singers believe that participation in this large scale competition will contribute not only to raise the level of the local choir but also to broaden each participant's international artistic horizons. In addition to participating in the contest, the Macao Youth Choir was further invited to perform outdoors, bringing choral chants to the population, earning enthusiastic applauses from residents and tourists, who praised the harmonious voices of the group. At the same time, competition producers expressed wishes to invite the choir to perform in Singapore again in the future. Liu Chang affirmed that not only did the organization and IC attach great importance to the success attained in the event, but also that said success depends on the parents' cooperation as well as the selfless dedication of the faculty. The Director of the School of Music further thanked all sectors of society for the recognition and support given to the Choir, hoping to have other future opportunities to represent Macao in overseas competitions, thus promoting the city's artistic and cultural characteristics. The Macao Youth Choir, established in 2004, aims to increase students' culture and music aesthetic appreciation as well as enrich their extracurricular life through basic knowledge acquisition on all music genres, choral singing and performance practice, providing its members a complete and healthy growth. The Choir has as main goal its development and establishment as a juvenile performing arts group representative of Macao, actively participating in concerts and competitions all over, achieving good results and earning praise from music professionals.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, money supply continued to grow in July. As total loans increased at a faster pace than total deposits, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector rose from a month earlier. Money supply Currency in circulation and demand deposits grew 1.5% and 5.5% respectively. M1 thus increased 4.9% from one month earlier. Concurrently, quasi-monetary liabilities grew 0.7%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, increased 1.2% to MOP489.4 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 rose 12.2% and 19.2% respectively. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 24.6%, up 0.5 percentage points from a month ago but down 0.4 percentage points from a year earlier. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 49.9%, up 0.6 percentage points month-to-month but down 2.8 percentage points year-on-year. Deposits Resident deposits increased 1.2% from the preceding month to MOP479.6 billion. Of which, MOP deposits and HKD deposits increased at respective rates of 3.7% and 2.4% whereas other foreign currency deposits dropped 3.1%. Non-resident deposits rose 6.7% to MOP226.0 billion. Public sector deposits with the banking sector also increased 1.0% to MOP88.9 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector grew 2.7% from a month earlier to MOP794.4 billion. The shares of MOP and HKD in total deposits were 18.5% and 41.1% respectively. Loans Domestic loans to the private sector increased 2.9% from a month ago to MOP317.6 billion. Among which, MOP88.6 billion was MOP-denominated and MOP199.1 billion was denominated in HKD, representing 27.9% and 62.7% of the total respectively. On the other hand, external loans rose 3.6% to MOP336.6 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP and HKD accounted for 1.5% (MOP4.9 billion) and 23.1% (MOP77.7 billion) respectively. Loan-to-deposit ratios The loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector at end-July rose 1.0 percentage point from the previous month to 55.9%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors also grew by 0.5 percentage points to 82.3%.
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With the 26th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest coming up next week, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) once again joined hands with Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM) to present the "Macau International Fireworks Display Contest SMS Game", hoping to encourage more citizens to take part in the event. MGTO has lately noted citizens' feedback about mobile messages received regarding the aforementioned event's SMS game. MGTO and CTM carried it out as a promotion of the game. The messages were sent by CTM directly to its mobile service users, without MGTO accessing information related to CTM's mobile users. MGTO and CTM have co-launched the "Macau International Fireworks Display Contest SMS Game" for the public to elect their favorite fireworks team every year since 2010; earlier this year, MGTO also for the first time presented a SMS game for citizens to vote for their favorite local performing team in the "Joyous Celebration to the Bountiful Year of the Horse" – the grand outdoor festivities during Chinese New Year, with both initiatives having been well received.
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Consumer Council conducted its second 'Supermarket price survey' in September on 3 September 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 Chinese news writing competition held by Consumer Council will end on 30 September. The Council reminds interested teenagers to submit their works before the deadline. The mentioned Chinese news writing competition targets at middle school students and the Council hopes to draw the attention of teenagers to participate more in social affairs, as well as to enhance their knowledge in consumer rights. Since its launch in March this year, the Council has paid visits to local schools and organizations to promote the contest, such as a talk given to YMCA's 'in-school journalists' during the summer. The Council has prepared various kinds of materials regarding consumer rights to interested persons and will also continue its promotion work in the last month of the contest. Interested organizations are welcome to contact the Council for arranging promotion talks. Consumer Council states that the promotion of consumer rights and correct consumption values to teenagers are one of its important works. Schools are called on to encourage students to join the said contest. Students intended to participate in the contest should submit their works in person to the Council's office at Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 26 Edf. Clementina A. L. Ho before 5PM on 30 September, or by post to P.O. Box No. 3065. Terms & conditions of the contest can be found on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). Three winners will be awarded with cash prizes of $6,000, $4,000, and $3,000 respectively, 20 extra awards of $200 will also be given to entrants with outstanding works. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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To celebrate the Teachers' Day 2014, Macao Post announced that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philatelic Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters, from 9:00 to 17:30 on 10th September 2014 to provide the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the "Celebration of Teachers' Day". A commemorative envelope with stamp will be distributed to public, and various philatelic products will also be available for sale during the above activity. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps.
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Macao Post will issue a new Postage Paid Postcard with the image of A-Ma Temple, which is situated halfway up the western slope of Barra Hill, is one of the oldest temples in Macao. This postcard will be available for sale at the Macao Post Headquarters, all post offices and postal kiosks on 5th September, 2014. This postage paid postcard priced at MOP10.00 each can be sent to every corner of the world without stamp.
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