News

The Online Appointment System of the Immigration Department was launched in March 2014 to persons who need to apply for ‘Authorization to Stay for Workers’ as ‘domestic helpers’ or ‘specialized experts’ and persons who need to apply for ‘Residence Authorization’ (not applicable to holders of a “PRC Permit for Travelling to Hong Kong and Macao” and persons who have registered and made an appointment upon arrival at Macao). In order to cope with the development of society and enhance efficiency, we are going to add a new service item of the “Extension of ‘Authorization to Stay’” (including ‘ordinary extension’ and ‘exceptional extension’) to our Online Appointment System on 26 May 2015(at 12:00 noon). Applicants can access the Online Appointment System at the official website of the Public Security Police Force (http://www.fsm.gov.mo/psp), which is in Chinese, Portuguese and English, to make, change or cancel an appointment. They may select any time slot within the office hours of the coming 30 days. If the selected date is fully booked, they will have to pick another date. Upon the request of the applicants, a reminder will be sent to them in the form of SMS (local mobile phone numbers only) and / or email 1 day before the scheduled date. In addition to the Online Appointment System, applicants can proceed to the Immigration Department Office Building to make an appointment. Should you have any queries, please call the Immigration Department’s 24-hour enquiry hotline at 2872 5488.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, emphasised that legislations on the betterment of the people’s livelihood was of top priority and said at this present stage the Government did not see the need to revive the “Welfare Package for Designated, Incumbent and Former Chief Executives and Principal Officials” bill. Asked by reporters ahead of the tourism promotional event “Experience Macau –Fujian” in Fujian on 20 May, Mr Chui said a number of leading officials had met with members of the Legislative Assembly since they took office, to learn more of their opinions on government-proposed bills and explained to them the initiatives of the bills and policies, in formulating policy that could meet public interest. Mr Chui said that there was room for improvement when the welfare bill was put forward last year, and assured that the Government would step up efforts on public consultations, policy explanation and detail discussions in the Assembly. Mr Chui re-iterated the spirit of good governance was to maintain prosperity and stability, with the core values of loving the country and Macao being the basis of keeping social harmony. On the newly-published report on Macao’s competitiveness, the Chief Executive said the Government would formulate measures to strengthen the city’s competitiveness to turn Macao into a more liveable city and a favourable tourism destination. Building a more liveable city for the people was of high priority in the policy agenda; he said the five reclaimed lots of land would be used to enhance the people’s living standard. He said a city’s competitiveness could be measured not only by its infrastructures, but also the measures supporting its long-term development. The Talents Development Committee, which is responsible for formulating and planning strategy for talents cultivation, will strengthen the promotion of training courses and formulate measures that increase government input. During the five-day visit to Hubei and Fujian, Mr Chui attended the 9th Central China Investment and Trade Expo (Expo Central China 2015) in Hubei and “Experience Macau –Fujian” in Fujian, and met with leading officials of Hubei Province and the Vice Premier, Mr Wang Yang, who affirmed the work the Macao Government support from the Central Government.
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The 26th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), proceeds this weekend with one of the most anticipated shows of the event, the play in Patuá Macao’s Got Talent by Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group, Saturday and Sunday, at 7:30pm at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. The plot unfolds in today’s Macao, a city in which the production of talents is a priority, in order to contribute to the intellectual and technical development of our city. Theatre in Patuá was inscribed on the List of Macao S.A.R. Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012, and the dialect has been identified as a critically endangered language by UNESCO. Also on 23 and 24 May (Saturday and Sunday), at 8pm (23/5) and 3pm (24/5), the MAF presents Out of Context – for Pina, by Les ballets C de la B (Belgium), at the Macao Cultural Centre Small Auditorium. In this dance performance, director Alain Platel continues his search for a language of movement connected to the unconscious, the arbitrary, the uncontrolled. As a former special-needs educator working with children with motor and multiple disabilities, Alain Platel understands deformities and muscle impediments. Rather than censuring, he celebrates the beauty that the malformed and the misshapen have wrung, the laid-bare crux of human emotion expressed through movements and gestures. An award-winning homage to his close friend, the late German choreographer Pina Bausch, in Out of Context – for Pina, Platel attempts to devise a new physical language, from which, out of chaos, we can decipher rational undertones and find peace. From 23 to 25 May (Saturday to Monday), at 3pm and 5pm, it’s the turn of Transports Exceptionnels, by Beau Geste (France), to take the stage of the Praça do Lago Sai Van. An unexpected duo between a dancer and an excavator, a poetic twenty-minute dialogue between a man and a huge machine, between iron and flesh, on opera music. The machine almost has human movements and is in harmony with the choreography of the dancer. The metaphor is legible; it’s a matter of accepting that the world is under construction, in motion for the worth and the better. Between 28 and 31 May (Thursday to Sunday), from 6:30pm to 9pm, the Outdoor Performing Arts Showcase takes the stage of the Largo do Pagode da Barra, aiming to bring the arts closer to the public. It features artists and traditions from home and abroad, providing an ample variety of artistic performances for everyone to enjoy! For four consecutive evenings, local and foreign artists and groups offer a series of culturally rich and entertaining performances such as Chizhou Nuo opera from Anhui Province, songs and dances from Xinjiang Province, shadow theatre from Turkey, Awantika Kathak dance from India, among others. In case of adverse weather conditions, outdoor performances may be delayed or cancelled by the Organization, to be decided according to the situation. All changes and new arrangements will be announced at the performance venues. For more information, please visit the website of the Cultural Affairs Bureau www.icm.gov.mo or the Macao Arts Festival official Facebook page. The 26th Macao Arts Festival programme information is available at www.icm.gov.mo/fam and ticket reservations can be made through tel. no. 28555555.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), together with Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and representatives of eleven tourism enterprises from Macau, participated in the Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings & Events in Frankfurt, Germany (IMEX Frankfurt) from 19 - 21 May to promote Macau's MICE and business tourism products widely. IMEX Frankfurt 2015 was held at Messe Frankfurt. MGTO hosted a booth on the exhibition floor, targeting incentive travel organizers and buyers from different European countries. Through the exhibition, MGTO presented Macau’s potential as an incentive travel destination and its advantage of offering multi-destination tours. MGTO also took the opportunity to promote its Incentive Travel Stimulation Program so as to attract more remote and incentive travel tourists to come to Macau. In addition, Macau travel information leaflets and souvenir were distributed to the visitors. During the exhibition, MGTO conducted several appointments which attracted a total of 100 attendants. IMEX Frankfurt attracted over 3,500 exhibitors from 150 countries and regions this year, an unparalleled record compared with its past editions since 2003. The latest exhibition also boasted 55 new booths and 20% of existing exhibitors had chosen to book larger stands at the show, including Mainland China and Macau. Moreover, 170 workshops and sessions were offered to industry professionals through IMEX's education programme this year. The main events in IMEX Frankfurt included talks, workshops, networking, seminars, forums, inaugural ceremony and welcome dinner, etc. This press release is available at: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI for April 2015 increased by 4.51% year-on-year to 104.86, down significantly from the 5.10% growth in March 2015. Higher rentals for dwellings and rising charges for eating out remained the main drivers of the increase in CPI. In comparison with April 2014, notable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+9.84%); Health (+5.17%) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+4.73%) on account of rising rentals for dwellings, as well as dearer charges for out-patient services and eating out. On the contrary, price index of Recreation & Culture (-1.43%) and Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (-1.40%) showed marked decrease. The CPI-A (105.05) and CPI-B (103.31) increased by 4.96% and 3.58% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for April 2015 increased by 0.31% month-to-month. New arrival of summer clothing and footwear, higher rentals for parking spaces and dearer charges for maintenance & repair of vehicles drove up the price index of Clothing & Footwear and Transport by 2.81% and 0.67%. On the other hand, lower prices of vegetables, fruits, fresh fish and seafood tapered off the rise in charges for eating out and prices of fresh pork, causing the price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages to decrease slightly by 0.04%. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 0.32% and 0.23% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended April 2015, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.62% from the previous period. Price index of Housing & Fuels (+11.49%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.66%) and Health (+4.83%) registered remarkable increase. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.10% and 5.26% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first four months of 2015 increased by 4.91% year-on-year, with the price index of Housing & Fuels; Health; and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages rising by 10.68%, 5.44% and 5.11% respectively. The average CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 5.33% and 4.22% respectively. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP29,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP30,000 to MOP54,999.
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Consumer Council added fresh, refrigerated and frozen pork to its specific product price survey. Consumer can now check the information on the Council’s website for price comparisons. For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law No. 4/95/M, Consumer Council continues to expand its work on price data collection as consumers’ needs for price information keep on increasing in recent years. Starting from May, the Council includes prices of fresh, refrigerated and frozen pork in its specific product price survey. The current phase includes collection and comparison of pork prices in markets, supermarkets, and frozen food stores. The survey result shows that prices of fresh pork (MOP/lb) differ for over 42 percent. The highest and lowest prices recorded are $37.1 and $21.5 respectively while the average price (MOP/lb) is $30.7. Refrigerated and frozen pork on the market come from different origins and varieties. Prices of the surveyed refrigerated pork (MOP/lb) range from $30 to $36, and the average price recorded is $32.3. Frozen pork price range from $21 to $30 and the average price recorded is $23.6. The specific product price survey on fresh, refrigerated and frozen pork is now available on the Council’s website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The use of public surveillance cameras is regulated by legislation and supervised by related departments, and the use of information from the network will be in full compliance with the law. This re-assurance was given today by Security for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, when spoke to reporters after attending a radio phone-in programme. He said the use of information would be regulated by legislation, one of which was enacted in 2012, and closely monitored by judicial bodies. Locations for instillations will be installed following discussions and from the Office for Personal Data Protection. According to Mr Wong, the planned 1,620 cameras system would be set up in four phases with different emphases. Work on the first phase had started and the police would evaluate social conditions and its operation as the numbers increase in the future. The building of the camera network was to safeguard public security despite Macao’s low crime rate. Surveillance cameras are in use in many countries.
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Consumer Council conducted its sixth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in May on 20 May for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets in São Lázaro and São Lourenço Parishes. 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 28 banks in Macao and number of full-time employees totalled 5,742 at the end of the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 253 year-on-year. Analysed by occupation, there were 1,573 directors and managers, and 1,904 clerks, including 694 bank tellers. In March 2015, average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees amounted to MOP23,900, up by 5.9% year-on-year. Average earnings of bank tellers increased by 7.0% to MOP13,900. At the end of the first quarter of 2015, job vacancies totalled 318, an increase of 73 year-on-year; vacancies for clerk stood at 169, including 66 for bank tellers. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 45.3% of the vacancies required working experience, 86.5% required tertiary education, and requirement for knowledge of Mandarin and English accounted for 98.4% and 89.9% respectively. In the first quarter of 2015, the Banking Sector hired 245 new employees; the employee recruitment rate (4.3%) edged up by 1.1 percentage points year-on-year, while the employee turnover rate (3.7%) fell by 0.4 percentage points, indicating that the human resource situation of the Banking Sector was relatively stable in this quarter. As regards vocational training, the Banking Sector had 4,562 participants attending training courses provided by the banks (including courses organized by the banks or in conjunction with other institutions, and those sponsored by the banks). The majority (69.8%) of the participants attended Business & Administration courses, followed by Law courses (14.2%). About 92.2% of the participants attended courses organized by the banks and almost all participants were employer-sponsored.
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In cooperation with 789 Multimedia Marketing Limited and Chon Chin Association of Macau, Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) Tourism Retail and Marketing Management year 3 students, led by Dr. Fernando Lourenço, worked on a project on finding business opportunities for multimedia products and services for leisure and entertainment industries in Macao. It is believed that this project is crucial to Macao as the Macao SAR Government and local companies need to identify ways to diversify Macao’s economy and industries. Via this project, students conducted market research to identify business opportunities, market needs, and concepts to develop mobile applications, business models and marketing campaigns. A sharing session was arranged after the project is completed. The President of Chong Chin Association of Macau, André Ritchie, and the shareholders of 789 Multimedia Marketing Limited were invited to attend and give feedback to the students as well as assess the outcomes. Certificates were given to students for appreciating their efforts and recognising the performance and quality of IFT students.
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