News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tour increased by 15% year-on-year to 908,000 in June 2014. Visitors from Mainland China totalled 723,000, up by 17%, with 244,000 coming from Guangdong Province. Visitors from Taiwan (59,000), Hong Kong (36,000) and the Republic of Korea (27,000) recorded year-on-year increase; besides, visitors from Japan (16,000) surged by 81%. In the first half year of 2014, visitor arrivals in package tour reached 5,363,000, up by 16% year-on-year. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies were 124,000 in June, up by 3% year-on-year; those travelling in package tour totalled 56,000 and the main destinations were Mainland China (73% of total), Taiwan (8%), the Republic of Korea (6%) and Hong Kong (6%). In the first half year of 2014, outbound residents totalled 707,000, up by 1% year-on-year. There were 99 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of June 2014, providing 28,000 guest rooms, down by 1% year-on-year; 5-star hotels accounted for 66% of the total supply, with 18,000 rooms. A total of 863,000 guests checked into hotels and guesthouses, down by 4% year-on-year, with 59% staying in 5-star hotels. The average length of stay of guests held stable as June 2013, at 1.3 nights. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses increased by 4 percentage points year-on-year to 85%, with 5-star hotels leading at 86%. In the first half year of 2014, hotel guests totalled 5,301,000, up by 1% year-on-year; the average occupancy rate stood at 86%, an increase of 6 percentage points. In the first half year of 2014, visitor-guests accounted for 70% of the total overnight visitors, down by 2 percentage points year-on-year.
…

The Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2014 (GMBPF 2014), jointly organised by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Department of Commerce of the Guangdong Province, co-ordinated by Macau Fair & Trade Association, along with China Council For The Promotion Of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Foreign Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of People's Republic of China as special supporting organisations, will be held for four consecutive days from 31 July to 3 August (Thursday to Sunday) at Macau Fisherman's Wharf Conference and Exhibition Centre. Enhancing Guangdong-Macao Co-operation to complement each other's strengths
This year, the Organiser will continue to fully utilise Macao's roles and strengths as a World Tourism and Leisure Centre as well as a business and trade service platform, to be in line with the regional co-operation policy of establishing externals ties and integrating with neighbouring areas, and foster regional development with Guangdong province. With the support of Guangdong and Macao governments through a series of policies including CEPA, the "the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta" and the "Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement", the co-operation in economy, people's livelihood and cultural exchanges between the two places has been further enhanced and achieved initial success in recent years. With full steam ahead, Guangdong and Macao are now focusing on the development of the key regions of Hengqin and Nansha, for shaping a new trend for long-term development that complementing each other's strengths and mutual benefiting between the two places. The GMBPF, as a vital measure for mutually promoting the development in convention and exhibition industry, has gained the recognition and support from the governments as well as the industrial and commercial sectors of the two places, and is about to be held for the sixth time, as a widely-welcomed and branded fair of the year. High quality enterprises in Guangdong and Macao showcasing quality products
To be held in the form of a carnival, the fair is an integration of merchandising, cultural exchange, shopping, leisure and entertainment. It also plays the role as a trade platform with business opportunities for Guangdong and Macao enterprises to explore the Macao local market and international markets focusing on the Portuguese-speaking countries. With a venue covering an area of 6,000 square metres with 284 booths in total, 2 major exhibition zones of Macao and Guangdong will be established in the fair. The Guangdong province has organised a total of 129 enterprises from 20 prefecture-level cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, Foshan, Shaoguan, Meizhou, Huizhou, Shanwei, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhanjiang, Maoming, Zhaoqing, Qinyuan, Chaozhou, Yunfu and Shunde to participate in the fair, to promote and showcase branded products including food products, daily necessities and gift. As the previous fairs were actively supported and participated by enterprises in Guangdong province, exhibitors outnumbered the number of booths every year. With regard to this, only exhibitors who have met the high quality standards set by economic and trade authorities of Guangdong province can participate in the fair, while most of them are on the list of "China Famous Brand Product", "China Famous Trade Mark" or "Famous Brand Product of Guangdong Province". Supporting the development of Macao brands and strive for the establishment of the platform for trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries
With the aim of supporting the development of SMEs and local brands, the size of Macao specialty products exhibition and sales area is expanded this year, increasing from 87 to 102 booths that will focus on the sales of Made in Macao Products, Macao Brands or Products from oversea countries with distribution agents in Macao. With the strong support from the Central Government, the SAR Government will focus on the development of "a commercial and trade service centre for SMEs of PSCs", "a food product distribution centre for PSCs" and "a centre for conventions and exhibitions for economic and trade co-operation between China and PSCs", with the aim of becoming a mutually beneficial service platform for economic co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. To be in line with this principle, the fair is dedicated to the role as the trade platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Apart from inviting more enterprises of Portuguese products, the Organiser also established a Portuguese products exhibition and sales area within the Macao products exhibition and sales area, for the sale of Portuguese specialty products and food. Organising procurement meeting and promotion seminars to encourage business cooperation
To strengthen business matching service and create opportunities of business co-operation, the Organiser has collected the product information and negotiation requirements from exhibitors prior to the "Guangdong and Macao Enterprises Procurement Meeting" to be held on 1 August at the Grand Hall of the Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. To enhance the function of business matching and negotiation, nearly a hundred GMBPF exhibitors and Macao buyers will be invited to join the business negotiation sessions, while IPIM staff will provide on-site assistance and follow-up service. Besides, the Shenzhen and Macao Trade and Economic Co-operation Seminar 2014 will be held by the People's Government of Shenzhen City on 31 July at Vic's Café, Rocks Hotel, Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. Aiming at creating exchange opportunities and enhance the co-operation between Shenzhen and Macao, the seminar will invite Macao business people and representatives of different industries for an introduction to the investment and trade environment of Shenzhen. A brand new visiting experience at the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Interactive Zone, Celebrity Cooking Live Show and Cooking Competition
This year, the fair has more entertainment features to offer. With the newly established DIY Interactive Exhibition Zone, it is believed that visitors will have a brand new experience of visiting the fair. Special events include: demonstration of the making of hand-made chocolate, latte art, egg rolls, cookies and hand-made leather items, while visitor may have the opportunity to make their own with the assistance of the instructors. The workshop is offered on first-come-first served basis, interested visitors may apply at the fair; the celebrity cooking live show has invited the popular cooking-show hostess Maria Cordero, to share her tips on buying quality food on budget and to demonstrate the preparation of delicacies; at the same time, the cooking competition is a highlight event of putting participants' cooking ideas and skills to the test. With Maria as the judge of the competition, participants are required to purchase food from any booths and will have 30 minutes to prepare their dishes. The winner, 1st and 2nd runners-up of the competition will be awarded with grand prizes of cash and gifts. Fabulous carnival events with lots of fun
Apart from the above-mentioned new elements, the Organiser will offer a series of sensational cultural performances, including live singing by Macao and Hong Kong famous artists Raymond Wong, Fred Cheng, Terence Tsui and Vivian Chan, magic shows with fun and Portuguese folk dancing in Macanese style. In Guangdong Province session includes the attractive performances of Chinese face mask changing, basketball gimmicks, dancing and electric violin. With series of fabulous events of interactive games with fun, live cooking demonstration and the challenging cooking competition, the atmosphere in the fair will be overwhelming. This year, a TDM live broadcasting room will continue to be established in the venue to share the fair's lively atmosphere with the general public in Macao through TV broadcast. Moreover, visitors will receive consumption coupons with plenty of concession and discount offers. Last but not the least, the beloved lucky draw will be held daily, with fabulous gifts including the ultimate prize of luxurious motorcycle to be announced on the last day of the fair. Macao residents and overseas visitors are welcomed to visit the fair
In support of green transportation, the Organiser provide convenient transportation services to the public every year. To meet visitors' needs in different regions, free shuttle service will be provided, with multiple options on bus routes and bus stops in the downtown area of Macao and Taipa, with a frequency of every 30 minutes (For details, please find the attachment). Moreover, 3 hours free parking will be available at the car park of Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. Visitors are advised to take public transport or the free shuttle bus service to save your time on queuing for the limited number of parking slots. Do not miss this year's GMBPF, with a great variety of high quality and branded products of Guangdong and Macao at economic prices, together with a series of innovative interactive games and sensational performances. Admission is free for all visitors, with the opening hour of 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. on 31 July (Thu) and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on 1 – 3 August (Fri – Sun). For more information of the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2014, please call (853) 8798 9636 or visit the official website www.guangdongmacaofair.com.
…

Consumer Council conducted its eighth 'Supermarket price survey' in July on 28 July 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), 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.
…

The 'Jazz-it-up!' Workshops held during last year's Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, had a response that surpassed all expectations, allowing participants to greatly enhance their performing skills. In order to foster jazz music talents in Macao this year the MIMF organizes the Jazz Workshops once again, integrated in the 28th Macao International Music Festival Outreach Programme, to be held between 3 October and 1 November.
The Jazz Workshops, coordinated once again by famous Portuguese jazz master Zé Eduardo and his band, will be held from 11 to 28 August and feature a more comprehensive programme including three levels, in order to expose more young people to jazz music and enhance their jazz knowledge. All interested parties are welcome to enrol in the Workshops and must submit the application forms at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building located in Tap Seac Square during office hours. Vacancies are limited. The Workshops, co-organized by the Macau Jazz Promotion Association with the support of the Fundação Oriente and the Macau Strings Association, comprise Fundamental Level, Beginner's Level and Advanced Level classes. Jazz musical training and ensemble at ground level will be conducted in the "Mini Jazz" Fundamental Course to inspire young learners' sense of music; the course includes four sessions in total, 10 students per session, targeting between 8 to 15 year olds with at least 2 years' experience of playing a Western musical instrument. Instrument training is especially targeted in the Beginner's Level Course while the Advanced Level Course emphasises on the training of impromptu jazz performance and ensemble. Zé Eduardo is a renowned jazz performer, conductor, composer and music educator in Portugal and Europe. As early as the late 1970s he founded and directed the Hot Club Portugal School of Jazz and assumed the directorship of jazz studies at the internationally renowned Taller de Músics for ten years from 1982, making immense contributions to the promotion of jazz music. All other instructors from his team are professional performers and have a rich experience in teaching. It is hoped that they can lift students' musical attainment and sentiment to a new level. Classes will be conducted in English with Cantonese interpretation, with tuition fees of MOP 400 (Fundamental Course), MOP 800 (Beginner's Level Course) and MOP 1,200 (Advanced Level Course). An audition is required for the Beginner's Level and Advanced Level courses, and will be conducted in the Casa Garden (Praça Luís de Camões) on 9 and 10 August, from 11:00am to 10:00pm. Applicants for the Beginner's Level Course should prepare one song of any style less than 3 minutes in length while those for the Advanced Level Course should prepare one song from any version of the Real Book, which must include at least one solo chorus and not exceed 5 minutes in length. Outstanding applicants will be selected by the instructors to participate in the Music Sharing Session to be held at the Casa Garden on 30 August to display their learning achievements to the general public.
The Jazz Workshops application forms and details can be downloaded from the MIMF website at www.icm.gov.mo/fimm. For enquiries, please call (853) 8399 6609 or 8399 6618 during office hours.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate (1.7%) and the underemployment rate (0.4%) for April-June 2014 held stable as March-May. Total labour force increased to 390,100 and the labour force participation rate stood at 73.4%. Total employment was 383,600, an increase of 2,500 from March-May. Number of the unemployed was 6,500, similar to March-May; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 15.0% of the total unemployed, up by 4.3 percentage points. Compared with the first quarter of 2014, the general unemployment rate (1.7%) and the unemployment rate of local residents (2.3%) for the second quarter remained unchanged. Total labour force registered an increase of 5,900, with total employment rising by 5,700. Analysed by industry, employment in the Construction sector increased by 7,000 quarter-to-quarter to 50,900 (13.3% of total employment), while employment in Gaming decreased by 5,500, at 80,100. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed held stable as the previous quarter, at MOP13,000 in the second quarter; median earnings of those engaging in Gaming and the Construction Sector amounted to MOP16,000 and MOP14,000 respectively. Moreover, median earnings of the employed residents stayed unchanged quarter-to-quarter, at MOP15,000.
…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV Consultation with Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) for the first time since the establishment of the SAR in December 1999 and published its Staff Report today (24 July, 2014, Washington, DC time; 25 July, 2014, Macao SAR time). The Macao SAR authorities welcome a thorough assessment by the IMF Staff Mission that commends the SAR Government's prudent macroeconomic management framework – anchored by the combination of the linked exchange rate between the Macao pataca (MOP) and the Hong Kong dollar (HKD), flexible markets, and a commitment to safeguarding fiscal discipline and financial stability, which has served Macao SAR well in maintaining a strong external position and financial stability while navigating it through a number of challenges, including the recent global financial crisis. Macao SAR's external position is broadly consistent with medium-term fundamentals and desirable policies.
The IMF affirmed that the currency board linked to the HKD is the best arrangement for Macao SAR and should be maintained. The Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS) has provided a crucial nominal anchor for Macao SAR, helped maintain economic and financial stability, and kept the real effective exchange rate broadly in equilibrium. The SAR also meets the pre-requisites for sustaining a currency board, namely flexible labour and product markets that prevent sizable or persistent misalignments, fiscal discipline, prudent management of foreign exchange reserves, and robust financial sector regulation and supervision. The IMF Mission noted that the health of Macao SAR's banking system further strengthened with the capital adequacy ratio rising to nearly 15.0% and the non-performing loan ratio falling to merely 0.1%. The macroprudential and demand-management measures towards the property boom have slowed market transactions, particularly by non-resident buyers, amid some evidences for overvaluation and threat of housing bubble. Should property-price acceleration persist, international experience indicates that tighter housing-related tax policies and additional macroprudential measures, such as limits on credit exposure to the property sector and lower loan-to-value ratios for purchases of second or more homes, could be used to curtail excessive price growth and contain systemic risk. Conversely, if the property market experienced a sharp downturn or disorderly correction in housing prices, the Mission emphasised that preserving financial stability should be the primary objective in deciding whether to ease some of these counter-cyclical prudential measures, especially in the downward phase of the economic cycle. Meanwhile, banks continued to raise their foreign asset position with limited domestic lending opportunities. Given rising banks' exposure to a few jurisdictions, the Mission suggested that close monitoring and cooperation with their home supervisors would help guard against adverse cross-border financial spillovers.
The Mission suggested the Macao SAR Government establishing a medium-term budget framework, which would help promote transparency, support fiscal discipline, and ensure that growth in spending is consistent with development and fiscal objectives. It also recommended the SAR Government to conduct fiscal assessments with policy options in the context of some long-term issues, such as population ageing, economic diversification and a possible slowdown associated with tourism and gaming.
The Mission pointed out that the authorities have appropriately devoted more attention to the sound management of the Fiscal Reserve. The Monetary Authority of Macao has taken a more proactive approach to investing fiscal reserves by diversifying asset allocations and introducing more asset classes, such as equities, with the help of external managers.
The Mission concurred that the economic outlook of Macao SAR is bright and projected the Macao SAR economy to stay strong over the medium term with annual real GDP growth of 8-10%, driven by service exports and investment while inflation to stay at around 5.0-5.5% amid a tight labour market. The unemployment rate would remain low at 1.7%. As Macao SAR is a highly-open and narrow-based economy, the Mission cautioned that Macao SAR should prepare for any anticipated and unanticipated changes from some external factors, such as withdrawal from unconventional monetary policy in the USA, and setbacks to the global recovery and regional slowdown. Macao SAR would also need to stay vigilant of domestic risks, such as a possible course change in the property market if demand fundamentals shift. The Mission agreed with the Macao SAR Government that economic diversification is a key policy objective and would help provide an additional growth engine and bolster the economy's resilience over the long term. It suggested some strategic options, including nurturing Macao SAR's comparative advantages through fiscal spending in infrastructure and social sectors and broadening its linkages with the Mainland through regional cooperation agreements and cross-border infrastructure. Some relaxation of policies related to labour importation and further facilitation of workers commuting from neighbouring parts of the Mainland may help address the issues of labour shortage.
The IMF Mission visited Macao SAR during 22-29 April, 2014 to conduct the 2014 IMF Article IV Consultation. From 2014 onwards, the IMF Article IV Consultation with Macao SAR, China is proposed to be conducted on a 24-month cycle. Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the international organisation holds bilateral macroeconomic discussions with individual members on a regular basis. A staff team visits the member country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to the headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion and conclusion by the IMF Executive Board. The IMF conducts separate Article IV Consultation with the Mainland, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR under the membership of China. Links to the relevant press release and Staff Report of the 2014 Article IV Consultation with Macao SAR, as endorsed by the IMF Executive Board, are listed below:
1) Staff Report of the 2014 Article IV Consultation with Macao SAR: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2014/cr14229.pdf 2) Press release of the IMF Executive Board conclusion:
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2014/pr14360.htm
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, yesterday expressed his deep condolences over the crash of a TransAsia airliner in Penghu, Taiwan, which killed and wounded dozens on Wednesday. On behalf of Mr Chui, the Macao Economic and Cultural Affairs Office in Taiwan conveyed to the Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan the Chief Executive's and the people of Macao's deep condolences for the dead and injured in the air disaster as well as their families.
…

Consumer Council conducted its seventh 'Supermarket price survey' in July on 23 July for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 11 supermarkets in Sé 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.
…

The TransAsia Airways flight GE222, en route from Kaohsiung to Magong crashed near the airport in Penghu island in Taiwan, China. From information collected through the airline and the Macau tourism industry, until the present moment, there is no evidence of Macau residents being involved. The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) will keep on monitoring the situation. No requests for assistance or information were received so far by GGCT. If necessary, Macau residents can call the 24 hours Tourism Hotline (853) 28333000.
…

The number 45 of the Review of Culture (RC), exceptionally all in English, is a special compiled edition of the 8th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS8), which assembled some 1,500 scholars from 56 countries and regions in Macao in 2013, organized by the University of Macau with the support of the Macao Foundation. A selection of eleven articles, introduced by Tak-Wing Ngo, the Convention organiser and editor of the journal China Information, highlights the internationally acclaimed historian Arif Dirlik, keynote speaker at the event, whose article focuses on the rise of Asia. Paul B. Spooner examines the issue of the International in the Context of the Project of the Port of Macao, while Geoffrey C. Gunn scrutinises Clandestinity and Control during the Macau Congress of the Indochina Communist Party in the First Half of the 20th Century. The art scene in Asia is also of interest to researchers. MinnaValjakka contests Levels of Il/legality of Urban Art Images in China, Susan E. Schopp focuses on the French as Architectural Trendsetters in Canton and Lan Wang explains the Conflict and Merging between Eastern and Western Cultures from the Perspective of Christian Art in Macau. The Image of Women as a Reflection of Change in China, an article by Patricia Karetzky, the Christian Disaster Management in South China authored by Joseph Tse-Hei Lee and Printing Technology and the Transfer of Knowledge in the Early 20th Century, an analysis by Tze-Ki Hon, complements the diversity of topics presented. To conclude this number focused on Asian studies, Jean A. Berlie exposes the pertinent question of Macao´s Identity a Decade after the Return to China and analyzes the Chinese Community in East Timor. The Review of Culture, International Edition, published by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, is available at the Portuguese Bookstore, Cultural Plaza, Library Seng Kwong, Macao Historical Archives and Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre. RCI is also available for consultation at the Central Library and the Historical Archive of Macao and at the libraries of Macao universities.
…