News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors in the first quarter of 2015 amounted to MOP13.36 billion, down by 16.2% from MOP15.95 billion in the first quarter of 2014. Spending of overnight visitors totalled MOP10.40 billion, down by 21.1% year-on-year, while that of same-day visitors increased by 6.7% to MOP2.96 billion. In order to provide more information on the expenditure of Mainland visitors, additional data on spending of visitors from Guangdong Province and Fujian Province are released starting from this quarter. In the first quarter of 2015, per-capita spending of visitors was MOP1,802, down by 13.1% year-on-year. Analysed by place of residence, per-capita spending of visitors from Mainland China was MOP2,152, a drop of 15.1% year-on-year; those from Guangdong Province and Fujian Province spent an average of MOP1,553 and MOP1,486 respectively. Per-capita spending of Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) decreased by 14.3% year-on-year to MOP2,279, with those from Guangdong Province and Fujian Province spending an average of MOP1,721 and MOP2,811 respectively. Moreover, per-capita spending of visitors from Singapore (MOP1,782) and Malaysia (MOP1,640) decreased by 3.0% and 6.0% respectively year-on-year; spending of those from Taiwan (MOP1,616), Japan (MOP1,504) and Hong Kong (MOP850) also registered decrease. Visitors from the United Kingdom had relatively high per-capita spending among the long-haul visitors, at MOP1,628, up significantly by 32.3% year-on-year. Analysed by consumption structure, visitors spent mainly on Shopping (48.3%), Accommodation (25.6%) and Food & Beverage (18.8%). Per-capita shopping spending dropped by 17.5% year-on-year to MOP871, and the preferred shopping items included Local Food Products (28.0%), Clothing (18.0%) and Cosmetics & Perfume (16.3%). Analysed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China spent an average of MOP1,198 on shopping, and that of IVS visitors was MOP1,435. Meanwhile, long-haul visitors spent primarily on Accommodation and Food & Beverage. Per-capita spending of overnight visitors decreased by 12.5% year-on-year to MOP3,230, while that of same-day visitors increased by 4.9%, at MOP706. Overnight visitors from Mainland China and Taiwan had relatively high per-capita spending, at MOP3,885 and MOP3,316 respectively. Among the same-day visitors, per-capita spending of Mainland visitors topped at MOP861, and that of IVS visitors was MOP1,323. According to the results of Visitors’ Comments Survey in the first quarter of 2015, about 88.6% of the visitor-users were satisfied with the services and facilities of hotels, up slightly by 0.4 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2014; those who complimented about the services of gaming establishments (83.3%) and shops (83.1%) rose by 1.9 and 1.1 percentage points respectively. Meanwhile, 41.0% of the visitors commented that points of tourist attractions were adequate, up modestly by 0.6 percentage points quarter-to-quarter, while 13.4% considered that public transport services should be improved, down notably by 5.4 percentage points.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 5 hospitals in Macao in 2014, providing a total of 1,421 in-patient beds, up by 55 year-on-year. The occupancy rate of in-patient beds was 75.8%, up by 2.6 percentage points year-on-year. Number of in-patients increased by 3.2% year-on-year to 52,000; those aged below 15 (11,000) rose by 3.4% while those aged 65 and above (11,000) dropped by 3.1%. The average in-patient stay was 7.3 days, up by 0.1 day year-on-year. The hospitals provided a total of 1,513,000 out-patient consultations, up by 4.8% year-on-year. Owing to an increase in live births, consultations in Gynecology/Obstetrics (100,000) and Paediatrics/Neonatology (115,000) increased by 3.8% and 2.0% respectively year-on-year. In addition, dialysis treatments (77,000 cases) registered continuous growth, up by 7.7% year-on-year. Attendances to emergency services totalled 462,000, up by 3.8% year-on-year. Emergency attendances in Macao Peninsula (337,000) increased by 5.3% year-on-year, while those in Taipa (125,000) edged down by 0.1%. There were 697 primary health care establishments in 2014, including public health centres and private clinics. Total number of consultations increased by 8.9% year-on-year to 4,136,000, with 1,167,000 consultations in Chinese Medicine, 1,104,000 in General Practice, and 779,000 in Regular Services such as Adult Health Care, Child Health Care, etc. A total of 286,000 doses of vaccine were administered in hospitals and primary health care establishments in 2014; vaccinations against Influenza totalled 86,000 doses. Number of blood donors totalled 10,018 in 2014, down by 8.4% year-on-year; first-time blood donors (2,728) decreased by 14.1%. In 2014, there were 1,592 doctors and 1,990 nurses, up by 5.2% and 7.3% respectively year-on-year; number of doctors and nurses per 1,000 population was 2.5 and 3.1 respectively, similar to those in 2013.
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To boost public understanding of Sac Pai Van public housing area which was completed and occupied in recent years, the Government Information Bureau (GCS) has produced a video clip and an album of still photographs of the new community, offering viewers snapshots of this new corner of the city. The Sac Pai Van public housing cluster includes On Son Building, Koi Nga Building and Ip Heng Building under the Home-Ownership Scheme, and public rental housing in the Lok Kuan Building, with a total of 9,015 residential units. The first Chinese characters of these four buildings can be combined as “On-Koi-Lok-Ip”, which means “Homes for all in a contented society”. Developed wholly with government funds, Sac Pai Van public housing area is currently the largest public housing project in Macao. It is the first community in Macao to utilise natural gas as domestic fuel and recycled water for toilet flushing. Various public departments are closely monitoring the provision of community facilities related to transportation, livelihoods, medical and healthcare, education, grocery markets, sports and recreation, and social services, ensuring local residents’ basic needs are met. The video and the album of photographs are the work of GCS photographer Luo Kam Lit. The video clip “The New Face of Urbanised Sac Pai Van”, produced with time-lapse techniques combining ground shots and aerial views offering different perspectives, has been uploaded to GCS’s Youtube channel (www.youtube.com/user/macaogcs). The album of photos “Sac Pai Van Public Housing”, has been uploaded to the photo albums column of GCS’s MSAR News app. The album features 10 photos, showing the outside and inside of the public housing cluster in broad daylight and at night.
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Macao Post organizes the “Secure Electronic Postal Box – SEPBox” Mascot Design Competition to encourage participants’ creativity to design a Mascot which can express the functions and high-tech professional image of SEPBox. The main functions of SEPBox enable recipients to receive, electronically and securely, government notifications, Postal Registered electronic Mail, electronic bills and eDirect Mail (eDM), avoiding junk mail and electronic virus. There are General Group and Secondary Group in the “Secure Electronic Postal Box – SEPBox” Mascot Design Competition. Macao Post welcomes participants to either hand-paint or create computer graphic to design the mascot for the “Secure Electronic Postal Box – SEPBox”. Participants are free to create and imagine, but the entry theme shall be the functions of SEPBox. The deadline of submission is 17:45 of 18th August, 2015. There are three winners in each group respectively: champion, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up. Winners will be awarded certificate and rich prize. The champion of the General Group will receive cash prize of MOP 8,000, 1st runner-up will receive MOP 5,000 and 2nd runner-up will receive MOP 3,000. While champion of the Secondary Group will receive cash prize of MOP 5,000, 1st runner-up will receive MOP 3,000 and 2nd runner-up will receive MOP 2,000. Winning entries will have the opportunity to be selected and made as the ambassador or promotional materials of SEPBox by Macao Post. For regulation and application form download of the “Secure Electronic Postal Box – SEPBox” Mascot Design Competition, please visit our website http://seps.macaupost.gov.mo/mascot. For enquiries, please contact us at Tel: 8396 8504 or email us at: ns@macaupost.gov.mo.
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The country’s strategy in building the “Belt and Road” and Macao’s long-term development pattern and social achievements would bring a bright future for Macao, the Vice Premier, Mr Wang Yang, said today. Meeting the Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On in Wuhan during the 9th Central China Investment and Trade Expo (Expo Central China 2015), Mr Wang said he was optimistic in the future of Macao because of the strong support from the Central Government and the country’s development strategy in the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (“Belt and Road”), along with Macao’s own vitality and capability. In views of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, a number of co-operation projects were realised in the country’s 12th Five-Year Plan which outlined the 2011-2015 development blueprint, such as the development of Hengqin in Zhuhai. Other projects would be moved forward in the 13th Five-Year Plan for 2016-2020; Mr Wang said it was more than a Guangdong-Macao co-operation, but a strategic move in national development. In the meeting, Mr Chui thanked Mr Wang for supporting Macao, especially during last year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tourism Ministerial Meeting, 24-hour boundary crossing at checkpoints connecting Macao and Zhuhai, and the work on specifying Macao’s jurisdiction over its customary waters, which is expected to be completed this year. He said the Government would press ahead with turning Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure, and a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, working in line with adequate economy diversification, and promotion of regional economic development and integration. To follow the Central Government’s policy direction, the Macao Government would strive to fortify commercial and trade ties in all aspects with the Portuguese-speaking countries. After meeting Mr Wang, the Chief Executive proceeded to meet with the Secretary of CPC Wuhan Municipal Committee, Mr Ruan Chengfa, and the Governor, Mr Wan Yong, to exchange views on high-end services, tourism, culture, and trade co-operation. Mr Chui said promoting a multi-destination travel model would bolster bilateral development; the Government would take into consideration setting up a contact office in Wuhan to enhance exchanges with places in Central China. Prior to the meetings, Mr Chui attended the opening of the Expo and visited the Wuhan City Planning Museum to learn of its latest development. Mr Chui will attend the tourism event promoting Macao “Experience Macao – Fujian” tomorrow in Fujian Province. Among those with Mr Chui in the meeting were the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; member of the Standing Committee of Hubei Committee People's Political Consultative Conference and Vice President of the Office for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Foreign Affairs, Mr Ma Io Hang and Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping.
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Prof Shigefumi Mori, a world-renowned mathematician and recipient of the Fields Medal in 1990, will give the first lecture of the University Lecture Series, titled ‘Algebraic Geometry – How I Became Fond of It’, at the University of Macau (UM) on 2 June. He will talk about his passion for mathematics and the beauty of algebraic geometry. The talk will take place on Tuesday 2 June in Room G062 in Anthony Lau Building (E4) from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. It will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Cantonese. Advance registration is required due to limited seating. Those interested please complete online registration at https://isw.umac.mo/evm/register/smori. For enquiries, please call 8822 4392 or email to uls@umac.mo.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the number and value of real estate transactions as per Stamp Duty record continued to decrease in the first quarter of 2015, with notable decline being observed in existing residential units. A total of 1,883 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold at MOP10.10 billion in the first quarter of 2015, down by 12.7% and 26.9% respectively quarter-to-quarter. Purchase and sale of residential units totalled 1,114 at MOP6.09 billion, down by 21.2% and 29.0% quarter-to-quarter. Among them, transaction of existing residential units totalled 913 at MOP4.29 billion, down by 25.0% and 29.6% respectively; pre-sale residential units rose slightly by 2.0% to 201 with the total value dropping by 27.3% to MOP1.80 billion. The average price of residential units decreased by 5.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP89,541 per square metre of usable area. The average price of existing residential units decreased by 1.7% quarter-to-quarter to MOP80,663 per square meter, with the average price of those in the Macao Peninsula and Taipa dropping by 1.4% and 3.1% respectively. Many of the existing residential units purchased and sold were in Baixa da Taipa, Barca and Novos Aterros da Areia Preta (NATAP), and the average price was MOP89,763, MOP66,574 and MOP92,383 respectively per square meter. The average price of pre-sale residential units decreased by 17.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP121,249 per square meter. Purchase and sale of pre-sale residential units in Taipa declined significantly, with the average price tumbling by 22.6%; the average price of those in the Macao Peninsula and Coloane dropped by 10.7% and 10.8% respectively. Many of the pre-sale residential units purchased and sold were in NATAP, Coloane and NAPE & Aterros da Baía da Praia Grande, and the average price was MOP104,036, MOP116,438 and MOP182,362 respectively per square metre. Analysed by year of completion, there were 580 residential units built more than 20 years ago (89 in Barca, 63 Barra/Manduco) and the average price was MOP66,950 per square metre, down by 1.1% quarter-to-quarter. For the 209 residential units completed between 11 to 20 years ago (50 in Baixa da Taipa, 24 in NATAP), the average price rose slightly by 0.1% quarter-to-quarter, at MOP82,748 per square metre. The average price of the 77 residential units completed within 5 years or less (13 in Baixa da Taipa, 13 in Doca do Lamau) decreased by 2.3%, at MOP121,774 per square metre. Analysed by usable floor area, there were 541 residential units having a floor area of 50.0 to 99.9 square metres, and the average price fell by 2.6% quarter-to-quarter to MOP84,776 per square metre. Among the 437 small-sized residential units having a floor area of less than 50 square metres, the average price rose by 3.1% to MOP83,331 per square metre. The average price of office units was MOP116,188 per square metre, down by 6.0% quarter-to-quarter. The average price of industrial units increased by 2.3% to MOP56,363 per square metre. In the first quarter of 2015, there were 2,332 real estate sale contracts signed, involving 2,385 properties, up slightly by 0.9% quarter-to-quarter; meanwhile, 3,015 mortgage contracts were signed, involving 4,700 properties, up by 5.6%. As regards construction in the private sector, gross floor area of construction of new buildings totalled 1.19 million square metres (of which hotels accounted for 83.5%), providing 706 units (674 are residential units) and 2,673 parking spaces for cars upon completion. Meanwhile, gross floor area of buildings completed totalled 207 thousand square metres, altogether providing 547 units (527 are residential units) and 658 parking spaces for cars. Average price per square metre of residential units *Annex Table
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said the Government would strengthen co-operation with Hubei Province in internationalisation and innovation to jointly explore opportunities in the Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr Chui was speaking to the Secretary of CPC Provincial Committee of Hubei Province, Mr Li Hongzhong, in a meeting on 17 May in Wuhan, where Mr Chui attended the opening of the 9th Central China Investment and Trade Expo (Expo Central China 2015). He said it was necessary to strengthen co-operation with Hubei, which was in line with the development direction from the Central Government in diversifying Macao’s economy and strengthening regional ties, and explore opportunities brought on by the national development strategy – the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (“Belt and Road”). A mechanism to further promote exchanges between Hubei and the Portuguese-speaking countries would be established by next year, he said. Mr Li told Mr Chui Hubei was interested in using Macao’s link with the Portuguese-speaking countries, stressing it was a crucial part of developing external co-operation. The Expo is held in every two years focusing on economic and trade, with highlights in internationalisation, the market and professionalism. The Governor of Hubei, Mr Wang Guosheng; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; member of the Standing Committee of Hubei Committee People's Political Consultative Conference and Vice President of the Office for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Foreign Affairs, Mr Ma Io Hang; Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping also presented in the meeting.
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Consumer Council conducted its fifth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in May on 18 May for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets at Lam Mau, Patane and San Kio areas in Santo António Parish. 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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Consumer Council will be holding its ‘Keep your shopping receipts’ activity again from now on till November 14. Consumers can exchange draw tickets with their shopping bills, receipts or other forms of invoices, and participants are entitled to a draw of cash prizes up to MOP2,000. The Council believes the activity will help consumers develop the habit of retaining their shopping receipts. More than 172 shops and 1,200 participants in last year’s activity Local consumers did not ask for shopping receipts in the past, this made it difficult to claim when consumer dispute arises. To encourage consumers to keep their shopping receipts and invoices, Consumer Council held an activity called ‘Keep your shopping receipts’ last year, 172 shops joined the activity to offer consumers with receipts voluntarily and over 1,200 consumers participated in the event. Extended period for this year’s activity After the activity ended last years, comments reflected that it helped to enhance consumers’ awareness in retaining their receipts. This year, the Council will be holding the ‘Keep your shopping receipts’ activity again from May 15 to November 14. When making purchases of MOP50 or above, consumers can use their receipts, together with a ‘Keep your shopping receipts’ sticker provided by the participating shops, to exchange a draw ticket at the Council’s offices (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 26 or Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52 RAEM Services Centre ). Draw prizes include cash prizes of MOP2,000 (1 winner), MOP1,500 (2 winners), MOP1,000 (3 winners), and MOP500 (4 winners). Another 100 winners will also be drawn for a special ‘Certified Shop’ edition of electronic money card of MOP100 each. Interested parties may visit the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) to check for the details and the list of all participating shops. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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