News

For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June, Consumer Council conducted its specific price surveys on oral care products and milk powder on 17th October. Results of the mentioned surveys have been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and are available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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(Macao—18 October 2013) Members of the public can once again visit the front block and gardens of Government Headquarters during its annual open day, on 19 and 20 October between 9 am and 6 pm. During the two-day opening, a range of rich programmes will be prepared for visitors, including performance by the Public Security Police Band and students from the School of Music and School of Dance of the Macao Conservatory. There will also be guided tours of the first floor of the Headquarters and a photo exhibition of old Macao in the multi-purpose conference room. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau will also be holding a flower show, exhibition some 20,000 carnations of different colours at Government Headquarters. To enrich the exhibition, the flower show will also feature bonsai displays. To commemorate this special occasion, Macao Post will set up a special counter at Nam Van Lake to provide hand-back service and issue a set of commemorative envelope and postcard. The Nam Van Lake cybernetic fountain will also be open during to the public on these two days.
Built in 1849, Government Headquarters has been used as the office of Macao heads of government before and after its return to Chinese rule.
Today the building houses the Executive Council chamber, a multi-functional meeting room and the Lotus Chamber. The office of the Chief Executive is on the first floor, together with the Green Chamber, the Yellow Chamber and the Blue Chamber, which are for greeting guests and holding meetings and banquets.
For more details, please visit http://www2.gcs.gov.mo/openday or www.gov.mo.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) dropped in August 2013 whereas those of commercial real estate loans (CRELs) grew. With regard to outstanding balance, RMLs and CRELs both witnessed increases. New Lending Approved In August 2013, new RMLs approved by Macao banks dropped 25.3% month-to-month to MOP3.3 billion; of which, 99.1% was extended to residents. In terms of value, new RMLs to residents and non-residents contracted 24.7% and 62.1% respectively. When compared with the same period of 2012, new approvals of RMLs witnessed decrease of 24.6%. New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) rose significantly by 31.9% month-to-month to MOP44.2 million. When compared with the same period of 2012, this type of bank mortgage contracted by 81.4% New CRELs rose 59.5% month-to-month to MOP4.1 billion; of which, 98.2% was granted to residents. In terms of value, new CRELs to residents increased 64.0% whereas the amount to non-residents dropped by 37.5%. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs expanded significantly by 133.1%. Outstanding Balances As at end-August 2013, the outstanding value of RMLs reached MOP110.4 billion, an increase of 1.8% from one month earlier or 24.6% from a year ago. The resident component made up 94.4% of the total. Compared to end-July 2013, outstanding RMLs to residents grew 2.0% whereas the amount to non-residents dropped 1.7%. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs increased 3.0% from end-July 2013 and up 21.2% from end-August 2012 to MOP79.8 billion. Residents accounted for 92.2% of the loans. Compared with one month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents grew 3.3% whereas the amount to non-residents slid 0.1%. Delinquency Ratios At the end of August 2013, the delinquency ratio for RMLs stood at 0.05%, which decreased slightly from one month earlier and down 0.01 percentage point from a year ago. The ratio for CRELs edged down 0.01 percentage point and 0.02 percentage points from end-July 2013 and end-August 2012 respectively to 0.07%. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department Monetary Authority of Macao
(Tel：83952532; Fax：28353042)
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The workshop on "Conflicts and Resolutions among Trademarks, Copyright and Industrial Models and Designs", as organised by the Economic Services (DSE) and integrated as part of the 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, is going to take place on October 22 and 23, from 9:30 to 13:00, in the Auditorium of the DSE in the Luso-International Bank Building, 7th floor. This workshop will feature as its keynote speaker Mr. XU Chao, Deputy Director, Intellectual Property Right Center, Beijing, China and the event will be conducted in Mandarin, with simultaneous translation into Portuguese. Amongst other topics, the following items will be discussed: 1. Relationships between Copyright and Industrial Models and Designs – Case Sharing; 2. Relationships between Copyright and Trademarks – Case Sharing; 3. Basic Principles and Methods of Conflict Resolution; 4. Relationships between Trademarks and Industrial Models and Designs – Case Sharing; 5. Study and Discussion of Practical Cases – Case Sharing. The 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, which incorporates this workshop, has as its main objective the "Consolidation of the Macao Legal System" and will take place until December 2013. The execution of this Programme is coordinated by the Law Reform and International Law Bureau, with the participation of several other MSAR's entities and public departments, namely the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Economic Services, the Financial Services Bureau and the Institute of European Studies of Macao.
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The "SME International Business Days" (hereinafter referred to as the "SME Days") of "18th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair" (MIF) will be held from 17 to 20 October 2013. The main objective of "SME Days" is to advocate brand building, leveraging enterprise value and encouraging entrepreneurship. The "SME Days" will feature various services and activities such as – (1) SME Service Corner; (2) Consultancy services for SMEs and business starters; (3) Seminars on leveraging business capacity, innovation and entrepreneurship (4) SME promotion incentive packages and (5) Franchise catalogues show, to facilitate SMEs to utilise MIF's business platform to explore business opportunities. New consultancy services for SMEs and business starters Apart from introducing IPIM's SME services, the SME Service Corner will provide enterprises with up-to-date information and a free enquiry service, including "One-stop Service for Macao economic and trade consultations, information on international markets, information on exhibitions, trade fairs and franchising. Moreover, invited professional business consultants from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will provide free on-site consultancy on branding, product and service re-packaging and promotional strategies and also advisory services to business starters. Consultancy services will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis and interested parties are welcome to pre-register their enquiries. (Tel: 87989614). Seminars on leveraging business capacity and entrepreneurship
Two seminars will also be held during the "SME Days", with renowned entrepreneurs, brand and marketing consultants and experts invited to share their experiences and insights with participants, with the aim of assisting SMEs to devise strategies to promote their businesses and for those who plan to start their own business. On 18 October the "Seminar on Leveraging Business Capacity - Become a Brand and Be a Success with Value", which will include topics such as brand repackaging to create values, experience of successful brands, brand co-operation to create collaboration synergy and issues on investment and returns on branding; whereas the "Seminar on Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Start your business, be your own boss!" on 19 October will cover issues including experience sharing and analysis on entrepreneurs' successes and failures and survival tactics in the market place, using e-commerce and franchising as a means to start a business. Interested parties are welcome to sign up for the seminars (Tel: 87989614) Incentive Exhibition Schemes – 50% off for Macao Ideas exhibits and exhibition discounts for 2014MFE exhibitors Another highlight of "SME Days" is the various promotional schemes and packages designed for the needs of SMEs, including Financial Incentives to Participate in Exhibitions and Fairs and E-Commerce Promotion Incentives. Existing and new Macao Ideas exhibitors applying for exhibition space duirng "SME Day" are entitled to 50% discount and enterprises enrolling for the "Macao Franchise Expo 2014" (2014 MFE) as exhibitors can enjoy special discounts on exhibition fees. A products/services and franchise catalogue show will be held concurrently, to allow local enterprises to acquire worldwide product information. The Opening Ceremony of "SME International Business Days" will be held at 12:00 noon on 18 October in the 18th MIF Macao Pavilion Protocol Signing Centre at Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. All interested parties are welcome. For more details, please visit the MIF website at http://www.mif.com.mo/mif2013/schedule.php?&lang=en or contact the SME Service Centre (SMEC). Enquiry hotline: 87989614/87989711(Mr Ho or Ms Leong).
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB) has organized the participation of local cultural and creative entities, in particular audio-visual, music and multimedia design industries, in the 18th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), and have set up the "Macao Creative Pavilion" to showcase and promote the city's creative brands, products and services. The CAB expects to stimulate further exchanges, co-operation and business matching between Macao's cultural and creative sectors and overseas counterparts. The exhibition will take place at the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Center, from October 17 to 20. During this period, assorted seminars and performances will be staged at the "Macao Creative Pavilion", and all are welcome to attend.
The CAB has been organizing the "Macao Creative Pavilion" in the MIF since 2010, promoting Macao's original brands and products to visitors, allowing them to better understand and support Macao's cultural and creative entities. This year, the CAB was invited by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) to set up this pavilion once again. In coordination with the already launched "2013 Support Programme for the Production of Feature Films", this year's 270-square-meter pavilion features audio-visual, music and multimedia design industries. The design concept of the pavilion is centered on audio, visual and information communication symbols; paper tubes are shaped in various forms to portray orchestral instruments, photographic lenses, cinematographic film, communication channels and data transmission means. To enhance interaction with visitors, a variety of seminars, performances and workshops will take place at the pavilion during the four-day event.
The CAB invited 19 entities chosen from the Macao Database for Cultural and Creative Industries to participate and exhibit their products at the "Macao Creative Pavilion". The exhibitors include Pride Entertainment Productions Co. Ltd., Macao Film Limited, Salon Multimedia Macao Ltd., Creative Macau - Center for Creative Industries, Chessman Entertainment Production Co. Ltd., Good Media Production Co. Limited, Macau Creative Industry Company Limited, 7C Co. Ltd., AomenTV Limited, Creative Industries Promotion Association of St. Lazarus Church District, Mirage Visuals Co. Ltd., 100 Plus Music Ltd., Amateur Continuing Study Centre, Icon Digital, Vivitam Pro Image Design Ltd., Todot Design, Craxh Production Limited, The Cut Audio and Visual Association and Free Dream Production Studio.
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Macau has taken centre stage in Sydney, Australia, in October, as Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is organizing a Macau Festival and a Macau Food Festival to promote the city's gastronomy and different attractions, along with the upcoming 60th Macau Grand Prix. As an "entree" to the month, the Sheraton on the Park's is hosting a 17-day Macau Food Festival (October 4 to 20), featuring Macanese dishes. While the "main course" for October, will be the annual Macau Festival in Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, a free two-day weekend family event (October 19 to 20). This festival, which is into its third year as an annual Sydney event, will have on going entertainment with a mix of traditional Portuguese and Chinese cultural dance and song, along with contemporary music and dance, information about the city and further Macanese, Portuguese and Chinese delicacies, along with face painting, caricature drawings, balloon sculptures, and photographs superimposed for postcards on Macau. There will be also a pavilion dedicated to the November running of the 60th Macau Grand Prix, with simulators to test participant's driving skills over the challenging road circuit.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that during the Summer Holiday, visitor arrivals in package tour increased by 6.6% year-on-year to 973,766 in August 2013. Visitors in package tour mostly came from Mainland China (770,365), with 292,733 from Guangdong Province; followed by Taiwan, China (62,622); Hong Kong (38,586); and the Republic of Korea (32,706). In the first eight months of 2013, visitors in package tour totalled 6,469,508, up by 11.1% year-on-year. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies were 134,686 in August, up by 11.0% year-on-year; those travelling in package tour totalled 51,228 and the main destinations were Mainland China, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Taiwan, China. In the first eight months of 2013, outbound residents increased by 16.0% year-on-year to 958,998 and 366,676 travelled in package tour. There were 97 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of August 2013, providing 27,761 guest rooms, up by 14.4% year-on-year, of which the 5-star hotels had 18,373 rooms, accounting for 66.2% of the total. In August 2013, a total of 989,433 guests checked into hotels and guesthouses, up by 12.2% year-on-year, with 590,660 staying in 5-star hotels (+20.7%). The average length of stay of guests held stable as August 2012, at 1.3 nights. The average occupancy rate reached 90.3%, up by 2.2 percentage points year-on-year, with 5-star hotels leading at 91.5%. Total number of guests was 7,130,178 in the first eight months of 2013, up by 14.4% year-on-year; the average occupancy rate stood at 81.8%, down by 1.5 percentage points. From January to August 2013, visitor-guests took up 70.3% of the total number of overnight visitors, higher than the 64.5% in the same period of 2012.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the third quarter of 2013 increased by 6.89% year-on-year to 128.84, attributable to higher hotel room rate and charges for restaurant services. Notable increase was observed in the price index of Accommodation (+10.03%); Clothing & Footwear (+9.67%); and Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+8.98%) on account of rising room rate, dearer prices of handbag and local food products. On the contrary, price index of Miscellaneous Goods decreased by 3.10% year-on-year. TPI for the third quarter of 2013 increased by 2.41% quarter-to-quarter. Higher room rate and airfare during the Summer holiday pushed up the price index of Accommodation; and Transport & Communications by 9.45% and 4.97% respectively; however, price index of Clothing & Footwear decreased by 2.27% quarter-to-quarter due to seasonal sale of Summer clothing. The average TPI for the last four quarters ended the third quarter of 2013 increased by 6.31% from the previous period, with marked increase being observed in the price index of Clothing & Footwear (+13.65%); and Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+8.66%). For the first three quarters of 2013, TPI went up by 6.97% year-on-year, of which price index of Clothing & Footwear; Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; and Accommodation increased by 12.70%, 9.42% and 8.16% respectively. The 2009/2010-based TPI reflects the price change of goods and services purchased by visitors. Sections of TPI goods and services are selected according to the consumption pattern of visitors, namely Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods.
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Consumer Council conducted its 'Supermarket price survey' for October on 15th October for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Horte e Costa, Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga and Rua da Emenda areas in Santo António 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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