News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals increased by 4.9% year-on-year to 2,565,170 in July 2013; same-day visitors accounted for 50.2% of the total, at 1,287,741. In July 2013, visitors from Mainland China increased by 14.0% year-on-year to 1,660,096, coming primarily from Guangdong Province (738,106) and Fujian Province (74,292); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme was 730,405. Moreover, visitors from the Republic of Korea (38,416) and the Philippines (18,859) increased by 6.6% and 0.9% respectively, while those from Hong Kong (598,200); Taiwan, China (91,226); and Japan (20,593) decreased by 6.5%, 18.7% and 41.4%. Long-haul visitors from the UK (4,744) and France (3,268) increased by 13.0% and 5.0% year-on-year, whereas those from the US (14,947), Australia (7,920) and Canada (5,655) decreased by 8.3%, 1.8% and 12.5% respectively. The average length of stay of visitors held stable from a year earlier, at 1.0 day in July 2013; overnight and same-day visitors stayed an average of 1.9 days and 0.2 day respectively. Visitor arrivals totalled 16,707,410 from January to July 2013, an increase of 4.3% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China and the Republic of Korea increased by 10.4% and 5.5%, while those from Hong Kong and Taiwan, China decreased by 3.8% and 10.5%. Long-haul visitors from the US (102,623), Australia (62,033) and Canada (41,497) saw year-on-year decline, on the contrary, those from the UK (33,579), France (23,553) and the Russian Federation (17,972) registered year-on-year increase.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (CAB), in cooperation with the Macao Architects Association, organises the Macao Pavilion at the 2013 Shenzhen and Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture (Shenzhen), and is not inviting applications for the Pavilion until August 30. Macao was for the first time invited to participate in this event. The CAB hopes this participation can successfully promote the cultural exchange between Macao and third countries, contribute to better knowledge of the national and international cultural tendencies in urbanism and architecture and attract the population's interest in architecture, urban planning, art and design. The theme "Urban Border" stems from urban areas' characteristic multiplicity of values, and is centred in the often ignored and hidden tendency for diversity, differentiation and individuality that is revealed beyond the mainstream and homogeneity during the urbanization process. The Shenzhen exhibition will be curated by Ole Bouman's team in cooperation with Li Xiangning and Jeffrey Johnson's team. The exhibition project will be supervised by the Organising Committee of the Macao Exhibition – 2013 Shenzhen and Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture, and the selection of applications will be carried out by the Jury Commission for the Macao Pavilion Exhibition Plans – 2013 Shenzhen and Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture. The application form and regulation are available for download at the CAB's website, at www.icm.gov.mo.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) releases today the preliminary balance of payments (BOP) of Macao SAR for the reference year 2012. The BOP is a statistical statement that summarises external transactions of an economy with the rest of the world. In 2012, Macao recorded an overall BOP surplus of MOP30.1 billion. Among the major components, the current account registered a surplus of MOP152.0 billion. The financial non-reserve assets showed a net increase of MOP106.8 billion. Due to strong domestic demand and visitor spending, merchandise imports, valued at f.o.b., surged by 14.0% in 2012. After showing an increase of 7.0% in 2011, merchandise exports soared by 24.1%. Although exports of goods rose faster than imports of goods, the merchandise trade deficit enlarged from MOP62.4 billion in 2011 to MOP70.3 billion in 2012, given the much larger size of merchandise imports over exports. On the other hand, strong exports of travel services drove the surplus in the services account up from MOP235.2 billion to MOP275.3 billion. The primary income account, which reflects cross-border flows of factor income, recorded a net outflow of MOP44.0 billion in 2012, as compared to the net outflow of MOP39.8 billion in the previous year. The significant increase stemmed mainly from the increase in income earned by foreign direct investors in Macao. The secondary income account, which comprises mainly inflows and outflows of personal transfers as well as donations received/made by local social service organisations with respect to the rest of the world, recorded a net outflow of MOP9.1 billion, representing an increase of MOP4.6 billion from 2011. As the large invisible trade surplus offset the deficit in merchandise trade as well as net outflows of primary and secondary income, the current account surplus reached MOP152.0 billion, up markedly by MOP23.4 billion from MOP128.6 billion in 2011. Net financial non-reserve assets registered a net outflow of MOP106.8 billion in 2012, compared to a net outflow of MOP13.2 billion in 2011. Of which, a net inflow of direct investment amounting to MOP33.1 billion was recorded, as against the net inflow of MOP12.9 billion in the preceding year while the net outflow of portfolio investment amounted to MOP3.9 billion, down from MOP15.1 billion in 2011. According to the Fiscal Reserve Act that came into force at the outset of 2012, the retained surplus of the MSAR Government had to be carved out from foreign exchange reserves for establishing the MSAR's Fiscal Reserve under a separate account. This reallocation of assets, together with the rapid accumulation of foreign assets related to the Fiscal Reserve during the year, caused the net outflow of other investment in the BOP to surge from MOP10.7 billion in 2011 to MOP136.5 billion in 2012. On the other hand, financial derivatives recorded a net inflow of MOP487.7 million in 2012, as against a net outflow of MOP350.7 million in 2011. Reserve assets in the BOP records the net change in foreign currency assets held by the Monetary Authority of Macao (excluding the MSAR's Fiscal Reserve). In 2012, with the enforcement of the Fiscal Reserve Act, the retained surplus of the MSAR Government was no longer maintained in foreign exchange reserves, hence narrowing the change in reserve assets. After price, exchange rate and other adjustments, reserve assets placed outside of Macao SAR went up by MOP30.1 billion, as compared to an increase of MOP81.6 billion in 2011. Starting from this year, Macao's BOP statistics have been compiled in accordance with the newly revised Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (Sixth Edition) of the International Monetary Fund. The current release incorporates preliminary estimates of key statistics, and a detailed report with revised data will be published in December 2013. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department
Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel：83952532Fax：28353042 Email: gee@amcm.gov.mo)
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI (123.86) for July 2013 increased by 5.38% year-on-year, attributable to dearer charges for eating out, outbound package tours, and higher rentals for dwellings. In comparison with July 2012, notable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+9.04%); Health (+6.43%); and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.42%) on account of rising rentals for dwellings, higher charges for out-patient services and eating out, and dearer prices of fresh food and produce. On the contrary, price index of Education and Communication decreased by 3.14% and 2.66% respectively. The CPI-A (123.89) and CPI-B (124.38) increased by 5.84% and 5.31% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for July 2013 increased by 0.43% month-to-month. Higher charges for outbound package tours and rentals for dwellings drove up the price index of Recreation & Culture; and Housing & Fuels by 3.01% and 1.03% respectively. However, price index of Clothing & Footwear decreased by 2.16% upon seasonal sale of Summer clothing. The CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 0.49% and 0.38% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended July 2013, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.47% from the previous period. Price index of Housing & Fuels (+8.54%) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.95%) registered marked increase, while index of Education decreased by 2.69%. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.98% and 5.47% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first seven months of 2013 increased by 5.27% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.82% and 5.17% respectively. The 2008/2009-based Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP6,000 to MOP18,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP19,000 to MOP34,999.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB) will begin restoration works in the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, in Coloane, on August 22. The Chapel will be closed during these works, which the CAB intends to finish at the end of November, in order to minimize disruptions and inconveniences to residents and tourists.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released survey results of Manpower Needs and Wages of the Gaming Sector for the second quarter of 2013. Survey coverage excludes junket promoters and junket associates. At the end of the second quarter of 2013, the Gaming Sector had 54,554 full-time employees, up by 5.5% year-on-year. An analysis by occupation indicated that 24,031 were dealers, up by 4.3% year-on-year; moreover, 13,777 were hard & soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, betting service operators, etc., down slightly by 0.1%. In June 2013, average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees stood at MOP18,900, up by 6.5% year-on-year. Average earnings were MOP16,720 for dealers, and MOP22,400 for hard & soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, betting service operators, etc., up by 5.8% and 3.7% respectively year-on-year; average earnings of casino & slot machine attendants, security guards, surveillance room operators, etc. were MOP12,780, up by 6.6%. Job vacancies totalled 1,591 at the end of the second quarter of 2013, down by 230 year-on-year. There were 822 vacancies for dealers, up by 35. Hard & soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, betting service operators, etc., had 239 vacant posts, a decrease of 127. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 52.2% of the vacancies required working experience; 63.4% required junior secondary education or lower, and requirement for knowledge of Mandarin and English stood at 92.5% and 63.7% respectively. In the second quarter of 2013, the Gaming Sector hired 2,552 new employees and the employee recruitment rate (4.7%) decreased by 3.7 percentage points year-on-year. The job vacancy rate (2.8%) fell by 0.6 percentage points, indicating that the human resource situation of the Gaming Sector was relatively stable this quarter.
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According to the statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the proportion of international business in the local banking sector increased further in the second quarter of 2013. At end-June 2013, the share of international assets in total banking assets expanded to 84.8% from 84.2% at end-March 2013, while the share of international liabilities in total banking liabilities also advanced to 81.2% from 80.8%. Foreign currencies were the dominant denomination in international banking transactions. At end-June 2013, the shares of Pataca (MOP) in total international assets and total international liabilities were 0.5% and 3.1% respectively. Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) and Other Foreign Currencies (OFCs) accounted for 35.5% and 64.1% of total international assets as well as 46.9% and 50.0% of total international liabilities respectively. International Banking Assets
At end-June 2013, total international assets expanded by 6.1% from a quarter ago or 25.5% from a year earlier to MOP766.4 billion (USD95.9 billion). Within this total, external assets grew by 29.0% year-on-year to MOP602.8 billion while local assets in foreign currencies increased by 14.0% to MOP163.6 billion. As a major component of international assets, external loans & deposits advanced by 28.4% to MOP561.0 billion. In particular, cross-border non-bank loans went up by 32.3%. International Banking Liabilities
Total international liabilities increased by 6.1% from three months ago or 24.9% year-on-year to MOP734.5 billion (USD91.9 billion). Of this total, external liabilities and local liabilities in foreign currencies grew year-on-year by 21.2% to MOP383.5 billion and 29.2% to MOP351.0 billion respectively. Foreign currency deposits held by residents and the MSAR government continued to form a major component of international liabilities. This type of deposits grew by 29.4% to MOP329.3 billion at end-June 2013 from MOP254.6 billion at end-June 2012. Breakdown of External Banking Assets and Liabilities by Region
The majority of external assets and liabilities were related to the regions of Asia and Europe. At end-June 2013, claims on Hong Kong and Mainland China occupied 32.3% and 29.3% of total external assets correspondingly, while claims on Portugal, Luxembourg and Germany took up 9.9%, 2.6% and 1.3% respectively. On external liabilities, Hong Kong and Mainland China accounted for 47.7% and 20.9% of the total respectively while Portugal, France and Luxembourg took up respective shares of 4.6%, 4.4% and 1.9%. The compilation of International Banking Statistics follows the methodology advocated by the Bank for International Settlements in order to facilitate Macao SAR's participation in the "Locational International Banking Statistics" project of the international organisation. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao
(Tel：8395 2532; Fax：2835 3042)
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The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) conducts a 7-day training event on "National Aviation Security Inspectors Course" in the office multi-function room commencing today (19 August 2013). Two aviation security experts with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) certified instructors qualification are invited to lecture security audits and inspections and share their experiences. The training course starts today and will last for 7 days until 27 August 2013. The course aims at providing trainees with theoretical and practical knowledge of fundamental aspects of audits and inspections. The trainees will undergo taught classes and a practical exercise at Macau International Airport to understand the duties and specific skills required by an inspector, learn how to determine the appropriate methodology to conduct security inspections within the scope of a National Aviation Security Quality Control system, and how to practically conduct audits and inspections and present reports, and so on. The course goes with a written examination. The trainees will be awarded with a certificate issued by ICAO having attended all classes and an exercise and successfully passed the examination. The course instructors are Mr. Piengtep Yapan and Ms. Anchalee Gulati. Both of them are ICAO certified instructors and have enriching experience in teaching aviation security courses. Mr. Piengtep Yapan is presently working in Bangkok Airways and Ms. Anchalee Gulati is working for ICAO Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific (CASP-AP). The number of trainees is 21, of which 17 are local participants coming from AACM, airport operators and airlines; the remaining 4 are coming from the aeronautical authorities and airlines from India and Cambodia. AACM said, "In order to allow more Macao aviation security inspectors and practitioners to receive high quality and internationally recognized training events, our Authority has discussed with the ICAO CASP-AP Programme Coordinator to conduct courses in Macao. We have eventually been able to organize one this August." AACM emphasizes that training is in an integral element in enhancing professional knowledge and skills. The Authority has always focused on staff training. In addition to allowing staff to take part in overseas training activities which are necessary to perform their duties, the Authority also organizes different types of technical training courses in Macao. The objective is to allow trainees to exchange opinions among themselves and learn from each other in order that they can gain more knowledge in their profession, make progress in work efficiency and help their organization to improve overall service quality.
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In its latest issue of Consumer Report no. 239, Consumer Council publishes the results of a test on toothpicks and bamboo skewers for the presence of sulphur dioxide. Test results show that 12 out of the 15 samples examined did not contain any sulphur dioxide and the amount of sulphur dioxide tested in the other two samples did not exceed the testing standards limit. The latest issue also includes the price survey data of food/beverage items from local cafés. Human beings make direct contact with toothpicks and bamboo skewers are used to thread food together, previous tests from other countries have revealed that sulphur dioxide are sometimes used to bleach toothpicks and bamboo skewers to make them look more pleasing, the Council therefore conducted a test and examined 9 brands of toothpicks and 6 brands of bamboo skewers from the market to test the presence of sulphur dioxide. The mentioned test was conducted based on the standard SN/T 2595-2010 used in mainland China regarding the materials of soft wood, wood, and bamboo products. According to the standard, the level of sulphur dioxide released from toothpick/bamboo skewers should not exceed 600mg/kg, and the current test result shows that all samples are satisfactory. No sulphur dioxide was tested in 9 toothpick and 3 bamboo skewers samples while the amount of sulphur dioxide tested in the other 3 samples was below the standard limit. Consumers and manufacturers are advised to check the packages and labels of this kind of bamboo products, and to choose those with the expiry date printed on the packages. The mentioned testing report is available in Consumer Report no. 239. The Council recently collected prices of four takeaway food/beverage items from 80 local cafés in six parishes of Macao, surveyed items included milk tea and toast with butter, etc.. The Council pays attention to the price discrepancies of the same food/beverage items sold at different places and suggests consumers to make price comparison before making any purchase. The mentioned price survey on food/beverage items from local cafés can be found in the latest issue of Consumer Report. In coordination with "Lei da actividade de mediação imobiliária" (law applied to the intermediary services in real estate operations) and "Regulamentação da Lei da actividade de mediação imobiliária" (regulation applied to the law) which came into effect on 1st July, the Council amended its 'Code of Practice' for its 'Certified Shops' under the industry of intermediary services in real estate operations. Copies of the 'Code of Practice' is now available for the industry and the public and its details is included in the current issue of Consumer Report. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at Consumer Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C), and the service counter of Consumer Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries and bookstores. Consumers may also access the resources online on the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315. The above article can be downloaded at http://www.consumer.gov.mo/c/ccnews.asp
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Training units of Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) received recognition again. Having awarded "Travelers' Choice Award" by TripAdvisor, a well-known global tourists' website since 2011 and recommended by the "Michelin Hong Kong Macau Guide Book" for 5 consecutive years, Pousada de Mong-Há, one of the training units of IFT, was honourably awarded by TripAdvisor China Official Website Daodao.com with "2013 Certificate of Excellence Award" and ranked 1st out of 83 hotels in Macao. Another training unit of IFT - Educational Restaurant, which has received positive comments for years and recommended by the Michelin Hong Kong Macau Guide Book for 5 consecutive years, was awarded "Certificate of Excellence award" by TripAdvisor China Official Website Daodao.com for 2 consecutive years. With its excellent service and culinary quality provided to guests, it is consistently ranked in the top three out of 278 restaurants in Macao. All these awards recognised the high quality of service and professionalism of students and the training units. Being the training units, Pousada de Mong-Há and Educational Restaurant aim to provide a practical learning environment for students, and with the professionalism of teachers, students can acquire the precious hands-on experiences and the skills for actual operation. Educational Restaurant and Pousada de Mong Há are located at Colina de Mong-Há (The Mong Há Hill). It is like a gateway place from the busy city life and guests can fully relax in this natural and picturesque environment. They offer unforgettable experiences of flavours, aromas and accommodation created by the restaurant and hotel team together with the superb service provided by students. There, guests can experience the true Macanese hospitality and service. IFT is the only institute of higher education in Macao which focuses on fostering professionals in tourism and hospitality related industry. It offers degree and professional programmes in a wide range of tourism-related disciplines. Through international recruitment, the institute builds up a teaching team which consists of scholars from 15 countries or regions. It also invites professionals from the industry to serve as part time instructors so that students can be updated with the industry trends and requirements. IFT also has protocol signed with many internationally recognised institutes for exchange programme which provides students with chances to study overseas for one semester or one year to broaden their international experience. Students can also perform their internship programme overseas for one semester, getting ready for their career path in the future.
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