News

The current Head Office of Consumer Council and its Consumer Arbitration Centre located at Rua Inácio Baptista nº6-6A Edf. Seaview Garden R/C will relocate to its new office from 12th March (Tuesday). Consumer Council indicates that as its services continue to expand, the mentioned Head Office located at Rua Inácio Baptista nº6-6A Edf. Seaview Garden R/C is insufficient for its work and staff. The Council will relocate its Head Office to Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 26, Edf. Clementina A. L. Ho, 3.º-5.º andares from 12th March. After its relocation, the Council can be reached by the following means: Head Office: Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 26, Edf. Clementina A. L. Ho, 3.º-5.º andares Public services:
1. Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C
2. Rua Nova da Areia Preta, N.º 52, Centro de Serviços da RAEM, 1.º Andar, Zona M Telephone: 89889315
Fax: 28307816
E-mail: info@consumer.gov.mo
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Owing to the noxious fumes affecting the postal facilities in Jamaica, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packets and Parcels) from Macao to Jamaica are suspended until further notice.
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Leaders from Guangdong province and Macao met in Beijing today to exchange views on enhancing collaboration and consensus to jointly strive for more special preferential policies from the Central Government. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the Secretary of the Guangdong CPC Provincial Committee, Mr Hu Chunhua, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhu Xiaodan, after he attended the opening session of the First Plenary Session of the Twelfth National People's Congress, which opened today. Mr Hu said he met Mr Chui several times after he had been in the new post for two months, and that close communication was very important to facilitate co-operation between the two places. He described the co-operative relationship between Guangdong and Macao as "excellent" and said his government would continue to support the Macao Government. He also pledged that the new campus of the University of Macau (UM) on Hengqin Island would be completed on time. Mr Chui said he was informed that the campus would be completed at the end of March and students might enjoy the new environment in this coming new academic year, after UM could move its entire campus to Hengqin at the end of September. He thanked the Guangdong leaders for having given great support in building UM new campus: over a period of time, these two places had jointly strived for a series of policies and measures which were favourable for co-operation from the Central Government. Based on a good foundation, Guangdong and Macao would jointly strive for more favorable policies to further boost collaboration, which would include actively participating in the development of Hengqin Island in Zhuhai and Nansha in Guangzhou according to the Outline Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta, said the Chief Executive. In addition to Hengqin, he highlighted that there was huge potential in the development of Nansha, which might bring good opportunities for regional development of Guangdong and Macao. Moreover, these special preferential policies also included extending opening hours and to implement a new model of management at the new gateway between Macao and Hengqin Island. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chun Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam, the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping and the Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, Ms Zhao Yufang also attended the meeting.
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Aiming to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between the Macao´s convention and exhibition industry with their counterparts abroad, promote the advantages of Macau as an ideal destination for the organizations of conventions and exhibitions, so as to attract the organization of MICE activities in Macao by renowned organizations specialized in this area, members of the External Co-operation Group of the Committee for the Development of Convention and Exhibition and officials of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), comprised of 8 persons, travelled to Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, from February 28 to March 1, to participate in the "UFI Open Seminar in Asia". The said event was jointly held by The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) and the Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association (ICEA). UFI is one of the most representative associations in field of convention and exhibition, whose members include managers and professionals of the MICE industry from all over the world, with the common mission of promoting the development of the MICE industry, in the regional and international context. IPIM is a member of UFI since 2005 and has over the years actively participated in the various events organized by the said association, taking the opportunity to carry out exchanges with persons and institutions belonging to the MICE industry. During the UFI Open Seminar, before an audience of over 230 people, comprised of UFI members and leaders and representatives of the convention and exhibition industry around the world, the President of IPIM, Mr. Jackson Chang, promoted the advantages of Macau as an ideal place for the organization of conventions and exhibitions, the support provided by IPIM to event organizers to bid for the organization of conventions and exhibitions in Macao and also the "one-stop" service provided by IPIM. In addition, IPIM also installed a booth in the venue, to distribute promotional materials to the delegates and answer their questions about Macao. Members of the Macao delegation also visited the Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association (IECA) and met with its president, Mr. Effi Setiabud. Both parties exchanged valuable opinions on the support provided by their respective governments to the development of the convention and exhibition industry and also the measures to attract a greater number of MICE activities to their respective countries and regions. Members of the Macao delegation included the Convenor of the External Development Group of the Committee for the Development of Conventions and Exhibitions of Macao and President of IPIM, Mr. Jackson Chang, the Executive Director of IPIM, Ms. Irene V. K. Lau, and members of the External Development Group of the Committee for the Development of Conventions and Exhibitions, including the President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Macao Convention & Exhibition Organizers, Ms. Eva Lou, the President of the Macao Fair & Trade Association, Mr. Lam Chong In and the President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Advertising Agents of Macau, Mr. Kevin Bi.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the total population was estimated at 582,000 at end-2012, an increase of 4.4% year-on-year; female accounted for 51.8% of the total population. As regards the age structure, the elderly population (aged 65 and over) took up 7.7% of the total, up by 0.4 percentage point year-on-year; the youth population (aged 0-14) shared 11.6%, down by 0.2 percentage point, and the adult population (aged 15-64) held stable at 80.8%, similar to 2011. There were 7,315 live births in 2012, up notably by 25.0% year-on-year. Gender ratio of the newborn stood at 113.8, corresponding to 113.8 male babies per 100 female babies. Number of mortality cases totalled 1,841, down by 4 cases from 2011; the top three underlying causes of death were Neoplasms, Diseases of the Circulatory System and Diseases of the Respiratory System. In the fourth quarter of 2012, there were 2,109 live births and 444 mortality cases. In 2012, there were 4,060 immigrants from Mainland China whereas 1,151 illegal immigrants were repatriated to the Mainland, down by 2,162 and 115 respectively year-on-year. Non-resident workers totalled 110,552 at end-2012, an increase of 16,524 year-on-year; besides, a net inflow of 509 individuals authorized to reside in Macao. Marriage registration and divorce cases totalled 3,783 and 1,230 in 2012, up by 238 and 232 year-on-year respectively.
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The registration period for the 31st Macao Young Musicians Competition is open from March 15 to 19 (including the weekend) at the Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB). The Competition accepts participants in twenty-seven performance categories, among them Piano Solo, Piano Four Hands, Piano Ensemble, Harp Solo and Harp Ensemble. This year, the competition has added a new ensemble cate gory, Two Pianos, to encourage even more participation from groups and foster team spirit among young musicians.
The Competition takes place from June 15 to July 14 at the Dom Pedro V Theatre. In addition to the usual 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, the CAB will also award one Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize, ten Talent Prizes and one Best Ensemble Performance Prize in each category, providing more opportunities for exceptional young talents to earn financial aid towards the pursuit of their studies in music. Wright State University, in Dayton, Ohio, USA, will also grant scholarships to the most talented participants, offering them the chance to enrol in one of their music degree courses.
Contestants must have been born in or after 1992 and must present their valid Macao Resident ID Card upon registration. There is no age limit for accompanists, but these must also hold a valid Macao Resident ID Card. Competitors need not submit personal information about their accompanist(s) at the time of registration. However, on the day of the competition, the accompanist must present his or her valid Macao Resident ID Card. Competitors must submit, in person or via a representative, the completed registration form, along with all supporting documents, to the Cultural Events Department of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, located at 78 Rua do Campo, Chong Kin Building, 8th floor, unit A, between the hours of 9am and 1pm, or between the hours of 2:30 and 7:30pm. Group registrations must include a list of all participants in addition to the completed registration form and all supporting documents. The registration fee for each category is MOP 50.
Interested parties may consult the musical scores for the compulsory pieces at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building, located on Praça do Tap Seac, between the hours of 9am and 5:30pm, Monday through Friday, or at the Macao Central Library (89 Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, A-B), between the hours of 10am and 8pm, any day of the week. Regulations and forms pertaining to the Macao Young Musicians Competition are available on the CAB website, at www.icm.gov.mo/cjmm. For more information, please call 8399 6620 / 8399 6621 during office hours or, between March 15 and 21, call 2833 5140.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, broad money supply continued to grow in January. Driven by an increase in loans, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector rose from a month earlier.
Money supply
Currency in circulation and demand deposits grew 5.7% and 9.4% respectively. M1 thus increased 8.8% from one month earlier. Concurrently, quasi-monetary liabilities grew 3.5%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, rose 4.1% to MOP390.0 billion. On an annual basis, both M1 and M2 rose 25.6%. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 25.0%, up 0.8 percentage points from a month ago but down 1.7 percentage points from a year earlier. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 55.0%, down 0.8 percentage points month-to-month but up 0.6 percentage points year-on-year.
Deposits
Resident deposits rose 4.1% from the preceding month to MOP381.8 billion. Of which, MOP deposits, HKD deposits and other foreign currency deposits increased at respective rates of 7.6%, 2.5% and 4.6%. Non-resident deposits grew 5.2% to MOP134.8 billion and public sector deposits with the banking sector increased 7.3% to MOP49.1 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector rose 4.6% from a month earlier to MOP565.6 billion. The shares of MOP and HKD in total deposits were 20.9% and 46.5% respectively.
Loans
Domestic loans to the private sector increased 4.0% from a month ago to MOP206.0 billion. Among which, MOP65.2 billion was MOP-denominated and MOP121.4 billion was denominated in HKD, representing 31.6% and 59.0% of the total respectively. On the other hand, external loans increased 8.7% to MOP227.1 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP and HKD accounted for 1.0% (MOP2.2 billion) and 22.9% (MOP52.0 billion) respectively.
Loan-to-deposit ratios
The loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector at end-January edged down 0.2 percentage points month-to-month to 47.8%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors was 76.6%, up 1.3 percentage points from end-December.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, left for Beijing today to attend the First Plenary Session of the Twelfth National People's Congress, which opens tomorrow.
During his four-day visit, Mr Chui will meet with leaders from Guangdong province to review mutual co-operation in the past and to set out projects for this year.
Asked by reporters at the Macao International Airport about the negative impact of the Individual Travel Scheme for Mainlanders as he was leaving for the capital, Mr Chui said he had instructed the Office for Public Political Research to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth study on the effects of that policy on Macao's economy, capacity for visitors and livelihood in the past decade.
He said that after the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, Macao faced many difficulties in economic development. The scheme was one of the most moves that supported Macao's substantial economy growth.
Visitors from the Mainland under the scheme increased from three million to seven million in the past decade, Mr Chui said. Residents of 49 Mainland cities now enjoy visiting Macao under the scheme, he said.
Over the Lunar New Year holidays thousands of Mainlanders were stuck at entry points, indicating that problems had occurred with clearance. Mr Chui stressed that this should not belittle the scheme, adding that the Government would review the policy and enhance management at gateways.
Mr Chui also revealed that the Government would take adequate measures to stabilise the market whenever necessary to curb huge rises in property prices.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on instant drinks. Survey result showed that price differences ranged from 6 to 51 percent were recorded for 10 brands of instant drinks sold in different retail outlets. Consumer Council collected prices of 10 brands of instant drinks from 20 retail outlets on 26th February. Surveyed items included instant sports drink, malt beverage, chocolate, coffee and milk tea. Survey result revealed that 'Nestle Milo Nutritious Malt Drink/400g', which was sold at $35.0 to $53.0, recorded the greatest price difference of 51.43 percent. Meanwhile, price differences ranged from 30% to 40% were also recorded for 3 brands of instant drinks, namely, 'Nestle Carnation Hot Cocoa Mix (25g x 10sachets)', 'Horlicks Nutri-Fit 3 in 1 Instant Nutritious Malted Drink (30g x 8sachets)' and 'Cadbury Original Drinking Chocolate (500g)'respectively. Consumer Council, in the meantime, compared the price differences of the surveyed items among the branches under the same supermarket chain, the survey result showed that the price differences ranged from 2 to 7 percent were recorded for the same products of instant drinks in the branches of Nape and Taipa Flower City of Supermercado San Miu. Consumers are advised to check with the survey data to make practical consumption. The specific price survey on instant drinks is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participates at the 25th edition of Lisbon Travel Market (BTL), which opened February 27 and is running until Sunday at the Portuguese capital. Macau has been joining the main Portuguese travel show since its first edition, and this year participates with an attractive pavilion of 54m2 to promote the destination Macau and its many attractions, highlighting two major events of the city for this year: the 25th anniversary of the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest and the 60th edition of the Macau Grand Prix.
The Portuguese Minister for Economy, Álvaro Santos Pereira, visited the Macau booth on the opening day of BTL, and received a Chinese painting handed by the coordinator of the Macau Tourism Promotion and Information Center in Portugal, Rodolfo Faustino. The painting was executed by one of the three artists that animate the Macau booth with Chinese painting, calligraphy and music. As a novelty this year, visitors have the opportunity to take a photo in traditional folkdance costumes at the bottom of the grand staircase of the Ruins of St. Paul's, reproduced on a large wall next to the Macau booth, which has been very popular with the visitors.
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