News

This year marks the 15th anniversary of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', which operates under the auspices of the Consumer Council. A series of activities will be held by the Council to further promote the services and regulations of the Centre. The Regulations of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' was set up by Consumer Council in accordance with Decree-Law n.º 29/96/M and 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' was established on 12th March 1998 based on the Regulations. The Arbitration Centre aims to solve consumer disputes occurring in the territory of Macao through the provision of intermediary services, mediation and arbitration in cases in which the claims involved do not exceed MOP50,000 (patacas). Services provided at the Arbitration Centre are free, fast, and confidential and the arbitration judgment has the same legal status, weight and effects as a judicial court order. The Arbitration Centre provides services to both local residents and foreign consumers. The Arbitration Centre has handled almost 500 dispute cases since its establishment and the claims involved amounted to about 2 million patacas. To ensure smooth operation of the Arbitration Centre, Consumer Council added a general admission mechanism to the Regulations. Traders can join the Arbitration Mechanism as 'Adherent(s)' in advance and by joining this mechanism, traders who become 'Adherents' agree to submit any consumer disputes that arise between them and consumers to the Arbitration Centre for decision and the traders can only withdraw their status as 'Adherents' from the mechanism only after the disputes have been settled. In order to ensure consumer rights are safeguarded under the 'Adherents' mechanism, Consumer Council established the 'Certified Shop' mechanism in 2001. The emblem of 'Certified Shop' is issued to Adherents who have never had complaints filed against them. This emblem encourages Certified Shops to exercise due concern and care for consumer rights when promoting their businesses. Certified Shops are required to abide by the Code of Practice of their respective industries and are assessed annually for their entitlement to the emblem. Over the past 12 years, the 'Certified Shop' mechanism not only safeguards the rights of consumers but has also become a trusted brand for tourists visiting Macao. There are currently over 1,100 businesses awarded with the 'Certified Shop' emblem.
This year, the Council will hold a series of events to celebrate the 15th anniversary of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' and to promote 'World Consumer Rights Day' in March. Activities such as an online quiz on the Regulations of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre', carnivals and exhibitions in local communities, etc.. The Council hopes to strengthen residents' knowledge about the services and operation of the Arbitration Centre through these local promotional activities. The first carnival will be held on 2nd March from 3PM to 5PM at Vasco da Gama Garden. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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In 2012, a total of 540 applications for temporary residency for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders were received by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) (an increase of 50 compared with last year), 84 applications for major investment and major investment plans (an increase of 19 compared with last year), representing 86.54% and 13.46% of the total of 624 new applications in 2012. Approved cases for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders amounted to 240 (a decrease of 172 compared with last year), approved applications for major investment and major investment plans totalled 8 (a decrease of 2 compared with last year). In accordance with the Administrative Regulation No. 7/2007, temporary residency applications for fixed asset purchases have been suspended since 4 April 2007. There were over 4,000 applications lodged before the closing date of the policy and are still being processed. Therefore, there were no new residency applications for fixed assets purchases in 2012 while all of the 22 already approved cases were lodged before 4 April 2007. Currently, there are still 8 remaining cases being processed as the identity and education qualifications need to be verified. Statistics of Temporary Residency Applications and the Cases and Number of People Approved in 2012
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participated in Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo 2013 (AIME 2013) held in Melbourne, Australia to attract more industry partners to Macau for conventions and incentive travel. MGTO joined with Macau Economic Services and trade representatives of 4 local enterprises to promote Macau's business travel and Incentive Travel Stimulation Program among the participants and incentive-travel organizers at AIME 2013 in Melbourne, Australia during February 26 and 27. Being one of the most premier events in the meetings and events industry in the Asia-Pacific region, AIME was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this year; the expo encompassed a tradeshow, education program and networking sessions, providing an important communication platform for the industry delegates from around the world. Themed under its promotional slogan "Touching Moments･Experience Macau", MGTO set up a 84-square-meter booth in the expo to promote the Incentive Travel Stimulation Program and showcase Macau's latest business tourism development and products including event venues, hotels, sightseeing attractions, restaurants, activities and various development plans.
Representatives from Galaxy Macau, Macau Fisherman's Wharf, Sands Cotai Central and Wynn Macau jointly engaged in the exhibition.
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Consumer Council released its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey'. In comparison with data from last month, average prices of 26 percent of the surveyed products had been decreased, prices of 43 percent of products had been increased and 30 percent of products recorded no change in price. Survey result also showed that prices of rice remained stable in recent months.
Consumer Council collected prices of about 350 products in its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated 20th February. Prices of about 90 products had been decreased slightly and mostly included rice, cheese, and boxed tissue paper. About 150 products, namely beverages, canned food, infant products, personal hygienic and cleansing products such as shampoo and shower gel, recorded minimal to about 5 percent of price increases. Prices of 105 products recorded no change in price in both last and current surveys.
Survey result showed that prices of rice remained stable. 12 out of the 20 surveyed rice brands in the current survey recorded no change in price, other brands recorded price changes of about 1 percent. The Council also analyzed the percentage of lowest price products available in the 11 fixed choices of supermarkets. Tai Fung supermarket in Taipa recorded the highest percentage of on-shelf lowest price items in which almost 60 percent of over 240 items sold at Taipa Tai Fung recorded the lowest price among all surveyed supermarkets in the current survey. Park'n Shop at R. Areia Preta came next, with 24 percent of its over 200 on-shelf items having the lowest price. 22 percent of the over 250 items sold at Lee Fong supermarket at Almirante Costa Cabral also recorded the lowest price.
Consumer Council reminds consumers that among the various supermarket chain stores surveyed, selling prices were found to vary in different branches in different regions. In this month's survey, price discrepancies were observed mainly in branches of San Miu supermarket in which about half of the surveyed products sold at its R. dos Mercadores branch and Iao Hon Nam Fai branch were found to have different selling prices, price differences ranged from 5 to 10 percent were observed and found mainly in cooking oil, canned food and dairy products. Prices of the same cooking oil brand sold at the two branches differed for 3 to 13 percent; prices of 'Hong Mei Brand Ox Tail Soup/298g' differed for 12.2 percent and other canned food brands recorded price difference of 2 percent. Prices of around 20 products were also found to differ up to 34 percent in different branches of both Royal Supermarket and Park'n Shop.
Consumers are advised to check with the information available on the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform', especially the function of 'Top Ten Price Differences' for the surveyed products. Consumers can also download the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps to make price comparisons.
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. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Macao Post announces that the issue date of the stamp issue "130th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Fire Brigade" will be changed from 26th April 2013 to 25th April 2013.
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Macao Post will update its website (www.macaupost.gov.mo) on 1st March 2013, the 129th Anniversary Date of Macao Post. The web pages of Postal Savings Bank, EMS and Philately will also be updated to improve the information provision service. The new website, following the principles of ease of use, allows users, through a simpler and clearer design, to access more conveniently the services provided by Macao Post and to search information more quickly.
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Arrangements for the exchange of the Lunar New Year Snake Banknotes (Snake Notes)
Starting from 1 March 2013 till 30 August 2013, registered Macao residents can proceed to exchange for the Snake notes in person on the selected day and at the chosen bank during the bank's business hours. Each registered resident should bring along his/her ID card and the required cash to exchange for 30 Snake Notes issued by each Issuing Bank. The Snake Notes will be exchanged on random basis such that the serial number of the exchanged banknotes cannot be selected. Arrangements for the prolonged exchange of the Lunar New Year Dragon Banknotes (Dragon Notes)
For Dragon Note registrants who have not conducted note exchange by end of January can have a second chance by bringing along their ID cards to exchange for their subscribed Dragon notes at their previously selected bank(s) during the bank's business hours between 3 June and 31 July 2013. For further enquiry, registered residents can log onto the system of the Macau Branch of Bank of China Limited and Banco Nacional Ultramarino S.A. via the webpage of the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) (www.amcm.gov.mo). Appointment of representative to conduct the Note Exchange
As previously communicated, an authorized representative will only need to bring along his / her ID card and submit the following documents to conduct the exchange on the selected date (for the exchange of the Dragon Notes during the bank's business hours between 3 June and 31 July 2013) and location:
1. Authorization form (downloaded from AMCM's website (www.amcm.gov.mo)) signed by the registrant
2. Registrant's ID copy bearing his / her signature
3. Representative's ID copy bearing his / her signature
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for November 2012-January 2013 held stable at 1.9% in comparison with the previous period (October-December 2012); the underemployment rate was 0.6%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force was 358,000; the labour force participation rate stood at 72.5%, up by 0.1 percentage point. Total employment increased continuously, reaching 351,000 in November 2012-January 2013, an increase of 1,400 from the previous period. Analysed by industry, employment in Retail Trade and Real Estate & Business Activities saw notable increase. Number of the unemployed was similar to the previous period, at 6,600; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 11.6% of the total unemployed, down by 4.5 percentage points. In comparison with November 2011-January 2012, the labour force participation rate went down by 0.7 percentage points; both the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points.
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The opening ceremony of On Set in the City – Works by Yu Cheng-ta is scheduled for Friday 8th March 2013 at 6:30pm in Tap Seac Gallery. The exhibition, organised by the Macao S.A.R. Cultural Affairs Bureau, features video installation works created by the young Taiwanese artist Yu Cheng-ta in a number of cities in which he has had artistic residencies since 2008. These works, recording his journey from Taipei to Aomori in Japan, to Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, and to Macao, employ a humorous and facetious artistic language as a means of interpreting the thoughts of a foreigner encountering an alien culture. Yu currently resides and works in Taipei and has participated in numerous international exhibitions, winning awards on many occasions, including First Place in the Taipei Arts Awards (2008) and Beacon Prize in Art Fair Tokyo (2012). Following the screening of his work at the 6th Taipei Biennial, he was chosen to participate in the Taiwan Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennale, on behalf of Taiwan. In 2009, he was invited to participate in the Biennial Cuvée in Austria. In 2012, he participated in the 5th International Biennale of Media Art in Melbourne, Australia and the Made in Asia Festival in Toulouse, France. Yu has developed a keen interest in the inaccuracies and nuance of language that arise from cultural differences. He also seeks to explore the identity, rights, recreation and translation issues deriving from language fractures through the preview of physical performance and language repetition that is regularly presented in his works, with a view to unveiling the seemingly pre-scheduled context of reality. The exhibition will also showcase work that was created in Macao at the invitation of the Cultural Affairs Bureau. This Macao work seeks to interpret his reflections upon the contemporary world as an outsider. On Set in the City – Works by Yu Cheng-ta will run from 8th March to 28th April 2013 in the Tap Seac Gallery, open daily from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free. All residents are welcome to attend the opening ceremony, enjoy the unique video installation works on show and experience the creativity and joy of this artist's works.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is scheduled to visit Beijing from 4 to 7 March to attend the opening of the First Plenary Session of the Twelfth National People's Congress on 5 March. 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 and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping will take part in the visit. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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