News

Macao is to organise a wide range of activities and events on Thursday to mark the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Highlights will include a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square at 8 am, which will be broadcast live by Macao TV station (TDM), and a reception hosted by the SAR Government at Macau Tower at 9:30 am. To bring fun and entertainment to the people, the Macao Sport Development Board will organise a concert by Hong Kong Canto-pop star Eason Chan Yik-shun at Macao Stadium on Taipa island at 2 pm. In addition, the Cultural Affairs Bureau, for the second consecutive year, will organise the "Parade through Macau, Latin City" at 4pm. Artistes and groups from Macao, the Mainland, Portugal, Italy and France will be joined by performers from Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador, among other Latin American countries, to highlight the harmonious fusion of the territory's unique cultural characteristics. Beginning at the city's iconic Ruins of St. Paul's Church, the procession will continue through the picturesque St. Lazarus Neighbourhood, passing by the Church, to Tap Seac Square where it is to culminate in a grand finale with a variety of performances by all the artistes. Meanwhile, the Macao Post will issue commemorative covers and offer hand-back services to the public. The Macau Government Tourist Office will present a fireworks display, off Macau Tower, at 9:30 pm.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on dairy products. Price differences ranged from 5 to 50 percent were recorded for the same product sold at different retail outlets. Consumers are advised to check with the survey data to make practical consumption. The Council collected prices of 15 dairy products from 17 retail outlets on 12th December. Price differences ranged from 5 to 50 percent were recorded for the same product sold at different retail outlets. 'Anchor UHT Whipping Cream/1L', which was sold at $38.0 to $57.0, recorded a price difference of 50 percent; 'Anchor Pure New Zealand Butter (salted)/227g' and 'Pura UHT Milk (paper pack)/1L' also recorded price differences of 46.9 and 42.42 percent respectively. 'Cowhead Pure Milk (paper pack)/1L', which was on sale at one retail spot, recorded the highest selling price of $15.0, resulting in a drop in its price discrepancy from 80.95 percent in last time's survey to only 25 percent in the current survey. In comparison with October's survey data, 8 of the surveyed products recorded no change in price. The only obvious change was found in the selling price of 'Pura UHT Milk (paper pack)/1L' in one retail outlet that had been increased by 32 percent. The specific price survey on dairy products is now available on the Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps.
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Macao and the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office will continue mutual support and deepen co-operation on disease control and prevention, according to a press release by the Office of the Chief Executive on Friday (14 December). The two sides reached consensus during a meeting between Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On and WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Shin Young-soo, at Government Headquarters in Macao. Dr Shin and the Director of Programme Management of WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, Dr Han Tieru, were in Macao following their visit to the Mainland. During the meeting, Mr Chui once again expressed his gratitude to WHO's long-term support to Macao in public health and other medical areas, especially the strong support and assistance given by the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office during the outbreak of SARS in neighbouring areas in 2003, adding that under the suggestions and guidelines from its regional office, Macao had overcome difficulties and smoothly coped with the epidemic. He pointed out that Macao had accumulated its experience in fighting against SARS, which was advantageous to improve its work in public health. He noted that the Government was obliged to prevent and cure communicable diseases, adding that a 10-year healthcare and medical services plan would allocate resources in the infrastructure of medical services and training to strengthen Macao's response capability in public health. Mr Chui said Macao's health authority would maintain close and effective communication with the WHO, adding that apart from communicable diseases, Macao would also support WHO's projects in the prevention and control of non-communicable and chronic diseases. He also said Macau would spare no efforts to support WHO in helping developing countries and other countries in the region in disease control and prevention. Dr Shin praised the Macao SAR Government's great efforts in tobacco control, re-affirming the close and quick response communication in reporting communicable diseases in consideration of Macao is a tourism-oriented territory.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific product price survey on oral care products. Survey result showed that prices of the surveyed products remained stable and a general price difference of 35 to 45 percent was observed for the same product sold at different retail outlets. The specific product price survey on oral care products has been uploaded to the Council's 'Specific Product Price Platform' website and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. Consumer Council collected prices of 10 toothpastes and mouthwashes from 30 retail outlets, including supermarkets and drugstores, on 11th December. Minimal changes were observed in prices of the surveyed products but overall prices were stable. In comparison with October's data, price discrepancies of the same product sold at different retail outlets have shrunk from the highest 80 percent down to 60 percent. In the current survey, the greatest price difference was recorded in 'Crest Cavity Prevention Toothpaste - Icy Mint/200g', which was sold at $8.8 to $14.0, with a difference of $5. Other surveyed products were found to have a general price difference of about 35 to 45 percent. Survey result also showed that among the various supermarket chain stores surveyed by the Council, selling prices of some products were found to vary in different branches. Consumers are advised to check with the survey result to make price comparisons. The specific product price survey on oral care products has been uploaded to the Council's 'Specific Product Price Platform' website and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council reminds consumers that no additional fees should be charged when making consumption by credit card. Consumers can lodge their complaints with the Council if they encounter any businesses that charge additional fees.
As credit card has become a common way of payment and credit card companies offer various discount offers, a lot of consumes choose to pay by credit cards when purchasing products or services. However, consumers reflect that certain companies charge an additional amount of money for those who pay with credit card, thus resulting in an extra burden in their purchases. According to Decree-Law no. 16/95/M, it is stated that all products and services transacted within the region of Macao, using payment methods such as credit or debit cards, or electronic machines installed at the business premises or similar kinds of electronic money, should be paid in MOP and no excuses is allowed to attach any extra fee on the agreed price or transaction amount.
In 2010, the Council conducted a survey on credit card additional fees charged by travel agencies and survey result showed that some agencies charged consumers an additional amount when paying by credit card. The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) was informed by the Council and the travel agencies being complained against were then advised to amend the practice of charging credit card surcharge. The same survey was carried out again this November by the Council to check the current practice of local travel agencies. Survey result shows that some travel agencies have cancelled their policies on credit card surcharge after AMCM's advice but certain travel agencies have not. The Council will cooperate with AMCM to improve the current practices of these agencies and promote the terms of Decree-Law no. 16/95/M about the rights and obligations of both consumers and travel agencies. Consumers are also reminded that they have the right to reject any additional fees charged on them by the companies if they pay by credit card. Complaints can be lodged with both the Council and AMCM. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 23.7% year-on-year to 809,591 in October 2012. Visitors from Mainland China (589,018) increased by 24.3%, with 244,185 coming from Guangdong Province; besides, those from Taiwan, China (73,901) and the Republic of Korea (38,958) increased by 66.1% and 61.2% respectively. On the contrary, visitors from Hong Kong (31,960) and Japan (18,267) decreased by 1.4% and 2.4% respectively. In the first ten months of 2012, visitors in package tours (7,381,059) increased by 24.4% year-on-year to account for 31.8% of the total visitor arrivals. Outbound residents in package tours soared by 98.7% year-on-year to 36,632 in October 2012. The most popular tour itineraries were Mainland China (76.7% of total); the Republic of Korea (5.9%); and Taiwan, China (5.3%), with 18,885 travelling to Guangdong Province. In the first ten months of 2012, residents travelling in package tours totalled 336,785, up by 64.0% year-on-year. Meanwhile, outbound residents travelling under own arrangements using services of travel agencies increased by 23.3% year-on-year to 74,424 in October 2012. The main destinations were Mainland China (49.6% of total); Hong Kong (24.1%); and Taiwan, China (14.1%). In the first ten months of 2012, residents travelling under such arrangements increased by 32.6% year-on-year to 706,461. There were 100 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of October 2012, providing 26,050 rooms, an increase of 3,750 (+16.8%) year-on-year, of which guest rooms of 5-star hotels accounted for 63.8%. In October 2012, the hotels and guesthouses received 787,825 guests, up by 10.3% year-on-year; the average length of stay decreased by 0.17 night to 1.4 nights. Occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses stood at 80.9%, down by 0.8 percentage point; occupancy rate of the hotels was 81.4%, with 5-star hotels leading at 82.7%. Number of guests increased by 11.3% year-on-year to 7,803,299 in the first ten months of 2012; occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses stood at 82.3%, down by 0.7 percentage point year-on-year. From January to October 2012, visitor-guests accounted for 64.9% of the total number of overnight visitors, higher than the 61.6% in the same period of 2011.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP131.8 billion (USD16.51 billion) at the end of November 2012. The reserves fell by 1.5% or MOP2.0 billion from the revised value of MOP133.9 billion (USD16.77 billion) for the previous month. Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves at end-November 2012 represented 19 times the currency in circulation or 146.9% of Pataca M2 at end-October 2012. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency's exchange rates against the currencies of Macao's major trading partners, rose by 0.22 points month-to-month and 0.95 points year-on-year to 97.29 in November 2012. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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The Civil Aviation Administration of China, the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong SAR and the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR met in Macao in these two days for the 6th Joint Certification Management Steering Committee Meeting to update each other the development of the tripartite projects on mutual acceptance of aircraft certificate of airworthiness, mutual acceptance of aircraft modification and repair design, unified airworthiness certification and so on. The three parties also exchanged ideas on extending cooperation in the future. The 6th Joint Certification Management Steering Committee Meeting was held on 12 and 13 December 2012 in Macao. In the two-day event, the three aeronautical authorities updated each other the latest development of the joint projects between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, including the mutual acceptance of aircraft certificate of airworthiness, the mutual acceptance of aircraft modification and repair design, the unified airworthiness certification and so on. On the aspect of aircraft certificate of airworthiness, the facilitation procedures for the transfer of aircraft registry, which is the second phase of the project, has been in force for more than one year and was welcomed by the operators. The three sides concluded the feedback from the operators and exchanged their experience on the implementation. The respective implementation procedure was renewed and signed by the three parties in the 6th Meeting; on the aspect of aircraft modification and repair design, the respective cooperation agreement is now pending the approval of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and is expected to be signed and implemented in the beginning of next year. The project will enhance the efficiency and the quality of work in aircraft modification and repair by the operators; on the aspect of unified airworthiness regulation, the three sides agreed to work to their best extent to reach consensus on airworthiness standards and approval procedures, the measure of which is expected to facilitate the free transfer of aircraft between the three places. The three parties also discussed how they could extend their cooperation in the future. Some time ago this year, the three sides held discussions about cooperation on the airworthiness of aircraft fuel. In this meeting, the three aeronautical authorities continued to hold discussions on this agenda item. Macao presented their intention to invite aircraft fuel experts from the mainland to visit Macao regularly for joint inspection on the airworthiness of aircraft fuel. Apart from this agenda item, the three sides exchanged views on how to best carry out the unified certification procedures and agreed that they would first set up a working group to work out the unified certification procedures for aviation products manufactured by foreign countries. Furthermore, the three parties will establish cooperation in the future on the training of personnel for the certification of training systems. The three aeronautical authorities commenced their certification management cooperation since 2007 for the objective of sharing resources, reducing redundant inspections and enhancing the healthy development of aviation safety.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On will pay a duty visit to Beijing on 20-22 December, it was announced today. In Beijing, Mr Chui will meet state leaders and report on the recent developments in Macao and his policy blueprints for next year, according to an announcement by the Government Spokesperson Office. Government officials who accompany Mr Chui's visit include Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Alexis Tam Chon Weng; Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms Wallis O Lam; Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Victor Chan Chi Ping; Director of the Office of the Macao SAR in Beijing, Ms Hong Wai; Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Daniel Fung Sio Weng; and Adviser of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Kou Chin Hung.
While Mr Chui is away, the Secretary for Economic and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, will be acting Chief Executive.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on seasonings. Survey result indicated that the difference in price of the 13 surveyed products ranged from 15 percent to 68 percent. Consumers are advised to check with the survey data in comparison of the price range of the same brand of seasonings. Consumer Council collected 13 brands of seasonings from 20 retail outlets on 7th December. Survey result showed that price differences of the same brand of seasonings at different retail spots ranged from 15.4% to 68.4% respectively. 'Kimlan Light Soy Sauce/590ml', which was sold at $9.8 to $16.5, recorded the greatest price difference of 68.37 percent. Prices of 'Tai Yang Hua Brand Table Salt/1lb' also differed for up to 60 percent. In comparison with October's data, the current survey revealed minimal changes in retail prices of seasonings. Obvious changes were observed only in 'Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce/500ml', which recorded price decreases of up to 16.3 percent in 6 retail outlets, and in 'Knorr Chicken Powder/273g', which observed price increases of up to 13.1 percent in 9 retail outlets. Survey result also showed that selling prices of some surveyed products in branches under the same supermarket chain were different. Consumers are advised to check with the survey data to make price comparisons. The specific price survey on seasonings is now available on the 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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