News

The Macau Grand Prix Committee invited current Extrication Consultant Dr. Jean Jacques Issermann and FIA Medical Delegate Dr. Jacques Tropenat to conduct a two-day training course for the local Rescue Team on October 6th and 7th. The Doctors provided professional instruction, shared their experiences, and gave practical demonstrations. Both Doctors are highly-experienced in the field and have taken part in rescue situations during FIA races. Extrication plays a crucial role during motorsports events, and the training and experience of the Rescue Team is a key factor during the races. Team leaders and members must react professionally and calmly, while the reactions of Track Marshals and other staff must be fast and accurate, working closely to execute rescue exercises in the most efficient and effective way possible. A total of 40 doctors and 48 firemen took part in three sessions, which covered the various features and important elements of motorsport rescue: equipment operation; instantaneous problem-solving in the event of an incident; an introduction to the equipment and skills required for rapid intervention medical rescue; and communication with race control during a rescue situation. In addition, the Rescue Team also carried out simulated incident exercises and completed practical procedures, during which their skills were evaluated. All members of the Macau Grand Prix Rescue Team received certification from the FIA. This confirms that the local Rescue Team has attained an international standard, and also ensures each team member is equipped with the required knowledge and ability to carry out medical, extrication and rapid intercept rescue procedures.
…

Coverage of the 2011 Service Sector Survey included Real Estate Management Services, Security Services, Cleaning Services, Advertising, and Conference & Exhibition Organising Services. There were 184 establishments operating in Real Estate Management Services in 2011, an increase of 7 year-on-year; number of persons engaged decreased by 2% to 4,803. Total Receipts (MOP 808 million) and Total Expenditure (MOP 700 million) decreased by 2% and 1% respectively. As a measure of the sectoral contribution to the economy, Gross Value Added decreased by 2% to MOP 468 million; Gross Fixed Capital Formation amounted to MOP 5 million, up by 11%. A total of 16 establishments were engaging in Security Services, an increase of 2 from 2010; number of persons engaged increased by 7% to 4,731. Total Receipts amounted to MOP 673 million, up by 26% year-on-year; Total Expenditure soared by 36% to MOP 636 million, of which Compensation of Employees amounted to MOP 494 million (78% of total). Gross Value Added (MOP 530 million) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 4 million) increased by 14% and 76% respectively. Number of establishments operating in Cleaning Services, at 102, held stable as 2010; number of persons engaged increased by 10% to 3,839. Analysed by size of establishment, a total of 16 large establishments with 50 or more persons had 2,765 workers (72% of total). Total Receipts and Total Expenditure amounted to MOP 384 million and MOP 353 million, up by 13% and 16% respectively. Gross Value Added increased by 15% to MOP 307 million, while Gross Fixed Capital Formation decreased by 31% to MOP 2 million. There were 337 advertising agencies operating in 2011, up by 10 year-on-year, of which 301 were small size establishments with 5 or less persons. Number of persons engaged totalled 972, up by 12%, with only 67% being paid employees. Total Receipts rose by 7% year-on-year to MOP 369 million, of which receipts from Advertising Services amounted to MOP 252 million (68% of total). Total Expenditure edged up by 1% to MOP 307 million, with Purchases, Commission and Other Expenses amounted to MOP 163 million (53% of total). Gross Value Added (MOP 151 million) increased by 33% whereas Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 7 million) decreased by 45%. A total of 26 establishments were operating in Conference & Exhibition Organising Services in 2011, up by 2 from a year earlier; number of persons engaged increased by 14% to 134. Total Receipts dropped by 34% year-on-year to MOP 133 million, with receipts from Provision of Conference & Exhibition Organising Services amounting to MOP 115 million. Total Expenditure decreased by 41% to MOP 112 million, of which Purchases, Commission and Other Expenses amounting to MOP 77 million. Gross Value Added (MOP 40 million) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 5 million) surged by 38% and 251% respectively year-on-year.
…

In order to encourage local secondary school students to employ their theoretical scientific knowledge on practical experiments, the Electronic Device Construction Competition, the Communications Museum of Macao and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers will launch this month an Electronic Device Construction Competition. This year the proposed subject will be Wall Climber Device. Full-time students of Macao secondary schools can compete individually or as part of a group (maximum of 4 members), divided into two competing categories: Junior Secondary Group or Senior Secondary Group. Each of the top three winners will be presented with trophies, winning certificates, book coupons and attractive prizes. All entries will be displayed at the Museum. Two explanatory sessions in Cantonese will be held in the Communications Museum Auditorium at 14:00 (Junior Secondary Group) and 16:00 (Senior Secondary Group), on November 10, 2012. Reservations can be made through the phone lines 28718570 / 28718063 or email to info@macao.communications.museum
…

Consumer Council recently conducted a price check on cooking oil. Both increase and decrease in price were recorded. Survey result also showed that price differences of the same product sold in different retail outlets ranged from 4.1 percent to 42.05 percent. Prices of 22 brands of cooking oil were collected from 21 retail outlets on 28th September by Consumer Council. Selling prices of the same product were found to vary in different retail outlets. 'Lion & Globe Corn Oil/900mlx3pcs', which recorded a price difference of 27.16 percent in last time's survey, now differed for 42.05 percent (from $79.9 to $113.5). In comparison with data from July's survey, 4 out of all surveyed brands recorded no change in price. Prices of 'Mazola Corn Oil/3.5L' had been decreased by up to 15.7 percent in 5 retail outlets, 'Lion & Globe Corn Oil/900ml x 3pcs' also recorded price decreases of up to 16.3 percent in 4 retail outlets. The mentioned specific price survey on cooking oil is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, money supply continued to grow in August. Driven by a faster increase in resident deposits, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector dropped from a month earlier.
Money supply
Currency in circulation and demand deposits rose 0.9% and 3.3% respectively. M1 thus increased 2.9% from one month earlier. Concurrently, quasi-monetary liabilities grew 5.6%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, increased 5.2% to MOP348.1 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 rose 20.9% and 24.8% respectively. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 24.6%, down 1.1 percentage points over a month ago or 1.0 percentage point from a year earlier. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 55.5%, up 0.6 percentage points month-to-month or 2.1 percentage points year-on-year.
Deposits
Resident deposits grew 5.3% from the preceding month to MOP341.0 billion. Of which, MOP deposits, HKD deposits and other foreign currency deposits increased at respective rates of 0.7%, 6.3% and 8.2%. Non-resident deposits dropped 8.8% to MOP115.9 billion while public sector deposits with the banking sector increased 1.5% to MOP41.0 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector rose 1.4% from a month earlier to MOP497.9 billion. The shares of MOP and HKD in total deposits were 21.1% and 47.5% respectively.
Loans
Domestic loans to the private sector increased 0.6% on a monthly basis to MOP187.6 billion. Among which, MOP52.1 billion was MOP-denominated and MOP119.4 billion was denominated in HKD, representing 27.8% and 63.6% of the total respectively. On the other hand, external loans rose 1.2% to MOP215.7 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP and HKD accounted for 0.6% (MOP1.4 billion) and 24.1% (MOP52.0 billion) respectively.
Loan-to-deposit ratios
As resident deposits grew faster than domestic loans to the private sector, the loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector at end-August fell 2.1 percentage points month-to-month to 49.1%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors was 81.0%, down 0.4 percentage points from end-July.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that a total of 1,714 restaurants & similar establishments as well as cooked-food stalls in markets were in operation in 2011, an increase of 66 compared with 2010, comprising 1,660 restaurants & similar establishments and 54 cooked-food stalls. Total number of persons engaged decreased by 953 to 21,219. Sales & Other Receipts of the sector increased by 11% year-on-year to MOP 6.09 billion and Total Expenditure rose by 10% to MOP 5.71 billion. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy amounted to MOP 2.36 billion, up by 9%; Gross Fixed Capital Formation went up by 37% year-on-year to MOP 298 million. There were 1,660 restaurants & similar establishments operating in 2011, up by 74 year-on-year. However, number of persons engaged decreased by 4% year-on-year to 21,119, with 19,581 being paid employees (93% of total). Sales & Other Receipts amounted to MOP 6.07 billion, up by 11% over 2010; of which eating places (MOP 3.43 billion) increased slightly by 1% while restaurants (MOP 2.29 billion) surged by 29% over 2010. Total Expenditure of restaurants & similar establishments amounted to MOP 5.70 billion, up by 10% over 2010. Analysed by item, Purchase of Goods (MOP 2.35 billion), Compensation of Employees (MOP 1.92 billion) and Operating Expenses (MOP 1.43 billion) increased by 12%, 6% and 13% year-on-year respectively. Gross Value Added of restaurants & similar establishments amounted to MOP 2.35 billion, up by 9% year-on-year; Gross Fixed Capital Formation increased by 37% to MOP 298 million. A total of 54 cooked-food stalls were operating in markets in 2011, down by 8 over 2010. Number of persons engaged totalled 100 and only 17 of them were paid employees. Receipts and Expenditure amounted to MOP 19 million and MOP 12 million respectively, each down by 2% year-on-year. Gross Value Added increased by 5% to MOP 9 million. Coverage of the Restaurants & Similar Establishments Survey includes licensed restaurants, eating & drinking places and cooked-food stalls in municipal markets in 2011, excluding hotel-operated restaurants and similar facilities, as well as street hawkers.
…

The 24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest has come to a perfect finale. The Panda Fireworks Group from China proudly won the first prize, followed by the teams from France, Lacroix-Ruggieri and Australia, Infinity Pyrotechnic in the second and third place respectively. The prize-giving ceremony took place at Macau Tower, director of MGTO, João Manuel Costa Antunes, Deputy Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and Manuel Pires attended the ceremony. Director Antunes expressed that next year will be the 25th anniversary of Macau International Fireworks Display Contest; MGTO will present more fantastic performance and uphold the reputation its has ploughed for 25 years to attract spectators across the world and add more splendor to the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The prize for the top winner team is USD 8,000 while the prizes for the second and third winners are USD 4,000 and USD 2,500 respectively in the fireworks display contest. The participating teams this year are from (in the contest order) Korea; Thailand; Taiwan, China; Australia; Portugal; France; United States; Italy and Mainland China. Among the contestant teams, the fireworks companies from France and Italy were staging their first performance in the contest. To celebrate the 63rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, Panda Fireworks Group Co. Ltd from Mainland China presented the finale performance again this year, reminiscent of warm sentiments. Large crowds of citizens went out to rejoice in the fireworks during the National Day's holiday. Festive air permeated various points on Macau Peninsula and Taipa, which was crowded and bustling in addition to many visitors. This year, MGTO worked with Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM) again to jointly present the SMS Game in order to foster citizens' participation in Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. To boost the festive ambience, MGTO continued to co-organize the Fireworks Carnival with the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau, an array of live entertainment and tasty delicacies which added more fun and color to the fireworks display nights. MGTO has held Macau International Fireworks Display Contest for 24 years till today, an annual major event in Macau which has gained a prestigious international reputation. Both citizens and visitors earnestly look forward to the delightful moments of the fireworks show which overflows the holidays and festivals with joy and celebrations. The fireworks display contest has become a symbol and characteristic of Macau.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said the government would continue to support the livelihood of the people of Macao amid uncertainties with the global economy. Mr Chui said this, when addressing 750 guests at a reception, hosted by the Macao SAR Government at the Macau Tower today as part of the celebrations of the 63rd National Day. He said the government had recently raised the minimum subsistence index and old-age allowance. In addition to ensuring a high employment rate, the government would also proactively support socially vulnerable groups and provide assistance to the economically-challenged, to ensure a reasonable share of economic gains among members of the community. The government would also help solve the housing issue and constitute a long-term social security mechanism. He said Macao should speed up evolving into a global tourism and leisure hub and a business and services platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. As for the tourism industry, he said the government would continue to support it and related sectors, and notably encourage the development of non-gaming elements and the enhancement of all kinds of facilities and services. Mr Chui also reviewed the exceptional achievements of the Mainland, highlighting its economic strategies and breakthroughs in social, livelihood of the public, science and education this year. He thanked the Central Government and all its representative offices in Macao for their comprehensive support for Macao. Guests attending the reception included the Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Ho Hau Wah, the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Bai Zhijian, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in Macao SAR, Mr Hu Zhengyue, the Commander of the Macao Garrison of the People's Liberation Army, Senior Colonel Zhu Qingsheng, the President of Legislative Assembly, Mr Lau Cheok Va, and the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai. In the morning,some 200 guests attended the flag raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square.
Meanwhile, a number of government departments also hold celebratory events, including the World Walking Day Fun Run starting at Golden Lotus Square after the flag-raising ceremony, and a variety show organised by the Macao Sport Development Board, at Macao East Asian Games Dome, at 2 pm. Pyrotechnics displays of the 24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, by teams from France and China, will take place on the waterfront near Macau Tower at 9 pm and 10 pm. Sale of Commemorative covers and a stamping service are offered at the Post Office from 9 am to 5.30 pm.
…

The Macao SAR Government will hold a number of celebratory events tomorrow to commemorate the 63rd National Day. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will officiate the flag-raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square at 8 am, to be attended by representatives from the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, the Macao Garrison of the People's Liberation Army, heads of the legislature, judiciary, principal officials, community leaders and members of the public. This will be followed by a reception at Macau Tower at 9:30 am, to be attended by government officials, representatives of Central Government agencies in Macao and community leaders. A number of government departments will also hold celebratory events, including the National Day Fun Run starting at Golden Lotus Square after the flag-raising ceremony, and a variety show organised by the Macao Sport Development Board, at Macao East Asian Games Dome, at 2 pm. Pyrotechnics displays of the 24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, by teams from France and China, will take place on the waterfront near Macau Tower at 9 pm and 10 pm. Commemorative covers will be on sale and a stamping service will be offered at the Post Office from 9 am to 5.30 pm.
…

To prepare for "1st October National Day Golden Week", Consumer Council, Economic Services department (DSE), Macau Government Tourist Office (DST), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Judiciary Police (PJ), Public Security Police Force (PSP), Macao Custom Service, Provisional Municipal Council (IACM) and Health Bureau (SSM) met earlier to discuss measures on safeguarding consumer rights. Consumer Council will provide services to consumers through its hotline (Consumer Council hotline: 8988 9315) from11am to 6pm each day during the Golden Week (30th September to 3rd October).
…