News

The 3rd Permanent Committee of the Legislative Assembly is conducting a public consultation regarding the bill on "The Cultural Heritage Conservation Law". Those who are interested can present opinions or suggestions in written form via mail, e-mail (info@al.gov.mo) or fax (28973753) addressing to the President of the 3rd Permanent committee from 13th November to 31st December 2012.
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The Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee, together with the Public Security Police, organized the Seminar on "Combating Human Trafficking: Labour Exploitation". This 2-day seminar takes place from November 12 at the hall of the Immigration Department of the Public Security Police. Experts from the International Organization for Migration are invited to share their experience in combating human trafficking, especially in the area of labor exploitation. Topics of the seminar include Labour exploitation as a global and regional trend in human trafficking, IOM's experience in addressing labour exploitation, etc. Participants of the seminar include frontline officers from the Unitary Police, Macao Customs, Labour Affairs Bureau, Public Security Police, Judicial Police, Social Welfare Bureau and Health Bureau, as well as representatives from non government organizations including the Good Shepherd Centre, Caritas Macau and Macau Women's General Association. Through the seminar, the participants will be able to have a deeper understanding of the definition and global trend of labor exploitation, so as to handle such cases more efficiently, and offer immediate help to trafficking victims.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will deliver his Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2013 on Tuesday (13 November) at 3 pm in the Legislative Assembly. This will be followed a press conference at Government Headquarters at 5 pm where Mr Chui will take questions from the press. The following day (14 November) Mr Chui will attend the plenary meeting of the Legislative Assembly between 3 pm and 6 pm to explain his policy blueprint to legislators and to answer their questions. The Address will be broadcast live on the Portal Website of the Macao SAR (http://www.gov.mo), the website of the Office of the Chief Executive (http://www.gce.gov.mo), the website of the Government Information Bureau (http://www.gcs.gov.mo) and the website of the Legislative Assembly (http://www.al.gov.mo). Chinese and Portuguese versions of the Policy Address will be available for downloads on these websites. The five Secretaries and their subordinates will present their 2013 policy guidelines to the legislature from 3 pm to 8 pm, on the following dates:
Secretary for Administration and Justice: 20-21 November, Secretary for Economy and Finance: 22-23 November, Secretary for Security: 26-27 November,
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture: 29-30 November, and
Secretary for Transport and Public Works: 3-4 December.
These presentations will be broadcast live on the website of the Government Information Bureau and the Portal Website of the Macao SAR. Teledifusão de Macau (TV and radio) will broadcast live the presentations as well.
After the Chief Executive's address on Tuesday, members of the public can pick up the text and pamphlets of the 2013 Policy Address from Auxiliary Department of the Government Headquarters, Government Information Bureau, Government Printing Bureau, Public Information Centre, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Central Library and Macao Post.
To ensure the public have a better understanding of the policies, Macao Post will deliver pamphlets of the 2013 Policy Address with highlights to all households in Macao.
In addition, Chinese and Portuguese versions of pamphlets of the 2013 Policy Address with highlights and pamphlets of policy guidelines of different areas will be available in some 200 locations such as libraries of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, citizen service centres, centres of the Social Welfare Bureau, centres of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, and various associations and schools.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the population of Macao was 576,700 as at 30 September 2012, an increase of 8,000 (+1.4%) compared with end-June. In the third quarter of 2012, number of live births increased by 19.2% quarter-to-quarter to 1,973, with 1,036 male babies. Gender ratio of the newborn was 110.6, corresponding to 110.6 male babies per 100 female babies. In the first three quarters of 2012, a total of 5,206 live births were recorded, up by 27.0% year-on-year. There were 399 mortality cases in the third quarter, down by 15.5% quarter-to-quarter; the top three underlying causes of death were Neoplasms (130 cases), Diseases of the Circulatory System (85 cases) and Diseases of the Respiratory System (65 cases). In the first three quarters of 2012, mortality cases dropped by 0.6% year-on-year to 1,388 cases. Non-resident workers totalled 109,038 at the end of the third quarter, up by 6,481 quarter-to-quarter. Individuals authorized to reside in Macao recorded a net inflow of 262 in this quarter. In the third quarter of 2012, there were 1,477 immigrants from Mainland China, up by 484 quarter-to-quarter. Meanwhile, 308 illegal Chinese immigrants were repatriated, an increase of 28 quarter-to-quarter. A total of 819 cases of marriage registration were recorded, down by 8.2% over the second quarter of 2012. In the first three quarters, there were 2,801 cases of marriage registration, up by 12.1% year-on-year.
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Owing to the strike action taken by the workers of the public sector and air transport in Greece, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) from Macao to Greece are subject to delay until further notice. Thank you for your kind attention.
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Owing to the flooding in Thailand, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) from Macao to Thailand, particularly for the areas with postal codes bearing the prefixes below are subject to delay until further notice. Postal Code Prefixes
73 Thank you for your kind attention.
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2013 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF), hosted by the Macao SAR government, will be held from 21 to 23 March 2013. The event aims to develop Macao as a co-operation platform for the environmental industry between Pan-PRD region and countries overseas. In order to strengthen the publicity of MIECF, the official co-ordinators, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Macao Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), visited relevant departments and organisations in Beijing, to appeal for their continuing support and participation in the event. Organisations Visited Continued Support 2013 MIECF A delegation of seven, including Mr. Jackson Chang, IPIM's President, Mrs. Irene V.K. Lau, IPIM's Executive Director and Ms. Vong Man Hung, DSPA's Deputy Director, visited the National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC) and met Mr. Zhao Penggao, Deputy Inspector of the Department of Resources Conservation and Environment Protection. The delegation explained the theme of 2013 MIECF, details of activities and the progress of the organisation of the event. Zhao agreed that MIECF plays the role as a platform for the green industry between Mainland and the rest of the world. The theme for 2013 is Sustainable Cities – The Way Towards a Green Future, which is in line with the current international environmental trend. NDRC will continue to support MIECF and its related activities. During the trip to Beijing, the delegation also visited Mr. Wan Jifei, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and both parties exchanged views on 2013 MIECF co-operation, the direction of Macao's economic development and collaboration with the convention and exhibition industries of the two sides. Wan said that IPIM is an important co-operation partner of CCPIT in Macao; the two have developed far-reaching reciprocation through the mechanism of Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries as well as the Mainland and Macao Chamber of Commerce Joint Committee and achieved favourable results. It is hoped that the two organisations will further enhance collaboration in various areas and jointly develop more co-operation platforms to foster trade and economic exchanges between the two sides and to provide quality services for enterprises. The delegation also visited the Ministry of Commerce, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) to introduce 2013 MIECF. Leaders of the above-mentioned departments, business associations and organisations were invited to organise delegations to take part in the exhibition, as well as conduct friendly discussions on the co-operation with Macao's convention and exhibition industry. 2013 MIECF Themed on the Sustainable Development of Cities In its sixth year, the theme for 2013 MIECF will be Sustainable Cities – The Way Towards a Green Future, promoting international co-operation, fostering the development of low carbon societies, with the ultimate goal of Thinking Green, Going Clean and Living Cool. Major forums, themed exhibitions and networking activities will be held to serve as a platform to promote networking between local and international environmental industries, and foster business opportunities for the latest green technology and projects. MIECF has been successfully held in Macao for five consecutive years, with constant growth in terms of participating enterprises, exhibition area and attending professional representatives. 2012 MIECF attracted the participation of over 8,500 people, including more than 6,400 professionals, a total of 398 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions were set up covering a total area of 16,900 square metres. During the three-day event, 702 business-matching sessions were conducted and the signing of 35 contracts completed. MIECF has become a major platform for participating enterprises to showcase green technology, establish customer networks and explore green business opportunities.
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The fireworks displays on Nov 10, 14 and 18 will be rescheduled, with the display on Nov 10 revised to Nov 16, while the other two displays remain unchanged. To add sparkles to the festive carnival atmosphere of the Grand Prix week, MGTO arranges 3 firework displays at 9pm on each date at the waterfront in front of the Macau Tower.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that a total of 2,143 establishments were operating in the Transport, Storage & Communications Sector in 2011, down by 6 year-on-year; number of persons engaged increased by 6% to 15,504. Total Receipts and Total Expenditure reached MOP 20.76 billion and MOP 17.95 billion, up by 20% and 22% respectively over 2010. Gross Value Added, measuring the sectoral contribution to the economy, amounted to MOP 6.33 billion, up by 13% year-on-year; Gross Fixed Capital Formation soared by 228% to MOP 1.09 billion. In 2011, establishments operating in the Transport & Storage Sector totalled 2,111, down by 8 year-on-year; number of persons engaged increased by 6% to 13,534. There were 1,658 establishments operating in Land Transport (79% of the Transport & Storage Sector); besides, 425 were engaging in Supporting & Auxiliary Transport Activities, of which 186 were travel agencies. Total Receipts of the Transport & Storage Sector increased by 14% over 2010 to MOP 14.90 billion, of which Receipts from Passenger Transport (MOP 6.31 billion) rose by 17%, and Receipts from Services Rendered amounted to MOP 5.30 billion. Total Expenditure increased by 16% year-on-year to MOP 13.87 billion. Operating Expenses (MOP 6.49 billion), Purchase of Goods & Commission Paid (MOP 4.77 billion) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 2.10 billion) rose by 15%, 16% and 12% respectively. Gross Value Added (MOP 3.58 billion) increased by 11% year-on-year; meanwhile, Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 555 million) soared by 383% over 2010. A total of 32 establishments were operating in the Communications Sector in 2011, an increase of 2 year-on-year; number of persons engaged increased by 4% to 1,970. Attributable to an upsurge in sales of smartphones and tablet computers, Total Receipts rose by 40% over 2010 to MOP 5.86 billion, of which Receipts from Provision of Services (MOP 3.17 billion) increased by 8%, and Receipts from Sales of Goods (MOP 2.01 billion) soared by 190%. Total Expenditure amounted to MOP 4.08 billion, up by 48% year-on-year, with Purchase of Goods & Commission Paid (MOP 2.44 billion) rising by 101%; meanwhile, Operating Expenses (MOP 728 million) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 493 million) rose by 8% and 10% respectively. Gross Value Added (MOP 2.76 billion) increased by 17% over 2010, whereas Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 530 million) surged by 146% year-on-year.
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Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on rice. Survey result showed that prices of the 15 surveyed products recorded various price differences and the highest price difference recorded was 21.05 percent. Consumer Council collected prices of 15 brands of rice from 21 retail outlets on 5th November. A general price difference of less than 10 percent was recorded. 'Wing On Thai Jasmine Rice/5kg', which was sold at $57.0 to $69.0, recorded the biggest price difference of 21.05 percent. 'Golden Elephant Brand Premium Jasmine Rice/8kg', which was sold at $119.9 to $140.0, recorded a difference of 16.76 percent. In comparison with September's survey result, 8 out of the 15 surveyed rice brands recorded no change in price, 7 brands recorded general price increases or decreases of less than 5 percent. An obvious change in price was recorded in 'Kangaroo Brand/5kg', which observed a 10.4 percent price increase. The specific price survey on rice 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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