News

Consumer Council recently tested 10 samples of electric fans for their safety and energy efficiency. The test quoted two mandatory standards of mainland China and the samples were tested for their safety in 22 different criteria, including the protection of parts from electricity, electric current, power supply, structure of product, insulation of product, heat resistance, and flame resistance. All samples tested were satisfactory. As consumers concern about energy levels of electrical appliances, the Council compared the energy saving performance of the 10 electric fan samples based on two quoted national standards. According to the quoted standards, 4 samples tested were considered Class 1, which means their energy saving levels were higher than the other 6 samples. Test result of the safety and energy test of electric fans can be found in the latest issue of Consumer Report. In the mentioned test, 2 electric fan samples were found to include only instruction manuals in English. Further, 3 samples of each product brand were required to be submitted for testing but 1 sample of a brand tested was found to have wrong indication on its tightening knob. Retailers have been requested to report these problems to manufacturers for corrections and improvement. Meanwhile, the test result has been sent to responsible department for follow-up. Issue no. 227 Consumer Report also features information on the legal procedures for importing pets, operation of pet shops, and relevant information provided by Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM). Other articles including reports on recent activities of the Council and news from consumer organizations in mainland are also featured. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the office of Consumer Council (Rua Inácio Baptista, Nº 6-6A Edificio Seaview Garden R/C), and the service counter of Consumer Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources online at the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of the construction workers decreased by 1.9% quarter-to-quarter to MOP552 in the second quarter of 2012, of which the average daily wages of electricians & electrical workers (MOP546), bricklayers & plasterers (MOP508) and unskilled workers (MOP352) decreased by 3.4%, 3.3% and 5.5% respectively. On the contrary, average daily wage of carpenters (MOP643) increased by 13.1% quarter-to-quarter, attributable to rising demand for carpenters in some tourism and gaming facilities and hotel projects. Furthermore, the average daily wage of local construction workers amounted to MOP674 in the second quarter of 2012, up by 4.3% quarter-to-quarter. After discounting the effect of inflation, wage index of the construction workers was 87.0 in real terms, down by 2.7% quarter-to-quarter; wage index of local construction workers increased by 0.5% to 99.5 in real terms. As regards construction materials, in the second quarter of 2012, the average price of concrete (MOP427 per cubic metre) decreased by 2.8% quarter-to-quarter, and the first drop in the past six quarters; that of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP5,959 per tonne) also fall by 1.3%. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings was 120.8, similar to the previous quarter.
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Jointly organized by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, the 2012 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair (2012 GMBPF) will be held from 2 to 5 August (Thursday to Sunday) for four consecutive days at the Macau Fisherman's Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre.
All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Trade Development Bureau of Ministry of Commerce, PRC have been specially invited as Supporting Organisations for the event. Over 40 government bureaus and trade promotion institutions from Guangdong and Macao are acting as co-organisers. 2012 GMBPF is co-ordinated by the Macau Fair & Trade Association. An event to enhance Guangdong and Macao in economic exchange and brand cooperation
Guangdong and Macao enjoy a long history of economic and trade cooperation. Back in April 2003, Guangdong and Macao have together staged with success the Western Guangdong Famous Products Fair in Macao. In 2009, the first Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair was staged and has been held yearly for 4 years since then. The GMBPF is initiated by the governments of Guangdong and Macao SAR, with the objective to cope with the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta, and is an important trade and economic activity promulgated by both governments acting upon the basis of the subsequent Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement between Guangdong and Macao signed by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province in March 2009. In March 2011, Guangdong - Macao Cooperation Framework Agreement was signed which marked a closer tie between the two territories. The GMBPF, with improved significance, is now earmarked as an annual event endorsed by the two governments. With the successful experience gained over the past 3 years, the GMBPF has gained more recognition and evolved to be an annual branded event of Macao. Effectiveness of GMBPF extended to generate future thematic fairs The 6,000 square metres exhibition floor houses 247 exhibition booths and showcases the carnival-style trade and economic activities including trades, cultural exchange, shopping and entertainments. The 2012 GMBPF will continue to highlight Macao as the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure and as a business service platform gearing towards an appropriate diversification for the economy of Macao. The GMBPF will have its effectiveness extended to generate future thematic fairs, helping Guangdong Branded Products to explore overseas markets, and the inflow of more varieties and quality merchandizes to Macao. For easier access by merchandizers and the public and to be more centered towards different themes, the exhibition floor will be zoned according to the industries such as gifts and souvenirs, daily necessities and food products instead of the previous zoning method based on different cities and provinces. Greater branding effect draws in more Guangdong enterprises The branding effect of the GMBPF is becoming more obvious, as the number of applicants for exhibition booths have far exceeded the number of available booths this year. After the selection process, 129 Guangdong enterprises will take up 162 exhibition booths, with 40 booths at the Gifts and souvenirs Zone, 69 booths at the Daily Necessities Zone, and 53 at the Food products Zone. Among the exhibitors, 8 enterprises are China Branded Products and Famous Brands, whereas 46 are Guangdong Branded Products and 32 are Famous Brands of Guangdong Province. Twenty-three enterprises are the key businesses to be developed by the Ministry of Commerce and the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong. About 107 enterprises have already had their trademarks registered, and 42 have registered their trademarks overseas. To assist the developments in Xinjiang province, the Guangdong Province has specially invited their corresponding region – Kashi of Xinjiang Province to have their commerce departments to deploy enterprises to take part in the GMBPF, in order to explore new ways of assisting Xinjiang province. This is the reason why there will be one enterprise from Kashi of Xinjiang appearing at the 2012 GMBPF and it will bring forth 400 of their famous sweet melon – Jiashi melon - to Macao. The Jiashi melon is named after the place of the produce – Jiashi county of Xinjiang, and is famous for its sweetness, flavor, vitamins, fibres, succulent and nutritious nature of the fruit. I Exhibitors endorse the effectiveness of GMBPF
Sixty percent of the Macao enterprises are repeated exhibitors
The Macao Pavilion will continue to promote products Made in Macau, Macao Brands, Design in Macao, Macao Creative Arts Products, and specialty products with Macao enterprises as agents. A total of 85 Macao enterprises will take part in the GMBPF, 30 of which are located at the wet products zone, 8 at the consumer products zone, 14 at the Food products zone, 9 at Daily Necessities, 4 at Electronic products, 3 at Healthcare products, 6 at souvenir items, 9 at the MinM (Manufactured in Macao) and 2 as official banking partners. Forty percent of the Macao exhibitors are participating for the third consecutive years while 60 per cent of which have been involved in GMBPF in the past. The active involvement of the exhibitors is a vivid proof of the effectiveness of the event. Apart from the core exhibition, Guangdong & Macao Branded products trade & exhibition centre is also housed in the venue. Also included in the already rich programme are activities such as the 'Vote for Most Popular Guangdong and Macao Branded Product', Business Matching Session, Product Presentation for specialized products and services, Sourcing and Negotiation, arts and culture performances and lucky draw. Guangdong & Macao Branded products trade & exhibition centre for a highly cost-effective business matching platform New ideas are added to the 2012 GMBPF to enrich the contents, enhance the impact, deepen the economic and trade cooperation between the two territories, and to seek for more cooperation chances for enterprises in Guangdong and Macao. To allow buyers to have a more systematic, comfortable, and convenient way to know more about the pricing, quality edge, trading terms and favourable conditions for the Branded Products of the cities in Guangdong and Macao, Guangdong & Macao Branded products trade & exhibition centre will be a showroom for the three products with the highest quality. Besides displaying samples, there will be dedicated personnel on-site to explain in details about the products and to distribute product information. This service includes liaising with the exhibitors, providing space for business negotiation, express delivery for samples of products, free beverages, WIFI service, recharging of mobile phones, product information updates after the event, and business service platform. Premiere Forum on Guangdong and Macao Products Packaging Design Cooperation & Development
Product Packaging Design is part and parcel to the effectiveness of sales and marketing. To improve the awareness of Guangdong and Macao enterprises on product packaging and to seek for more cooperation room, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Department for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province will jointly host a Forum on Guangdong and Macao Products Packaging Design Cooperation & Development at Hall A & B of the Macao Tourist Activities Centre on 3 August. The forum will be in the form of discussion and free question and answer format with experts and scholars from Guangdong and Macau to interact with the audience and to discuss the topic of product packaging design in Guangdong and Macao. Explore new ways of hosting exhibitions – Voting activity added to step up interactivity
The 'Vote for my favourite Guangdong and Macao Branded Product' is one of the key activities of the Fair. The organizer has adopted mobile phone apps for the vote and an internet-based voting system with the view to use IT to explore further the promotion channels. The voting activity increases the types of promotion for the Macao market on top of the conventional methods including newspaper coverage, internet, and the on-site activities. It helps further enhance the effectiveness of new product launch, new markets, brand building and strengthen corporate image. By voting for the 'Branded Product' much-favoured by the public and professionals, an effective channel to solicit direct comments from users towards the products will be built, and thus scaling up the level of involvement and participation of exhibitors and the public. To encourage the public to take part in the voting activity, participants will be encouraged to use the internet, mobile phone apps of the GMBPF to cast a vote. The lucky 50 voters drawn will be awarded with a gift valued at Mop500. Diversified business activities to promote cooperation between enterprises of the two territories
During the 2012 GMBPF, several product presentations will be arranged to make themselves a promotion platform for enterprises to direct reveal their products, services, business opportunities and market information of their industries. In addition, the organizer has set aside an area for business matching and procurement as part of the overall services provided for both the buyers and the suppliers, and in turn to promote further the cooperation between Guangdong and Macao procurers and Branded Products enterprises. Overseas and local reputable procurers and enterprises have been invited to take part in the on-site business matching and to promote further the trading platform of Guangdong and Macao. New measures to protect the environment To go green and to save the resources of the planet, the organizer has adopted several green measures and to reduce the use of papers. First of all, emails will be used as much as possible to replace paper-based invitation letters when soliciting exhibitors. Online applications for GMBPF is adopted to reduce paper-based application forms, while entrance tickets, posters, promotion flyers and programmes will be printed on recycled papers. To build an on-going procurement platform for exhibitors
Last year's success in providing an online promotion and marketing platform as on-going showcase of Guangdong and Macao Branded Products has resulted in the come again '2012 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fairs' website (www.guangdongmacaofair.com) for the upload of products and information offered by exhibitors as an expanded and long term service of the Fair. A carnival to generate fun for all The 2012 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair is a carnival style event suitable for all walks of life. Apart from the business activities, the organizer has also designed a number of much-sought-after shopping offers, lucky draw, arts and cultural performance. The lucky draw will be held every day. On the first three days (2, 3 & 4 August), the lucky draw will be drawn at 5.45pm on the same day each day, while it will be at 7.30pm on the final day of event (5 August). This year, several award winning activities are arranged such as the Guess Which is the Most Favourite Branded Product? Facebook Check-in, and attach your favorite products on Facebook to win an iphone and so on. To add in more entertaining elements for the carnival, the organizer has invited notable popular music band Mr, singers G.E.M, Joyce Cheng, Mr Wan Kwong to perform during the event. The Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair has already established itself as a reputable MICE event, and every year it has attracted large number of exhibitors, citizens and tourists to attend the Fair. Last year the total number of participants was approximately 111,000. Free shuttle bus and parking service to provide easy access Free shuttle bus service is provided to allow easy access for citizen to go to the venue at Macau Fisherman's Wharf from the urban areas of Macau, Taipa. Pick up points on the Macau side are: Avenida do Dr Mario Soares (near Macau Square), Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida (near the Pak Wai Bus Stop), Estrada de Marginal do Hipodromo (near the Loyal Supermarket of Areia Preta), Border Gate, Hong Kong and Macau Ferry Terminal and various official hotels. As for the Taipa side, the pick-up point is at the Estrada do Gov. Albano de Oliveira Taipa (at the main entrance of the Taipa Branch of the Tai Fung Bank). Free parking for 3 hours is offered at the Macau Fisherman's Wharf. Overseas and local merchants and citizens are welcomed to the GBMPF The 2012 Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair is a business opportunity to embrace both businesses and entertainment. The four days' event welcomes all to take part. The organizer sincerely invites overseas and local merchants, Macau citizens, and visitors to take part in this great event of Guangdong and Macao. Opening hours are: 12noon to 8pm on 2 August; 11am to 8pm from 3 to 5 August (Friday to Sunday). For further information about the 2012 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair, please call our hotline at +853-87989277 or visit our website at http://www.guangdongmacaofair.com for '2012 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair".
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Consumer Council conducted price checks on cooking oil and eggs earlier. Survey results have been uploaded to the Council's 'Specific Product Price Platform' website and are also available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. Prices of 23 brands of cooking oil were collected from 21 retail outlets on 26th July by Consumer Council. In comparison with data from May's survey, 8 out of 23 surveyed oil brands recorded no change in price. Selling price of 'Knife Brand Pure Canola Oil (900mlx3pcs)' in one retail outlet had been raised by 22.7 percent since last time, and selling prices of 'King Chef 100% Pure Corn Oil (3.5L)' in two outlets had dropped by 24.9 percent due to special price promotion. Selling prices of the same product were found to vary in different retail outlets: 'Camel Brand Corn Oil (2L)', which recorded only a 1.61 percent difference in prices at different outlets last time, was sold at $49.90 to $64.80, with a price difference of 29.86 percent. The Council also conducted another price check on 9 brands of eggs from 13 supermarkets on 25th July. In comparison with the data from last month's survey, egg prices remained stable, and the percentage discrepancies between the lowest and the highest selling prices of the same products were similar. Two brands of eggs sold at different retail outlets from the same chain store, namely, 'Select US Grade A Fresh Large White Eggs (12 pcs)' and 'Select US Grade A Fresh Extra Large Brown Eggs (12 pcs)', although they were sold at special prices, a price difference of $3.00, around 15 percent, was recorded. The two mentioned specific price surveys on cooking oil and eggs are 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.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the total number of licensed motor vehicles reached 210,580 at the end of June 2012, a year-on-year increase of 5%, of which motorcycles (112,644) and light private cars (83,641) accounted for 53% and 40% respectively. New registration of motor vehicles decreased by 1% year-on-year to 8,298 in the first half year of 2012, with light private cars and motorcycles sharing 48% and 47% of the total. In the first half year of 2012, number of traffic accidents rose by 4% year-on-year to 7,160 cases, resulting in 2,525 victims and 6 of them were killed. Cross-border vehicle traffic by land between Macao and Mainland China increased by 7% year-on-year to 2,140,410 vehicle trips in the first six months of 2012, of which vehicle traffic through the Border Gate accounted for 84%. Commercial flight movements at the Macao International Airport increased by 3% year-on-year to 17,913 in the first half year of 2012, with Mainland China (38% of total); Taiwan, China (28%) and Thailand (12%) being the major routes. Helicopter flights between Macao and Hong Kong (7,057) and between Macao and Mainland China (1,582) decreased by 12% and 17% respectively. Passenger ferry between Macao and Hong Kong totalled 56,760 ferry trips in the first half year of 2012, down by 8% year-on-year. Passenger ferry between Macao and Mainland China increased by 10% year-on-year to 13,216 ferry trips. In the first half year of 2012, seaborne container throughput totalled 56,217 TEU or 41,291 containers handled, up by 17% and 16% respectively year-on-year. Gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo increased by 25% year-on-year to 105,305 tonnes, with 3,206 tonnes of transshipment goods. Gross weight of containerized cargo by land decreased by 2% to 17,220 tonnes, including 5,779 tonnes of transit goods. In the first half year of 2012, outward (8,104 tonnes) and inward air cargo (3,227 tonnes) fell significantly by 31% and 37% respectively year-on-year. Transit air cargo decreased by 13% year-on-year to 2,023 tonnes. At the end of June 2012, number of mobile telephone users increased by 16% from a year earlier to 1,466,672, whereas fixed-line telephone users decreased by 2% to 164,363. As regards internet services, number of subscribers reached 218,171 and the cumulative duration of usage totalled 318 million hours in the first half year of 2012, up by 18% and 29% respectively.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for June 2012 amounted to MOP650 million, up by 4.5% year-on-year, of which value of re-exports (MOP451 million) increased by 12.1%, but that of domestic exports (MOP199 million) decreased by 9.5%. Total merchandise import amounted to MOP5.96 billion, up by 19.7% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.31 billion for June 2012. In the second quarter of 2012, total value of merchandise export (MOP1.97 billion) grew by 10.6% year-on-year, and that of merchandise import (MOP17.63 billion) rose by 20.6%, resulting in a trade deficit of MOP15.66 billion. In the first half year of 2012, total value of merchandise export increased by 16.0% year-on-year to MOP3.95 billion, attributable to a 23.7% increase in re-exports (MOP2.77 billion) when domestic exports (MOP1.18 billion) rose by 1.2%; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import increased by 25.4% to MOP34.78 billion. Merchandise trade deficit for the first half year of 2012 amounted to MOP30.84 billion. Merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.98 billion) and Mainland China (MOP629 million) in the first half year of 2012 were principally re-exports, up by 38.4% and 8.1% year-on-year respectively; meanwhile, merchandise export to the USA (MOP260 million) and the EU (MOP175 million) were primarily domestic exports, down by 14.2% and 15.2% respectively. Exports of Non-textile (MOP3.39 billion) in the first half year of 2012 expanded by 26.1%, of which exports of Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof (MOP656 million) and Tobacco & wine (MOP396 million) surged by 124.8% and 25.6% respectively year-on-year; however, exports of Textile & garment (MOP552 million) registered a decrease of 22.1%. Domestic exports of Tobacco & wine (MOP271 million) rose by 33.1% year-on-year, while that of Knitted or crocheted garment (MOP193 million) declined by 21.1%. In the first half year of 2012, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP11.04 billion) and the EU (MOP8.20 billion) expanded by 28.0% and 21.5% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 27.8% to MOP21.50 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP3.75 billion), Watches (MOP2.56 billion) and Motor cars & motorcycles (MOP1.59 billion) increasing by 43.4%, 54.7% and 60.0% respectively. Moreover, imports of Capital goods (MOP6.32 billion) registered a year-on-year increase of 27.9%. In the first half year of 2012, total value of external merchandise trade amounted to MOP38.73 billion, up by 24.4% compared with MOP31.14 billion a year earlier.
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The statistical data of joint operations of combating illegal workers by PSP and DSAL during June 2012 is as follows: During the operations solely launched by our Force, we have inspected 384 locations, 1 of which were referred by DSAL, and a total of 26 illegal workers were caught. During the operations solely launched by DSAL, they have inspected a total of 21 locations, and five illegal workers were caught Moreover, in the joint operations launched by PSP and DSAL, they have inspected a total of one locations, and no illegal worker was found. The above locations of inspection consisted of construction sites, private flats, business and industrial venues, etc.
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The Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS), jointly conducted by the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) and the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), is aimed at collecting information on investment by Macao residents in securities issued by unrelated non-residents, in terms of market value and geographical distribution. The results of CPIS for the reference year 2011 are summarised as follows: On 31 December 2011, investment of Macao residents (including individuals, the government and other legal entities but excluding Macao's foreign exchange reserves) in securities issued by unrelated non-residents amounted to MOP168.7 billion at current market value, up by 32.3% from a revised value of MOP127.5 billion at end-2010, a record high value since the inception of this survey in 2002. Among the total, equity securities, long-term debt securities and short-term debt securities were valued at MOP107.1 billion, MOP53.9 billion and MOP7.8 billion respectively. In comparison with the previous year, investment in equity securities, of which mutual funds and investment trust units accounted for MOP16.0 billion, soared by 49.9%. Investment in long-term debt securities and short-term debt securities rose by 4.2% and 76.1% respectively. In terms of geographical distribution, Macao residents' investment in securities issued by Hong Kong entities resumed its leading position, representing 37.9% of the total market value of local residents' portfolio investment outside Macao. The rest was mainly invested in Mainland China, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Australia and Bermuda. Investment in securities issued by entities in Hong Kong amounted to MOP63.9 billion, a marked increase of 156.6% or MOP39.0 billion from end-2010. It consisted of MOP55.6 billion in equity securities, MOP7.6 billion in long-term debt securities and MOP0.7 billion in short-term debt securities, constituting 52.0%, 14.0% and 8.7% of the respective total. The share of investment in securities issued by entities on the Mainland (including those securities listed on non-Mainland exchanges) increased slightly from 20.7% at end-2010 to 21.0%. The corresponding market value increased by 34.2% to MOP35.5 billion, of which the investment in long-term debt securities and short-term debt securities rose markedly to MOP6.7 billion and MOP6.1 billion respectively, where the latter accounted for the largest share in the respective securities category, at 78.6%. The share of investment in European securities dropped by 9.0 percentage points from a year earlier to 16.8% and the corresponding market value also fell by 13.8%. Among the European countries, the United Kingdom continued to assume the largest share in the total securities investment (5.3%), with a market value of MOP8.9 billion at end-2011, which dropped 15.8% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the market value of Macao residents' portfolio investment in the Netherlands, France and Germany also plunged by 7.2%, 33.6% and 25.0% respectively. The share of US securities held by Macao residents slid from 8.0% at end-2010 to 6.2% but the corresponding market value rose by 2.8% year-on-year to MOP10.5 billion at end-2011. Investment in long-term US debt securities was valued at MOP7.9 billion, representing the largest share in the respective securities category. Investment in securities issued by Australian entities dropped by almost one third from one year earlier, bringing the share of Oceanian securities in the total portfolio investment down from 5.4% to 3.0% at end-2011.
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With constant improvement in various areas, the University of Macau (UM) is attracting more and more outstanding students. Recently, UM released undergraduate admission results for the 2012/2013 academic year. This year, a total of 7,654 students applied to UM, hitting a new high. Of the 7,654 applicants, 466 were recommended for direct admission by their secondary school principals, up 23 percent from the previous year. On the rise is not just quantity, but also quality. Admitted mainland students scored an average of 10 percent higher in the national university entrance examination than the admission marks required by the class-1 universities in their home provinces and cities. And for students admitted by the accounting programmes of the Faculty of Business Administration, this figure is more than 24 percent. UM Rector Wei Zhao says that UM is steadily improving its teaching and research and gaining recognition from the local and international communities, thanks to a series of proactive measures, including curriculum reform, the launch of general education and residential colleges, and the founding of the Honours College. Wei Zhao adds that UM is very happy that many outstanding local students have chosen Macao and UM for further education this year. This year, 466 local students, who ranked among the top 10 percent in their secondary schools, were recommended for direct admission by their principals, up 23 percent from last year. In the end 272 were accepted, all on scholarships. This year, UM increased both the quota for principal-recommended admission and the amounts of scholarships for students thus admitted, which leading to all students admitted through principals' recommendation being exempt from tuition, as compared to the original half-tuition treatment. In addition, to increase opportunities for local students, UM this year continues to implement the Preferential Admission Scheme for Admission Examination Candidates, granting bonus points to 185 local students with academic, athletic, musical and other talents. For non-local students, UM markedly raised the entry bar. A total of 2,779 applications from thirty-one provinces, cities and autonomous regions across the country were received. Among these applicants, 2,027 reached the admission marks required by the class-1 universities (key universities) in their home provinces and cities, with English marks reaching 110 or more. Admitted mainland students scored an average of 10 percent higher in the national university entrance examination than the admission marks required by the class-1 universities in their respective provinces and cities. And for students admitted by the accounting programmes of the Faculty of Business Administration, this figure is more than 24 percent, representing an all-time high among all programmes. The number of Hong Kong students applying for UM's undergraduate programmes is twice that of last year.
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The distribution work of 2012 Wealth Partaking Scheme has basically finished on 6 July this year. In the course of the implementation, 96,401 beneficiaries have received the cash premium by means of bank transfer, accounting for MOP$ 672,231,000, while 518,671 crossed cheques have been mailed, which summed up to MOP$ 3,427,629,800. Until the present time, 455,487 cheques were withdrawn, representing 87.8% of the total number of cheques written out. In line with the scheme, a Support Centre for Wealth Partaking Disbursement entered into service on 23 April to cater for enquiries and deal with procedures related to the cash disbursement. As of 27 July, some 18,961 enquiries have been handled, with the majority of which being personal visits, summing up to 13,459 enquiries, around 71.1% of the total. The second most popular channel was telephone enquiry, which stands for 27.9% or 5,288 enquiries. Personal visits to the Centre were mainly for re-issuance of cheques, which totalled 4,525 cases, whereas 1,581 came for the purpose of alteration of address. The Support Centre will cease to provide services starting from 28 July. From 30 July onwards, residents can go to the Service Centre of Civil and Municipal Affairs Bureau located in Avenida da Praia Grande, China Plaza, 2/F for assistance regarding procedures associated with the Wealth Partaking Scheme of present and previous years. The opening hours of this Service Centre are from 9am to 6pm straight, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Telephone enquiries are available at 8795 2675 and 8795 2676. The service hotline 2822 5000, fax 2822 3000 as well as the official website of Wealth Partaking Scheme http://www.planocp.gov.mo will be retained to provide relevant information. Support Centre for Wealth Partaking Disbursement
Number of people received
(From 23 April to 27 July 2012)
(* please find the attached file.)
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