News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals increased by 8% year-on-year to 2,560,560 in February 2014; same-day visitors accounted for 54% of the total, at 1,383,257. In February 2014, visitors from Mainland China increased by 14% year-on-year to 1,714,776, coming primarily from Guangdong Province (705,357), Zhejiang Province (60,651) and Fujian Province (57,881); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme totalled 821,844, sharing 48% of the total from Mainland China. Visitors from the Republic of Korea (52,427) and Japan (25,730) surged by 33% and 23% respectively year-on-year, while those from Hong Kong (551,626) and Taiwan (73,160) decreased by 8% and 10%. Long-haul visitors from the United States (12,413), Australia (7,556) and Canada (5,318) increased by 3%, 15% and 2% respectively year-on-year; on the contrary, visitors from the United Kingdom (4,125) decreased by 5%. The average length of stay of visitors increased by 0.1 day to 1.0 day in February 2014; overnight and same-day visitors stayed an average of 1.9 days and 0.2 day respectively. In the first two months of 2014, visitor arrivals totalled 5,064,169, up by 8% year-on-year; visitors from Mainland China, the Republic of Korea and Japan increased by 14%, 21% and 7% respectively, while those from Hong Kong and Taiwan decreased by 6% and 4%. Besides, visitors from the United States and Australia posted year-on-year increase, but those from Canada and the United Kingdom registered decline year-on-year.
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Following the lifting of the state of emergency in Bangkok, as per information collected from the Macao tourism industry, Macau travel agents have relaunched Bangkok tour packages and tours may start departing next week. GGCT reminds Macau residents who plan to go to Bangkok, Thailand, to be aware of local security developments and remain vigilant. To date, GGCT has received 111 inquiries but no requests for assistance. If necessary, Macao residents can call the 24-hour tourism hotline (853) 2833 3000 or the Embassy of P.R.C. in Thailand for assistance, tel: 0066-854833327 (call in Thailand: 0854833327).
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June, Consumer Council conducted its specific price surveys on household cleansing products, and shampoo & shower gels on 20th March. Results of the mentioned 2 surveys have been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and are available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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IFT has been devoted to introduce more green projects in campus, wishing to build a healthy and green campus together with students and staff. In order to better promote healthy lifestyle and strengthen the awareness of environmental protection to students and staff, IFT has been hosting Green Week for the last 2 years and this year, IFT is going to incorporate more events and will hold "2014 Healthy and Green Month" from 24 March to 16 April. With all these events, students and staff are encouraged to be both physically and mentally involved in environmental protection and have a healthy lifestyle. IFT hopes that a healthy and green campus environment can be built together with joint effort. There are various types of activities for 2014 Healthy and Green Month and mainly in the areas of health, environmental protection and safety. The events will be carried out in a interacted way and they include: Be a Green Walker, Veggie Monday, Happy Planting, Plants for Green Office, Eat Smart Drink Smart, Book Crossing, Health and Weight Management Workshop, Friendly Football Match for Staff and Students, Foosball Championship, Tchoukball Promotion Day, Hiking Fun and Seminars on Healthy Lifestyle, Visit and Field Trip to Art Exhibition and Natural Gas Operation Center. In the academic year of 2012/13, IFT had achieved electricity reduction per user through the completion of a series of energy saving projects, together with the help of the Energy Management Team, daily inspection and some other energy saving measures, making a great step forward to building a low carbon campus. Being an education institute, besides having the responsibility of training and cultivating students, it is also essential to promote environmental friendly and green living style among students and staff, contributing in building a green society and a livable city.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI (128.32) for February 2014 increased by 5.65% year-on-year, attributable to higher charges for eating out, rising rentals for dwellings and dearer prices of vegetables. In comparison with February 2013, notable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+12.28%); Household Goods & Furnishings (+6.92%); and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.75%) on account of higher rentals, dearer prices of vegetables as well as rising charges for eating out and domestic services. On the contrary, price index of Recreation & Culture decreased by 2.72% upon reduced charges for package tours after the Lunar New Year. The CPI-A (129.05) and CPI-B (128.65) increased by 6.43% and 5.49% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for February 2014 increased by 0.37% month-to-month. Price index of Housing & Fuels and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased by 1.39% and 1.38% respectively due to higher rentals, rising charges for eating out, as well as dearer prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, vegetables, fruits and fresh fish. However, lower charges for package tours and hairdressing services as well as seasonal sale of Winter clothing pushed down the price index of Recreation & Culture; Clothing & Footwear; and Miscellaneous Goods & Services by 3.29%, 1.97% and 1.34% respectively. The CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 0.63% and 0.27% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended February 2014, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.57% from the previous period. Price index of Housing & Fuels (+10.34%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.59%); and Health (+6.13%) registered remarkable increase, while price index of Communication decreased by 2.36%. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.18% and 5.45% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first two months of 2014 increased by 6.00 % year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.68% and 5.89% respectively. The 2008/2009-based Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP6,000 to MOP18,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP19,000 to MOP34,999.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) and commercial real estate loans (CRELs) grew in January 2014. With regard to outstanding balance, RMLs and CRELs both witnessed increases. New Lending Approved In January 2014, new RMLs approved by Macao banks grew 45.2% month-to-month to MOP4.4 billion; of which, 97.9% was extended to residents. In terms of value, new RMLs to residents and non-residents increased 43.5% and 241.0% respectively. When compared with the same period of 2013, new approvals of RMLs witnessed increase of 46.2%. New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) increased notably by 213.1% month-to-month to MOP444.0 million. The equitable mortgage extended to residents, which accounted for 97.3% of the total, surged 204.6%. When compared with the same period of 2013, this type of bank mortgage expanded 284.4%. New CRELs rose significantly by 138.6% month-to-month to MOP5.5 billion; of which, 93.6% was granted to residents. In terms of value, new CRELs to residents and non-residents surged 127.2% and 785.8% respectively. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs grew by 46.7%. Outstanding Balances As at end-January 2014, the outstanding value of RMLs reached MOP121.1 billion, an increase of 2.4% from one month earlier or 23.3% from a year ago. The resident component made up 95.0% of the total. Compared to end-2013, outstanding RMLs to residents grew 2.6% whereas those to non-residents slid 1.6%. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs increased 3.6% from end-2013 and was up 25.1% from end-January 2013 to MOP88.4 billion. Residents accounted for 93.0% of the loans. Compared with one month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents and non-residents grew 3.4% and 6.1% respectively. Delinquency Ratios At the end of January 2014, the delinquency ratio for RMLs edged down 0.01 percentage point from one month earlier and from a year ago to 0.05%. The ratio for CRELs went down slightly from end-2013 or slid 0.13 percentage points from end-January 2013 to 0.03%.
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Secretary for Administration and Justice Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan and her colleagues recently visited the University of Macau's (UM) new campus. Secretary Chan noted during her visit that the new campus shows the country's great support for Macao SAR, and she expressed her hope that UM can continue to improve its "software" to complement the world-class "hardware" that is the new campus. UM Rector Wei Zhao expressed thanks to the SAR government and the residents of Macao for their great support. The delegation was warmly received by UM Rector Wei Zhao, Faculty of Law Dean John Shijian Mo, Shiu Pong College Master Kenneth Leung, Communications Office Director Katrina Cheong, and other UM representatives. Rector Wei Zhao told the guests about the latest developments of the university, including the "4-in-1" mode of education, which consists of discipline-specific education, general education, research and internship education, as well as community and peer education; the latest research achievements; and the master plan for the new campus. Wei Zhao thanked the Macao SAR government and the residents of Macao for their great support. In addition to the UM Wu Yee Sun Library, the University Hall, and the UM Guest House, which are the landmarks on the new campus, the delegation also visited the residential colleges where they listened to college members explain the ideas behind the residential college system and the students' lives in the colleges. Secretary Chan said that she was very excited to see what used to be a piece of deserted land finally transformed into the current new campus, adding that the National People's Congress Standing Committee's approval of the construction of UM's new campus on Hengqin Island as well as the unprecedented decision to allow Macao SAR to exercise jurisdiction over the new campus, shows the country's great support for Macao SAR. She further thanked UM colleagues for their hard work and expressed her hope that UM can constantly improve its "software", which includes faculty, curriculum, and teaching quality, to complement the world-class "hardware" that is the new campus, so as to achieve the goal of becoming a world-class university. In addition to Secretary Chan, other members of the delegation included Chief of the Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Chui Ling, Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau Director José Chu, Printing Bureau Director Tou Chi Man, Law Reform and International Law Bureau Director Chu Lam Lam, Legal and Judicial Training Centre Director Manuel Marcelino Escovar Trigo, Pension Fund Administrative Committee President Ieong Kim I, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) Administration Committee Acting President Vong Iao Lek, IACM Consultative Committee Chairman João Baptista Manuel Leão, and IACM Supervisory Committee Chairman António José Dias Azedo.
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Consumer Council conducted its sixth 'Supermarket price survey' in March on 19th March for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included 9 supermarkets in São Lázaro and São Lourenço Parishes. 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. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council's latest issue no. 246 Consumer Report is released. A summary of all the cases handled last year and a review on the supermarket price survey work are featured. The Council handled 7,198 cases in 2013, which included 1,666 complaints, 5,475 enquiries, and 57 suggestions. The total number of cases handled has decreased by 0.3 percent compared to the figures of the previous year. The number of complaint case has increased by 3.5 percent in 2013, cases mainly included food & beverages, tourism, household furniture and decorations; the number of telecommunication services cases has dropped by around 10 percent. The latest issue of Consumer Report features a detailed analysis of different kinds of complaint cases, the Council also provides suggestions and comments on how industries could better their service to protect consumer rights. In 2013, the Council conducted 33 supermarket price surveys, a summary of 5 kinds of daily commodities: rice, cooking oil, canned food, dairy products, and tisse papers, is included in the current issue of Consumer Report. Other articles such as an introduction to Hong Kong's 'Trade Descriptions Ordinance', and other works of the Council are included in the latest issue no. 246 of Consumer Report. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the Consumer Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C), and the service counter of the Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries and bookstores. Consumers may also access the magazine online on the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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Macao Post has launched the "Secure Electronic Postal Box – SEPBox" on 8 October 2013 and six round lucky draws are approaching to an end. The fifth round lucky draw was held on 7 March under supervision of the Administration Committee of Macao Post. The winner is Mr. Wong U Hong who has received a brand new Smartphone – iPhone 5S. Snatch the last lucky draw opportunity! Register and activate "SEPBox" successfully by using the Web or mobile applications on or before 31 March 2014 to be qualified for the last lucky draw! Don't miss the golden chance to win a trendy Smartphone. For more information of "Secure Electronic Postal Box - SEPBox" and lucky draw, please visit our website http://seps.macaupost.gov.mo. For enquiry, please contact us at Tel: 28720029 or email us at: support@seps.macaupost.gov.mo
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