News

In the first half-year of 2011, a total of 220 applications for temporary residency for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders were received by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) (a decrease of 7 compared with the same period last year), 33 applications for major investment and major investment plans (an increase of 26 compared with the same period last year), representing 87% and 13% of the total of 253 new applications in the first half-year of 2011. Approved cases for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders amounted to 225 (a decrease of 85 compared with the same period last year), approved applications for major investment and major investment plans totalled 5 (a decrease of 4 compared with the same period last year). In accordance with the Administrative Regulation No. 7/2007, temporary residency applications for fixed asset purchases have been suspended since 4 April 2007. There were over 4,000 applications lodged before the closing date of the policy and are still being processed. Therefore, there were no new residency applications during the first half-year of 2011 for fixed assets purchases while all of the 21 already approved cases were lodged before 4 April 2007. Statistics of Investment Residency Applications and the Cases and Number of Beneficiaries in the First Half-Year of 2011
(* please find the attachment) For further enquiries on the residency application guidelines, please contact IPIM by visiting the website: www.ipim.gov.mo, email: gjfr@ipim.gov.mo, tel: 28712055 or fax: 28713950. Applicants may also visit the website and enquire about the progress of their residency application status online.
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Consumer Council's latest specific price survey report on tissue and toilet papers has been released. In comparison with the data of the same period in last month, most surveyed samples recorded no change in price while a certain brand recorded price drop of over 15%. Since May, the specific price survey report shows stability in average price of tissue and toilet papers. The Council conducted the survey on 30th August, surveying 13 samples of tissue and toilet papers from 25 local retail outlets. 6 samples surveyed this time showed no change in price, the ones which decreased slightly in price dropped by around 0.3% to 15.8%. Both 'C&S' brand samples surveyed reflected average price decrease of over 10%. Further, the price difference of the same brand sold in different retail outlets observed this time has widened from 28% last month to 35.23% this month. Consumers may visit the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) to use its online price search function; both "Supermarket Price Information Platform" and "Specific Product Price Information Platform" make checking prices of various commodities an easy job. The specific price survey report on tissue and toilet papers is now available online on the Council's official website. For enquiries, please call 8988 9315. The above article is accessible at http://www.consumer.gov.mo/c/ccnews.asp
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Based on the good foundation laid in the past, the Macao and Xinjiang governments would enhance their co-operation in education, culture, tourism and trade. This was discussed when the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the Secretary of CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Mr Zhang Chunxian, and the Chairman of Xinjiang Uygur Automonous Region, Mr Nur Bekri, in Xinjiang, where he attended the opening ceremony of the first China-Eurasia Expo today. During the meeting after the opening ceremony, Mr Zhang greeted the Macao delegation warmly, saying that over the past 11 years Xinjiang and Macao had built a good co-operative relationship using education and culture as the starting points. He said tourism would be the focal point of the next co-operative stage. He also suggested that Macao would act as a trading platform, attracting funds from all over the world to invest in the developing market of Xinjiang. Moreover, Macao could also make use of its links with the European Union to further promote exchanges and co-operation between Xinjiang and European countries. Mr Chui expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Zhang's hospitality in receiving the delegation. He said the success of the first China-Eurasia Expo has given him much encouragement, and that the Macao Government would actively participate in the activities of the second Expo. He told Mr Zhang that the Macao Government would study his suggestions in detail, and invited Mr Zhang to visit Macao. After the meeting, Mr Chui attended the welcome banquet hosted by Mr Nur Bekri. Mr Chui led an official delegation to the China-Eurasia Expo where he delivered a keynote speech in the morning. Afterwards he toured the Expo and visited the Macao Pavilion. He is scheduled to return to Macao tomorrow.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, pledged today that Macao would strengthen its co-operation with Xinjiang in tourism and education, and to make use of the Macao's international tourism network to promote Xinjiang's abundant tourism resources and boost the development of its tourism industry. Delivering a speech at the China-Eurasia Economic Development and Co-operation Forum in Urumqi, Xinjiang, Mr Chui said Macao would also fully leverage its position as a commercial service platform and actively promote trade and commercial collaboration between Xinjiang and other western regions, and Portuguese-speaking countries. Macao would continue to increase cultural and educational exchanges and co-operation aimed at establishing a harmonious relationship between Xinjiang and Macao, he said. The Forum was a co-event of the first China–Eurasia Expo, which was opened this morning by Vice Premier Mr Li Keqiang, Mr Chui and other prominent figures in the region. In his speech, Mr Chui also said that the Expo provided Macao with 'a brand new platform and greater potential for participating in the development of western China, together with Central Asia, Western Asia and Europe. 'With abundant natural resources, Xinjiang has historically played a key role in bridging Eurasia, and continues doing so today. We are pleased to witness the ongoing progress of Xinjiang's economy and community; these achievements are known to the world, and have contributed to improvements in people's lives,' he said. 'Xinjiang's new rise and development are not only important to the prosperity and growth of society, but also significant for expanding the trade and economic co-operation between China and other countries in Central Asia, Western Asia, Southern Asia and Europe, and for promoting harmony, stability and common development in western China. We pay attention to and strive to fully support Xinjiang's development and progress. 'Macao is a special administrative region on the west bank of the Pearl River estuary, with unique characteristics and a service-oriented economy. Since Macao's reunification with the motherland, the fundamental principles of "One country, two systems", "Macao people governing Macao" and a high degree of autonomy have demonstrated great vitality and creativity, resulting in the rapid economic growth and social stability of Macao. 'With full support from the central government, the Macao SAR is quick to seize the opportunities arising from mainland China's vigorous development. By fully leveraging our close relations with Portuguese-speaking and Latin countries and the European Union, we are committed to providing excellent intermediary trade services, and to broadening our horizons for development. 'At present, the Macao SAR is actively implementing the Twelfth Five-year plan, the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta, and the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement. We are also boosting the effectiveness of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between Mainland China and Macao (CEPA) and its supplementary protocols, aiming to establish Macao as a world-class travel and leisure centre and a commercial service platform for business co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. 'These administrative measures of the SAR dovetail with the national strategy to ensure Xinjiang is one of China's key gateways to the world, as well as the aims of the China-Asia-Europe Expo. We aim for joint progress in implementing the national policy of regional interaction and co-operation between eastern, central and western China,' he said. Mr Chui toured the exhibition area after attending the Forum. He is scheduled to return to Macao tomorrow.
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To commemorate the centenary of the Xinhai Revolution in grand style, the Cultural Affairs Bureau, starting in September, will hold a series of activities, including large-scale thematic exhibitions, conferences and seminars, historical guided tours of Dr. Sun Yat Sen's revolutionary sites as well as two musical events. It is hoped that this wide range of popular and academic promotional programs will not only enhance local residents' understanding of Dr. Sun Yat Sen and the 1911 Revolution in China, but also arouse public interest in the history and culture of Macao by revealing the important role the territory played in the 1911 Revolution., The Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau held yesterday afternoon (August 31st) a press conference at the Macao Museum Auditorium. It was hosted by the Director of the Macao Museum, Chan Ieng Hin, the director of the Macao Chinese Orchestra, Zhou You, and the director of the Special Project Division, Lam Chong Keong. Invited to attend and speak was the deputy director of the working committee for the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Xinhai Revolution in Macau, Chen Kin Ieng . Macao was an important basis for Dr. Sun Yat Sen to move out into the greater world and carry out his revolutionary activities. To this day, the cultural relics retained in Macao relating to Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his revolutionary activities bear a glorious historical imprint on Macao. Putting the 1911 Revolution into historical context, the exhibition For the People – Sun Yat Sen and Macao, which will be held at the Macao Museum of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, seeks to introduce Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his family's strong connection with Macao through the display of cultural relics. This collection comes from a number of cultural organizations and individual collectors from Macao, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Taipei and Hong Kong and some of them are extremely rare and precious. The exhibition will be held on the 3rd floor of the Macao Museum and will run from September 24th to December 11th . There will also be a grand opening ceremony. Allegiance of Revolutionaries: Seminar commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution organized by the Macao Historical Archives will be held at the Macao Museum Auditorium on September 24th. Dr. Sun Yat Sen's granddaughter, Dr. Lily Sun, has been invited to attend this seminar alongside expert scholars from China, Hong Kong, Macao and Portugal to present various papers themed on the history of the 1911 Revolution, Macao's role in the 1911 Revolution and the impact of this Revolution. These experts will provide valuable information for the study of the historical relationships between Macao and the 1911 Revolution. Admission is free. In addition to this, two seminars will be given by local scholars: Macanese and the 1911 Revolution by Dr. Li Chang Sen, Professor of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, at 3pm on October 29th and The Newspaper Industry in Macau Before and After the 1911 Revolution by Dr. Agnes Lam Iok Fong, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities (FSH) in University of Macau, at 3pm on November 12th. Revolutionary pioneer Dr. Sun Yat Sen promoted revolutionary activities in Macao and left his indelible mark in different places. The Culture Affairs Bureau and the Macao Heritage Ambassadors Association will jointly launch the Tour of Dr. Sun Yat Sen's Macau Revolutionary Trail, guiding participants and allowing them to revisit places which were once familiar to the "Father of Revolution". This guided tour will be held in Cantonese and will take place at 3pm every Saturday from September 10th to October 29th. The tours of September 24th and October 29th will be held in English. People of all nationalities are welcome. Through visits to sites which present Dr. Sun Yat Sen's life in Macao, this tour will provide a deeper understanding on the close relationship between Macao, Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his revolutionary causes from different perspectives. The route for the September tour will be: the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, the Lou Lim Ioc Garden, the Lok Kuan Reading Room, the Meeting Place of the Tong Meng Hui Union and the Kiang Wu Hospital Historical Museum.The route for the October tour will be: the Lilau Square, the Mandarin's House, the headquarters of the old newspaper- the 'Eco Macaense', the House of Secret Meetings of the Revolutionary Party Chong Hua, the Residence of Sun Mei, elder brother of Sun Yat Sen, Rua de Estalagens, N.º 80 and the Lou Kau Mansion. Applications for guided tours are currently being accepted. Application forms can be found in promotional leaflets or downloaded from the Cultural Affairs Bureau website. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will also hold two major events during the 25th Macao International Music Festival to commemorate the centenary of the 1911 Revolution. Running ten successive days from October 9th to 16th, Rising Sun - The Musical provides an innovative overview of Dr. Sun Yat Sen's young and frivolous years, explaining the various events surrounding Dr. Sun's immersion in discussing matters of great importance with his revolutionary comrades known as the "The Four Bandits" and his commencement of the Revolution. The Xinhai Revolution Commemorative Concert will be held at 8pm on October 15th at the Grand Auditorium of the Macao Cultural Centre. An event of significant importance, the Macao Chinese Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Pang Ka Pang has specially commissioned new music from four of the most distinguished Chinese composers of contemporary folk music, who will have their new works premiered in Macao. In addition to the above activities, the Cultural Affairs Bureau's magazine Review of Culture will launch two "Centenary of the 1911 Revolution" Special Commemorative Editions (Chinese Edition Issues 80 and 81) in the autumn and winter of this year, which will contain several academic research works on the 1911 Revolution. At the same time, a variety of beautifully-themed commemorative souvenirs will be available for sale to residents and tourists alike at the Mandarin's House and other locations. At the press conference, the deputy director of the working committee for the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Xinhai Revolution in Macau, Chen Kin Ieng, announced that on September 4th a large-scale commemoration of the centenary will be held in Macao. Activity details can be obtained from promotional leaflets, the Cultural Affairs Bureau website at www.icm.gov.mo, or over the phone, via Cultural Affairs Bureau Hotline at 8399 6699. A series of activities commemorating the Centenary of the 1911 Revolution
(* Please find the attachment)
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The 15-day data collection of the 2011 Census concluded last Friday. The census officers have visited about 236,000 building units and the rate of completion stood at 95%, including 15,600 units opted to use e-Questionnaire. For the non-contact households of about 9,800 building units who might be travelling out of Macao, the census officers have left an appointment card, reminding them to contact the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) upon their return. In fact, there are returning households calling the Census Hotline in the last few days, to schedule appointment or complete the questionnaire. DSEC reiterates that completion of the census questionnaire is mandatory, while non-compliance is liable to fine; therefore, households who have not completed the Census questionnaire should contact DSEC as soon as possible. DSEC states that the successful conclusion of the data collection of the 2011 Census is attributable to the full cooperation and support of the population, members of the public and government departments. As a token of thanks, the Cooperating Household Lucky Draw will be held on 14 October; the list of winners will be notified by DSEC staff and posted at the Census Website: census.dsec.gov.mo DSEC is going to conduct the Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) on 1-9 September to evaluate the quality of Census data collected. About 3,000 households will be selected by sampling, among the completed cases, to re-verify basic demographic data. DSEC requests continuous cooperation of these households to the PES, and be cautious to confirm the identity of the visiting census officer before interview. The census officer is wearing a white Census uniform (blue collar T-shirt with the 2011 Census logo printed at the front and the back), carrying a Census Identity Card and a blue Census satchel. In case of doubt, household should call the Census Hotline at 8809 8809 to confirm the name, Census ID Card number, gender, etc. of the visiting Census officer. After completion of the PES, DSEC will focus on data validation, processing and compilation of results. Preliminary results of the 2011 Census that include population size, gender and age structure, population by districts, etc. will be disseminated in December 2011. Detailed Census results will be published in April 2012, together with the release of the "2011 Census Geographical Information System". In addition, DSEC will disseminate the "Macao Population Projection 2011-2036" in the fourth quarter of 2012.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, left today with an official delegation to Urumqi, Xinjiang, for the first China–Eurasia Expo, which opens tomorrow. Speaking to the press before his departure, Mr Chui said he hoped the visit would strengthen co-operation with Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, based on the foundation of their partnership in education, tourism, trade, human resources training and other aspects in the past decade. Tomorrow the China–Eurasia Expo will open in the Xinjiang International Exhibition Centre, where Macao has set up a pavilion to promote its products and services to the delegates and international investors. Macao posted a 22.9 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first half of this year and the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, who is a member of the official delegation, said he expected the annual growth rate would be more than 10 per cent. The momentum of economic expansion was mainly powered by gaming, tourism and public spending, he said. Mr Tam also said that the focus of the Government would be switched from economic growth to a balanced and sustainable development.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for July 2011 amounted to MOP585 million, down by 4.6% year-on-year, with exports of Textile & garment declining by 31.3%; value of domestic exports (MOP212 million) decreased by 16.0%, but that of re-exports (MOP373 million) increased by 3.4%. Increase in total merchandise import continued and rose by 46.3% year-on-year to MOP5.54 billion, of which imports of Buses registered a 25-fold increase to MOP106 million. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP4.96 billion in July 2011. In the first seven months of 2011, total value of merchandise export decreased by 6.1% year-on-year to MOP3.99 billion, of which value of re-exports declined by 8.7%; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import increased by 38.3% to MOP33.38 billion. Merchandise trade deficit for the first seven months of 2011 widened by 47.8% year-on-year to MOP29.39 billion; the exports/imports ratio dropped by 5.7 percentage points year-on-year to 11.9%. Merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.69 billion), Mainland China (MOP673 million) and the USA (MOP349 million) in the first seven months of 2011 decreased by 8.8%, 0.8% and 30.2% respectively year-on-year. Exports of Textile & garment declined by 13.2% to MOP842 million; meanwhile, exports of Jewellery (MOP204 million) and Clocks & watches (MOP159 million) decreased by 63.9% and 38.2% respectively, but that of Tobacco & wine (MOP360 million) grew by 71.1%. In the first seven months of 2011, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP10.26 billion) and the EU (MOP8.34 billion) expanded by 36.5% and 58.8% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 40.2% to MOP20.08 billion, with imports of Food & beverages (MOP4.73 billion), Gold jewellery (MOP3.17 billion) and Handbags & wallets (MOP1.71 billion) increasing by 34.1%, 79.0% and 118.5% respectively. Moreover, imports of Capital goods (MOP6.19 billion) registered year-on-year increase of 74.4%. In the first seven months of 2011, total value of external merchandise trade amounted to MOP37.37 billion, up by 31.7% compared with MOP28.38 billion a year earlier.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2011 expanded by 24.0% in real terms, which was spurred by the increase in exports of services, investment and private consumption expenditure. Exports of gaming services surged by 39.0%, total visitor spending (excluding gaming expenses) increased by 5.9%, investment expanded by 23.1% and private consumption expenditure rose by 11.3%; however, merchandise exports decreased by 8.2%. In the second quarter of 2011, implicit deflator of GDP that reflects changes in overall prices increased by 6.0% year-on-year. For the first half year of 2011, GDP increased by 22.9% in real terms; besides, economic growth for the first quarter of 2011 revised upward from 21.5% to 21.6% in real terms. In view of the continuous rise in total employment and income, together with low unemployment rate, private consumption expenditure rose by 11.3% in the second quarter of 2011, lower than the 13.0% increase in the first quarter. Household final consumption expenditure in the domestic market increased by 7.6%; at the same time, household final consumption expenditure abroad registered an increase of 21.3%, with that in Mainland China amounting to MOP 1.66 billion. Government final consumption expenditure went up by 8.1%, higher than the 1.2% decline in the first quarter, attributable to the 7.2% increase in compensation of employees and 10.2% rise in net purchases of goods and services. Gross fixed capital formation, the gauge of investment, expanded by 23.1%, lower than the 30.8% increase in the first quarter. Private investment grew by 24.4%, with construction investment and equipment investment increasing by 28.7% and 13.8% respectively. Government investment increased by 7.3%, of which construction investment expanded by 20.7%, while equipment investment shrank by 53.2%. Decline in merchandise exports continued, down by 8.2% in the second quarter, widening further from the 7.0% decrease in the first quarter. On the contrary, merchandise imports soared by 26.4%, higher than the 22.4% increase in the first quarter, attributable to the expansion in private consumption, visitor spending and investment. As regards trade in services, rising visitor arrivals and visitor spending supported exports of services to surge by 33.0% in the second quarter, higher than the 30.0% increase in the first quarter. Exports of gaming services expanded by 39.0%, and total visitor spending went up by 5.9%. In addition, imports of services increased by 36.1%, lower than the 38.4% increase in the first quarter.
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Macao Post announced that the mail delivery services to Dominican Republic (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet and Parcel) previously affected by a hurricane have resumed normal. Thank you for your kind attention.
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