News

IFT Tourism Research Centre (ITRC) will be holding a public seminar "Successful Growth Strategies for SME" on 29 November between 1530 to 1700 at Conference Room, Posada de Mong-Há, Institute for Tourism Studies by Professor Levent Altinay and Dr. Maureen Brookes from Oxford Brookes University, U.K., and Dr. Ruth Yeung from IFT. The issues of successful growth strategies for SME with examples from the UK and other countries, government policy and support, technology and innovation by SMEs will be discussed at the seminar. The seminar will be conducted in English with simultaneous Cantonese interpretation and free of charge. While seats are limited, please visit IFT's website http://www.ift.edu.mo/EN/Event/Index/43/1707 for further information and registration. Should there be any enquiry, please feel free to contact Ms. Virginia Hong at 85061-253.
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Consumer Council conducted its 'Supermarket price survey' for November on 21st November for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included 8 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals increased by 2% year-on-year to 2,394,195 in October 2013; same-day visitors accounted for 53% of the total, at 1,269,280. In October 2013, visitors from Mainland China increased by 5% year-on-year to 1,514,373, coming primarily from Guangdong Province (708,375) and Fujian Province (64,801); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme totalled 677,292. Moreover, visitors from Taiwan, China (89,248) and the Republic of Korea (38,632) increased by 3% and 12%, while those from Hong Kong (543,580) registered a 4% decrease. Long-haul visitors from the US (16,563), the UK (6,017) and France (4,479) increased by 1%, 7% and 24% respectively year-on-year; visitors from Canada (7,579) decreased by 14%, while those from Australia (9,872) held stable. The average length of stay of visitors held stable from a year earlier, at 1.0 day in October 2013; overnight and same-day visitors stayed an average of 2.0 days and 0.2 day respectively. In the first ten months of 2013, visitor arrivals totalled 24,305,018, an increase of 5% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China and the Republic of Korea increased by 11% and 6% respectively, while those from Hong Kong and Taiwan, China decreased by 4% and 8%. Long-haul visitors from the US (144,826), Australia (88,352) and Canada (59,988) saw year-on-year decline; on the contrary, those from the UK (49,614) registered year-on-year increase.
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The University of Macau (UM) will confer honorary degrees on four distinguished individuals, namely Prof. Jiang Shusheng, Prof. Sérgio Machado dos Santos, Dr. Xue Hanqin, and Prof. Yu Kwang Chung, in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their areas of expertise as well as their contributions to UM's development. Chui Sai On, chancellor of UM and chief executive of Macao SAR, has approved the University Council's proposal to confer the Doctor of Education honoris causa degree, the Doctor of Science honoris causa degree, the Doctor of Law honoris causa degree, and the Doctor of Letters honoris causa degree on Prof. Jiang Shusheng, Prof. Sérgio Machado dos Santos, Dr. Xue Hanqin, and Prof. Yu Kwang Chung respectively. The honorary degree conferment ceremony will be held on 7 December on UM's new campus. Bachelor degrees and higher degrees will also be awarded at the ceremony. Prof. Jiang Shusheng is a world-renowned physicist. He was the vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress and the chairperson of the China Democratic League. He was the president of Nanjing University from 1997 to 2006. Under his leadership, Nanjing University made significant progress on various fronts including research, teaching, and internationalisation. Since 1985, he has undertaken many key research projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation and the Ministry of Education. He has received many honours and awards, including the second prize of the Scientific and Technological Progress Award from the Commission of Education (the predecessor of the Ministry of Education), the first prize of the Scientific and Technological Progress Award from the government of Jiangsu province, and the third prize of the State Natural Science Award; as well as the title of "Middle-Aged and Young Expert with Outstanding Contributions at National Level". All his life Prof. Jiang has cared deeply about higher education and technological innovation. He has spared no effort in promoting academic changes and collaboration among higher education institutions in the four Chinese-speaking regions of mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao. In 2005, he initiated gatherings of university heads from the four Chinese-speaking regions to explore the way forward for higher education in the Chinese communities. Prof. Sérgio Machado dos Santos is the former rector of the University of Minho, Portugal, and is now its honorary rector. As a university leader, Prof. Santos's CV rolls out a long list of strong credentials for different aspects of higher education, not least his significant role in in the national accreditation of higher education. As the former president of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP) in the mid-1990s, and as the person in charge of the accreditation and recognition of UM's programmes by the Portuguese Ministry of Education, Prof. Santos made significant contributions to UM's gaining international recognition. These programmes of UM were also subsequently recognised by the European Union. Prof. Santos has also played an important role in making UM, then a Portuguese public university, into a CRUP member. It was because of Prof. Santos that UM successfully made the crucial step, which has greatly benefitted UM's graduates seeking further development in Portugal, the European Union, and elsewhere. Prof. Santos is Membro Conselheiro (advisor-member) of the Portuguese Engineers Professional Association (Ordem dos Engenheiros) and has been awarded several honorific titles of distinction, including the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of UNIVALI, Brazil, and the insignias of Grã-Cruz da Ordem de Instrução Pública (1995) and Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Infante (2002) by the president of the Portuguese Republic. His current research work mainly focuses on higher education policies, particularly quality assurance. Dr. Xue Hanqin was a senior Chinese diplomat and is the first Chinese woman to be appointed judge of the International Court of Justice. She is currently a guest professor in the School of Law at Wuhan University. Apart from having rich experience in diplomacy and international law, she also actively promotes legal education and research in China through academic publications. In June 2010, she became the first Chinese female judge and the second female judge of the International Court of Justice. Her appointment not only enhanced the status of China in international legal affairs, but also brought fresh impetus to the International Court of Justice and international law. She has published numerous works and articles on international law in Chinese and English, garnering widespread accolades. Because of her achievements in this field, she was elected member of the Institut de droit international. She advocates resolving international disputes through peaceful means and cooperation. She has made outstanding contributions in the areas of international judiciary, diplomacy and legal research. Prof. Yu Kwang Chung is a literary master who enjoys great renown in the Chinese communities, especially for his modern poetry and prose. In addition to being a prolific writer, he is also a well-known translator with impressive mastery of several languages, including English, German, and Spanish. In his literary career spanning over 40 years, Prof. Yu has published many original and translated works. He has received numerous prestigious prizes and honours, including the Wu San-lien Award in prose, and the Best Book of the Year Award from the United Daily News of Taiwan (he had been awarded this award four times). Because of his outstanding contributions in literature, UM's Department of Chinese in 2007 invited Prof. Yu to give a talk entitled "Poetry and Music". Prof. Yu was awarded honorary doctorates by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Chengchi University, Taiwan, in 2003 and 2008 respectively.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, in collaboration with the Xiling Seal Society and the Macao Calligraphers and Seal Engravers Association, promotes the exhibition "Traces of a Century of Epigraphy - The Art of the Masters of the Xiling Seal Society", to be held on November 30th, Saturday, at 5:00pm, at the Tap Seac Gallery. The exhibition features 39 original calligraphy and painting works by renowned artists including Wu Changshuo, Ma Heng, Zhang Zongxiang, Sha Menghai, Zhao Puchu, Qi Gong, and Jao Tsung-I. It also showcases 24 oracle bones with ancient Chinese script property of Macao collector Mr. Peter Siu. The Xiling Seal Society was created by Zhe School seal artists Ding Ren, Wang Shi, Wu Yin and Ye Ming in 1904 in the vicinity of the Xiling bridge at the Gushan Mountain, near the West Lake in Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province. Wu Changshuo was its first president and the society had the mission to preserve seal stones, study seal arts, and promote calligraphy and painting. The society is one of oldest, most influential academic organizations in the international seal engraving circle, thus being hailed as 'The Top Academic Society'. In its centennial history, Xiling has congregated many of the best and most important artists in the Chinese artistic community, who were well versed in seal engraving, calligraphy and painting, verifying and studying relics, and Chinese literature and history, such as Li Shutong, Huang Binhong, Fu Baoshi, Pan Tianshou, and Feng Zikai. To celebrate the society's 110th anniversary, the Cultural Affairs Bureau together with the Xiling Seal Society and the Macao Calligraphers and the Seal Engravers Association organise this event at the Tap Seac Gallery. Its former and current Presidents are famous calligraphers, painters, and seal engravers who have incorporated profound Chinese philosophy and cultural contents into their consummate techniques, creating many artistic masterpieces. The society's three vice-presidents have been invited to attend the opening ceremony, and nearly 10 professors specializing in ancient Chinese texts from Tsinghua, Fudan, Zhejiang, Jilin, and Sun Yat-sen Universities will also lead their delegations to attend the opening. It will certainly be a grand event attracting prominent scholars and experts from around the globe! "Traces of a Century of Epigraphy - The Art of the Masters of the Xiling Seal Society" will run until 9th of February at the Tap Seac Gallery. Admission is free. Opening hours: 10am to 7pm.
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A carnival and an exhibition featuring the services of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' will be held by Consumer Council this Saturday (23rd November) from 3PM to 5PM at Rotunda de Carlos da Maia. Citizens are welcome to participate in the event. Consumer Council continues to hold its carnivals and 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' exhibitions on Saturdays in November. This week, the Council will have another carnival held at Rotunda de Carlos da Maia from 3PM to 5PM. On-site quiz games, booth games and information about 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' will be exhibited during the event. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI (125.22) for October 2013 increased by 6.18% year-on-year, attributable to rising charges for eating out, higher rentals for dwellings and dearer prices of vegetables. In comparison with October 2012, notable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+12.88%); Health (+6.93%); and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.70%) on account of higher rentals for dwellings, dearer prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas and vegetables, as well as rising charges for eating out and out-patient services. On the contrary, price index of Communication decreased by 2.54%. The CPI-A (125.63) and CPI-B (125.59) increased by 6.94% and 5.96% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for October 2013 increased by 0.15% month-to-month. Higher prices of Winter clothings and rising rentals for dwellings drove up the price index of Clothing & Footwear; and Housing & Fuels by 1.42% and 0.86% respectively. However, price index of Transport; and Recreation & Culture decreased by 0.68% and 0.42% upon lower airfare and gasoline prices, as well as reduced charges for package tours. Moreover, price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages dropped by 0.24%. The CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 0.11% and 0.16% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended October 2013, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.51% from the previous period. Price index of Housing & Fuels (+9.58%); and Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+8.87%) registered noticeable increase, while price index of Education and Communication decreased by 2.26% and 2.20% respectively. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.08% and 5.42% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first ten months of 2013 increased by 5.45% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.04% and 5.33% 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that value of retail sales for the third quarter of 2013 totalled MOP 15.55 billion, down by 2% compared with the revised figure of MOP 15.88 billion in the second quarter. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery amounted to MOP 4.49 billion (29% of total), which was followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (16%), Leather Goods (11%) and Adults' Clothing (9%). Value of retail sales for the third quarter increased by 23% year-on-year, with marked increase being observed in sales of Communication Equipment (+50%), Leather Goods (+29%) and Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+27%). Value of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2013 reached MOP 47.30 billion, up by 21% year-on-year; sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 14.53 billion) and Goods in Department Stores (MOP 7.39 billion) accounted for 31% and 16% of the total respectively. After removing the effect of prices, volume of retail sales for the third quarter of 2013 increased by 25% year-on-year, with notable increase in sales of Communication Equipment (+61%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+38%) and Leather Goods (+32%). Meanwhile, volume of retail sales held stable over the second quarter, of which sales of Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories (+47%) and Motor Vehicles (+17%) saw significant quarter-to-quarter increase; on the contrary, sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery decreased by 14% quarter-to-quarter. Volume of retail sales for the first three quarters of 2013 increased by 22% year-on-year. In respect of the comments of the retailers, about 68% stated that sales volume in the third quarter of 2013 increased or held stable over the previous quarter, up by 10 percentage points compared with those holding the same sentiment in the second quarter of 2013, while 32% reported decrease in sales volume. In terms of the retail prices, about 63% reported stable prices, 31% stated an increase and 6% noted a decrease. In comparison with the same quarter of 2012, about 74% expressed that the stock level was normal in the third quarter of 2013, while 6% indicated that the stock level was low. As regards business outlook for the fourth quarter of 2013, about 35% anticipate that sales volume will increase from the third quarter, 43% expect sales volume to remain stable, while 22% foresee a decrease. Concurrently, about 71% predict stable retail prices, 24% expect an increase, while 5% predict a decrease in retail prices.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on eggs on 20th November for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that attributable to new opening of major hotels and gaming facilities in 2012, Receipts from Gaming & Related Services (e.g. food & beverage, currency exchange, etc.) increased by 13% year-on-year to MOP 306.49 billion; Expenditure amounted to MOP 134.53 billion, up by 11% year-on-year. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy reached MOP 186.45 billion, an increase of 16%; Gross Fixed Capital Formation soared by 42% year-on-year, at MOP 3.19 billion, owing to a substantial increase in construction projects and electronic gaming equipment. In 2012, Total Receipts of the Gaming Sector increased by 14% year-on-year to MOP 306.82 billion. Receipts from Gaming & Related Services amounted to MOP 306.49 billion; besides, rising cash flows brought about an upsurge in Interest Receipts, from MOP 139 million in 2011 to MOP 335 million, an increase of 141% year-on-year. Total Expenditure amounted to MOP 137.64 billion, up by 11% year-on-year. Expenses on Purchase of Goods, Commission Paid and Customer Rebate amounted to MOP 102.52 billion, up by 8%; Operating Expenses (MOP 17.54 billion) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 14.47 billion) also increased by 24% and 17% respectively year-on-year. On the contrary, Non-operating Expenditure (e.g. depreciation, interest paid, etc.) totalled MOP 3.11 billion, down by 1% year-on-year.
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