News

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) participates once again at Lisbon Travel Market (BTL, from the Portuguese abbreviation), running until Sunday, with a 54 square-meter booth showcasing the binomial historical-cultural heritage/business tourism, and the tourism potential of Macau. The existing historical, cultural and economic links between Macau and Portugal, despite the geographical distance, justify the continuous promotion of Macau at BTL, the biggest Portuguese tourism fair, since its first edition, with Macau being already a benchmark for quality in the event. Through its participation in the fair, MGTO aims to boost contacts between operators and tourism entities of Portugal, Macau and Mainland China. The Macau delegation to the fair, opened to public on Wednesday, includes a Macau tourism operator and representatives from Zhongshan Tourism Bureau. Currently, where there is an increasing demand and visibility of Macau as tourist destination in Portugal, the message of MGTO at BTL 2012 will be focused on promoting and positioning the city as World Center of Tourism and Leisure, and promoting different products under the new marketing theme "Touching Moments - Experience Macau". As in previous years, MGTO booth is also attended by representatives of Chinese traditional activities - a fortune-teller and a silhouette/calligrapher artist – both already very well-known in BTL. Macau's booth will also carry the already popular lucky draw that offers two trips to Macau including accommodation for two people.
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In 2011, Consumer Council handled a total of 6850 cases, involving an amount of almost MOP 16 million. Case completion rate was over 90%. A detailed analysis of complaint cases received in 2011 and the changes in complaint cases in recent years are featured in the latest issue of Consumer Report. Consumer Council indicated that consumers' awareness of their own rights and protection has been greatly enhanced through its promotions and educational work. Both local residents and tourists make inquiries before making consumption, as a great number of cases handled by the Council in recent years were inquiries. In 2011, inquiry cases accounted for about 70% (almost 5000 cases) of the total 6850 cases, almost 1700 cases were complaints, and 170 cases were suggestions; the total amount involved in all these cases was about MOP 16 million. To guarantee consumers' rights to seek redress in economic terms, Consumer Council endeavours to provide better and professional legal assistance to consumers to safeguard their rights. In 2011, case completion rate was over 90%, which was about the same percentage as the previous year. This year, the Council will continue to enhance its publicity and educational work and provide information on consumer issues. Consumer Council, along with Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), will co-host series of events, including a carnival at Iao Hon Market Garden on 15th March, as well as an online quiz, to celebrate this year's 'World Consumer Rights Day'. The latest Consumer Report also features an article on the aim of the annual theme 'Consumption and Safety' of China Consumers' Association. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the office of Consumer Council (Rua Inácio Baptista, Nº 6-6A Edficio 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 with the arrival of Autumn and Winter, consumption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) increased while that of Electricity decreased. In the fourth quarter of 2011, consumption (10,958 tonnes) and imports (10,450 tonnes) of LPG increased by 25.5% and 21.6% respectively quarter-to-quarter; the average price of LPG imports decreased further by 6.4% to MOP8.47 per kilogram, representing the lowest quarterly price in 2011. For the whole year of 2011, imports (42,478 tonnes) and consumption (42,908 tonnes) of LPG went up by 6.2% and 5.3% respectively year-on-year, of which consumption by the Business sector (29,819 tonnes) increased by 10.6%, but that by Households (12,535 tonnes) decreased by 7.4%. In the fourth quarter of 2011, imports of Electricity decreased by 18.2% quarter-to-quarter to 835 million kWh, accounting for 89.9% of the total available supply. Attributable to the suspension of natural gas supply, local generation of Electricity dropped significantly by 59.1% over the previous quarter to 104 million kWh; moreover, the cool weather drove down the consumption of Electricity by 24.2% quarter-to-quarter to 908 million kWh. For the whole year of 2011, total consumption of Electricity (3.856 billion kWh) went up by 5.5% year-on-year, of which consumption by Households (766 million kWh) rose by 9.9%; meanwhile, consumption by the Business sector (2.916 billion kWh) increased by 4.4%, with that of the Gaming sector (1.419 billion kWh) rising by 9.6%. In 2011, imports of Electricity (3.165 billion kWh) increased by 13.6% year-on-year, while local generation of Electricity (886 million kWh) decreased by 17.8%. In 2011, the average price of all types of fuels increased compared with 2010, with that of Unleaded Gasoline (MOP11.53 per litre) and Bottled LPG (MOP14.21 per kilogram) rising by 19.0% and 11.9% respectively year-on-year. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2011, stock of Fuel Oil (10.32 million litres), LPG (1,762 tonnes) and Gas Oil & Diesel (21.83 million litres) decreased by 47.6%, 21.9% and 1.2% respectively quarter-to-quarter.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for January 2012 amounted to MOP622 million, down by 4.7% year-on-year, of which value of domestic exports (MOP203 million) decreased by 18.4%, but that of re-exports (MOP419 million) increased by 3.8%. Total merchandise import amounted to MOP5.68 billion, up by 16.3% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit for January 2012 widened by 19.6% year-on-year to MOP5.06 billion. Merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP305 million) and the USA (MOP48 million) in January 2012 decreased by 5.1% and 29.6% respectively year-on-year, and that to Mainland China (MOP79 million) increased by 14.6%. Exports of Textile & garment declined by 31.6% to MOP105 million; exports of Non-textile (MOP517 million) increased by 3.6%, of which exports of Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof (MOP72 million) and Articles for casino (MOP27 million) soared by 154.9% and 165.9% respectively. In January 2012, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP1.73 billion) and the EU (MOP1.44 billion) expanded by 23.9% and 9.4% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 16.0% to MOP3.61 billion, with imports of Watches (MOP392 million), Handbags & wallets (MOP381 million) and Motor cars & motorcycles (MOP189 million), increasing by 36.1%, 44.2% and 25.8% respectively. Moreover, imports of Capital goods (MOP978 million) registered year-on-year increase of 23.9%. In January 2012, total value of external merchandise trade amounted to MOP6.30 billion, up by 13.9% compared with MOP5.53 billion a year earlier.
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Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On will attend the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress in Beijing, from 4th to 8th March. While in the capital, Mr Chui is also scheduled to meet with the Secretary of the Guangdong CPC Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, and the Guangdong Governor, Mr Mr Zhu Xiaodan, to discuss ways to promote co-operation between Guangdong and Macao.
Mr Chui will also meet with leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Administration of Sport, State Oceanic Administration, to exchange views on mutual co-operation.
The Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng; the Secretary-General of the Executive Council and Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Ms O Lam; and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping will accompany Mr Chui on the trip.
The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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Today (28 February 2012), the University of Macau (UM) and the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) of Macao SAR co-organized a "Macao Chip by Macao People" - Sharing Session on the First State Scientific and Technological Progress Award for Macao, at Macao Science Center. Prof. Ben U Seng Pan, Prof. Elvis Mak Pui In and Dr. Terry Sin Sai Weng of UM, who received the award for their project, "Design and Development of High Performance Analog & Mixed-Signal Circuit Techniques", shared their experience in scientific research and technology transfer with approximately three hundred teachers and students from local secondary schools. In his speech, President of FDCT's Administrative Committee Dr. Tong Chi Kin noted that the fact that the three UM professors, who are all Macao natives, won the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, proves that Macao people are absolutely and intellectually capable of achieving outstanding results in scientific research, and that there are plenty of platforms in Macao for one to display his talents. He hopes that teachers can constantly encourage the students and stimulate their interest in science so as to provide a steady supply of talented people to support the sustainable development of science and technology in Macao. UM Rector Wei Zhao also delivered a speech in which he thanked the Macao SAR government for its longstanding support for education and scientific research through FDCT. Wei Zhao thinks that research is important not only because it can boost economy and improve people's well-being, but also because it is an important means to produce creative people with international competitiveness. UM's Vice Rector (Research) Prof. Rui Martins explained the awarded project to the audience, and then the three award recipients shared with the students about how, under the leadership of Prof. Rui Martins, UM began developing chips when research resources in Macao were almost non-existent; about how, through over ten years of development, UM overcame numerous technical and resource-wise difficulties and developed over ten internationally-advanced new technologies in the field of analog and mixed-signal VLSI and formed a world-class microelectronics research team. They also told the students about how, with the support of FDCT, the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI came into being. The research team's relevant research outcomes have been presented at the International solid-State Circuits Conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which is considered "the Chip Olympics", and have led to over one hundred and fifty papers, several U.S. patents, and over ten other awards and prizes. Members of the microelectronics research team have received the Prize for Scientific and Technological Innovation 2010 of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation and the Order of Merit from the Macao SAR government. During the Q&A session, many students seized the opportunity to ask questions, which were patiently answered by the three professors. The three also encouraged the students to set goals early, study hard, and preserve in the pursuit of their dreams, in order to attain greater achievements. The awarded project can be applied to name-brand consumer products and electronic products. It is expected to generate considerable economic benefits and play a positive role in advancing state-of-the-art research, industrial diversification, and internationalization of Macao. It's fair to say that UM is internationally ahead of the industry and the academic world in terms of microelectronics research development.
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The Signing Ceremony of the Agreement between the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements took place in the Macao SAR Government Headquarters on 28 February 2012. The Government of the Macao SAR was granted the authorization from the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China to conclude the abovementioned agreement. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms. Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Beijing, Mr. Miomir Udovicki, representing the Government of the Macao SAR and the Government of the Republic of Serbia respectively, signed the Agreement. After the Agreement enters into force, residents of the Macao SAR holding a valid Macao SAR Passport will be exempted from visa requirements when entering the Republic of Serbia for a stay of maximum 90 days. The effective date will later be announced. At present, a total of 94 countries or territories have agreed to grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the holders of Macao SAR Passport.
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The Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee, in association with the Academy of Public Security Forces (ESFSM), organized the "Workshop on Combating Human Trafficking" (February 28) at the ESFSM. Participants include officers from the Unitary Police, Macao Customs, Public Security Police, Judiciary Police, Social Welfare Bureau and Heath Bureau. There were also participants from local NGOs including the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Caritas, the Macao Women's Association and the Kaifong Association of Macao. Topics of the workshop include global trends in human smuggling and trafficking, case studies, victim identification, victim protection and prosecution of human trafficking cases. Through this workshop, participants had the opportunity to learn and explore the knowledge on preventing and combating human trafficking crimes, so as to enhance their techniques on handling human trafficking cases and victims.
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Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) holds IFT Healthy and Green Week from 27 Feb – 2 Mar. Mr. Cheong Sio Kei, Director of Environmental Protection Bureau, Ms. Gloria Wong, Secretary-General of Tourism Development Committee, Ms. Monie Kuok, Functional Head of Tertiary Education Services Office, Dr. Fanny Vong, IFT President, Ms. Florence Ian, IFT Vice-President and Ms. Diamantina Coimbra, Director of Tourism and Hotel School officiated at the Opening Ceremony which was held at IFT on 27 Feb. The aims of IFT Healthy and Green Week are to promote the attitude of pursuing healthy life and strengthen the eco-awareness of students and staff. With the support of students and staff, the Institute is able to head for a greener campus. It is hoped that a green message can be delivered to their families and also to the society. The Institute aims to promote healthy life style and develop green habits among institute members so as to raise people's awareness of protecting the environment daily. Dr. Fanny Vong said the Institute has been taken various measures to achieve the aims at saving energy and environmental protection. Some of the measures include: install heat recovery system that provides hot water to guestrooms; install solar photovoltaic modules that provide electricity so as to reduce electricity consumption and CO2 emission; use e-document to reduce paper consumption; use energy-saving lights; implement segregated recycling and launch food waste decomposer machine to treat food waste. The Institute is the first local institution of higher education to launch food waste collection programme. The organic fertiliser generated from the decomposer improves the quality of agricultural products without much pollution. The Institute is always willing to share experience with others. The programme has aroused interests of hotels and restaurants, local schools and organisations and some of them visited the Institute to learn about the difficulties and impacts of introducing food waste decomposer. With the valuable suggestions from in-house guests of Pousada de Mong-Há, the Pousada was first awarded Macao Green Hotel in 2007 and presented the silver award of Macao Green Hotel in 2010. In terms of management, the Institute established the Occupational Safety & Health and Green Committee which composed of members from all departments of the Institute. IFT also joined an energy management programme organised by Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau and Office for the Development of Energy Sector to timely update its environmental policy and measures, and maintain their efficiency. My Green Campus Logo Design Competition was held last year and called forth the participation of students and staff for building a green campus. During the IFT Healthy and Green Week, a series of activities are going to be held, including green walkers, organic planting, sport day, collection of second-hand items for re-use purposes, seminar on health topics. The other training unit of IFT – Educational Restaurant and Cafeteria for Students and Staff is providing healthy dishes in the week. Through the activities, it is hoped that the eco-awareness can be more concreted and IFT is going to work with the society to build Macao a livable city and maintain the sustainable development.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total population was estimated at 557,400 as at 31 December 2011, an increase of 16,800 or 3.1% compared with the revised figure of 540,600 at end-2010. As regards the age structure, the adult population (aged 15-64) made up 80.8% of the total, up by 0.6 percentage point over 2010; the youth population (aged 0-14) and the elderly population (aged 65 and over) shared 11.8% and 7.3% respectively, down by 0.6 percentage point and 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier. In terms of gender structure, female accounted for 51.9% of the total population. In the fourth quarter of 2011, there were 1,752 live births and 448 mortality cases. For the whole year of 2011, total number of live births went up by 14.4% year-on-year to 5,852; gender ratio of the newborn was 109.7, corresponding to 109.7 male babies per 100 female babies. Number of mortality cases totalled 1,845 in 2011, up by 4.0% year-on-year; the top three underlying causes of death were Neoplasms, Diseases of the Circulatory System and Diseases of the Respiratory System. There were 720 cases of Notifiable Diseases reported in the fourth quarter of 2011. For the whole year of 2011, a total of 4,647 cases were recorded, up by 1.7% year-on-year, consisting mainly of Influenza (1,556 cases), Enterovirus Infection (1,184 cases) and Tuberculosis of Lung (339 cases). In addition, 1,046 cases of marriage registration were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2011. Total number of marriages rose by 14.2% year-on-year to 3,545 in 2011; median age of first marriage was 28.2 for male and 26.5 for female. In the fourth quarter of 2011, there were 888 Chinese immigrants with One-way Exit Permit moving to Macao and 267 illegal immigrants repatriated. In 2011, Chinese immigrants totalled 6,222 while 1,266 illegal immigrants were repatriated, down by 31.3% and 2.8% respectively over 2010. Number of non-resident workers stood at 94,028 at end-2011, an increase of 18,215 year-on-year; moreover, a total of 2,812 individuals were authorized to reside in Macao in 2011, down by 1,643 year-on-year. At end-2011, total number of households increased by 1.7% to 172,600, compared with the revised figure (169,700) of end-2010.
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