News

Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has waged a total of 101 sanctions and five operators who provided accommodation illegally were fined 200 000 patacas. Other cases are in different stages of sanction proceedings. Till 5pm of February 1, 2011, the Cross-departmental Working Team conducted 1,239 premise-checks, involving 815 premises, of which 101 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 120 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the Public Security Police Force (PSP) will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found 23 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved 1,046 occupants, among whom 466 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 22 overstayers and 16 illegal immigrants. 18 operators, 14 touts, 16 persons who managed the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and seven occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized on site.
MGTO has begun sanction proceedings on offenders according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation". If the five operators who provided accommodation illegally, who were fined 200 000 patacas, do not pay within the statutory period, the Financial Services Bureau will enforce the collection of fine. Meanwhile, the seven occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3 000 patacas each, among which three have paid the fine. For those who fail to pay the fine within the statutory period, MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine and informed PSP that the involved persons should pay the fine or their reentry into Macau will be denied. According to the law, operators and persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty of up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas, persons who fail to cooperate can be fined up to 20 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas.
Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises.
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The Macau Museum, the Tap Seac Gallery, the Mandarin's House, the Lou Kau Mansion, the Museum of Sacred Art, the Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre, the Pawnshop Museum as well as the Guia Fortress Chapel will be opened as usual during Chinese Lunar New Year. A series of cultural activities will also be provided. Citizens and tourists are welcomed to enjoy local cultural activities during the Festival. The Museum of Sacred Art, the Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre, the Pawnshop Museum and the Guia Fortress Chapel will be opened from February 2nd to February 6th. 'Heavenly Harmonies – Taoist Ritual Music in Macao' exhibition is now presenting by the Macau Museum, publics are welcome to pay a visit. In 2009, the Taoist Ritual Music has become an element of Macao's local intangible cultural heritage. Macau Museum would like to increase citizens' awareness to the importance of cultural heritage protection. At the same time, visitors could review the moment when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Macao last year through the videos shown at the Macau Museum. Local residents and students are welcomed to visit for free every Sudnay. The Tap Seac Gallery will be opened everyday as usual during Chinese Lunar New Year. A solo exhibition by Taiwanese artist Wu Dar-Kuen will remain on display through February 13th. The exhibition, titled Mi-Lou (a-Maze) - interactive new media, includes an interactive installation, along with a series of photographs taken during Wu's visits to other countries, such as the US and Japan. The 'Floriculture for the Chinese Lunar New Year' and the 'Flour sculpture and wood block craftworks' workshops are now presented at the Lou Kau Mansion. 'Flour sculpture and wood block craftworks' is hosted by a technologist from Shandong province and will remain on display through February 6th, follow with the 'Porcelain and paper-cut in high density' workshop from February 8th . Further, The Macau Central library will be closed from February 3rd to February 5th. From February 6th will be opened again as usual. Except certain museums and sites, the public is invited to attend the activities above for free of charge. Interested parties are welcomed to make inquires by calling 83996636 during office hours or through the website of Cultural Affairs Bureau www.icm.gov.mo. Timetable: Museums open with a series of cultural activities during Chinese Lunar New Year Please read attachment!
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) today appealed to Macao residents to be on the alert to the situation in Egypt and halt plans to visit the country. If necessary, they could call the Tourism Hotline (853-28333000) for information. According to available information from the tourism sector, there are currently no tours from Macao and Macao residents integrated in outbound tour groups in the country. The Hong Kong Travel Industry Council decided at the end of their meeting today (January 31) to continue to have all excursions to Egypt halted until 12h00 on 8 February. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has already ordered the dispatch of a chartered flight to the capital Cairo to bring stranded Chinese citizens home. GGCT continues to carefully monitor the developments in Egypt, reminding Macao residents that if necessary, they may always contact the Tourism Hotline: 853-28333000. From January 29 until 15h00 of today (January 31), GGCT has received one request for information regarding the current situation in the country. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has already issued a statement to the citizens, whose full text is as follows: "Despite the recent deterioration of safety conditions in certain parts of Egypt, with several deaths and injuries already confirmed, there is no data which include Chinese citizens. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China pays close attention to the safety of China's citizens in Egypt, having been activated contingency mechanisms and contacts, including telephone hotlines operating 24 hours a day in order to give all necessary support to its citizens in case of emergency. “The Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Embassy in Egypt warns citizens to halt possible both individual and group travel plans to Egypt. For those who already are in Egypt, citizens should strengthen prevention awareness and safety, reduce unnecessary activities, avoid traveling to places where incidents occur or places with gathering of large groups of people. “However, in any case of emergency, citizens should provide timely notice to local law enforcement authorities or seek support from their respective embassies and Chinese consulates in Egypt, through the following 24 hours telephone numbers: “Chinese Embassy in Egypt: 002-02-27361219; 002-02-27363219; 002-02-27363556 “Chinese Consulate General in Alexandria, Egypt: 0020-3-3916953; 0020-3-3924324 “Centre for Consular Protection and Assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 010-65963747.”
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers was MOP619 in the fourth quarter of 2010, up by 13.8% quarter-to-quarter. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers (MOP638) rose by 9.4%, and that of unskilled workers (MOP363) went up by 3.4%. Among the skilled & semi-skilled workers, electricians & electrical workers (MOP762), welders (MOP711), fire service mechanics (MOP675) and truck drivers (MOP670) were earning higher average wages. After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers for the fourth quarter of 2010 was 101.5 in real terms, up by 5.0% over the previous quarter. For the whole year of 2010, the average wage index of construction workers (96.5) decreased by 0.8% year-on-year in real terms. As regards construction materials, the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars increased by 10.7% quarter-to-quarter to MOP4,992 per tonne, and that of Portland cement rose by 0.5% to MOP646 per tonne; moreover, the average price of concrete also registered an increase of 1.0%, at MOP311 per cubic metre. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings rose by 6.7% quarter-to-quarter to 144.1; in particular, the price indices of electric wires and steel increased by 17.5% and 8.3% respectively, and the price indices of pipes and timber also went up by 3.0% and 2.9%. Compared with the same quarter of 2009, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings registered an increase of 13.8%. In 2010, the average price index of construction materials for residential buildings (137.5) increased by 9.8% year-on-year.
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MGTO is attentive to recent news reports about surging room rates in Macau during the Spring Festival. To date, MGTO has received one complaint on hotel room rate this year. However, as the complainant has not provided any concrete information, the case is still under investigation. The “Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week” will start operation from February 2 to transmit information such as the number of visitors, room rates and hotel occupancy rates, including average room rates of guesthouses and hotels as well as occupancy rates of 3 to 5-star hotels. MGTO pointed out that 2 to 5-star and 5-star deluxe hotels in Macau offer different types of hotel rooms, ranging from standard guest rooms to villa suites which vary in size and room rate. Visitors are advised to check and compare the category and rate of the rooms on reservation. As hotel room rates are set by the supply and demand of the market, which is an economic behavior rather than a legal act, the government will not interfere with general market operation. MGTO has established a regular mechanism with hotels in Macau, which requires each hotel to report the rates of different room categories when opening for business and on renewal of its license every year. MGTO will register the rates submitted by the hotels. To facilitate investigation, visitors should state clearly information such as the date of check in, hotel name, room category and/or room number, booking voucher and receipt when filing for complaints. MGTO expressed that hotels and travel agencies maintain a cooperative relationship which authorizes travel agencies to sell rooms on behalf of the hotels legally. Travel agencies and hotels cooperate in different formats, such as obtaining rooms in one batch or fulfilling a certain quota of rooms over a certain period of time, and travel agencies would need to pay for the rooms even they are unsold. According to the law, the travel agency will be subjected to criminal charges if it is found to deliberately hoard hotel rooms and manipulate the room rate illegally during peak seasons. To provide Mainland visitors with Macau’s most updated tourism information, hotels in Macau are requested to report the average room rates and occupancy rates to MGTO before and during the Golden Week and MGTO will advise major source markets in the Mainland (Guangdong and Fujian provinces) of the relevant information, which will then be released by local tourism bureaus to the media. MGTO, the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration and the Fujian Tourism Administration will activate the Golden Week notification system from February 2 to 9. Through this system, MGTO transmits to its counterparts in Guangdong and Fujian daily information such as the number of visitors that entered Macau the day before, the share of Mainland visitors, average room rates for the ensuing five days and hotel occupancy rates, to encourage visitors to check and compare the room rates before their outbound trips. To boost transparency, for the first time the data collected for the notification system will be published on MGTO’s website, to allow the media, visitors and the general public to be informed of the average hotel room rates and occupancy rates during the Spring Festival period. During the golden week holiday, MGTO will strengthen publicity efforts to raise awareness against illegal accommodation and to remind visitors to stay away from illegal accommodation for a safe and pleasant journey. During the Spring Festival period, MGTO inspectors will intensify surveillance at Macau's most visited sites and border checkpoints, while MGTO information counters and the tourism hotline 28 333 000 continue to operate. The tourism hotline will be attended by operators around the clock. The two public bus companies are advised to maintain sufficient service to cope with the surge in passenger flow.
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As Lunar New Year approaches, a specific price survey on 7 festive foods from 24 retail outlets was conducted earlier by the Consumer Council. The current survey report dated 26th January shows that significant price difference is observed for the same product selling in different retail outlets. Consumers are advised to check the report prior to making purchase. In comparison with last year’s data, prices of ‘Kraft Ritz Sandwich Cracker (432g)’ have decreased by around 10%, prices of ‘Planters Premium Selection (622g)’ have also dropped by around 5%, though the latter recorded a price increase of over 12% at Park'N Shop in Taipa. Other surveyed samples such as ‘Ferrero Rocher(300g)’, ‘Brown & Haley Almond Roca (340g)’, ‘Sugus Assorted Fruited Flavour Chews (350g)’, ‘Kjeldsens Butter Cookies (681g)’ and ‘Royal Dansk Danish Butter Cookies (681g)’ all recorded both increase and decrease in prices. Last year, the average price difference recorded for the same product selling in different outlets was about 20%, this year, however, the figure has increased to around 25%-30%. Extra discount is offered to consumers buying in bulk in certain outlets; however, consumers are advised to make purchase according to personal needs to avoid buying too much stock of festive foods. The said price survey on festive foods is now available online at the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo). As peak shopping season nears, Economic Services department (DSE), Macau Government Tourist Office (DST), Transport Bureau (DSAT), Judiciary Police (PJ), Public Security Police Force (PSP), Macao Custom Service and Provisional Municipal Council (IACM) were called for a meeting on the discussion of ‘unscrupulous shops’. Consumer Council states that involved departments have been working closely in dealing with ‘unscrupulous shops’ during the past year and no serious case of shops doing business in unethical ways has been observed recently. Participating departments at the meeting all agreed to work closely and enhance their surveillance work during this peak shopping season. Businesses in Macau, especially ‘Certified Shops’ and ‘Adherents’, are called on to provide good-quality services and products to all local citizens and tourists. Should any citizen or tourist find his or her consumer rights being infringed, he or she should file a complaint at the Council or other departments. The Council will also assign its staff to provide services to consumers through its hotline during 11am to 6pm each day during 4th-6th February. Further, consumers are called on to support environmental protection especially during Chinese New Year time by using recycle bags when purchasing festive items. ‘Certified Shops’ and ‘Adherents’ are also urged to control the number of bags given to consumers.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the total number of licensed vehicles reached 196,634 at the end of 2010, a year-on-year increase of 4%, of which 54% (106,420) were motorcycles and 39% (76,497) were light private cars. New registration of motor vehicles went up by 1% year-on-year to 15,915 in 2010, with motorcycles and light private cars accounting for 58% and 38% respectively. For the whole year of 2010, total number of traffic accidents rose by 4% year-on-year to 13,155 cases, resulting in 5,313 victims and 10 of them were killed. In 2010, cross-border vehicle traffic by land between Macao and Mainland China increased by 9% year-on-year to 3,812,243 vehicle trips, of which vehicle traffic through the Border Gate taking up 82% of the total. Commercial flight movements at the Macao International Airport decreased by 7% year-on-year to 34,654 in 2010. The major routes were Taiwan, China (38% of total); Mainland China (28%); Thailand (9%) and Malaysia (8%). Helicopter flights between Macao and Hong Kong decreased by 4% year-on-year to 15,302, while those between Macao and Mainland China went up by 2% to 3,452. Passenger transport by sea between Macao and Hong Kong totalled 121,299 ferry trips in 2010, up by 10% year-on-year, with that of the Outer Harbour (87,701) and the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa (33,598) sharing 72% and 28% of the total respectively. Ferry trips between Macao and Mainland China totalled 25,901, up by 19% year-on-year. For the whole year of 2010, seaborne container throughput totalled 91,318 TEU or 65,818 containers handled, both went up by 3% year-on-year. Gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo decreased by 1% year-on-year to 178,380 tonnes, with 11,852 tonnes of transshipment goods. Gross weight of containerized cargo by land decreased by 12% to 45,718 tonnes, including 16,695 tonnes of transit goods. In 2010, outward air cargo grew by 13% year-on-year to 32,361 tonnes and the main destination was Taiwan, China that accounted for 72% of the total. Concurrently, inward air cargo increased by 3% to 13,597 tonnes, with those from Taiwan, China taking a predominant share of 80%. However, transit air cargo fell significantly by 41% year-on-year to 6,208 tonnes. At the end of 2010, number of mobile telephone users rose by 8% from a year earlier to 1,122,261 whereas fixed-line telephone users decreased by 2% to 168,374. As regards internet services, number of subscribers reached 170,462 and the cumulative duration of usage totalled 423 million hours in 2010, up by 19% and 24% respectively.
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The Guangdong-Macau and Fujian-Macau “Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week” will be operated from February 2 to 9 to ensure a smooth and hospitable welcome to visitors during Lunar New Year. MGTO urges visitors to stay in licensed hotels or guesthouses. MGTO has established a regular mechanism with hotels in Macau, which requires each hotel to report the rates of different room categories when opening for business and on renewal of its license every year. Each hotel also needs to inform MGTO in advance the revised room rates and will be penalized if the rate is found to be higher than the registered one. To provide Mainland visitors with Macau’s most updated tourism information, hotels in Macau are requested to report the average room rates and occupancy rates to MGTO before and during the Golden Week and MGTO will notify major source markets in the Mainland (Guangdong and Fujian provinces) of the relevant information, which will then be released by local tourism bureaus to the media. MGTO, the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Administration and the Fujian Tourism Administration will trial run the Golden Week notification system from January 31 to February 1 and the system will be activated from February 2 to 9. Through this system, MGTO transmits to its counterparts in Guangdong and Fujian daily information such as the number of visitors that entered Macau the day before, the share of Mainland visitors, average room rates for the ensuing five days and hotel occupancy rates. During the golden week holiday, MGTO will strengthen publicity efforts to raise awareness against illegal accommodation. Besides distributing flyers, advertisements posted on buses and taxis will remind visitors to stay away from illegal accommodation for a safe and pleasant journey. MGTO also joins force with other departments to adopt measures to prevent infectious diseases and ensure fire safety. MGTO also urges hotels and restaurants to pay attention to hygiene guidelines and the travel trade to safeguard the rights of Macau residents. During the Spring Festival period, MGTO inspectors will intensify surveillance at Macau's most visited sites and border checkpoints, while MGTO information counters and the tourism hotline 28 333 000 continues to operate. The tourism hotline will be attended by operators around the clock. The two public bus companies are advised to maintain sufficient service to cope with the surge in passenger flow. Spring Festival is a peak season for outbound trips of Mainland visitors. A series of celebrations and activities will be organized by MGTO and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) for visitors to fully experience the excitement and vibrancy in Macau during Lunar New Year. MGTO and IACM join hands to organize celebratory activities on the first and second day of Lunar New Year at the Ruins of St. Paul's and Senado Square to mark the spring festival and add a festive atmosphere to the city with dragon and lion dances. Lucky "Lai Si" will be distributed at MGTO counters during Lunar New Year. On Lunar New Year's Eve, MGTO will stage a splendid fireworks display set off from barges anchored in waters just off the Macau Tower to usher in the Year of the Rabbit. Activities and entertainment organized by IACM also include New Year flowers and gifts stalls at Tap Seac Square, firecrackers and fireworks zones, folk dance performances and exhibitions at various spots in Macau.
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The “Outstanding Contracted Docent Award Ceremony 2010”, hosted by the Macao Museum, was held last Sunday (January 23) to recognize well-performing contracted docents for their quality service to the public last year, encouraging them for their excellent long-term contribution to the general public and school education.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chan Ieng Hin, Director of the Macao Museum, recognized the docents who has made significant contributions to public services over last year. In fact, the Museum pays great attention to guided tour service, seeing it as one of the most important output. Therefore, in order to promote quality services, and raise and foster this kind of ethos to serve the public, award ceremony is held regularly every year. The number of visitors using Macao Museum’s guided tour services increases year by year, reaching an amount of 14,655 in 2010, up by 14.4% compared with 2009, and setting a new record again with the number of 1,038 tours, up by 11.7% compared with 2009. Last year was also the year when this service got expanded to the Mandarin House. The figures tells not only the public’s great concern on the Museum, but also the successful achievements that the Museum had on promoting quality guided tour service and improving docents’ guiding skills. So, in order to meet the increasing need of guided tour service in the future, last year Macao Museum hosted the “4th Docent Training Course of Cultural Affairs Bureau”, intended to bring in talent to strengthen the tour guiding team. This year, six docents were awarded the “Outstanding Contracted Docent Award 2010”, including Wong Siu Wai, Chio Ieng Soi, Lei Cecilia Sam I, Ieong Weng Chao, Fong Un Wa and Chan Wa Kan, while three received the “Enthusiastic Contracted Docent Award 2010”, including Cheong Wan I, Lau Si Weng and Wong Cheng Lai. Totally 22 docents were granted the “Contracted Docent Award 2010”, including Chan Wa Kan, Ieong Weng Chao, Fong Un Wa, Chan Un Un, Kou Iun Fong, Lei Kit Peng, Chan Lin Chu, Cheong Mei Iong, Chio Ieng Soi, Lao Kin Mei, Lei Cecilia Sam I, Chan Mei Ieng, Wong Siu Wai, Pang Sao Lai, Si Ieong, Hou Kaina, Vai Oi Leng, Lei Sin I, Ieong Un U, Wong Kuan Fu and Sio Kin Sang. During the Ceremony, video clips and photos shot last year during the guided tour were especially showed to the attendants and some awardees were invited to share their experiences on tour guiding. There were also party and lucky draw, creating a nice and friendly atmosphere for the activity.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the employment situation showed continuous improvement; the unemployment rate for October-December 2010 was 2.7%, down by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period (September-November 2010), the lowest since the Handover of Macao to China. The underemployment rate was 1.7%, same as that in the previous period. Total labour force was 331,000 in October-December 2010 and the labour force participation rate stood at 71.4%, up by 0.2 percentage point from the previous period. The employed population increased by about 2,300 over the previous period to 322,000, in which employment of the Construction Sector saw increase, while that of Restaurants & Similar Activities and the Manufacturing Sector registered a decrease. Number of the unemployed decreased by about 200 from the previous period to 8,900, with 10.5% being fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job, down by 4.1 percentage points over the previous period. In comparison with October-December 2009, the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate dropped by 0.4 and 0.2 percentage point respectively; meanwhile, the labour force participation rate rose by 0.4 percentage point. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the unemployment rate of local residents stood at 3.3%, down by 0.2 percentage point quarter-to-quarter; the labour force participation rate of local residents dropped by 0.4 percentage point to 66.9%. For the whole year of 2010, the overall unemployment rate was 2.8%, down notably by 0.8 percentage point over 2009; the unemployment rate of local residents also plunged by 0.9 percentage point year-on-year to 3.5%.
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