News

Consumer Council has added the 'Specific Product Price Platform' function to its 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' mobile phone application to allow consumers to instantly search for the highest and the lowest prices of the surveyed items. The information platforms also display the percentage differences in price of the same product sold at different retail outlets. Consumer Council launched its 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' app for iPhone in late 2011, and has continued to improve the functions of the application to increase price transparency, as well as the practical use of the data. In May, this app has been launched for Android users. By now, over 26 thousand iPhone users have downloaded the app and a browsing record of 1.34 million has been recorded. As for Android users, around 3,000 users have downloaded the app and a browsing record of over 75 thousand has been recorded. As mobile devices such as smart phones allow consumers to conveniently browse the price data online, the "Supermarket Price Information Platform" mobile phone application is popular for both iPhone and Android users. Consumer Council therefore extended its service and added the 'Specific Product Price Platform' function to the application. Consumers can just click the icon for 'Specific Product' and then can get access to the prices of all the specific items surveyed, especially the highest and lowest prices, as well as the percentage differences in price of the same product sold at various retail spots. The current specific product price survey focuses on 11 daily commodities, such as rice, cooking oil, tissue papers and seasoning, etc.. The 5 individual functions in the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' app are: 'Supermarket Price Watch', which categorizes products with pictures and allows consumers to conveniently select their favorite items. 'Best Price in Town', which allows consumers to search items according to their nearest supermarkets for the best price. 'Shopping Basket', which allows consumers to sum up their desired items and make price comparisons. 'Specific Product Price Platform', which provides specific price surveys on different categories of daily commodities, and allow consumers to compares prices, especially the highest and the lowest prices, as well as the percentage price differences of the same product sold in various retail spots. 'Certified Shops', which includes a list of over 1,000 'Certified Shops' with information such as their locations, and types of businesses. Each 'Certified Shop' bears an emblem which signifies it as 'the only official guarantee for shopping'. For inquiry, please call 89889315.
…

The Macao Government will make an official application to the Central Government for the construction of an additional passageway into Zhuhai. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, told reporters this today at Macao International Airport as he left for Beijing, where he said he would meet with officials from the Ministry of Public Security, the General Administration of Customs and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to discuss the proposal. According to the protocol signed between Guangdong and Macao governments during the annual Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference held in May, the Macao Government, on request, needed to formally apply for the building of a new passageway. The new passageway, designed to accommodate the growing number of cross boundary travellers, will be adjacent to the Bordergate-Gongbei checkpoint. Mr Chui said that he would also meet with Ministry of Commerce officials to negotiate on broadening sources of import goods to Macao and stabilising prices of commodities. On reporters' question on cash handout and medical voucher, the Chief Executive said people welcomed these two temporary policies, and that depended on people's request, inflation and overall revenue, the Government would study the feasibility of launching these two policies again in 2013. Members of the official delegations included the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Wong Chan Tong, the Director of Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, and the Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Fung Sio Weng and Kou Chin Hung.
…

Consumer Council conducted a price check on 8 different brands of shampoo and shower gel from 32 retail outlets on 9th July, the current survey showed that prices of the same brand of shampoo sold at different retail outlets varied. An obvious price difference was recorded for 'Dove damage Therapy intensive Repair Shampoo' (700ml), which recorded an obvious price difference of 48.61 percent, was sold at $39.70 to $59.00 in different outlets. When compared with the data collected in May, the price difference for this brand has increased by around 3 percent. As for 'VS' Sassoon Moisturizing Treatment Repair Shampoo (750ml)', the price differed for 43.64 percent, with the highest price of $79.00 and the lowest price of $55.00 recorded. For the 4 brands of shower gels surveyed, price difference for the same brand sold at different retail outlets narrowed. The highest and the lowest selling prices of 'Dove Beauty Nourishing Body Wash' (1000ml) recorded in the recent survey were $46.00 and $37.00 respectively, with a price difference of 24.32 percent. When compared with the price difference of 42.86% percent found during last survey, a drop in the price discrepancy of 18 percent was recorded this time. The Council indicates that selling prices of the same product are found to vary in different branches under the same supermarket chain stores. Consumers are advised to check with the data provided by the Council on its website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and its 'Supermarket price information platform' app for both iPhone and Android users to make price comparisons. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 11.7% year-on-year to 669,460 in May 2012. Visitors from Mainland China (465,923) went up by 4.9%, with 166,292 coming from Guangdong Province; besides, those from Taiwan, China (52,839); Hong Kong (33,485); and the Republic of Korea (24,941) increased by 63.2%, 28.0% and 18.5% respectively. In the first five months of 2012, visitors in package tours totalled 3,420,786, up by 30.0% year-on-year to account for 29.8% of the total visitor arrivals, higher than the 23.8% in the same period of 2011.
Outbound residents in package tours surged by 93.3% year-on-year to 34,395 in May 2012. The most popular tour itineraries were Mainland China (70.8% of total) and the Republic of Korea (12.3%), with 14,482 travelling to Guangdong Province. In the first five months of 2012, residents travelling in package tours totalled 139,096, up by 47.1% year-on-year. Meanwhile, outbound residents travelling under own arrangements using services of travel agencies increased by 23.3% year-on-year to 59,875 in May 2012; the main destinations were Mainland China (45.8% of total); Hong Kong (23.4%); and Taiwan, China (18.0%). In the first five months of 2012, residents travelling under such arrangements increased by 48.1% year-on-year to 331,819.
There were 24,117 guest rooms available at the 97 hotels and guest-houses at end-May 2012, an increase of 2,599 rooms (+12.1%) year-on-year, with those of the 5-star hotels accounting for 61.1% of the total. Hotels and guest-houses received 754,375 guests in May 2012, an increase of 9.4% year-on-year; the average length of stay decreased by 0.11 night to 1.4 nights. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guest-houses was 78.1%, down by 3.8 percentage points year-on-year; average occupancy rate of the hotels was 78.6%, with 4-star hotels leading at 81.3%. Number of guests increased by 12.7% year-on-year to 3,702,740 in the first five months of 2012; average occupancy rate of hotels and guest-houses stood at 81.9%, similar to that of the same period in 2011. From January to May 2012, visitor-guests accounted for 64.6% of the total number of overnight visitors, higher than the 61.3% in the same period of 2011.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today exchanged views with the Governor of Yunnan Province, Mr Li Jiheng, on enhancing levels of co-operation by using the business platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The meeting was held at the Santa Sancha where Mr Chui welcomed Mr Li, who led the Yunnan delegation to Macao to participate in a promotional seminar for trade and co-operation.
Mr Chui said Yunnan is one of the most important partners in the Pan Pearl River Delta, and that the two places had laid down a good foundation on co-operation in terms of trading, tourism and culture.
He believed Mr Li's presence in the Yunnan promotional seminar would further boost co-operation between the two places.
Mr Li said he was glad to see Macao's economic development and modernisation as well as the successful implementation of the "One country, two systems" principle. He also briefly introduced the latest development of Yunnan province.
He said the aims of this visit were to further open up business opportunities by using Macao's trading service platform: meanwhile he also wanted to have a better understanding of Macao's exhibition and convention development.
The Chief Executive agreed that the two places could enhance co-operation on exhibition and convention, tourism, trade in service. He also welcomed Yunnan's concept of using Macao to export and re-export her agricultural products to the Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Vice Governor of Yunnan Province, Mr Gu Chaoxi, the Secretary-General of Yunnan Provincial Government, Mr Ding Shaoxiang, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam, and the Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Fung Sio Weng and Kou Chin Hung also attended the meeting.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is scheduled to meet with Central Government officials to discuss the building of a new passageway adjacent to the Bordergate-Gongbei checkpoint. A statement issued by the Government Spokesman Office today said Mr Chui is to lead an official delegation to Beijing on 15-17 July. During the three-day visit, the Chief Executive will meet with officials of the General Administration of Customs and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. Macao and Guangdong governments signed five protocols during the annual Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference in May: both agreed that there was an urgency to build a new passageway to accommodate the growing number of cross boundary travellers. Members of the official delegations would include the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Wong Chan Tong, the Director of Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, and the Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Fung Sio Weng and Kou Chin Hung. The Secretary for Public Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be the acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
…

The Summer International Exchange Programme 2012 was jointly organised by Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), Macao, and Dong-A University, South Korea, from 2 to 6 July in Busan, with 42 participants coming from China (including Macao and Hong Kong), Canada, Lao PDR, South Korea and United Kingdom. During the programme, participants had seminars, field trips, presentations, etc. to know the theme. The programme was well concluded by participants sharing what they had learnt and certificate presentation. Since 1998, this Summer Programme has been launched with different annual themes. It brought students from various places to Macao for cultural exchange. Starting from 2009, IFT collaborated with an overseas APETIT partner, which was an eye-opener for students. With our rich cultural heritage in Macao, the opportunity to experience other cultures is certainly beneficial to those who will step into the tourism industry in the future. This is the fourth year that IFT had the programme partnered with an institution beyond Macao. IFT strives to elevate and globalise its tourism education in the region through organising different types of exchange programmes to broaden the horizon of the students. The cultural diversity thus acquired can definitely help prepare them for their career in the tourism industry.
…

Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on canned foods on 6h July, surveying the retail prices of 11 canned food brand samples. In comparison with the data collected in May, prices of 3 canned food brands remained unchanged, while the prices of the other surveyed brands varied in different retail outlets. In the recent specific price survey on canned foods, the selling price of the same brand of canned food varied in different retail spots. The highest and lowest selling prices of "Porthos Sardines in Olive Oil (125g)" recorded in the recent survey were $10.50 and $9.00 respectively, with a percentage difference of around 16 percent. When compared with the price difference of around 50 percent found during last survey, a price drop of around 34 percent was recorded this time. For the other canned food brands surveyed, difference in prices ranged from 6.4 percent to 36.3 percent, with an obvious price discrepancy recorded on "Ma Ling Premium Ham Luncheon Meat (340g)", the highest and the lowest selling prices being recorded were $22.90 and $16.80 respectively. The latest specific price survey on canned foods is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

Submission of Works in Macau
The 18th International Postage Stamp Design Contest organized by Korea Post has begun. From now till September 20th, the Communications Museum provides collection service for local participants. The main objective is to promote stamp collection and encourage people interested in design to show their creativity by participating in this postage stamp design contest. Fabulous prizes will be awarded to the winners of the contest. The design by the Grand and Gold Prizes winners will be issued as a stamp by the Korea Post. In addition, Macau residents who submit their works through the Communications Museum and win the Grand or Gold Prizes will be granted by the Macau Post a set of free Macau-Korea round-trip air tickets to participate in the awards ceremony in Korea. The 18th International Postage Stamp Design Contest, under the themes "New Year Greetings" and "Energy Conservation", is divided into Youth Category (born after 01/01/1994) and University /General Category (born before 31/12/2012). For more information, interested participants are welcomed to visit the websites of the Korea Post and the Communications Museum: http://www.koreastamp.go.kr, http://www.koreapost.go.kr, http://macau.communications.museum.
…

Mrs. Zhang Jinfeng, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, and Mrs. Ao Ieong U, Deputy Director of the Identification Services Bureau of the Macao SAR, led 19 award-winning students and teachers of the first short film competition for all Macao secondary school students on "Consular Protection and Consular Services" to visit Beijing for exchange today (9th July 2012). With the guidance of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the first "Consular Protection and Consular Services Promotion Week" jointly organized by the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao and the Identification Services Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region was held in November 2011. Besides, a short film competition for all Macao secondary school students on "Consular Protection and Consular Services" was held in September 2011 in advance. It helps to strengthen the knowledge of Macao youngsters on "one country, two systems", foreign affairs as well as consular protection and consular services. In addition, the outstanding award-winning students and their instructors of the above-mentioned competition are invited to visit Beijing, so as to enhance their understanding of the current national condition, economic development and consular protection business of China and, at the same time, cultivate their patriotic feelings and senses of belonging and mission towards the motherland. Under the arrangements of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao, the delegation will start a five-day exchange tour in Beijing. They will visit the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, attend the press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have an exchange seminar with the Foreign Ministry Spokesman of China and also conduct an interactive exchange at the High School attached to Tsinghua University. Such rich itinerary is a very unusual learning opportunity and precious experience to the students. Organizers expect that students will be benefited in various aspects for life. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao have been strongly supporting and intensively assisting the Special Administrative Region Government on the promotion of consular protection and consular services all the time. Moreover, they also maintain intimate cooperation with the Identification Services Bureau to safeguard the legitimate interests of Macao residents in other countries, ensuring that their personal safety and properties are well protected. Furthermore, different overseas consulates or embassies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China have been providing timely and emergent help to Macao residents who are in difficulty in other countries.
…