News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for May-July 2010 was 2.9%, up slightly by 0.1 percentage point over the previous period (April-June 2010); the underemployment rate dropped by 0.1 percentage point to 1.8%. Total labour force was 326,000 in May-July 2010 and the labour force participation rate stood at 71.5%, with the employed population decreasing by about 200 over the previous period to 317,000. Analyzed by industry, employment of the Manufacturing Sector and Retail Trade saw decrease, while employment of Construction registered an increase. Number of the unemployed increased by about 300 from the previous period to 9,600; with more graduates entering the labour market, the proportion of fresh labour force entrants looking for the first job rose by 3.7 percentage points over the previous period to 11.2%. In comparison with May-July 2009, the labour force participation rate, the unemployment rate and underemployment rate decreased by 1.3, 0.8 and 0.1 percentage points respectively.
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The Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, met the Deputy Minister of the ‘Mainland Affairs Council’, Mr Kao Charng, today and exchanged ideas over setting up a Macao office in Taiwan, according to a press release by the office. At a reception hosted by Mr Kao, Mr Tam said the Government hoped to expand the functions of the current tourism office in Taiwan to enhance co-operation between Macao and Taiwan. Mr Kao said the council welcomed the establishment of the office and hoped that the two sides could discuss this issue soon. Mr Tam expressed appreciation for Mr Kao’s reply and invited him to attend the opening ceremony of Taipei – Macao Week next Friday. Mr Tam also met with Taiwan’s education authorities to exchange ideas with its officials on the issue of academic qualification recognition. He returned to Macao this evening on completion of a three-day visit.
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The Cross-departmental Working Team checked 19 premises from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (August 26). Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 335 premises were checked, of which 42 were normal residences, while 38 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed. 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 will continue investigation on unanswered doors which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. When necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, more than 300 occupants were taken for interrogations, including 7 operators, 4 touts, 4 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Among the occupants, there were five overstayers and one illegal immigrant. 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. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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The Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, is in Taiwan on a three-day visit from Tuesday to Thursday, according to a statement issued by the office. Leading an official delegation to Taiwan, Mr Tam paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), Mr Chiang Pin-kung, yesterday and exchanged ideas on how to enhance exchanges between Macao and Taiwan in culture, tourism, economy and other areas. Mr Tam said the Macao SAR Government, led by Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On, had clearly put the development of Macao-Taiwan relation into agenda and set up mechanism to open communications with different entities in Taiwan in order to strive for a better future of the Macao and Taiwan people. To better serve the 3,000-plus Macao students and citizens who work in Taiwan and further enhance exchanges between Macao and Taiwan, Mr Tam said the Government hoped that Macao could set up an office in Taiwan in the near future. Mr Chiang said the foundation was supportive of enhancing relations between Macao and Taiwan and was willing to exert its influence in support of issues such as setting up a Macao office in Taiwan and the recognition of Macao academic qualifications. Mr Chiang also said that Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao should join hands to reap from the benefits of peace and development. Members of Mr Tam’s delegation include Advisors of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Kou Chin Hung and Mr Lam Io Pak, the Acting Co-ordinator of Tertiary Education Services Office, Ms Kuok Sio Lai, and the Director of the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences of the University of Macau, Prof. Wang Yitao. Mr Tam, who is also the Director of Preparatory Office for Chinese Medicine Scientific and Industrial Park, had a gathering yesterday evening with some distinguished biotechnology and Chinese medicine experts in Taiwan, who were invited by Prof. Wang Yitao. These experts included the President of National Taiwan University, Prof. Lee Si-Chen, the former President of the university and current Chairman of Institute for Biotechnology and Medicine Industry, Dr. Chen Wei-Jao, Academician of Genomics Research Center of Academia Sinica, Dr. Chen Chung-Hsuan, the Dean of College of Medicine of National Taiwan University, Prof. Yang Pan-Chyr, and others. Mr Kou Chin Hung, who is the Vice Director of the preparatory office, also attended the gathering. Mr Tam and the delegation today visited Yilan County and were warmly received by its leading official, Mr Lin Tsung-Hsien. Mr Tam and Mr Lin introduced the latest development of the two places to each other and exchanged ideas on developing co-operation on culture, tourism and trade. Tomorrow Mr Tam is scheduled to attend a reception hosted by the Deputy Minister of ‘Mainland Affairs Council’, Mr Kao Charng, and will pay a courtesy on Taiwan’s education authorities and hold a symposium with its senior official, Mr Lin Tsong-ming, as well as other officials on issues of Macao tertiary education, Macao students in Taiwan and academic qualification system in Taiwan.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Survey on Manpower Needs and Wages for the second quarter of 2010. Survey coverage comprised Wholesale & Retail Trade; Transport, Storage & Communications; Security Activities and Public Sewage & Refuse Disposal Activities, excluding own-account workers. At the end of the second quarter of 2010, Wholesale & Retail Trade had 28,825 paid employees, up by 6.4% year-on-year, with 17,390 working in Retail trade. In June 2010, average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees rose by 6.4% year-on-year to MOP9,200, with Sales representatives and Salespersons earning MOP10,520 and MOP8,310 respectively in average. The Transport, Storage & Communications sector took on 7,410 paid employees, down by 3.9% year-on-year. In June, average earnings of full-time employees increased by 1.2% year-on-year to MOP15,100. Drivers of passenger/cargo transport by land earned an average of MOP12,400. Security Activities had 4,189 paid employees, up by 10.1% year-on-year. The average earnings of full-time employees in June rose slightly by 0.5% year-on-year to MOP7,440, with Security guards earning MOP7,000 in average. Public Sewage & Refuse Disposal Activities had 632 paid employees, down by 5.0% year-on-year. The average earnings of full-time employees in June decreased by 2.1% year-on-year to MOP11,030. At the end of June 2010, Wholesale & Retail Trade reported 3,072 job vacancies, up drastically by 82.2% year-on-year; Security Activities had 796 vacancies, a notable increase of 65.8%, and the Transport, Storage & Communications sector had 327 vacancies, up by 10.8% year-on-year. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 59.4% of the vacancies in Wholesale & Retail Trade and 48.2% of those in the Transport, Storage & Communications sector required working experience. As regards educational attainment, 73.7% of the vacancies in Public Sewage & Refuse Disposal Activities required senior secondary education or higher; 75.5% of the vacancies in Wholesale & Retail Trade required junior secondary education or higher, while 77.8% of those in Security Activities required primary education only. With respect to the indicators that measure the inflow and outflow of human resources, as well as staffing needs of the sectors, Security Activities had the highest recruitment rate, employee turnover rate and job vacancy rate, at 8.9%, 10.7% and 16.1% respectively.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is to be in Fujian Province from tomorrow to Sunday, to attend the Sixth Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Economic and Trade Co-operation Fair. During the three-day regional co-operation event in Fuzhou, Mr Chui will attend the opening ceremony and a cultural performance tomorrow evening, the opening ceremony of the exhibition hall and signing ceremony on Saturday, and a joint meeting with heads of government of the participating provinces and regions. He will also deliver a speech at a high-level forum on Saturday. Members of Macao’s delegation include the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, and more than 15 senior officials from different entities. Representatives from Macao’s private sector will also participate in the trade promotion event. The Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation and Development Forum is co-organised by Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR. The Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuoc Va, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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The total number of personal credit cards in circulation was 383,246 at the end of June 2010, up 4.11% from three months ago. The numbers of Pataca (MOP) cards, Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) cards and Renminbi (RMB) cards were 307,620, 57,117 and 18,509 respectively. MOP cards, HKD cards and RMB cards witnessed respective increases of 4.47%, 1.72% and 5.69% quarter-to-quarter. Compared with a year earlier, RMB cards surged 109.35% while MOP cards and HKD cards grew 12.73% and 3.35% respectively. The introduction of MOP/RMB dual currency credit cards by local banks in the second half of 2009 largely accounted for the marked increase of RMB cards. As at the end of June 2010, credit card credit limit granted by banks in Macao amounted to MOP6.88 billion, up 3.37% from end-March 2010. Credit card receivables reached MOP1.13 billion while the rollover amount totalled MOP0.44 billion, accounting for 39.33% of credit card receivables. The delinquency ratio, i.e. the ratio of delinquent amount overdue for more than three months to credit card receivables, was 1.19%. In the second quarter of 2010, the credit card turnover decreased by 1.79% quarter-to-quarter to MOP1.78 billion. The cash advance turnover amounted to MOP0.12 billion, accounting for 6.60% of total credit card turnover. Credit card repayments, in which payments for interest and fees are included, dropped 12.38% from the previous quarter to MOP1.73 billion.
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The Cross-departmental Working Team checked 9 premises from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (August 25). Two premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed and 12 occupants were taken for interrogations. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 313 premises were checked, of which 39 were normal residences, while 38 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. MGTO and the police will continue investigation on unanswered doors which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. When necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, a total of 305 occupants were taken for interrogations, including 7 operators, 4 touts, 4 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Among the occupants, there were five overstayers and one illegal immigrant. 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. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Cheong U, will visit Taipei and Taichung from 2 to 6 September, at the invitation of Chinese International Tourism Association, to launch a tourism promotion campaign and engage in a series of visits and exchanges with representatives of local tourism and cultural sectors. Acting Government Spokesperson Mr Chan Chi Ping and the Chief-of-Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ms Cheung So Mui, met the press today to announce the visit. Ms Cheung said the aim of the visit included enhancing understanding and trust and further perform the function of Macao as a services platform. Mr Chan said with the peaceful development of Cross-Straits Relations and frequent co-operation between the Mainland and Taiwan, the Macao SAR Government had suggested the strengthening of Macao-Taiwan relations and maintained close communications with the related authorities in Taiwan. He said the visit of Mr Cheong represented the benefits of the closer communications. The Macao-Taiwan relations had all along been steadily developed in accordance with Qian Qichen’s Seven Articles, he said. After the establishment of the Macao SAR, the Chief Executive and heads of related organs had actively participated in exchanges with Taiwan at a community level. The Macao SAR Government had already extended the visa-free period of stay for Taiwan residents from 21 to 30 days, and the Macao Foundation had supported important exchanges activities with Taiwan. The Government had also begun liaising with Taiwan authorities on the setting up an institution in Taiwan to better serve Macao students and citizens there, as well as the issue of recognising Macao academic qualifications in Taiwan, Mr Chan said. As for Mr Cheong’s visit, his Chief-of-Office said the delegation will learn more about Taiwan’s health insurance system, Chinese medicine industry, cultural and creative industry and tourism industry in order to enhance exchanges and strengthen co-operation. They will also meet Macao students in Taiwan to learn more about their living and studies so as to provide better services in the future, Ms Cheung said. Currently there are more than 3,000 Macao students in Taiwan. The deputy head of the delegation is the Vice Chairman of the Committee of Cultural Industry, Mr Leong Heng Teng, and the Director-General of Taiwan Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Macao, Mr Cheng Jinzhong, will be the advisor of the delegation. The delegation will visit National Palace Museum, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, the Red House, SPOT-Taipei Film House, National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung, and Da Jia Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung County during the five-day visit.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today sent a letter to his Hong Kong counterpart, Mr Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, to express deep condolences and sympathy to victims and their families of the Manila tragedy, on behalf of the Macao SAR and its people. In his letter, Mr Chui said he was in deep sorrow to learn of the incident, during which the Macao people were deeply worried about the safety of the hostages. The Macao SAR Government would help in whatever way it could, he said.
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