News

More than 150 photos capturing the happy moments of residents in the past decade are posted on the website of the Decade of Achievements Exhibition for the 10th Anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) in Beijing (www.macao10exb.gov.mo). Residents are invited to vote for 10 photos out of the pool up to midnight of 3 December 2009 to take part in a lucky draw, which offers a prize to 500 lucky participants. These photos were uploaded on the website by Macao residents between 10 November and 22 November. Most of the photos captured funny faces of the residents and the unique sceneries of Macao. Each resident may cast 10 votes, but may not vote for the same photo twice. To learn more about the voting and the lucky draw, please visit the dedicated website of the exhibition at www.macao10exb.gov.mo. The Exhibition, hosted by the MSAR Government and organised by the Government Information Bureau (GCS), is scheduled to open at the Capital Museum in Beijing from next month to next January. With the assistance of Beijing (College) Macau Student Association, GCS would recruit some Macao students in Beijing to work for the exhibition and receive visitors. GCS said it would better promote Macao’s images to our fellow citizens on the mainland as visitors to the exhibition would be able to learn more about Macao from these amiable students.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the total number of visitor and non-resident arrivals was 2,451,459 in October 2009; visitor arrivals for October 2009 increased by 5.2% year-on-year to 1,946,217. Analyzed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China grew by 18.2% year-on-year to 1,053,497 (54.1% of total visitor arrivals), with 461,518 travelling to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme, up by 1.6% from October 2008 (454,355). However, visitors from Hong Kong (552,197); Taiwan, China (105,832); Japan (29,628); and Malaysia (25,924) decreased by 5.1%, 5.3%, 3.7% and 18.6% respectively. Same-day visitors (1,025,715) accounted for 52.7% of the total visitor arrivals, with 564,109 coming from Mainland China. The cumulative visitor arrivals totalled 17,826,642 in the first ten months of 2009, down by 7.1% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China (8,962,433), Hong Kong (5,619,426), Taiwan, China (1,062,876) and Malaysia (248,590) fell by 9.2%, 2.7%, 4.5% and 27.8% respectively, while those from Japan (306,641) registered an increase of 6.2%. Cumulative number of same-day visitors accounted for 52.8% of total visitor arrivals, at 9,413,794. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea totalled 7,059,817 in the first ten months of 2009, down by 6.2% year-on-year. Visitors arriving at the Outer Harbour decreased by 20.7% to 4,901,155 and those arriving at the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa rose by 85.9% to 1,920,899. Visitor arrivals by land decreased by 7.8% year-on-year to 9,462,125 in the first ten months of 2009; those arriving through the Border Gate totalled 8,783,667 and the majority were visitors from Mainland China (77.5%) and Hong Kong (14.5%). Visitor arrivals by air went down by 6.5% year-on-year to 1,304,700 in the first ten months of 2009. Visitors arriving at the Macao International Airport dropped by 6.6% to 1,276,587, with the majority coming from Taiwan, China (38.8%), Mainland China (25.4%), Malaysia (7.7%) and Thailand (6.9%).
…

The seminar entitled “Development and Supervision of BVI Business Companies” jointly organized by the Monetary Authority of Macao and Macao Association of Banks was held on 23 November 2009 at MGM Grand Macau. It attracted an audience of about 100 who are management staff from banking and insurance sector and representatives of government agencies such as Office of Financial Intelligence and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. The representative of the Monetary Authority of Macao delivered an opening remark for the seminar. The speech pointed out that some clients of our financial sector, particularly the banks, were international business companies. Alternatively, first tier clients of these financial institutions might have business connection with these entities. There existed some degree of difficulty when came to enforcing supervisory requirements related to anti-money laundering (AML) and countering financing of terrorism (CFT). On the front of development and supervision of international business companies, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) had its expertise. The international business company clients of our financial sector mainly came from the BVI. To this end, the Monetary Authority of Macao and Macao Association of Banks jointly organized this seminar to shed some light on this issue. Mr. Kenneth B. Baker, Deputy Managing Director of the Financial Services Commission of British Virgin Islands was invited to be the guest speaker. In the seminar, discussions concentrated on the background and development trend of BVI international business companies, legislations relating to the establishment and registration of business companies and financial institutions in the BVI, effective due diligence implemented. The seminar imparted to Macao financial sector more indepth understanding of the development and supervision of BVI business companies. It enhanced our knowledge and skill in recognizing international business companies and their beneficial owners. The knowledge acquired would enable our financial sector to enhance their AML/CFT measures, and prompt the continued perfection of the AML/CFT mechanism in Macao.
…

Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT) has the honour in inviting Executive Chef Marc Bonard, of the LE CORDON BLEU Japan Culinary Arts Schools to feature the “LE CORDON BLEU Master Chef Week at IFT”. LE CORDON BLEU, one of the leading school for teaching classical French cuisine, patisserie and boulangerie was established in Paris, France in 1895. Over the last century, LE CORDON BLEU has developed a reputation for maintain the highest standards of culinary excellence. Executive Chef Marc Bonard, originally from the town of Quillan in the Languedoc region of France, received B.E.P. in Cuisine from the Lycee Hotelier in Tain L’Hermitage. He was appointed as Chef de Cuisine of Le Cordon Bleu Brasserie in 2001 and joined LE CORDON BLEU TOKYO in 2007, expertise in teaching French culinary technique with Japanese ingredients. Executive Chef Marc Bonard will demonstrate the finest in classic French cuisine reinterpreted in a modern and innovative context, including a number of plate decoration arts. Chef Bonard aims to offer participants an exclusive gastronomic programme and to allow them to experience superb dishes tantalising their senses throughout this one week French Master Chef Programme. The International Culinary Academy @ IFT endeavours to bring in new culinary elements and exchange opportunities with international prestigious institutions to Macao. It is believed the local arts in culinary can be brought to a new horizon. The “LE CORDON BLEU Master Chef Week at IFT” will take place from 01 to 05 December with different topics on each day, including plate decoration art concept and execution, French and fusion cuisine demonstration. Interest parties are welcome to make application from now until 27 November. Programme information can be found on www.ift.edu.mo or call 85983 016/041 for enquiry.
…

The executive, legislative and judiciary branches of Macao had a common understanding of the spirit of the Basic Law and could easily reach consensus on major issues, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today when he met more than 30 Hong Kong and overseas journalists at Santa Sancha. When asked about the comment made by the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming, over the co-ordination between the executive, legislature and judiciary branches of Macao, Mr Ho said that the three performed their duties in line with the Basic Law. He said that the heads of the three branches had a deep understanding of the Basic Law, as he himself, Ms Susana Chou, the former President of the Legislative Assembly, and Mr Lau Cheok Va, the incumbent president, had all been members of the Drafting Committee for the Basic Law, while the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai, had also taken part in the drafting of the Basic Law. Speaking about Macao’s efforts in building a corruption-free society, Mr Ho said that integrity among civil servants and the entire community had been greatly enhanced. Over the past decade, Macao had attracted more and more investment from listed companies worldwide which demonstrated Macao’s achievements in building a corruption-free society. Mr Ho achknowledged that corruption cases involving officials would harm the image and standing of the Government due to the facts and rumours that emerged. However, the administration should not comment on the rumours involving the cases in order to protect judicial independence. As for constitutional development, Mr Ho said its progress will be achieved in an orderly manner under the provisions of the Basic Law.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho said today some parts of the law on land grants could not catch up with the rapid development of the society -- and the Government has been working closely with the Legislative Assembly to revise this law over the last two years. Meeting with the foreign media today, the Chief Executive was asked why some developers did not develop the property soon after the land grant. Mr Ho said the existing law was an extension of the colonial era and based on that, the allowed development period was relatively short when compared with other countries and that was not realistic. He said if the allowed development period was not long enough, developers could not make any development especially when the economy was in recession. Hence, the allowed development period should be determined reasonably. According to the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macau, the Portuguese Macao Government had a limit in term of granting land. Half of the premium from the granted land was reserved as a land fund for the future Macao Special Administrative Region, said the Chief Executive. He said the Portuguese Macao Government got financial support by granting a lot of land. Although the developers knew it was not a right time to invest, they still paid premium for the land. Macao was not rich in land resources, Mr Ho said, and if the Government withdrew the undeveloped land, it would provoke much litigation and would affect investors’ confidence in doing business in Macao. He said he hoped that after the increase of land resources, the related problems would be solved.
…

As a result of Central Government support, Macao made significant achievements in social stability, public order, economic development and better quality of life for residents during the past years, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today. He said this during a meeting in the afternoon at Santa Sancha with about 20 reporters from the mainland. He pointed out that the approval by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress over the establishment of the University of Macau’s campus on Hengqin Island was significant to Macao. This decision solved the problem of a lack of space in Macao, and demonstrated the Central Government’s support for Macao in nurturing talent and raising the quality of higher education. The decision was evidence of the vitality and flexibility of the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’, Mr Ho said. Speaking about co-operation among cities in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, Mr Ho said the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and a more advanced and sophisticated railway network in the region would bring more opportunities to Macao, which positioned itself as a global tourism and leisure hub. Mr Ho also said that Macao should strengthen its efforts in diversifying its industrial portfolio, and that the meetings, incentives, conference and exhibition industries (MICE), and the cultural industries could be breakthroughs in the future. Mr Ho said Macao had to study the issue of imported workers objectively as the development of Macao’s industries could not rely only on the local workforce. The administration had to strike a balance between ensuring jobs for local citizens and the competitiveness of the city.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that Total Receipts and Total Expenditure of the Gaming Sector amounted to MOP 111.17 billion and MOP 57.99 billion, up notably by 30.5% and 29.9% respectively; moreover, Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy also went up by 31.0% to MOP 67.19 billion. However, Gross Fixed Capital Formation fell sharply by 88.3% to MOP 922 million upon conclusion of the construction of major tourism and gaming facilities, as well as suspension of other projects. Total Receipts reached MOP 111.17 billion, of which receipts from Gaming & Related Services such as food & beverages, currency exchange, etc. amounted to MOP 111.01 billion, an increase of 30.6% from 2007; Interest Receipts dropped by 31.3% to MOP 162 million. Total Expenditure amounted to MOP 57.99 billion, with Purchase of Goods & Commission Paid soaring by 37.7% from 2007 to MOP 32.95 billion (56.8% of total); meanwhile, Operating Expenses (MOP 10.88 billion) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 10.74 billion) increased by 11.4% and 23.2% respectively.
…

The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Employment Survey for the third quarter of 2009, of which principal indicators such as the labour force participation rate (72.0%), unemployment rate (3.7%), etc. have been published in October. Total labour force was 328,000 in the third quarter of 2009, comprising 316,000 employed and 12,000 unemployed. Compared with the second quarter, total labour force registered a decrease of 4,800, with the number of the employed decreasing by 5,200 but that of the unemployed increasing by 400. Analyzed by industry, the majority of the employed were engaging in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services (23.2%) and Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities (14.1%). In terms of occupation, most of the employed were Clerks (including casino dealers, floorpersons, betting service operators, etc.) and Service & Sales Workers, accounting for 25.6% and 23.1% respectively. Median monthly employment earnings of both the employed (MOP8,500) and the local residents (MOP10,000) held stable as the second quarter of 2009. Number of the underemployed totalled 6,500, with 71.5% engaging in Construction and 12.9% in Transport, Storage & Communications. Within the unemployed, 82.4% were searching for a new job and 17.6% were fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job. With regard to the educational attainment, 34.6% of the unemployed had primary education or lower, 29.0% had junior secondary education and 19.8% had senior secondary education. For the unemployed that were searching for a new job, analyzed by industry previously engaged, 29.1% had worked in Construction and 15.9% in Wholesale & Retail Trade. Analyzed by previous occupation, 24.1% were Service & Sales Workers and 22.3% were Unskilled Workers.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is to conclude the policies implemented in 2009 and announce the budget for the fiscal year 2010 at the Legislative Assembly at 15:00 on Wednesday. The session will be broadcast live on the Portal Website of the Macao SAR (http://www.gov.mo), the website of the Government Information Bureau (http://www.gcs.gov.mo) and the website of the Legislative Assembly (http://www.al.gov.mo). Teledifusão de Macao will also carry live broadcasts of the session.
…