News

The Cross-departmental Working Team checked 2 premises from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 1). Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 385 premises were checked, of which 52 were normal residences, while 47 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 (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 three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 383 occupants, among whom 220 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 9 operators, 6 touts, 6 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 7 overstayers and 5 illegal immigrants. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. 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 Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, left for Jilin today to attend the 6th China Jiling- Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo. Mr Chui told the media at Macao International Airport before his departure that aside from attending the Expo, he would also attend a Macao promotional event. He said this kind of promotional events had been held in Beijing, Shanghai, Shengzhou and other cities and they had a significant effect in promoting Macao commodities. Mr Chui said that this visit would enable him to promote Macao commodities to the northeast region as well as to the international market.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, on an annual basis, new approvals of mortgage lending continued to increase notably in the second quarter. On outstanding balance, residential mortgage loans (RMLs) rose at a faster pace than commercial real estate loans (CRELs). New Lending Approved For the second quarter of 2010, new RMLs approved by Macao banks increased by 21.7% quarter-to-quarter to MOP8.5 billion; of which, 92.7% was extended to residents. In terms of approved value, new RMLs to residents and to non-residents rose 21.3% and 26.5% respectively. When compared with the same period last year, new approvals of RMLs increased markedly by 115.2%. After falling 16.0% in the previous quarter, new CRELs approved increased by 55.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP8.3 billion; of which, 85.9% was granted to residents. In terms of approved value, new CRELs to residents and to non-residents rose by 40.4% and 337.2% respectively. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs surged by 231.4%. Outstanding Balances As at end-June 2010, the outstanding value of RMLs reached MOP54.2 billion, an increase of 11.9% from three months earlier or 47.3% from a year ago. The resident component made up 88.9% of the total. Outstanding RMLs to residents and to non-residents grew by 13.5% and 0.3% respectively during the second quarter of 2010. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs rose 3.6% from end-March 2010 or 14.6% from end-June 2009 to MOP40.7 billion. Residents accounted for 86.2% of the loans. Outstanding CRELs to residents rose 5.5% whereas those to non-residents fell 6.9% in the second quarter of 2010. Delinquency Ratios At the end of June 2010, the delinquency ratio for RMLs stood at 0.13%, down 0.02 percentage points from three months earlier or 0.10 percentage points from a year ago. The ratio for CRELs went up 0.05 percentage points from end-March 2010 but down 0.12 percentage points from end-June 2009, to 0.39%.
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The Cross-departmental Working Team checked 2 premises from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (August 31). One premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally was sealed and 4 illegal immigrants were found at the premise. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 376 premises were checked, of which 47 were normal residences, while 45 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 (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 three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 369 occupants, among whom 214 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 9 operators, 6 touts, 6 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 7 overstayers and 5 illegal immigrants. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. 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 Government would spare no efforts to support the cultural and creative industries, the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today. Speaking to the members of the Cultural Industry Council before its first plenary meeting, Mr Chui said cultivating new industries to optimise industrial portfolio is the focal point to Government’s public policies. The Government had established the Council and a designated department to co-ordinate the development of cultural and creative industries, he said. He urged the Council to provide opinions over the development of cultural and creative industries, especially in areas of laws, regulations, policies and regional co-operation.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is to lead an official delegation to Jilin Province tomorrow to attend the 6th China Jilin – Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo. Soon after his arrival in Changchun, Mr Chui is scheduled to meet the Secretary of the Jilin CPC Provincial Committee, Mr Sun Zhengcai, and attend a welcome reception for guests of the trade expo. On Thursday, Mr Chui will attend the opening ceremony of the trade event and officiate at the opening of a Macao goods pavilion and a trade and tourism promotion event. He is scheduled to return to Macao on the same day, after visiting several attractions. Members of Macao’s delegation include the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, and senior officials from the Office of the Chief Executive and information, economy, trade promotion and tourism departments. The Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Ms Gao Yan, will be with Mr Chui’s delegation during the event. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of total merchandise export for July 2010 decreased by 3.4% year-on-year to MOP609 million, with value of domestic exports falling by 2.8% to MOP249 million and that of re-exports dropping by 3.9% to MOP361 million. The value of total merchandise import amounted to MOP3.83 billion, up by 19.4% year-on-year. A trade deficit of MOP3.22 billion was recorded for July 2010. In the first seven months of 2010, total value of merchandise export fell by 6.5% year-on-year to MOP4.23 billion, of which the value of domestic exports declined by 29.2%, but that of re-exports expanded by 10.4%; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import grew by 20.5% to MOP24.29 billion. The trade deficit from January to July 2010 widened by 28.4% year-on-year to MOP20.05 billion; the exports/imports ratio went down by 5.1 percentage points year-on-year to 17.4%. Analyzed by destination of exports, value of merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP1.85 billion) and Mainland China (MOP680 million) in the first seven months of 2010 increased by 15.1% and 0.3% respectively year-on-year, while that to the USA (MOP500 million) and the EU (MOP248 million) decreased substantially by 45.2% and 42.9% respectively. Exports of Textile & garment amounted to MOP964 million, down by 43.5% year-on-year to account for 22.8% of the total merchandise export; however, value of Non-textile exports (MOP3.27 billion) grew by 15.8%, with that of Copper & articles thereof and Clocks & watches rising notably by 88.9% and 70.4% respectively. Regarding the country of origin of imported goods, in the first seven months of 2010, value of merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP7.51 billion) and the EU (MOP5.30 billion) expanded by 19.9% and 24.4% respectively year-on-year. The value of imports of Consumer goods rose by 40.1% year-on-year, with that of Motor cars & motorcycles growing significantly by 109.0%; nevertheless, the value of imports of Capital goods and Raw materials & semi-manufactures fell by 11.1% and 1.3% respectively. From January to July 2010, total value of merchandise import and export amounted to MOP28.52 billion, up by 15.6% compared with MOP24.68 billion in the first seven months of 2009.
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The Cross-departmental Working Team checked 12 premises from yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (August 30). Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 369 premises were checked, of which 46 were normal residences, while 43 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, the operations involved more than 369 occupants, among whom 205 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 9 operators, 6 touts, 6 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that consumption of Electricity increased by 28.6% over the previous quarter to 955 million kWh in the second quarter of 2010, upon the arrival of Summer. Electricity consumption by Households surged by 47.3% to 186 million kWh, and that by the Business sector increased by 24.2% to 726 million kWh (Gaming sector shared 45.5%). Meanwhile, local generation of Electricity totalled 226 million kWh, up by 10.6% quarter-to-quarter; imports of Electricity increased by 32.2% to 765 million kWh, raising its relative importance to account for 78.0% of total available supply. For the first half year of 2010, local generation of Electricity decreased by 54.5% year-on-year to 431 million kWh, while imports (1.344 billion kWh) and consumption (1.697 billion kWh) of Electricity increased by 92.5% and 9.7% respectively. Imports of Natural Gas for electricity generation increased continuously to rise by 10.4% from the previous quarter to 29.57 million cubic metres in the second quarter. For the first half year of 2010, imports of Natural Gas (56.35 million cubic metres) rose by 12.1% year-on-year. Consumption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) decreased by 13.0% quarter-to-quarter to 9,997 tonnes in the second quarter, of which consumption by the Business sector (6,622 tonnes) and Households (3,321 tonnes) fell by 8.8% and 20.1% respectively. Meanwhile, imports of LPG decreased by 24.8% from the previous quarter to 9,294 tonnes, with the average price of imports registering a slight increase of 0.3%. For the first half year of 2010, imports of LPG (21,658 tonnes) increased by 6.5% year-on-year. The average price of Unleaded Gasoline and Bottled LPG in the second quarter both decreased by 1.6% quarter-to-quarter, but increased by 5.1% and 27.8% respectively year-on-year. At the end of the second quarter, stock of Fuel Oil (23.37 million litres) increased by 12.4% quarter-to-quarter whereas that of Gas oil & diesel (24.05 million litres) and LPG (2,996 tonnes) decreased by 4.8% and 18.4% respectively.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the number of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) events held in various venues in Macao increased by 18% year-on-year to 412 in the second quarter of 2010, due to a substantial increase in the number of meetings and conferences held (+70). The average duration of MICE events rose from 1.8 days in the second quarter of 2009 to 2.1 days; total number of participants and attendees soared by 129% year-on-year to 131,564. A total of 12 exhibitions were held in the second quarter of 2010, down by 7 year-on-year; nevertheless, the average duration increased from 3.4 days in the second quarter of 2009 to 5.7 days. Number of attendees surged by 269% to 93,701, with two major exhibitions attracting more than 65,000 attendees. Meanwhile, number of meetings & conferences held rose by 21% year-on-year to 400; the average duration stood at 2.0 days, up by 0.2 day, and the number of participants increased by 18% to 37,863. As regards subject of MICE events, the majority focused on Commerce, Trade & Management (149), IT & Other Technology (52) and Education & Training (45). Analyzed by type, most of the events were Corporate Meetings (163), Association Meetings (106) and Government Meetings (69). There were 234 MICE events held in hotels, up by 28 year-on-year, with 225 meetings & conferences and 9 exhibitions. The average duration increased from 2.1 days in the second quarter of 2009 to 2.9 days, drawing a total of 60,476 participants and attendees, with 64% being exhibition attendees. Meanwhile, 178 MICE events were held in convention & exhibition centres and other conference venues, up by 35 year-on-year, consisting of 175 meetings & conferences and 3 exhibitions. The average duration decreased from 1.5 days in the second quarter of 2009 to 1.1 days, bringing in a total of 71,088 participants and attendees, with 55,200 (78% of total) being attendees to the exhibitions. In the first half year of 2010, there were 809 MICE events held in Macao, up by 79 (+11%) year-on-year. The average duration increased by 0.2 day to 2.2 days; number of participants and attendees rose by 7% year-on-year to 224,301.
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