News

Under the requirement of the Administrative Regulation No. 3/2005 on Investors, Managerial Personnel, Technical and Professional Qualification Holders Residency Scheme, a total of 471 new applications for investment residency were received by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) in the first half-year of 2009. Among which were 458 cases for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders and 13 cases for major investment and major investment plan. In the first half-year of 2009, 1,358 applications for investment residency were approved, including 1,185 cases for fixed assets purchase, 165 cases for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders and 8 cases for major investment and major investment plan. Breakdown of investment residency applications and approved cases in the first half-year 2009 are as follows: Statistics of Investment Residency Applications and the Cases and Number of People Approved in the First Half-Year of 2009
(Please find the attached file.) For further enquiries on the residency application guidelines, please visit our website www.ipim.gov.mo or contact IPIM by email: gjfr@ipim.gov.mo, tel: 28712055 or fax: 28713950. Applicants may also visit the website and enquire about the progress of their residency application status.
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The Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS), jointly conducted by the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) and the Statistics and Census Service of Macao (DSEC), is aimed at collecting information on investment by Macao residents in securities issued by unrelated non-residents, in terms of market value and geographical distribution. The results of CPIS for the reference year 2008 are summarised as follows: Due to the financial tsunami in the second half of the year, the investment in securities witnessed a notable decline. On 31 December 2008, the investment of Macao residents (including individuals, the government and other legal entities, but excluding Macao’s foreign exchange reserves) in securities issued by unrelated non-residents amounted to MOP81.7 billion, down by 19.2% or MOP19.5 billion from end-2007. This is the first decline recorded since the introduction of this annual Survey in 2002. Of this total, equity securities, long-term debt securities and short-term debt securities were valued at MOP30.6 billion, MOP43.3 billion and MOP7.8 billion respectively. In comparison with the previous year, the investment in equity securities and long-term debt securities reduced by 35.3% and 8.2% respectively whereas that in short-term debt securities soared by 16.1%. The investment in securities issued by Hong Kong entities accounted for the largest share, at 16.4% of the total market value of Macao residents’ portfolio investment abroad. The rest was largely invested in Mainland China (14.0%), the United States (11.0%), the United Kingdom (8.0%), the Netherlands (6.8%), Australia (6.3%) and Germany (5.0%). The market value of investment in securities issued by Hong Kong entities reached MOP13.4 billion, a notable decrease of 23.9% or MOP4.2 billion from 2007. This amount consisted of MOP7.0 billion in equity securities, MOP5.4 billion in long-term debt securities and MOP1.0 billion in short-term debt securities, constituting 23.0%, 12.5% and 12.5% of the respective total. Meanwhile, the share of investment in securities issued by Mainland Chinese entities, including those listed in non-Mainland stock exchanges, dropped slightly by 0.9 percentage points from one year earlier to 14.0%. The corresponding market value contracted by 24.0% year-on-year to MOP11.5 billion, of which the investment in equity securities fell significantly by 30.0% to MOP9.5 billion, but its share in the investment of all equity securities still predominated at 31.0%. The share of investment in European securities increased by 2.9 percentage points from one year earlier to 33.2%, but the corresponding market value fell by 11.6% partly due to the depreciation of major European currencies especially the pound sterling against the US dollar during the survey period. The United Kingdom continued to assume the largest share among European countries and regions, notwithstanding the 17.6% year-on-year decline in the market value of British securities investment to MOP6.5 billion. Meanwhile, Macao residents’ investment in securities issued by entities from the Netherlands, Germany and France rose. Although the share of US securities held by Macao residents went up slightly by 0.4 percentage points from 2007 to 11.0%, the market value of US securities dipped by 16.0% to MOP9.0 billion at end-2008. The investment in long-term US debt securities was valued at MOP7.4 billion, which still accounted for the largest share of investment in the respective securities category. The market value of Macao residents’ portfolio investment in Latin America plunged by 40.5% at end-2008 mainly attributed to a marked 54.3% decrease in the portfolio investment in the Cayman Islands. On the other hand, the investment in securities issued by Australian entities grew modestly by 1.6% year-on-year, causing the share of Oceanian securities in the total portfolio investment to rise from 5.0% to 6.4% at end-2008.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the increase of the Composite CPI continued to slowdown in July 2009, rising slightly by 0.19% year-on-year to 126.02. The price indices of Clothing & Footwear; Miscellaneous Goods & Services; and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages went up by 6.67%, 5.17% and 3.22% respectively; meanwhile, year-on-year rise of the price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+13.86%) was attributable to dearer cigarettes prices after the substantial increase of excise on tobacco. Among the subgroups of Clothing & Footwear and Miscellaneous Goods & Services, price indices of children and infant clothing (+11.29%), men’s clothing (+7.70%) and travel goods (+18.07%) registered marked rise. Among those of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, notable increase was also observed in the price indices of fresh fish (+18.85%) and fruit (+8.17%). On the contrary, price index of Transport registered a year-on-year decrease of 10.70% on account of falling prices of gasoline. The CPI-A for July 2009 fell by 0.13% year-on-year to 127.74 whereas the CPI-B rose by 0.28% to 125.47. The Composite CPI for July 2009 decreased by 0.07% month-to-month on account of the seasonal sales of clothing that drove down the price index of Clothing & Footwear by 3.55%; however, the decline was partially offset by the rising indices of Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+0.42%) and Recreation & Culture (+0.41%). Meanwhile, the CPI-A and CPI-B fell simultaneously by 0.10% month-to-month. The average Composite CPI for the first seven months of 2009 went up by 2.20% year-on-year. For the 12 months ended July 2009, the average Composite CPI rose by 4.56% from the preceding period. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 49% of households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP3,000 to MOP9,999. The CPI-B relates to about 31% of households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP19,999.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Employment Survey for the second quarter of 2009, of which principal indicators such as the labour force participation rate (72.6%), unemployment rate (3.6%), etc. have been published in July. Total labour force was 333,000 in the second quarter of 2009, with 321,000 being employed. Analyzed by industry, the majority of the employed were engaging in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services (24.1%) and Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities (13.6%). In terms of occupation, most of the employed were Clerks (including casino dealers, floorpersons, betting service operators, etc.) and Service & Sales Workers, accounting for 24.9% and 23.3% respectively. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed amounted to MOP8,500 in the second quarter of 2009, down slightly by 1.2% quarter-to-quarter; meanwhile, median monthly employment earnings of the employed residents held stable as the previous quarter, at MOP 10,000. Number of the underemployed totalled 6,000, with 72.5% engaging in Construction and 13.9% in Transport, Storage & Communications. In the second quarter of 2009, the unemployed population was 12,000, with 90.6% searching for a new job, while 9.4% were fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job. With regard to the educational attainment, 40.8% of the unemployed had primary education or lower, 27.9% had junior secondary education and 19.7% had senior secondary education. For the unemployed that were searching for a new job, analyzed by the industry previously engaged, 23.9% had worked in Construction and 18.1% in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services. Analyzed by the previous occupation, 29.7% were Service & Sales Workers and 18.9% were Craftsmen & Similar Workers.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the real estate transaction in the second quarter of 2009 rebounded from the previous quarter. Based on Stamp Duty records, a total of 3,713 building units amounted to MOP4.57 billion were sold and purchased, both up notably by 1.2 times over the first quarter, with 1,103 units valued at MOP2.49 billion (29.7% of total) being new units within the property tax exemption period, up by 1.4 times and 1.7 times respectively quarter-to-quarter. The majority (2,277 units) of these transactions were residential units and the corresponding value amounted to MOP3.76 billion, rising remarkably by 1.8 times and 2.0 times respectively quarter-to-quarter. Among the residential units, 1,813 were situated in the Macao Peninsula and 459 in Taipa. In terms of the transaction price, 1,152 units (50.6% of total) were sold for MOP1,000,000 or less and 514 units (22.6%) for over MOP1,000,000 to MOP2,000,000. Analysed by year of completion of the building, 715 residential units were completed in 2000 and after, 925 units in 1990-1999 and 637 units in 1989 and before. As regards the floor area of the unit, 1,082 units (47.5%) had an area of 50 to 99.9 square metres. In the second quarter of 2009, the average transaction price of residential units rose by 10.6% quarter-to-quarter to MOP18,928 per square metre of usable area, with the average price of those in the Macao Peninsula increasing by 23.3% to MOP17,794 per square metre, but the average of those in Taipa falling by 10.0% to MOP22,366 per square metre. Meanwhile, the average price of residential units purchased and sold under Intermediate Transfer of Title amounted to MOP31,184 per square metre, up by 7.1% quarter-to-quarter. The average transaction price of office units and industrial units stood at MOP19,556 and MOP5,815 per square metre down by 12.0% and 9.4% respectively quarter-to-quarter. There were 2,109 cases of real estate sale and purchase contracts made in the second quarter of 2009, involving 2,847 units valued at MOP3.28 billion, up by 1.2 times and 1.4 times respectively quarter-to-quarter. Total value of mortgage loans to residential units increased by 1.2 times from the first quarter to MOP1.28 billion. In the second quarter of 2009, approvals were granted to the construction of 14 buildings with a gross floor area of 28,031 square metres, which will provide a total of 48 units, of which 34 are residential units. Meanwhile, construction of 9 new buildings with a gross floor area of 34,527 square metres has been started, upon completion, will provide 55 units, 16 parking spaces for cars and 30 parking spaces for motorcycles. In addition, a total of 9 buildings with a gross floor area of 377,824 square metres were completed, altogether providing 220 units (185 are residential units), 1,086 parking spaces for cars and 379 parking spaces for motorcycles.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that per-capita spending of visitors decreased by 5% year-on-year to MOP 1,527 in the second quarter of 2009. Analysed by place of residence, per-capita spending of Mainland visitors took the lead, at MOP 3,564; per-capita spending of those from Taiwan, China; Southeast Asia; and Hong Kong amounted to MOP 1,705, MOP 1,684 and MOP 1,112 respectively. Compared with the second quarter of 2008, per-capita spending of tourists dropped by 12% to MOP 2,088, while that of same-day visitors rose by 2% to MOP 471. In the second quarter of 2009, per-capita non-shopping spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors increased by 4% year-on-year to MOP 1,017, of which expenses on Accommodation and Food & Beverage accounted for 43% and 37% respectively. Meanwhile, per-capita shopping spending fell notably by 20% to MOP 510, with expenses on Local Food Products and Clothing sharing 40% and 17% respectively. Per-diem spending of visitors amounted to MOP 1,364 in the second quarter of 2009, a year-on-year decrease of 4%. Mainland visitors had the highest per-diem spending of MOP 2,378 and the respective spending of visitors from Taiwan, China; Americas; Southeast Asia; and Hong Kong was MOP 1,309, MOP 1,187, MOP 1,185 and MOP 1,097. The average length of stay of visitors held stable at 1.1 days, same as the second quarter of 2008, with Mainland visitors staying an average of 1.5 days. The average of tourists went down by 0.1 day year-on-year to 1.6 days when that of same-day visitors remained unchanged at 0.2 day.
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The Macao SAR Government will hold an exhibtion in Beijing between November and January to showcase the achievements of the Macao SAR in the past decade. The exhibition, organised by the Government Information Bureau, will display Macao’s accomplishment in term of politics, economics and social development to the Mainland people by adopting a wide range of multi-media technology in its exhibits. Meeting the press today, the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Victor Chan Chi Ping, said that the Buerau began to prepare the exhibition as early as the fourth quarter of 2008 and the decision to outsource the preparation of the exhibition to Prime Marketing & Promotion Services Co Ltd was made that time. The decision was only gazetted and publicised earlier this month due to the necessary administrative procedures, Mr Chan said. He said that in the fourth quarter of 2008 no one could foresee the identities of the candidates of the Chief Executive election and their campaigners and there was no transfer of benefits in concession of contract. The owner of Prime is one of the members of the campaign office of the candidate of the Chief Executive Election. In accordance with Decree-Law 122/84/M, Prime won the contract without public tender since it was the only local MICE company with a Beijing branch, which was necessary for the smooth co-ordination in organising the exhibition. The exhibition would cost 32 million patacas -- with 14 million to be used for producing videos and leasing equipments to display multi-media exhibits. The Bureau also has plans to host the exhibition in other Mainland cities and some of the exhibits would also be shown in Shanghai World Expo.
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) helped locate a Macao teenager stranded in the typhoon-affected area of Kaohsiung in Taiwan. The teenager had already confirmed his safety to his family. GGCT received a phone call for assistance on August 11 in locating a Macao resident in the Chiahsien Village of Kaohsiung County, which had been affected by a typhoon. GGCT immediately contacted the representative of Macau Government Tourist Office in Taiwan and the head of the Chiahsien village as well as the local police in tracing the teenager. In the following two days, GGCT and MGTO had kept close contact with the teenager’s family, the police in Taiwan and the head of the village where the teenager lost contact. With the help of the local police, the teenager was located this morning (Aug 13) and he said over the phone that he was safe and had enough supply of food. However, he could not return to Kaohsiung to fly back to Macao due to the mudslide and damaged roads. His family had also contacted him this noon. Apart from the above case, the Office had not received other request for assistance up to the release time of the notice.
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Macao reported 16 new Influenza A (H1N1) cases today, taking the total number of such cases to 333. The 16 patients, 10 males and six females, were aged between 1 and 45. There were still 13 patients receiving treatment at hospital. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated that there were no fatal cases and the spread of the virus was moderate.
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Macao reported 17 new Influenza A (H1N1) cases today, bringing the total number of such cases to 317. The 17 patients, eight males and nine females, were aged between 3 and 49. Meanwhile, three patients had recovered and were discharged from hospital today. There were still 11 patients receiving treatment at hospital. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated that there were no fatal cases and the spread of the virus was moderate.
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