News

Owing to the sporadic strike action by workers of the public sector in Greece, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) from Macao to Greece maybe subject to delay until further notice. Thank you for your kind attention.
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In view of providing detailed information on the structure of visitors coming from Mainland China, the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) publishes data on arrivals of Mainland visitors by principal province and municipality starting January 2011. Total visitor arrivals rose by 1.4% year-on-year to 2,076,064 in January 2011. Same-day visitors (1,130,949) accounted for 54.5% of total visitor arrivals, with 665,251 coming from Mainland China. Analyzed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China increased by 7.9% year-on-year to 1,220,534 (58.8% of total), mostly from the Guangdong Province (657,729), Fujian Province (59,341) and Shanghai (41,296); those travelling to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme totalled 538,306, up by 20.2% year-on-year. Visitors from Republic of Korea (42,127) and Japan (36,155) increased by 39.0% and 1.4% respectively; however, those from Hong Kong (529,621); and Taiwan, China (92,123) decreased by 2.8% and 20.4% respectively. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea totalled 768,744 in January 2011, down by 3.9% year-on-year. Visitors arriving at the Outer Harbour increased by 2.4% to 523,422, with the majority coming from Hong Kong (50.4%) and Mainland China (25.3%); meanwhile, those arriving at the Provisional Ferry Terminal in Taipa decreased by 20.3% to 209,405. Visitor arrivals by land totalled 1,186,015 in January 2010, up by 8.0% year-on-year; those arriving through the Border Gate totalled 1,098,843 and the majority were visitors from Mainland China (81.5%) and Hong Kong (12.7%). Visitor arrivals by air decreased by 18.2% year-on-year to 121,305. Visitors arriving at the Macao International Airport went down by 18.3% to 119,396, with the majority coming from Mainland China (39.5%); Taiwan, China (30.9%); Republic of Korea (5.2%); and Malaysia (5.0%).
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office has been monitoring the severe earthquake situation that occurred in Christchurch, New Zealand and will maintain close contact with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, the tourism associations and travel industry, as well as the representative of the Macao Government Tourist Office (MGTO) in Australia / New Zealand to follow up on the latest developments. According to information provided by the travel industry, there are no Macao tour groups or visitors in New Zealand. Until now, GGCT has not received any inquiry or request for assistance from Macao residents regarding this incident. Macao residents may call the 24 hour Tourism Hotline (853)2833 3000 for assistance. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has already issued a statement to citizens, full text of which is as follows: A major earthquake struck Christchurch at 12:51 pm, February 22nd. On hearing the shocking news, H.E. Mr. Xu Jianguo, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to New Zealand, conveyed his sympathy and solicitude to the overseas Chinese, including students in Christchurch, and the Chinese Embassy initiated the emergency mechanism. In order to facilitate communication between the overseas Chinese, the Chinese compatriots and the Embassy, 24-Hour Emergency Hotlines (0064-27-5196653, 0064-21-841026, 0064-27-5196656) are established.
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Macao Post announced that the postal services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) previously affected by domestic situation in Egypt have resumed as normal. Thank you for your kind attention.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that value of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 amounted to MOP 8.18 billion, up by 25% year-on-year. Retail sales of Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (MOP 1.91 billion) took the largest share of 23%, as followed by sales of Goods in Department Stores (16%), Adults' Clothing (11%), Leather Goods (10%), Motor Vehicles and Goods in Supermarkets (7% each), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (4%) and Automotive Fuels (3%). In comparison with the revised figure (MOP 7.53 billion) in the third quarter, value of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased by 9%, with marked increase in the retail sales of Adults' Clothing (+34%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+33%) and Goods in Department Stores (+21%). For the whole year of 2010, total value of retail sales reached MOP29.50 billion, up notably by 32% compared with MOP22.35 billion in 2009, with significant increase being observed in the retail sales of Leather Goods (+64%), Watches, Clocks & Jewellery (+48%) and Motor Vehicles (+43%). After removing the effect of price changes, volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 rose by 16% year-on-year, with remarkable increase being observed in the sales volume of Footwear (+47%), Leather Goods (+44%), Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles (+44%) and Adults' Clothing (+30%). Volume of retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 registered a quarter-to-quarter increase of 5%, with that of Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles rising by 35%, Footwear by 30%, Adults' Clothing by 28%. For the whole year of 2010, volume of retail sales soared by 22% from 2009, of which retail sales volume of Leather Goods surged by 55% year-on-year. In the fourth quarter of 2010, about 19% of the retailers reported decrease in the sales volume from the third quarter, down by 25 percentage points from the previous quarter; besides, 81% stated that the sales volume remained stable or showed increase. In terms of retail prices, about 52% noted that the prices were stable, 36% stated that the prices increased whereas 12% reported the prices decreased. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2009, about 68% expressed that the stock level was normal in the fourth quarter of 2010, while 12% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the business outlook for the first quarter of 2011, about 79% anticipate that the sales volume will increase or remain stable compared with the fourth quarter of 2010, while 21% expect a decrease. Meanwhile, about 89% predict that the retail prices will remain stable or increase whereas 11% forecast a decrease.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Employment Survey for the fourth quarter of 2010, of which principal indicators such as the overall unemployment rate (2.7%) and unemployment rate of local residents (3.3%) were published in January. Total labour force was 331,000 in the fourth quarter of 2010, comprising 322,000 employed and 8,900 unemployed. Compared with the third quarter, total labour force and number of the employed increased by 1,300 and 1,700 respectively, while number of the unemployed decreased by 500. Analyzed by industry, the majority of the employed were engaging in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services (24.1%) and Wholesale & Retail Trade (13.7%). In terms of occupation, most of the employed were Clerks (including casino dealers, floorpersons, betting service operators, etc.) and Service & Sales Workers, accounting for 27.5% and 20.9% respectively. Median monthly employment earnings of both the employed (MOP9,000) and the local residents (MOP10,000) held stable as the third quarter of 2010. Number of the underemployed totalled 5,700, with 62.9% engaging in Construction and 15.3% in Transport, Storage & Communications. In respect of the unemployed, 89.5% were searching for a new job and 10.5% were fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job. With regard to educational attainment, 32.0% had primary education or lower, 26.8% had junior secondary education and 24.4% had senior secondary education. For the unemployed that were searching for a new job, analyzed by industry previously engaged, 24.0% had worked in Construction and 18.3% in Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities. Analyzed by previous occupation, 24.5% were Service & Sales Workers and 20.7% were Clerks. For the whole year of 2010, median monthly employment earnings of the employed (MOP9,000) rose by 5.9% over 2009, while that of the local residents (MOP10,000) remained unchanged. In 2010, average number of the employed per household was 1.8 and the median monthly employment earnings per household increased by 3.2% year-on-year to MOP16,300.
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From February 15 until 5p.m. of February 21, the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed one more premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally. During the operation, one overstayer was found on site. Meanwhile, three more operators who provided accommodation illegally were fined 200 000 patacas. To date, 18 operators were seized and half of them (nine people) were fined. Since the Cross-departmental Working Team started operations, 1,252 premise-checks were conducted, involving 826 premises, of which 108 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 120 were normal residences. 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 24 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has waged a total of 108 sanctions and nine operators who provided accommodation illegally were fined 200 000 patacas according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" . Other cases are in different stages of sanction proceedings. To date, the operations involved 1,081 occupants, among whom 495 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 27 overstayers and 18 illegal immigrants. 18 operators, 14 touts, 19 persons who managed the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and 10 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized on site. MGTO has begun sanction proceedings on offenders according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation". If the nine operators who provided accommodation illegally, who were fined 200 000 patacas, do not pay within the statutory period, the Financial Services Bureau will enforce the collection of fine. Meanwhile, the 10 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3 000 patacas each, among which four have paid the fine. For those who fail to pay the fine within the statutory period, MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine and informed PSP that the involved persons should pay the fine or their reentry into Macau will be denied. According to the law, operators and persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty of up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas, persons who fail to cooperate can be fined up to 20 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. 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. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Composite CPI (107.16) for January 2011 rose by 4.92% year-on-year; the increment was attributable to rising index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages; Miscellaneous Goods & Services; and Housing & Fuels. Among the different sections, notable increase was observed in the price index of Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+9.21%), Clothing & Footwear (+6.86%), Transport (+6.71%), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.13%) and Health (+5.75%), which was caused by higher charges for meals bought away from home, hairdressing and grooming services, and outbound package tours, dearer prices of clothing and footwear, airfare and general food items near the Lunar New year, as well as rising prices of gasoline and LP-gas. On the contrary, reduced charges for mobile phone services lowered the price index of Communication by 8.35% year-on-year. The CPI-A (106.49) and CPI-B (107.37) for January 2011 rose by 4.75% and 5.05% year-on-year respectively. The Composite CPI for January 2011 increased by 0.93% month-to-month, with marked increase in the price indices of Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+2.83%), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+1.93%), and Transport (+1.04%); however, price index of Communication registered a decrease of 8.03%. Meanwhile, the CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 1.11% and 0.89% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended January 2011, the average Composite CPI rose by 3.21% from the preceding period; at the same time, the average CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 2.75% and 3.37% respectively. The 2008/2009-based Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP6,000 to MOP18,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP19,000 to MOP34,999.
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For the purpose of promoting the development of local cultural and creative industries, the Cultural Affairs Bureau is now launching the fifth phase of the “Cultural and Creative Industries Information Collection Project”. This database aims to collect information on all professional companies and institutions in the local film & video, as well as anime & comic industries, respectively. In addition, the current phase also seeks information on all professional companies or institutions that tender cultural and creative products, project planning, technical support, provision of activities venues, or any other related services. From now until 31 March 2011, all relevant parties are invited to submit information to the Cultural Affairs Bureau. Information collection forms can be downloaded from the Cultural Affairs Bureau website (www.icm.gov.mo/dpicc). The establishment of this Database will facilitate the government’s enactment of favourable policies towards the development and promotion of Macao’s cultural and creative industries. Furthermore, the Cultural Affairs Bureau also envisions the creation of a dedicated website, and the publication of a magazine. These information platforms will allow users to freely access and exchange information related to the cultural and creative industries of Macao. Interested parties should complete and submit the form, along with supporting electronic files, to the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, located at Praça do Tap Seac. For enquiries, please call 8399 6919 (Ms. Lam or Ms. Lao) during office hours or email us at info.dpicc@icm.gov.mo.
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The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) was informed by the Consulate General of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in Hong Kong that holders of the Macao SAR Passports with a passport of at least 6 months validity and 2 recent photos can obtain visa-on-arrival at any designated international port of entry in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for a stay not exceeding 30 days. At present, a total of 87 countries and territories have agreed to grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the Macao SAR passport holders, while 9 countries have agreed to grant the visa-free access to the Macao SAR Travel Permit holders.
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