News

According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) and commercial real estate loans (CRELs) declined in the third quarter. On outstanding balance, increases were observed in both RMLs and CRELs. New Lending Approved For the third quarter of 2010, new RMLs approved by Macao banks decreased by 22.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP6.6 billion; of which, 92.8% was extended to residents. In terms of approved value, new RMLs to residents and to non-residents dropped 22.2% and 23.5% respectively. When compared with the same period last year, new approvals of RMLs increased by 5.8%. After rising notably in the previous quarter, new CRELs approved decreased by 12.4% quarter-to-quarter to MOP10.1 billion in the third quarter of 2010; of which, 98.3% was granted to residents. In terms of approved value, new CRELs to residents and to non-residents dropped by 4.1% and 85.7% respectively. On an annual basis, new approvals of CRELs surged by 198.4%. Outstanding Balances As at end-September 2010, the outstanding value of RMLs reached MOP55.1 billion, an increase of 1.8% from three months earlier or 35.3% from a year ago. The resident component made up 89.0% of the total. Outstanding RMLs to residents grew by 3.0% whereas outstanding RMLs to non-residents went down by 6.9% during the third quarter of 2010. Concurrently, the outstanding value of CRELs rose 8.5% from end-June 2010 or 20.8% from end-September 2009 to MOP44.1 billion. Residents accounted for 89.2% of the loans. Outstanding CRELs to residents rose 12.3% whereas those to non-residents fell 15.0% in the third quarter of 2010. Delinquency Ratios At the end of September 2010, the delinquency ratio for RMLs stood at 0.11%, down 0.02 percentage points from three months earlier or 0.13 percentage points from a year ago. The ratio for CRELs went down 0.19 percentage points from end-June 2010 or 0.13 percentage points from end-September 2009, to 0.19%.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the rate of usage of Information Technology (IT) in the business sector stood at 46% in 2009, down by 1 percentage point from 2008. Analyzed by industry, usage of IT has been fully adopted in the Gaming Sector, and that of Travel Agencies and the Service Sector reached 98% and 82% respectively, while the Restaurant Sector had a lower rate of 32%. In addition, rate of IT usage of Hotel (70%) and Construction (67%) Sectors both went up 6 percentage points year-on-year. Analyzed by size of establishment or enterprise, rate of IT usage of the large establishments or enterprises with 100 or more persons reached 99%, while the usage rate of those with less than 10 persons was 40%. With regard to Internet usage, 82% of the establishments or enterprises using IT had Internet connection and the major purposes of accessing the Internet included information search (40%), purchasing (16%) and sales (14%). In 2009, about 79% of the households in Macao possessed IT equipment such as computers, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), etc., up by 3 percentage points over 2008. Rate of computer and internet usage for male aged 3 or above was 60% and 57% respectively; however, the rates for female were lower, at 53% and 51%. Analyzed by age group, the rate of computer (95%) and Internet usage (94%) were highest among those aged 15-24, both rates increased by 5 percentage points over 2008. Analyzed by educational attainment, the rate of computer and Internet usage for those with tertiary education was 92% and 90% respectively, both up by 4 percentage points year-on-year. In respect of the location of accessing the Internet, the majority were at home (93%) or at work place (24%). Major purposes of accessing the Internet included information search (87%), communication (83%) and government services (35%). Data on IT usage in the business sector is obtained from the annual survey on different economic activities and data on IT possession and usage of the households are collected by using a supplementary questionnaire in the Employment Survey, covering all individuals aged 3 or above. Respective data on IT usage facilitate a better understanding of the popularity and development of IT in the community.
…

The Macao Historical Archives operates under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, and is responsible for the preservation of records of historic value. Given Macao’s geographical location in a sub-tropical zone, it is essential to actively protect paper records in order to avoid deterioration and ensure their correct preservation. Such measures include regular pest control. The next scheduled pest control in the Macao Historical Archives will take place on 3th and 4th of December. The Reading Room will be closed to the public from 2.30pm on Friday 3th December, and throughout the day on Saturday 4th December. It will re-open to the public on Monday 6th December.
…

Macau Tourism Promotion and Information Center in Portugal has been organizing a series of activities about Macanese food, as a means to promote Macau. Last Monday (22) the Center hosted in Lisbon an “Experience Macau” talk about Macanese gastronomy with Macanese Graça Pacheco Jorge, an author and workshop conductor on Macau’s traditional cuisine. The following day, the Center’s coordinator Rodolfo Faustino spoke to tourism students in a training school in Lisbon about Macau’s tourism infrastructures, while Graça Pacheco Jorge joined hands with a chef and students of the school to cook a Macanese menu. This coming December 14, Macau Tourism Promotion and Information Center will organize a Macanese Food Week at the historical city of Guimarães, in the north of Portugal. The program of the Macanese Food Weeks, which the Center has been organizing in Portugal, also includes a workshop for the travel trade from that city and region, with training provided by the Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies, a presentation about Macau’s new infrastructures by the Center coordinator and a Macanese food dinner or lunch. This press release is available at: www.macautourism.gov.mo
…

Macao will conduct the 15th Population Census and the 5th Housing Census in August 2011 to collect the latest information on the demographic and housing aspects. Population Census, conducted every 10 years, requires considerable human resources to assist in all stages of work. The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) is recruiting temporary staff from 6 December 2010 to 17 June 2011. More than 2,000 enumerators and internal staff are needed in the 2011 Population Census. The enumerators will be responsible to conduct interviews with households to gather information; meanwhile, internal staff will help in collating data, filing, answering phone enquiries, arranging appointments, etc. at the Census stations. Applying for the temporary job of the Population Census is easy and quick. All Macao permanent residents (including those studying aboard) with secondary education or higher who reach 18 years old before 1 July 2011 are eligible to apply. Those who are interested can browse the 2011 Population Census website (www.dsec.gov.mo/censos2011) and complete a simple quiz online. Applicants who pass the quiz can advance to the interview phase that will take place from end-December 2010 to June 2011; the applicants can select a convenient date for the interview (e.g. before or after Christmas, Lunar New Year, Easter holidays, etc.). Successful applicants will be selected as candidates or alternates to the training according to the results. Those who have completed the training course in July may have the opportunity to join the 2011 Population Census team. Population Census offers a great opportunity to work this meaningful operation. All permanent residents in Macao or studying abroad are most welcome to work for the Census, contribute to the future of Macao while making good use of the Summer holidays. Please browse DSEC website for details.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the value of total merchandise export for October 2010 decreased by 3.2% year-on-year to MOP568 million; value of domestic exports rose by 31.4% to MOP237 million, the first rebound since March 2008, while value of re-exports decreased by 18.5% to MOP331 million. The value of total merchandise import amounted to MOP3.76 billion, up by 17.5% year-on-year. A trade deficit of MOP3.19 billion was recorded for October 2010. In the first ten months of 2010, total value of merchandise export fell by 7.9% year-on-year to MOP5.86 billion, of which the value of domestic exports declined by 22.4%, but that of re-exports rose by 2.0%; meanwhile, total value of merchandise import grew by 19.4% to MOP35.63 billion. The trade deficit from January to October 2010 widened by 26.8% year-on-year to MOP29.77 billion; the exports/imports ratio went down by 4.9 percentage points year-on-year to 16.4%. Analyzed by destination of exported goods, value of merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP2.52 billion) and Mainland China (MOP936 million) in the first ten months of 2010 increased by 3.9% and 1.6% respectively year-on-year, while that to the USA (MOP688 million) and the EU (MOP331 million) decreased substantially by 41.4% and 40.3% respectively. Exports of Textile & garment amounted to MOP1.37 billion, down by 37.5% year-on-year to account for 23.4% of the total merchandise export; however, value of Non-textile exports (MOP4.48 billion) grew by 7.7%, with that of Copper & articles thereof and Clocks & watches rising notably by 54.5% and 40.3% respectively. Regarding the country of origin of imported goods, in the first ten months of 2010, value of merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP11.05 billion) and the EU (MOP7.85 billion) expanded by 16.6% and 26.9% respectively year-on-year. The value of imports of Consumer goods rose by 35.2% year-on-year, with that of Motor cars & motorcycles growing significantly by 82.0%; nevertheless, the value of imports of Capital goods and Raw materials & semi-manufactures fell by 2.3% and 0.9% respectively. From January to October 2010, total value of merchandise import and export amounted to MOP41.48 billion, up by 14.6% compared with MOP36.20 billion in the first ten months of 2009.
…

From November 23 until 5p.m. today (29), the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed one more premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has waged a total of 88 sanctions, among which one sanction proceeding has been completed and an operator who provided accommodation illegally was fined 200 000 patacas. Other cases are in different stages of sanction proceedings. Since the Cross-departmental Working Team started operations, to date, 1,108 premise-checks were conducted, involving 756 premises, of which 88 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 116 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 18 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To date, the operations involved more than 896 occupants, among whom 393 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 17 overstayers and 14 illegal immigrants. 13 operators, 13 touts, 13 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (managing staff) and six 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 operator who provided accommodation illegally, who was fined 200 000 patacas, does not pay within the statutory period, the Financial Services Bureau will enforce the collection of fine. Meanwhile, the six occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3 000 patacas each, among which three 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 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.
…

A detailed price comparison report on local rice prices for the first half year is available in Consumer Report issue No.206. An average price increase of 5 per cent was recorded for Thai rice brands during the first seven months of this year. Consumer Council pays special attention to local rice prices and a specific price report is conducted each month, covering price data from almost 30 local retail spots. Around 70 per cent of surveyed samples come from Thailand, other surveyed rice brands come from Japan and Australia. According to the Council’s data, prices of Thai rice brands increased significantly in the last quarter of 2009, recording an average price increase of up to 10 per cent. Prices then continued to rise in 2010 at an unhurried pace of less than 1 per cent and had become quite stable since this March. During the first 6 months, price increases ranged from 1 to 5 per cent due to import price and special promotions, etc. Prices of brands from other countries tend to be stable. The Council will continue to keep an eye on the market price trend and provide sufficient information to consumers. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the two offices of the Consumer Council, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources online at the Council’s official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For inquiries, please call 8988 9315.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that consumption of Electricity increased by 17.3% over the previous quarter to 1.12 billion kWh in the third quarter of 2010 upon the hot Summer weather. Electricity consumption by Households surged by 34.2% to 250 million kWh, and that by the Business sector increased by 12.8% to 819 million kWh (Gaming sector shared 46.3%). Meanwhile, local generation of Electricity reached 375 million kWh, up notably by 65.6% quarter-to-quarter; imports of Electricity increased by 9.7% to 839 million kWh, accounting for 69.9% of the total available supply. For the first three quarters of 2010, local generation of Electricity decreased by 37.3% year-on-year to 806 million kWh, while imports (2.183 billion kWh) and consumption (2.817 billion kWh) of Electricity increased by 41.2% and 6.6% respectively. Imports of Natural Gas for electricity generation increased further to 55.86 million cubic metres in the third quarter, soaring by 88.9% from the previous quarter. For the first three quarters of 2010, imports of Natural Gas totalled 112 million cubic metres, up by 41.4% year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2010, consumption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) decreased by 15.9% quarter-to-quarter to 8,406 tonnes, of which consumption by Households (2,562 tonnes) and the Business sector (5,795 tonnes) fell by 22.9% and 12.5% respectively. Meanwhile, imports of LPG decreased by 17.3% from the previous quarter to 7,685 tonnes, with the average price of imports dropping by 2.5% to MOP7.57 per kg. For the first three quarters of 2010, imports of LPG (29,344 tonnes) increased by 3.7% year-on-year. In addition, the average price of Bottled LPG and Centralized LPG decreased by 8.1% and 7.3% respectively quarter-to-quarter on account of lower prices of import; however, the average price increased by 5.3% and 5.0% respectively year-on-year. At the end of the third quarter, stock of LPG (2,288 tonnes), Fuel Oil (19.69 million litres) and Gas oil & diesel (23.93 million litres) registered quarter-to-quarter decrease of 23.6%, 15.7% and 0.5% respectively.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for August-October 2010 was 2.9% and the underemployment rate was 1.6%, both remained unchanged from the previous period (July-September 2010). Total labour force was 330,000 in August-October 2010 and the labour force participation rate stood at 71.7%, with the employed population increasing by about 400 over the previous period to 321,000. Analyzed by industry, employment of Retail Trade saw increase, while that of Real Estate & Business Activities registered a decrease. Number of the unemployed held stable at 9,400, with 19.9% being fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job, up by 0.9 percentage point over the previous period. In comparison with August-October 2009, the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate dropped by 0.6 and 0.3 percentage point respectively; meanwhile, the labour force participation rate stayed unchanged.
…