News

The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, today attended the opening ceremony of the 12th China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Fujian, which was officiated at by Vice Premier, Mr Wang Qishan. Afterwards, Mr Ho and members of the Macao SAR Government delegation toured the Macao pavilion and took some group photos with businesspeople from Macao and officials of some Portuguese-speaking countries, before returning to Macao in the afternoon.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, left Beijing today for Xiamen, Fujian, to attend tomorrow’s opening of 12th China International Fair for Investment and Trade. He was received by Vice Governor of Fujian Province, Mr Zhang Changping, at the airport, and soon afterwards he met with the Secretary of CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Mr Lu Zhangong, and Governor, Mr Huang Xiaojing. In the evening, Mr Ho attended a welcoming dinner for participants of the 12th China International Fair for Investment and Trade. Tomorrow Mr Ho is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the trade fair and tour Macao’s pavilion at the fair. Macao’s officials attending the opening ceremony include the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen; the President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Lee Peng Hong, and the Coordinator of the Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, Ms Rita Botelho dos Santos. Delegations from a number of Portuguese-speaking countries, together with about 100 Macao businesspeople, are taking part in the trade and investment fair.
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, said today he expected Macao’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would grow by more than 15 per cert this year. Mr Tam was speaking to reporters at a seminar on Macao’s role as the economic co-operation and trading platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. It was announced last week that Macao’s GDP jumped by 26.1 per cent in the first half of this year. Mr Tam said taking global economic slowdown into account, he expected Macao’s economic growth rate to shrink this year, but it would still reach 15 per cent. Speaking about the gaming industry, Mr Tam said the current restructure was necessary as it would give the city an opportunity to ensure its facilities, including the transport network and human resources, to keep pace with the gaming industry. He said he also expected gaming revenue to drop in the third quarter. Speaking on the employment of imported workers by gaming companies, Mr Tam said the Government had sent the Legislative Assembly a draft bill on imported workers, which, if passed, would require employers to pay a levy for employing imported workers, while the number of imported workers could not exceed a certain ratio. He also disclosed that the Government was studying plans submitted by six gaming operators on promoting more local workers.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, left Macao for Beijing this evening to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games tomorrow evening. At the airport, Mr Ho was asked by reporters for comments about the effect of the new arrangement of Mainland visitors holding travel permit for Hong Kong and Macao or Hong Kong travel permit not allowed to visit Macao via Hong Kong. Mr Ho said that the effect on the number of visitors was inevitable soon after the implementation of the new arrangement on 1 Sept. However, he said he believed that the arrangement would be less influential to the number of visitors in the long run. On Sunday, the Chief Executive will visit Fujian to attend the 12th China International Fair for Investment and Trade. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Ho is away.
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A Catalogue Show of Danish Products and Services, jointly organised by the Royal Danish Consulate General - Invest in Denmark and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), will be held from 8th September to 19th September 2008 (9am to 6 pm, Mondays to Fridays) at IPIM’s Macao Business Support Centre (Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpçao No. 263, Edif. China Civil Plaza, 19 Andar, Macau). The captioned event is going to be the first European country-themed Catalogue Show ever held in MBSC. Being a Scandinavian country, Denmark’s major national output rely on construction, logistics, information and communications, energy and food industries. Major exports range from petroleum and related products, bio-med products, industrial equipment and machinery, meat and meat products. In 2007, imports from Denmark reached 100 million Macau patacas, of which included wrist watches, food and meat products, electrical appliances and smoking tobacco. Compared with import value of 60.6 million in 2006, a 66.2% year on year increase is achieved. Till June 2008, total import value already reached 52.5 million patacas. Co-ordinated by Invest in Denmark, the theme of the Show will be Investment Opportunities and Prospects of Denmark. Over 40 types of Catalogues will be on display, which include travel and tourism, investment, Information and Communication Technology, Renewable Energy and Med-Bio Technology and Creative Denmark etc. There are altogether 24 types of investment guides to various industries of Denmark. Product pamphlets of 10 Danish companies in the collection include, medical equipment and instruments, furniture, decorative lightings and pastries and are looking for product agents and distributors in Macao. Local SMEs in search for partners or distribution rights from Denmark or any other interested parties are cordially invited to visit the Show at MBSC during office hours (9am to 6 pm). For enquiries, please contact Mr Ho or Ms Leong of Small and Medium Enterprise Service Centre (28728212) or visit IPIM’s website and Macao Trade and Invest Kiosk.
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Representatives from local museums attended the award presentation ceremony held on 29 August for the “Museums in Macao” Portal webpage design competition at the Tourism Activities Centre. Cheang Hoi San and Ng Lik Hang received the public group Honorary awards, Wong Kun Kun and Ho Sok Ieng received the student group Honorary awards. Among them, Cheang Hoi San’s design will be adopted for the future “Museums in Macao” portal website. The competition, as one activity of the “2008 International Museum Day” (IMD), was organised by museums in Macao to establish a centralised portal to the information of local museums through engaging the public in designing outstanding webpages with their creativity. Many entries were received since the announcement of the competition in May, the judges from various museums selected the winners according to the theme, functionality, aesthetic and creativity of their designs. The winning designs can be viewed on the 2008 IMD website at http://macao.communications.museum/2008imd.
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A Cotai bound jetfoil collided with a Mainland fishing boat about 7.5 nautical miles off Macao at 11:44 am today, killing one person on the boat. Two other persons on the boat and one passenger on the jetfoil were injured and sent to Hospital Centre S. Januario for treatment. The jetfoil left Hong Kong at 11 am with 130 passengers and 13 crewmembers on board. The Marine Administration and Macao Customs took part in the rescue operation immediately after they learned of the collision.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that in the second quarter of 2008, imports of Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) amounted to 9,096 tonnes and the respective consumption totalled 9,497 tonnes, down by 25.1% and 19.2% respectively over the previous quarter. The average price of LPG imports rose by 2.9% quarter-to-quarter, with the list price of Bottled LPG and Centralised LPG going up by 1.6% and 1.5% respectively. In the second quarter of 2008, imports of Electricity rose by 5.4% over the previous quarter to 526 million kWh. The gross production of Electricity increased by 99.4%, bringing the net available supply to rise by 31.8%; the relative importance of Electricity imports in gross available supply declined from 73.7% in the first quarter to 59.0% in this quarter. Meanwhile, the consumption registered an increase of 31.6%. Imports of Gasoline was 15.81 million litres and the respective consumption totalled 15.62 million litres, up by 15.9% and 4.8% respectively over the previous quarter. On account of the 10.9% increase in the average price of Gasoline imports, the list price of Unleaded gasoline went up by 12.5% quarter-to-quarter. Imports of Gas oil & diesel increased by 10.5% from the previous quarter to 43.95 million litres, but consumption decreased by 3.0% to 40.84 million litres. The list price of different types of Gas oil & diesel went up by 17.2% to 18.2% quarter-to-quarter, due to an 6.9% rise in the average price of imports. The respective imports and consumption of Natural gas soared three-fold over the previous quarter, to 26.7 million and 26.5 million cubic metres.
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China’s Olympic gold medallists met with students in Macao today and encouraged them to face their challenges in life with positive attitudes and bravery. Eleven medallists gave their encouragement during a talk held in Macao Forum where attended by some 2,500 students and representatives from the education sector. During the talk, the medallists described in great detail their arduous training regime and their determination to win for the sake of the country. They encouraged the participants, whenever they encounter difficulties in their lives, to face them with positive attitude and bravery, and walk out of the shadow. The delegation, who comprised 63 gold medalists and their coaches and sports officials, visited some scenic points such as the Ruins of St. Paul and the Macao Museum in the second day of their visit. In the evening, the athletes attended a variety show at Macao East Asian Games Dome to share their happiness with an audience of some 4,000. The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, also attended the performance. They are scheduled to leave tomorrow after a three-day visit.
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China’s 63 gold medallists have arrived in Macao today for a three-day visit, less than a week after the closing of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The delegation, who earlier spent three days in Hong Kong, was led by the Director of State General Administration of Sports, Mr Liu Peng, and included coaches of the gold medalists. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On, and the Deputy Director of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR, Mr Li Benjun, met the delegation at the ferry terminal. The sportsmen met the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, who congratulated them for their outstanding performances. Their result demonstrated the rising power of the nation and made Macao people proud, he said. The delegation then attended a welcome banquet, at which the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On, praised the outstanding organisation of the Games. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games had promoted the traditional spirits of the Chinese, realised China’s century-old dream for hosting the Games, and earned appreciation of nations worldwide, Mr Chui said. He also praised China’s athletes, who had broken various records and written a new chapter of history for the nation. Mr Chui thanked the support of the State General Administration of Sports for Macao’s sport, and the gold medallists for their visit. He said he wished for more exchanges between Macao’s sport sector and China’s athletes and sport personnel in the future. Head of the delegation and Director of State General Administration of Sports, Mr Liu Peng, said in a speech that Macao’s support to sport development in China had contributed to the organisation of Beijing Olympic and the achievement of China’s athletes at the games. The delegation is scheduled to meet hundreds of high school students for a talk tomorrow morning, followed by a visit to the Ruins of St. Paul. In the evening they will attend a performance at Macao East Asian Games Dome.
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