News

According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, on a monthly basis, money supply M2 continued to grow in January. Driven by the relatively fast growth in loans, the loan-to-deposit ratio rose continuously.
Money supply
Currency in circulation and demand deposits increased 20.5% and 7.0% respectively. M1 thus grew 9.1% when compared with the previous month. Meanwhile, quasi-monetary liabilities rose by 5.3%. M2 therefore increased by 5.8% to MOP257.4 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 rose 15.0% and 19.5% respectively. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 27.6%, down 0.4 percentage points over a month ago and 1.1 percentage points from a year earlier. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 52.3%, down 2.4 percentage points month-to-month or 1.8 percentage points year-on-year.
Deposits
Resident deposits grew significantly by MOP13.1 billion or 5.5% from the previous month to MOP250.7 billion. Of which, MOP deposits, HKD deposits and other foreign currency deposits increased at respective rates of 3.0%, 1.2% and 22.7%. Concurrently, non-resident deposits dropped 2.5% to MOP77.5 billion and public sector deposits with the banking sector decreased 3.8% to MOP22.1 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector grew 3.0% from a month earlier to MOP350.2 billion. The shares of MOP and HKD in total deposits were 23.4% and 45.6% respectively.
Loans
Domestic loans to the private sector increased 3.5% on a monthly basis to MOP135.0 billion. Among which, MOP38.2 billion was MOP-denominated and MOP86.5 billion was denominated in HKD, representing 28.3% and 64.0% of the total respectively. Meanwhile, external loans increased 12.2% to MOP129.3 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP and HKD accounted for 0.3% (MOP0.4 billion) and 40.1% (MOP51.8 billion) of the total respectively.
Loan-to-deposit ratios
As resident deposits grew faster than domestic loans to the private sector, the loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector at end-January 2011 dropped 0.6 percentage points month-to-month to 49.5%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors was 75.5%, up 3.2 percentage points from the previous month.
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The IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organizers) Regional Seminar 2011 on Professional Congress Organization will be held in Macau from 22-24 March. This is the third consecutive year the Macau Business Tourism Centre (MBTC) of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is hosting this prestigious Seminar. The 3-day event will be run in the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. The objective is to provide an educational opportunity for people in the business tourism industry to further develop their customer service and event planning skills and features internationally renowned guest speakers who are experts in the congress industry. This is the first regional seminar that IAPCO is operating for the professional congress organizers (PCOs) in the Asia Pacific in 2011. Mr. Philippe Fournier, President of IAPCO, believes conferences play a crucial role for the development of our society. He said “meeting is important for professional development; it allows practitioners to refresh their skills and keep abreast of new tools and methodologies; it provides an opportunity to network with others in the discipline; it helps to elevate your company's profile in the community; it is cheaper than anything else in terms of communication.” The first two days of the seminar will cover basic organization of an international event, whilst the third day will be dedicated to an in-depth seminar on Promoting a Destination and Risk Management. The Director of MGTO, Engineer Mr. João Manuel Costa Antunes, said that the seminar offers an opportunity to industry professionals from throughout the Asia Pacific. “With the enthusiastic support of IAPCO, we have no doubt that the Seminar will provide a substantial amount of practical information for you. A variety of sessions led by experts in the field of congress organization will help you achieve a successful career in the PCO field. This comprehensive training program is at the same time a great opportunity for social networking, which this makes the Seminar an event not to be missed,” he further added. The speakers include Mr. Philippe Fournier, President of IAPCO and managing director of MCI Paris (France), Ms. Jan Tonkin, also Council Member of IAPCO and managing director of The Conference Company (New Zealand), and Ms Sarah Storie-Pugh, Administrator of IAPCO and ambassador of Congrex-UK (United Kingdom). Since the first IAPCO seminar in 1975, IAPCO has built up an unequalled reputation in the field of international meetings management training. Over 3,100 participants worldwide, including at least 160 in Macau have since obtained an IAPCO Seminar Certificate of Attendance. The IAPCO annual “Wolfsberg Seminar” is a much touted industry educational event, however with Macau hosting the regional seminar, many more MICE professionals in Asia will have the opportunity to tap into the collective expertise and experience of the speakers. The registration fee for the 3-day workshop is MOP2,000 for the first delegate of a Macau entity and USD250 for a non-Macau entity, while the second (and beyond) will pay a special rate of MOP1,000 for a Macau entity and USD125 for a non-Macau entity.
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From March 2 until 5p.m. of March 7, the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed one more premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally and one operator was seized on site. To date, the Cross-departmental Working Team has closed 111 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and no sealed premise is authorized to reopen. Staff of MGTO continues to check the premises to ensure they remain sealed and supply of water and electricity suspended. MGTO stressed that damaging the seal and resuming supply of water and electricity is a criminal offence which will be submitted to judicial entity for follow up. Since the Cross-departmental Working Team started operations, 1,277 premise-checks were conducted, involving 843 premises, of which 111 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 120 were normal residences, 263 were dormitories for labor and vacant or commercial units. 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 26 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 111 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, 519 occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, including 28 overstayers and 21 illegal immigrants. 20 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.
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With the rapid growth of hospitality industry in Macau, more and more luxury hotels and restaurants are starting up their business in the city and as a result, the demand in F&B professionals and chefs arises. To respond to this market trend and demand, IFT is establishing Macau's first bachelor degree programme in Culinary Arts Management. The purpose of the programme is to develop food and beverage professionals to enhance the culinary experience of the destination. The four-year programme consists of professional courses in gastronomy, nutrition, food preparation, wine studies, menu and recipe development, restaurant design, kitchen management, among others. The programme also covers management, leadership, business operations, marketing and human resources management. One of the characteristics of the programme is the flexible teaching style. Besides theory classes, students will have lots of opportunities to do hands-on practice. IFT is keen on providing an international study environment for students. One such way is to provide them with a 6-month internship opportunity, overseas exchange programmes and extra-curriculum activities. The aim is to widen the vision of the students and encourage them to think globally. After graduation, students of Culinary Arts Management programme not only can work as chefs in hotels or restaurants, but also work as F&B managers, instructors in culinary arts schools, food critics or writers, culinary consultants, etc. “We hope to develop more local F&B professionals through this programme to meet industry needs and contribute to the overall tourism development of Macao.” President of IFT, Dr. Fanny Vong says. This Macau's first Culinary Arts Management Bachelor Degree Programme is now open for registration. Those who would like to join the culinary or F&B industry are welcome to apply. Five other specialisations of IFT: Tourism Business Management, Heritage Management, Hotel Management, Tourism Event Management and Tourism Retail and Marketing Management are also receiving registration now. Please visit the website of IFT to learn more.
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Watched over by Vice President, Mr Xi Jinping, the Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On and the Governor of Guangdong Mr Huang Huahua today signed the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement in the Great Hall of People in Beijing. In a speech after the signing, Mr Chui said the sealing of the agreement exemplified the correctness and vitality of the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems' and showcased the Central Government's support and reflected the desire of Macao and Guangdong for closer partnership. According to the articles of the agreement, Macao and Guangdong would co-ordinate development of industries, fully maximise opportunities on Hengqin island and study the feasibility of sharing social and public services. With the support of the Central Government, the spirits of the agreement are included in the Twelfth Five-year Plan, and the Macao SAR Government is confident and determined to co-ordinate with the plan and implement the agreement, Mr Chui said. The Government would set up a cross-departmental working group to push forward the implementation of the agreement. Mr Chui expressed Macao's gratitude to the Central Government, related ministries and commissions and the Guangdong authorities. In his speech, Mr Huang said the agreement marked a new landmark for Guangdong-Macao co-operation and would accelerate co-operation between the province and Macao. The signing ceremony was marked by the attendance of the member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor, Ms Liu Yandong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, Vice President of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Liao Hui and Mr Ho Hau Wah, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Wang Guangya, the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Bai Zhijian, the Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, Mr Bi Jingquan, and a number of Macao and Guangdong officials. In a meet-the-press session after the signing ceremony, Mr Chui said Macao would work with Guangdong in setting up a Chinese medicine industrial zone in a five square kilometre industrial park on Hengqin and would consider the building of a zone for creative industry. In the next five years, Macao and Guangdong would work together and jointly develop Hengqin and Nansha of Guangzhou, he said. Mr Chui met the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, after the ceremony. They exchanged views on enhancing co-operation between Guangdong and Macao.
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The seminar on “The Government Procurement System in EU”, being part of the 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, will take place from March 7 to 11 (from 18:00 to 21:00), in the Lotus Room of World Trade Center located in Av. da Amizade, n.º 918, World Trade Center Macau Building, 5th floor. This seminar will be conducted in English and will feature the following keynote speakers: 1. Ms. Rita Beuter, Senior Expert, European Policies, European Institute of Public Administration, Maastricht, Netherlands; 2. Mr. Gareth Jones, Director, Sardis Consulting Ltd., Pontypridd, UK. This event is organized by the Financial Services Bureau and has about 37 participants enrolled. Among others, the seminar will cover the following subjects: 1. European public procurement: an overview
2. Principles and Rules: the Public Sector Directive 2004/18/EC
3. The Public Sector Directive 2004/18/EC
4. Electronic procurement: practical aspects
5. Electronic procurement in Europe
6. The procurement process: the practice
7. Specific policy issues in European public procurement: sustainable procurement
8. Workshop: perspectives on procurement in Macau
9. International aspects of European public procurement
10. Recent developments in European public procurement The 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, extending until December 2012, which embodies this workshop, has the “Consolidation of the Macao Legal System” as its main objective. The execution of the Co-operation Programme is coordinated by the Law Reform and International Law Bureau, with the participation of several other MSAR's entities and public departments, namely, the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Economic Services, the Financial Services Bureau and the Institute of European Studies of Macau.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that there were 10 institutions of higher education offering courses in the 2009/2010 academic year, 109 schools offering pre-primary, primary, secondary and vocational-technical education, with 78 within the free education system; moreover, there were 9 schools offering special education. At the end of the 2009/2010 academic year, there were 22,289 students attending higher education, up by 6.6% over the previous academic year, with local students accounting for 69.9%. Meanwhile, 73,713 students were attending pre-primary, primary and secondary education, with number of primary (25,475) and secondary (38,315) students decreased continuosly, down by 7.3% and 2.9% respectively; however, number of pre-primary students (9,923) increased by 7.0%. In addition, there were 515 students attending special education, up by 6.8%. Number of teachers in higher education totalled 1,963; teaching staff in pre-primary, primary and secondary education totalled 4,918 and 107 in special education. Teacher/student ratio in higher education was 1 to 11.4; the ratio for pre-primary, primary and secondary education was 1 to 15.0 and that for special education was 1 to 4.8. In the 2009/2010 academic year, number of higher education graduates totalled 5,433, most of them in Business and administration (35.5%) and Personal services (21.6%); number of Form Six graduates was 5,490. Coverage of the Education Survey for the 2009/2010 academic year also included 12 schools providing recurrent education, 129 establishments providing adult education and 173 private tutorial centres. There were 3,016 students attending recurrent education, up by 4.7% from the previous academic year; enrolment in adult education courses totalled 121,787, down by 5.7%. Meanwhile, a total of 5,772 students were receiving auxiliary tutorial services at 173 private tutorial centres, with 65.8% being primary students and 22.7% being secondary students. In the 2010/2011 academic year, student enrolment in higher education is 32,240 and that of pre-primary, primary and secondary education is 71,813.
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In response to the drastic request made by the “Association of Macao Permanent Resident Parents of Non-beneficial Children” this afternoon at the Headquarters of the Macao SAR Government, demanding the government to assist those non-beneficial children to reside in Macao, the SAR government reaffirms the following: 1. In pursuant to the stipulation of Article 22 of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, Mainland residents entering Macao for residence is governed by the Central People's Government. The Central People's Government has clearly defined the principle and the scope for the settlement of “Adult Children”. There is only one arrangement, which was initiated on 1 December 2009, for “Adult Children” entering Macao for residence. No alteration is made or will be made on the arrangement. 2. The issue of “Adult Children” in Macao has reached a reasonable and complete settlement. Any Mainland relatives of Macao residents who are not within the scope of “Adult Children” specified in the “Guidance Notes on Application for Adult Children of Macao Residents in Mainland to Enter Macao for Residence” must make the application to reside in Macao according to the existing regulations of the Public Security Authority in Mainland. 3. The policy of the Central Government employs the identical standard in solving the “Adult Children” issue in the Hong Kong SAR and the Macao SAR. Other implementation details are adjusted according to the practical situation in two regions. The only difference between Hong Kong and Macao is the time of initiating the measures. The Macao SAR Government launched the Central People's Government's measures to solve the “Adult Children” issue more than one year prior to the Hong Kong SAR Government.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, arrived in Beijing today to attend the opening of the Fourth Plenary Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress, which opens on Saturday. Speaking to the press before his departure, Mr Chui said he and his Guangdong counterpart would sign the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement on Sunday. The agreement would stipulate principles for future co-operation between Macao and Guangdong as well as a number of upcoming projects, including an industrial park on Hengqin island. After sealing the agreement, Macao and Guangdong officials would hold working meetings to discuss details on the setting up of a Chinese medicine industry park in the area, he said. Asked by reporters on Hong Kong decision on cash handouts to all adult permanent residents, Mr Chui said the Macao SAR Government had always paid close attention to the livelihood of the people and would introduce a series of relief measures should the annual consumer price index exceed 3 per cent.
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Tissue and toilet paper are essential to consumers' daily lives but their prices tend to fluctuate during the past few months. Consumer Council therefore conducted a specific price survey on tissue and toilet paper, surveying 11 samples in 25 different local retail spots. According to its 'Supermarket Price Survey Report', Consumer Council stated that prices of tissue and toilet paper fluctuated in the past few months. As this category of household product is essential to consumers, the Council conducted a new specific price survey on tissue and toilet paper to gather price information on the market for consumers' reference. In the current price survey report, significant price differences were observed in both 'C & S (Toilet Paper, Orange), 10 pcs' and 'Aus & New Golden Soft Tissue, 10 pcs', where price difference between the highest and lowest price amounted to over 40%; prices of other surveyed samples varied from 10 to 20%. The specific price survey report on tissue and toilet paper is now available online on the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). Further, Consumer Council, in collaboration with Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT), published a brochure of 'Definition and Concept of Saleable Area and Saleable Ratio'. The brochure covers definition of unit gross floor area, saleable area and saleable ratio. It is now available on the Council's official website and at its two offices, Public Information Center located at Vicky Plaza (Rua do Campo), office of General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau and Macao Federation of Trade Unions. For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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