News

After preparation of about three years, the Zhuhai-Macao Trans-border Industrial Park (TIP) started operations today. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, said that the park's advantage in having a round-the-clock checkpoint would benefit Macao's manufacturing and logistics industries. Passing the checkpoint requires a special permit, which could only be issued to companies stationed in the park. Located between Zhuhai's Maoshengwei and the area around Canal dos Patos in Macao's Ilha Verde district, the Zhuhai-Macao TIP covered 400,000 square metres of reclaimed land -- 290,000 square metres in Zhuhai and 110,000 square metres in Macao. Reclamation and construction of other infrastructures accelerated after the park's ground-breaking ceremony in December 2003. At present, factories in the parks are involved in clothing, textiles, and other manufacturing and logistics industries.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) unveiled today a major promotion in Australia targeting the local travel trade, as part of its “2006 Macau World Heritage Year” Campaign. The Macau promotion in Australia kicked off today in Brisbane, and will be followed by Melbourne on Wednesday and Sydney on Friday. Among them, Sydney’s promotion is the biggest one. Called “Macau Unmasked”, the promotion – the biggest ever organized by MGTO in Australia – was produced in a show format with a narrator, scenery and image projections conceived by a well known local production company to take the Australian travel trade in an authentic trip through Macau. The promotion displays the long and unique history of Macau, the variety of attractions that the city has to offer today to visitors and the new tourism infrastructures due to open in the future. During the promotion, chief of the delegation of the Macau Government Tourist Office to Australia, Cecília Tse, head of MGTO’s Promotion & Marketing Department, emphasized that the charm of the old city of Macau is still well alive alongside the modern new tourism infrastructures that have been transforming the city. “Macau is a city on the move - without losing touch with its historic past. Of particular interest for holidaymakers are the charming cobbled stoned streets, squares, churches and temples that have been listed as World Heritage”, pointed out Cecília Tse to an audience of tour operators, air companies and professional conference organizers. “While reliving its past, Macau has moved gracefully into the new millennium. Macau’s landscape is rapidly expanding, a transformation that includes the building of ritzy new hotels, casinos, theme parks, shops and restaurants”, she added. The Macau promotion in Australia is taking place in emblematic sites of each of the cities: in Brisbane, at the Customs House, an Australian heritage building, in Melbourne at the modern design ZINC and at the Westin in Sydney, situated in the rebuilt historic General Post Office. During the Australian trip, MGTO delegation will meet representatives of local tourism authorities, travel trade and media, as well as with Casa de Macau in Sydney, the Chinese Consulate General and the China National Tourism Office overseas. The Australian market, where MGTO has a representative office in Sydney, witnessed a significant increase last year. In 2005, Australia became Macau’s 10th main source of visitors. Macau welcomed last year 61,646 Australian visitors, 46 per cent more than the year before.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, was in Guangzhou this evening to attend the opening of the 100th Session Chinese Export Commodities Fair. The Premier, Mr Wen Jiabao, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony and announced that the bi-annual trade fair would be renamed the ''Chinese Import and Export Commodities Fair'' from next year. Also attending the fair were Vice Premier, Ms Wu Yi; Member of the Politburo of the 16th CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Mr Zhang Dejiang; Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Mr Donald Tsang Yam-kuen; Minister of Commerce, Mr Bo Xilai; Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Huahua.
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Macao and Vietnam will set up task forces to study bilateral co-operation in six main areas, especially in the field of introducing human resources, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said in Hanoi today. Mr Ho was speaking in the Vietnamese capital during official visit to the country, where he had paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Tan Dzung, and the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Van Yeu. Mr Dzung said he hoped that Mr Ho's visit would contribute to the bilateral relationship of Vietnam with China and with Macao, and underlined the successful implementation of the 'One country, two systems' policy, which had been demonstrated by Macao's achievement under the leadership of Mr Ho, the Chief Executive. In the morning, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Mr Pham Gia Khiem, and Mr Ho signed a summary of their conversation in a meeting. Speaking to the press after several activities, Mr Ho said Macao and Vietnam have agreed to enhance co-operation in six areas, namely trade, investment, labour, tourism, education and culture. Mr Ho described their co-operation would be 'very practical', and would fully harness the advantages of both places. He said that given the rapid development of Macao's tourism industry and its nature of servicing customers worldwide, it would be the necessary for the Government to attract qualified talents from different countries, and he expected further co-operation with Vietnam in this area. Meanwhile, the Macau Government Tourist Office, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, and the University of Macau signed protocols for co-operation with relevant institutions in Vietnam. The Macao Foundation and some Macao businesspeople donated US$500,000 to victims in central Vietnam to rebuild their homes which were damaged by recent typhoons.
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Information from Statistics and Census Service indicated that there were 11,623 wholesale & retail outlets, including establishments, market stalls and fixed stalls on the street operating in 2005, an increase of 1,155 outlets compared with 2004; number of persons engaged went up by 11% to 32,882. Attributed to the prosperity of the tourism sector and stable economic growth of Macau, the overall business performance of the wholesale & retail sector recorded significant growth. Total receipts and total expenditure amounted to MOP24.760 billion and MOP23.554 billion respectively, which increased by 26% and 28% compared with 2004. As a measure of an industry’s contribution to the economy, gross value added amounted to MOP3.241 billion, up by 10% over 2004. There were 9,593 wholesale & retail establishments operating in 2005, an increase of 1,269 establishments compared with 2004, of which 716 establishments were in the sale of motor vehicles & automobile fuel, 4,139 establishments were in wholesale trade and 4,738 establishments were in retail trade. Number of persons engaged totalled 29,234, up by 12% over 2004. Sales and other receipts of the wholesale & retail establishments amounted to MOP23.818 billion, up by 27% compared with 2004. Analyzed by industry, receipts of the wholesale and the retail trade accounted for MOP13.277 billion (55.7% of the total) and MOP8.037 billion (33.8%) respectively; the sale of motor vehicles & automotive fuel totalled MOP 2.504 billion (10.5%). Total expenditure of the wholesale & retail establishments increased by 28% over 2004 to MOP22.738 billion. Among the expenditure items, purchase of goods and commission paid amounted to MOP18.894 billion; operating expenses and compensation of employees were MOP2.295 billion and MOP1.549 billion respectively. Besides, number of operating market and street stalls decreased by 114 over 2004 to 2,030 stalls, among which 794 were market stalls and 1,236 were fixed stalls on the street. Number of persons engaged was similar to that of 2004, at 3,648. Receipts and expenditure of the stalls amounted to MOP942 million and MOP816 million respectively, which increased by 8% and 11% compared with 2004.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government will organize a Research Grant Lecture in the Cultural Affairs Bureau Auditorium (Edifício do Instituto Cultural, Tap Seac Square, Macao) at 6:30pm on October 19 (Thursday). Prof. Zhang Ting Mao of Jinan University will give a lecture on “The Growth of Macao’s Chinese Community in the Mid-Qing Period: Urban Changes during the Reigns of Emperors Qianlong and Jiaqing”.
During the reigns of Qianlong and Jiaqing, Macao’s Chinese community expanded rapidly accompanying the city's development due to both internal and external factors. Even though many foreigners settled in the Portuguese enclave, the Chinese became the main population in the city, ushering in major changes to lifestyles and urban space. Several Chinese villages were established outside the city walls, while a significant Chinese neighbourhood established itself inside the city; new urban layouts were formed on the Macao peninsula, creating a new social order. These changes reflected adjustments to the local economy and also the enhanced status of the Chinese community.
Born in May 1960, Zhang Ting Mao received his Ph.D in History (Sino-Foreign Relations) from Jinan University in 1997. He is now an assistant professor in the Department of History and a supervisor to M.A. research students at the same university. His academic research covers China’s overseas relations during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Macao history and the history of the Chinese diaspora. Zhang has published one monograph and over 30 articles and translations in World History, Journal of Chinese Historical Studies and in Macao’s Review of Culture. He has assisted the National Coordinating Committee for Universities' Studies on Ancient Documents in annotating part of the rare book Haiguo Tuzhi [Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Countries]. Zhang has finished two research projects granted by the Research Scholarship Competition of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government – “A Study on Macao’s Maritime Trade during the Ming and Qing Dynasties” and “D. Francisco Mascarenhas and Macao”, and is now researching on “A Study on the Chinese in Macao during the Qing Reigns of Qianlong and Jiaqing”, another research granted by the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s 13th Research Scholarship Competition, and “Notes on Qing Dynasty Chinese Macao Documents Collected in the National Archives of the Tower of Tombo, Portugal” subsidised by the National Coordinating Committee for Universities' Studies on Ancient Documents.
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Information from Statistics and Census Service indicated that Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the third quarter of 2006 was 117.61, down by 2.03% over the previous quarter. Attributable to the significant decrease in the room rate of hotels, the index of Accommodation fell by 18.85%. Index of Clothing & footwear decreased by 5.76% on account of sale of Summer clothing. On the other hand, indices of Restaurant service; Transport & communications; and Food, alcoholic drinks & tobacco recorded increases of 1.87%, 1.67% and 1.51% respectively. Compared with the third quarter of 2005, TPI in this quarter rose by 8.84%, with notable increases in the indices of Miscellaneous goods (+28.32%), Restaurant service (+6.00%), and Food, alcoholic drinks & tobacco (+3.85%). The average TPI for the 4 quarters ended in the 3rd quarter of 2006 increased by 6.86% over the previous period. TPI is an indicator that reflects the price changes of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled based on the consumption pattern of visitors derived from the Visitor Expenditure Survey. TPI covers 8 sections of goods and services, namely Food, alcoholic drinks & tobacco; Clothing & footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant service; Transport & communications; Medicine & personal goods; Entertainment & culture; and Miscellaneous goods. The base year of TPI is from July 1999 to June 2000.
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Macao would start using natural gas to generate power by the end of 2007 and introduce natural gas vehicles for public transportation by 2008, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Ao Man Long, said today. Speaking after officiating an international conference on energy conservation and renewable energies, Mr Ao reiterated that the Government paid much attention to the stability of the electricity supply. He revealed that negotiations to increase electricity supply from the China Southern Power Grid was underway, and that the company that earlier succeeded its bid for the licence to supply natural gas to Macao was working on the preparations. After successfully bringing natural gas into the Government's portfolio of energy supply, Macao would study the feasibility of using natural gas vehicles for public transportation in order to contribute to environmental protection and improve the air quality, he said. Asked by journalists on the schedule for introducing a rapid transit system, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works said that the Government would soon publish a revised proposal for public consultation.
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A large-scale promotion campaign is underway to educate the public on ways to deal with the seasonal increase in the salinity in the water supply during the coming winter and spring, the Head of the Salinity Response Task Force, Ms Wong Soi Man, announced at a press conference today. The task force introduced the press to the ‘Salinity Scale for Potable Water’, a four-level-framework introduced to clearly inform the public on the quality of the water supply. The four levels are ‘Low’ (green), ‘Moderate’ (yellow), ‘Fairly High’ (orange) and ‘High’ (red), each classifies the level of salt in the water supply, with guidelines for the amount of purified or distilled water to be added to dilute the potable water. Starting tonight, announcements of public interests (APIs) introducing the scale will be aired on the Chinese and Portuguese channels of Teledifusão de Macao (TDM) and Radio Macao. English subtitles are provided in the TV promos for the convenience of the expatriate communities in Macao. To enhance awareness of the scale and measures to tackle the salt tide, advertisements will be carried in local newspapers. The task force is also distributing leaflets and putting up posters at checkpoints, schools, hospitals, health centres, hotels and tourist attractions, to inform residents and tourists on the situation. Moreover, during the seasonal salt tide, information about the salinity in potable water will be announced together with the weather forecasts on television and radio. The press will be kept fully informed, through an information broadcasting system runs by the Government Information Bureau. A website(http://www.macaowater.com/salinity/salinity_c.htm) containing the information of the current salinity of the potable water has been launched. Residents and visitors can also get related information by dialing a 24-hour hotline, (Tel: 2822 0088).
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With the objective of promoting “Macau World Heritage Year” and strengthening tourism ties between Macau and Vietnam, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) initiated a series of promotional activities in Vietnam. Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region, Mr. Edmund Ho, who is on an official visit to Vietnam, presided at the opening ceremony of the “Macau Week in Vietnam” and attended the “Macau Night” Gala Dinner today. This promotion in Vietnam, which falls in line with MGTO’s “Macau World Heritage Year” campaign, aims to introduce to the people of Vietnam Macau’s unique cultural heritage and tourism features as well as to reinforce its image as a prominent tourism destination. The Chief Executive, Mr. Edmund Ho, accompanied by Vice President of Macau Legislative Assembly Lau Check Va, Secretary for Economy and Finance Tam Pak Yuen, Macau SAR Government officials and a delegation of Macau business and tourism sector representatives, officiated the opening ceremony of the “Macau Week in Vietnam” at Bach Tung Diep Park in Ho Chi Minh City today. The Macau SAR Government also hosted a “Macau Night” Gala Dinner, with guests including the Chinese Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City, officials from the Vietnam Government, members from the local industrial, commercial and tourism sectors as well as media representatives. The “Macau Week in Vietnam” promotional activities include a “Macau 24-hour Photo Exhibition” at Bach Tung Diep Park. Traditional handicraft demonstrations, distribution of snacks from Macau by Tourism Ambassadors, loin dances, video shows of Macau, tourism information booths, performance of Portuguese folkdances and Chinese music will also be featured at the park and TAX Shopping Center to bring a flavor of Macau to the people of Vietnam. To highlight the of “Macau World Heritage” theme, a huge model of A-Ma Temple is set up at the entrance of Bach Tung Diep Park, and large banners of cultural heritage sites are mounted at the TAX Shopping Center to showcase Macau’s invaluable world heritage – “The Historic Center of Macau”. In conjunction with the investment and tourism entities in Vietnam, MGTO and Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) organized “Vietnam – Macau Investment and Tourism Development Seminars” in 3 major cities of Vietnam – Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. The seminars provided the latest economic, investment and tourism updates on Macau and Vietnam and networking opportunities for the trade representatives of Macau and Vietnam to enhance bilateral business links. MGTO also introduced the latest tourism developments, world cultural heritage and new tourism facilities to the participants. To take the promotion a step further, MGTO invited Vietnam National TV to produce programs on Macau’s unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese cultures, world heritage “The Historic Center of Macau” and other tourism facilities, and broadcasted nationwide the episodes from October 9 for a week in Vietnam. MGTO also posted advertisements with the theme “Macau World Heritage Year” on newspapers in Ho Chi Minh City. These initiatives not only amplify the effect of the promotional activities but also help to consolidate the image of Macau as a tourist destination and attract more people from Vietnam to visit Macau.
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