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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that total receipts and total expenditure of the gaming sector amounted to MOP 58.86 billion and MOP 30.59 billion, up by 22% and 28% respectively over 2005. Gross value added, a measure of the sector’s contribution to the economy, rose by 22% to MOP 34.14 billion; gross fixed capital formation soared by 284% over 2005 to MOP 3.59 billion. Total receipts of the gaming sector reached MOP 58.86 billion in 2006, of which the receipts from gaming services amounted to MOP 58.53 billion, an increase of 22% compared with 2005. Interest receipts totalled MOP 332 million. Total expenditure of the sector amounted to MOP 30.59 billion, of which purchase of goods and commission paid rose by 20% over 2005 to MOP 17.15 billion; meanwhile, operating expenses and compensation of employees reached MOP 7.26 billion and MOP 4.98 billion respectively, up notably by 26% and 61% year-on-year.
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The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region was informed by the Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong that according to the amended Immigration Control and Refugee Act, the Government of Japan will require all foreign nationals entering Japan to provide fingerprints and a facial photograph at immigration control procedures. These measures will be effective beginning from 20 November 2007. The Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong stated that the amended law was promulgated with the purpose of taking preventive measures against acts of terrorism.
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The police would continue to introduce effective preventive measures and boost intelligence exchanges in order to enhance Macao's security. This is stated by the Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuoc Va, at a press conference today to release the crime statistics for the third quarter of this year. Compared to the same period last year, the third quarter saw a remarkable fall in the number of homicide, blackmail, loan sharking, arson and forgery, whereas motorcycle theft, pickpocketing, disobedience and drug abuse jumped significantly. The total number of crimes recorded in the quarter numbered 9,544, up 18.4 per cent compared with the same period last year, with 2,690 suspects arrested. In the first nine months of this year the police arrested 21,316 illegal immigrants and overstayers, with 13,829 overstayers coming from the Mainland and 5,219 of them holding permits issued under the Facilitated Individual Travel scheme. There were 1,060 overstayers holding foreign passport, an increase of 311. Juvenile crimes increased by 41 cases at 146, a rise of 39 per cent, with 271 youngsters under 18 involved. Mr Cheong said the police would continue to boost intelligence exchanges and introduce effective preventive measures to fight crime.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, will leave on Thursday (November 22) for a two-day duty visit. While in the capital, Mr Ho will report to the state leaders on the latest developments of the Macao SAR and his policy blueprint for the next fiscal year.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that per-capita spending of visitors for the third quarter of 2007 increased by 11% year-on-year to MOP 1,584. Per-capita spending of Mainland visitors took the lead at MOP 2,776 and that of Hong Kong visitors amounted to MOP-1,156. Compared with the third quarter of 2006, per-capita spending of tourists and same-day visitors was MOP 2,077 and MOP 570, up by 7% and 10% respectively. Per-capita non-shopping spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors rose by 17% year-on-year to MOP 951, of which the expenses on accommodation and food & beverage accounted for 41% and 39% respectively. Furthermore, per-capita shopping spending increased by 3% to MOP 633, with the expenses on local food products and jewellery/watches shared 31% and 19% respectively. Per-diem spending of visitors was MOP 1,360 in the third quarter of 2007, an increase of 7% over the same period of 2006. Mainland visitors had the highest per-diem spending, at MOP 2,274. In this quarter, the average length of stay of visitors increased by 0.1 day year-on-year to 1.2 days, of which the average for tourists (1.6 days) and same-day visitors (0.2 day) remained unchanged as the third quarter of 2006.
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Drivers from the Polytec Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, the FIA World Touring Car Championship – Guia Race of Macau – Presented by Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A., and riders from the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 41st Edition, took part in the annual Macau Grand Prix photo opportunity event at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Boulevard this afternoon. Competing in what was initially an elimination competition soon became a time trial for the fastest team on a local Macanese pedicab. Taking part from the touring car camp was two-time Champion Andy Priaulx teamed up with Gabriele Tarquini and Alain Menu to relay with fellow drivers Augusto Farfus, Macau veteran Tom Coronel and Nicola Larini. From the Formula 3 camp was Bruno Senna, Marko Asmer and Kazuya Oshima on the first relay, team with Rodolfo Avila, Brendon Hartley and Nicolas Hulkenberg on the second relay. Rounding out the event entry was six-time Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix winner Michael Rutter, with fellow riders Les Shand and 2003 winner John McGuinness. The second team consisted of Conor Cummins, Joao Fernandes and Supersport class racer Cameron Donald. It was the touring car driver’s team of Yvan Muller, Gabriele Tarquini and Robert Huff who proved too strong for their competition as they won the time trial, completing the 200-meter course in 1 minute and 13 seconds. The Formula 3 team consisting of Romain Grosjean, Oliver Jarvis and Yelmer Buurman came in second with a time of 1 minute and 22 seconds, and the motorcycle team of John Haner, Jeremy Toye and Mark Miller finished third, clocking in 1 minute and 24 seconds. On hand to present the prizes to our winners were Mr. Manuel Pires, Deputy Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office and member of the Macau Grand Prix Committee, and Mr. Charles Lo, Coordinator of the Marketing Subcommittee of the Macau Grand Prix Committee, together with Mr. Patrick Leung, General Manager of the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf – the venue host of this activity.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that 11,274 real estate sale and purchase contracts with a total value of MOP12.09 billion were made in the first three quarters of 2007, up by 14.0% and 42.0% respectively year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2007, a total of 2,878 real estate sale and purchase contracts were made, involving the transaction of 3,783 units, which dropped by 16.9% and 22.0% over the same quarter of 2006 and the second quarter of 2007 respectively. The corresponding total value amounted to MOP4.09 billion, up by 11.0% year-on-year and 4.7% over the second quarter of 2007. In the first three quarters of 2007, the total value of mortgage credits granted reached MOP87.28 billion, up by 44.0% year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2007, value of mortgage credits amounted to MOP26.94 billion, of which those relating to purchase of real estate was MOP1.36 billion, up by 52.4% and 15.6% respectively over the same quarter of 2006. Compared with the second quarter of 2007, the total value of mortgage credits decreased by 49.6%, while those relating to purchase of real estate fell by 23.4%. According to the information from the Finance Services Bureau, in the first three quarters of 2007, a total of 25,216 building units were transacted and the respective value amounted to MOP 35.81 billion. In the third quarter of 2007, a total of 5,875 building units totalled MOP8.92 billion were transacted, of which residential units shared 61.4% (3,609), involving MOP7.35 billion. Among all the units transacted in the third quarter, 2,435 were new building units that were still within the property tax exemption period and their value amounted to MOP6.14 billion. The average transaction price of residential units was MOP13,713 per square meter of usable area in the third quarter of 2007, up by 21.2% over the same quarter of 2006, but decreased by 3.0% compared with the second quarter of 2007. The average price of residential units in the Macao Peninsula was MOP12,151 and the average price of those in Taipa amounted to MOP18,467 per square meter. Meanwhile, the average transaction price of industrial units was MOP5,258 per square meter of usable area, up by 18.2% and 27.1% respectively over the same quarter of 2006 and the second quarter of 2007. In addition, the average transaction price of office units stood at MOP23,409 per square meter of usable area, up by 19.6% and 8.2% respectively over the same quarter of 2006 and the second quarter of 2007. The office units in Baixa de Macau recorded an average of MOP26,607 per square meter whereas those in Praia Grande e Penha had an average of MOP18,173.
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(Macao – 13 November 2007) The draft bill of the Voter Registration Law is basically complete and drafting of laws regarding the Chief Executive and the Legislative Assembly elections in 2009 is expected to be finished soon, Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah announced today in a press conference after delivering his 2008 Policy Address. Mr Ho underlined that the aim of the three pieces of legislation, which will be tabled at the Legislative Assembly next year, was to safeguard the fairness and openness of the 2009 polls. He also reiterated that conditions were not ripe for universal suffrage in 2009, but gave the assurance that consultations on constitutional reforms would be initiated as soon as possible. According to the Chief Executive, though the Macao Basic Law did not stipulate universal suffrage as the final goal of the territory’s constitutional development, it does not imply that this electoral arrangement is out of the question. Nevertheless he stressed that any changes to the constitutional system should be in line with the Macao Basic Law, and a result of scientific and rational discussions. Mr Ho also told the press conference that legislative work on national security under Article 23 of the Basic Law was in good progress. “Concerning Article 23 of the Basic Law, I believe Macao people generally have a consensus that there is a need for legislating,” he said, adding that the government would try to conclude the work by 2009 and give sufficient time for public consultation on the draft bill. When asked about the ongoing trial of former Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ao Man Long, Mr Ho pointed out that it would be inappropriate for him or any government official to make comments of any kind, even for the purpose of averting speculations and misunderstandings. To do so could compromise a fair trial for the accused and the independence of the justice system and the Chief Executive said he would never allow this to happen.
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The Government will introduce a range of tax cuts and tax exemptions and launch more social welfare projects next year in line with its policy to share with the people the benefits reaped from the rapid economic expansion. The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, disclosed this when he delivered the Policy Address for the fiscal year 2008 in the Legislative Assembly this afternoon. Tax-free income allowance is to be increased from 95,000 patacas to 120,000 pacatas, while profit tax for businesses with annual profit of less than 200,000 pacatas will be waived, up from the current 32,000 patacas. The stamp duty for first-time homebuyers who are Macao citizens will be waived for properties valued up to 3 million patacas. Real estate tax for all non-rental flats will be exempted and tax on rental apartments halved. These initiatives, along with some extended tax-reduction and tax-waiver measures adopted from the previous year, will cost the administration 1.1 billion pacatas. To expand social welfare coverage, the Government is planning a 20 per cent increase on the basic cost-of-living index, a reference scale for distributing subsidies. Aside from the Social Security Fund, which will be revised in the future, the Government will introduce a non-mandatory central provident fund scheme, partly funded by the administration, to help residents attain a sustainable lifestyle in retirement. Mr Ho also announced an increase in salary for civil servants by revising the salary index from the present 55 patacas to 59 patacas, a rise of 7.27 per cent. On housing, the Government will continue to build more public housing to accommodate the needs for homes, in particular by the younger generation. To boost education and nurture more qualified professionals, the Government will increase the number of scholarships and study loans for college students, with some targeted at those from middle class families. The Commission Against Corruption's powers of investigation will be extended from the present public to cover the private sector after the Government introduces the relevant legislation next year. Speaking about the economy, Mr Ho pledged to continue the adequate diversification of the industrial portfolio, support the small- and medium-sized enterprises, relieve the shortage of human resources and ensure enterprises employ local citizens first.
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Macau, November 13, 2007 – This year marks the 25th running of the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix, where the world’s best Formula 3 drivers assemble at Macau to do battle for the coveted title, and step in to the fast lane to the FIA Formula One World Championship. The Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix is the FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup, the only race in the category to hold the title, and the reason why it is perceived as the world cup of Formula 3. Because the race is the focus of the international motorsport community, Formula 3 drivers across the globe are keen to have a seat on the grid, hoping to show their talent, draw the attention of a Formula One team, and realize the dream of racing at the pinnacle of the sport. The Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix has long been the stepping stone for young racing drivers to Formula One. Many drivers have successfully drawn the attention of the Formula One fraternity following a strong performance at Macau, such as the winner of the inaugural Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix Ayrton Senna, seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. All of these drivers made their names after competing at Macau. Many of the current generation of Formula One drivers are also graduates of Macau, including Lewis Hamilton, who made his debut in Formula 1 this year and almost won the title, Robert Kubica, Sebastian Vettel and Takuma Sato. The status of the Macau race and its importance to a drivers’ career mean it attracts the best racers from the top national and regional championships. This year sees an extremely strong field with the champions and leading drivers from the British, European, Japanese and German series. With the possible realization of the dream of reaching Formula 1, the drivers will be going all out for the title this weekend, meaning an exciting battle is on the cars for motorsport fans!
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