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According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for March - May 2006 dropped slightly by 0.1 percentage point over the preceding period (February - April 2006) to 3.8%, and decreased by 0.3 percentage point over the same period of 2005. The underemployment rate was up slightly by 0.1 percentage point over the preceding period to 1.3%, but remained at the same level as recorded in the same period of 2005. Number of the unemployed searching for their first job was about 800, representing 7.7% of the total unemployed population, up by 1.0 percentage point over the preceding period. Compared with the preceding period, the unemployment situation was improved in Recreational, cultural, gaming & other service activities; Real estate, renting & business activities; and Hotels, restaurants & similar activities, while it was less favourable in the Manufacturing sector. Total labour force was estimated at 271,000 in March - May 2006; the employed and the unemployed populations were 261,000 and 10,000 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 65.0%, up by 0.4 and 2.7 percentage points respectively over the preceding period and the same period of 2005.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that total land area of Macao measured 28.2 km2 in 2005 and the population density reached 17,310 persons per km2. Total lane length of public roads was 368.2 km, density of motor vehicles was 414 vehicles per km. At the end of 2005, number of trees planted on the roadside in Macao totalled 10,629, up by 11.5% over 2004; number of trees in the replantation area of the Islands increased slightly by 0.4% compared with 2004. The level of air quality observed at the 4 monitoring stations was classified as Good for most of the days in 2005; the best air quality level was observed in May. The Northern District monitoring station recorded a total of 35 days of which the observed value of respirable suspended particulates was higher than the standard value. Besides, the Ka Ho monitoring station recorded the lowest pH value of rainwater, at 3.4 (precipitation with pH value lower than 5.6 is classified as acid rain). The quality of drinking water of the distribution networks and the Water Treatment Plants was conformed to the standard according to the results of the analysis carried out by the Laboratory of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. In addition, the approval rate of the samples taken from the 9 public swimming pools was over 90%, among which the water samples taken from 7 swimming pools all reached an approval rate of 100%. Water quality of the Cheoc Van and Hac Sa beaches was classified as “Acceptable”. In 2005, Companhia de Sistemas de Resíduos (CSR) collected 162,000 tonnes of domestic waste and 55,000 tonnes of waste from the business sector, which increased by 4.9% and 7.7% respectively compared with 2004. In addition, volume of waste sent to the Incineration Plant rose by 8.9% over 2004 to 279,000 tonnes. The average volume of waste water treated by all the Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) in Macao was 152,000 m3 per day, up by 0.9% over 2004. In 2005, Public Security Police received 2,713 cases of noise complaints, up by 0.7% over 2004. The principal causes of complaints included noises from construction works; conversation and shouting; as well as music and karaoke. At the same time, the Environment Council received 95 cases of noise complaints, a significant increase of 25.0% over 2004. With regard to educational activities on environmental protection, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Environment Council organized 157 promotional activities; total expenses amounted to MOP4.49 million whilst more than 180,000 persons participated in these activities.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, is to attend the opening ceremony of the ''Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Trade and Economic Co-operation Forum'' in Hong Kong on Thursday (29 June). The Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Jia Qinglin, will officiate the opening of the forum, which marks the third anniversary of the signing of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). The forum is jointly organised by the Ministry of Commerce and the Hong Kong SAR Government. Leading a delegation of some 120 officials, businesspeople and representatives of business chambers, Mr Ho is scheduled to deliver a speech. He is also scheduled to attend a welcoming dinner for Mr Jia on Wednesday evening, hosted by the Hong Kong SAR Government.
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Macao and the Mainland today signed the Supplement III to the "Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement" (CEPA) to further strengthen their economic and trade exchanges. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, and the Vice Minister of Commerce, Mr Liao Xiaoqi, signed the agreement, which would further lower the barriers for the entry of Macao's services industries into the Mainland in addition to easing the regulations for trade and investment. The supplement also regulated the new criteria for goods to be included as Macao origin, which would be granted zero tariffs when exported to the Mainland. Full details of the supplement will be announced on 29 June, the third anniversary of the signing of the CEPA. This week, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, will lead a delegation of officials, businesspeople and representatives of business chambers to Hong Kong to attend the celebration for the third anniversary of CEPA. CEPA was first signed in 2003, and two supplementary agreements were signed in 2004 and 2005.
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The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On, has returned to Macao after leading an official delegation to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 19-22 June, to strengthen co-operation in tourism, education and personnel training. The Macao Government have started to work with Xinjiang Govenrment on various projects since 2000. Therefore, Mr Chui is scheduled to Xingjiang every year with officials from the education and tourism sectors, to discuss joint plans. The Macao delegation visited several departments, such as health, tourism and education, to exchange views on co-operation as well as updating them on the latest developments of Macao. During the meeting, Mr Chui invited Xinjiang health sector officials to visit Macao. They also agreed to step up training for medical professionals.
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Macau Government Tourist Office will open a new information counter at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf to provide tourism information for visitors at the spot. The information counter will start operating tomorrow (June 28). The new MGTO Information Counter is located at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf (Shop 17, Roman Amphitheater, S.N Avn. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Macau). This is the 7th MGTO Information Counter in the city, with opening hours: 10:00-13:00; 14:00-18:00. In addition, the information counter at the Ruins of St. Paul’s will be moved to the Macau Tourism and Cultural Activities Centre. The seven MGTO Information Counters are located at Senado Square, Macau Ferry Terminal, Border Gate Checkpoint, Guia Lighthouse, Macau Tourism and Cultural Activities Centre, Macau International Airport and Macau Fisherman’s Wharf.
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In accordance with the year plan approved by the “Facilitation and Security Committee” at the beginning of 2006, the Macau International Airport (MIA) conducted an exercise of “Unlawful Seizure of an Aircraft” from 12:00am to 05:00am in the early morning of 26 June. The exercise simulated the scenario of an unlawful seizure of an aircraft by some passengers. The airport then declared emergency and all relevant parties got ready. The exercise was a form of joint training to assess the effectiveness of the security procedures and contingency plans. In addition, it also aimed at emphasizing the vital role played by the aviation security personnels in maintaining a safe and efficient operating environment for civil aviation. Coordinated by Public Security Forces, the exercise involved the participation of Unitary Police Service, Macao Customs, Public Security Coordination Office, Judiciary Police, Port Authority, Health Bureau, Fire Brigade, Civil Aviation Authority, CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd., ADA-Administration of Airports, Ltd., Macau Security Company Ltd., Air Macau Company Ltd., Menzies Macau Aviation Services and so on. More than 100 people took part in it. Carried out every year in MIA, the security exercise helps to enhance the ability of the participants to deal with aviation security emergencies, ensuring that MIA is a reliably safe international airport.
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(Macao 19 June 2006)The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the President of European Commission, Mr José Barroso, agreed at a meeting today to further strengthen European Union (EU)-Macao relationship. Mr Ho, who began his official visit to the EU and Belgium this morning (Brussels time), met with Mr Barroso at the headquarters of the European Commission. Mr Ho said after the meeting that they have reviewed EU-Macao co-operation over the years and had agreed to strengthen co-operation in the environmental protection industry. He said some EU member-countries were keen to capitalise on the mediating function of Macao and the Pan-Pearl River Delta regional co-operation scheme, to enter the environmental protection industry in the Mainland, in which Macao would play a more active role in the future. Currently about five European countries were involved in public utilities in Macao, such as water supply, electricity and water treatment, and the SAR Government hoped that by inviting these enterprises to increase their participation in the SAR, Macao could be helpful as the platform to the South China market.
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(Macao 19 June 2006) The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the Minister of Finance of Belgium, Mr. Didier Reynders have signed a double taxation exemption agreement on behalf of the two governments in Brussels today. Mr Ho, who is in Brussels on his official visit to the European Union and Belgium, met with Mr Reynders before signing the agreement, which stipulated that residents of the Macao SAR and citizens of Belgium would be exempt from double taxation on real estate, business incomes, interests, pension, and income from assets. The agreement also closed possible loopholes for tax evasion. Mr. Reynders said he was glad with the agreement as it provided more opportunities for Belgian enterprises to enter the Chinese market through Macao. In response, Mr Ho said the agreement could also help Macao enterprises to enter the EU market through Belgium, whose economic development was dynamic. He said Belgium Macao co-operation would be strengthened upon the existing foundation. In the afternoon (Brussels time), Mr Ho met with the Director General for External Relations of the European Commission, Mr Eneko Landaburu. Mr Ho and his delegation will attend a banquet hosted by the China’s Ambassador to Belgium, Ms Zhang Qiyue, and the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union.
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(Macao 20 June 2006)The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today (Brussels time) after a visit to the European Parliament that he would invite the members of the parliament to visit Macao to further strengthen Europe-Macao relations. Mr Ho began the second day of his official visit to the European Union and Belgium with meetings with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr Guy Verhofstadt over breakfast, followed by a walk in the Central Plaza of Brussels. Later, Mr Ho attended a luncheon hosted by the Portuguese members of the European Parliament. He spend the afternoon visiting the European Parliament, and held meetings with the Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with China, Mr Dirk Sterckx; member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, Mr Bastiaan Belder; and the Vice President of the European Parliament, Mr Alejo Vidal-Quadras. Mr Ho said after the meeting that he had briefed his Europe counterparts on Macao’s latest development and the implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” principle in the SAR. He said that Both Macao and the European Parliament had the will to carry out a programme of friendly communication between the parliament and Macao, which was proposed by the Portuguese members of the European Parliament two years ago, but had never been realised due to a number of reasons and the election of the parliament. He said the programme allowed the SAR Government to invite the members of the European Parliament to visit Macao, which would definitely promote mutual understanding between Macao and Europe and strengthen relations. Later in the afternoon, Mr Ho and the Flemish Minister for Public Works, Energy, the Environment and Nature, Mr Kris Peeters, attended the signing ceremony of a co-operation agreement between Waterleau Global Water Technology NV, ATAL Engineering Limited and China Engineer and Construction Company (Macao). The three companies had formed a joint venture, which had won the bid for the expansion of the Coloane Water Treatment Plant in Macao. The Belgian company, Waterleau, was the developer of the Lucas System, which is the main technical solution for the project. Mr Ho will end his visit in Brussels and begin the second leg of his European visit in Portugal.
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