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A string of election campaign guidelines related to the establishment of election headquarters and media reporting were discussed today by the Legislative Assembly Election Commission. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Commission Chairman Mr Fong Man Chong said that each group may establish an electoral headquarter and up to six branches. A promotional billboard of 2.5 square metres may also be set up outside the headquarters and branches. The billboard should conform with safety regulations and other promotional products have to be dismantled before promotional period ends at midnight on 23 September. On media reporting, Mr Fong said the Basic Law stipulated that the media enjoy freedom of press and expression, and urged the media to report fairly and equally on each candidate. The Election Commission will hold a draw among the direct and indirect groups on Friday to determine the use of 14 public promotional spots and broadcasting time on television and radio. Meanwhile, Mr Fong said a group has been warned for for having used supportive wordings on a leaflet before the promotional period.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that value of total retail sales was estimated at MOP2.11 billion in the second quarter of 2005. The largest share was in the sales of motor vehicles (15%); followed by sales of goods in department stores (14%) and in supermarkets (11%); watches, clocks and jewellery (10%); adults' clothing (7%); automotive fuels (6%); fuels for household use (5%) and household electric appliances (4%). In this quarter, value of retail sales rose by 17% compared with MOP1.8 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2004, with marked increases in the sales of goods in department stores, adults' clothing, automotive fuels, fuels for household use and sales of goods in supermarkets. In comparison with the first quarter of 2005, value of retail sales in this quarter fell slightly by 1%. In the first half of 2005, value of total retail sales amounted to MOP4.25 billion, up by 19% over the same period of 2004. A comparison of the retailers’ opinions indicated that about 63% reported decrease in the sales volume in the second quarter of 2005, up by 12 percentage points over the previous quarter, while 37% reported constant or increase in sales volume. In terms of retail prices, about 66% and 9% reported constant and increase in retail prices whereas 25% reported decrease. Compared with the same quarter of 2004, about 69% of the retailers said that the stock level was normal in the second quarter of 2005, about 22% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the prospect for the third quarter of 2005, about 63% of the retailers predicted increase or constant in sales volume compared with the second quarter, 37% predicted decrease. Meanwhile, about 76% forecasted constant or increase in retail prices, while 24% forecasted decrease.
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Statistics and Census Service released the results of Employment Survey for the second quarter of 2005. Principal indicators such as the labour force participation rate, unemployment rate and underemployment rate have been published in the brief report in July 2005. In the second quarter of 2005, total labour force was estimated at 242,000, within which 232,000 were employed and 10,000 were unemployed. Compared with the previous quarter, the employed population and unemployed population increased 2,100 persons and 100 persons respectively. Within the employed population, 52.3% were male. § Analysed by industry, the majority of the employed population were in Recreational, cultural, gaming & other service activities (16.6%), Manufacturing (15.2%), Wholesale & retail trade (14.7%), as well as Hotel, restaurants & similar activities (10.9%). § In terms of occupation, 20.8% of the employed population were Service & sales workers, Clerks (20.6%) and Unskilled workers (17.3%). § The median actual hours worked per week was 47.4 hours and the median monthly employment earnings was MOP5,701. Within the unemployed, 92.1% were searching for a new job, while 7.9% had never worked and were searching for their first job. With regard to the educational attainment of the unemployed, 12.0% had lower than primary education, 36.2% had primary education, 33.2% had junior secondary education, 13.0% had senior secondary education and 5.6% had tertiary education. Within the unemployed that were searching for a new job: § Analysed by previous industry, the majority had worked in Manufacturing (21.5%), Hotels, restaurants & similar activities (16.5%), Recreational, cultural, gaming & other service activities (14.5%), as well as Construction (13.6%). § In terms of their previous occupation, 27.5% had been Service & sales workers, Unskilled workers (22.1%), as well as Plant & machine operators, drivers & assemblers (15.0%).
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The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Fernando Chui Sai On, said today the Government would continue to protect its precious world heritage sites by reviewing current regulations and educating the public to become more preservation-conscious. Speaking on preservation, Mr Chui said that the Government would fully abide by the regulations in the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (''World Heritage Convention'') and would listen to suggestions of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. He said the sites were ''part of the life and honour'' of Macao residents and the Government would not charge fees to view the sites. Mr Chui said that the key to protecting the historic sites was not in the control of visitors, but to formulate a plan, which has been drafted and presently being circulated to various departments for their views. The Government was reviewing the laws and regulations aimed at protecting the heritage and would continue to promote preservation to the residents, he said. It was also planned to include the knowledge of world heritage into the curriculum of local schools. The Secretary is scheduled to attend a meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in early October to exchange views on the protection of Macao’s heritage. ''The Historic Centre of Macao'' was inscribed into the World Heritage List of UNESCO in the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee in July.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that Composite CPI for July 2005 was 98.82, up by 0.66% compared with June 2005. Due to the upward adjustment of the fuel clause of electricity charges, rising prices in newspapers and fresh vegetables, indices of Rent and housing expenses, Education and leisure, as well as Foodstuff and beverages rose by 1.16%, 0.70% and 0.62% respectively. On the other hand, price reduction in men’s and women’s clothing and footwear pushed the index of Clothing and footwear down by 1.11%. Composite CPI for July 2005 recorded a significant year-on-year increase of 4.75%. For the 12 months ended July 2005, the average Composite CPI rose by 3.12% over the previous period. Average Composite CPI for January to July 2005 increased by 3.69% over the same period of 2004. In comparison with June 2005, CPI(A) and CPI(B) increased by 0.76% and 0.62% respectively. CPI(A) relates to 54% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of MOP3,000 - MOP9,999. CPI(B) relates to 26% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 - MOP19,999.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that number of visitor arrivals in July 2005, in light of the commencement of the summer holiday, reached 1,665,724, up 9.3% year-on-year; visitors from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, China increased 5.8%, 8.6% and 21.2% respectively. Meanwhile, same-day visitors accounted for 51.0% of the total arrivals, at 849,650. The majority of visitors came from Mainland China (54.8% of the total), Hong Kong (31.3%) and Taiwan, China (8.3%). Among the Mainland visitors, 479,900 (52.5%) travelled to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme. In the first seven months of 2005, visitor arrivals totalled 10,589,047, up 14.4% over the same period of last year. Visitors from Mainland China increased 10.8% to 5,903,865 (55.8% of the total), with 3,014,764 arriving in Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme. Moreover, visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan, China shared 30.0% (3,174,367) and 8.3% (883,596) of the total arrivals. Same-day visitors accounted for 52.4% of the total, at 5,543,795. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea went up 5.7% year-on-year to 3,773,381 in the first seven months of 2005, with 3,676,451 arriving at the Outer Harbour (+5.1%); the majority of these visitors were from Hong Kong (59.5%) and Mainland China (29.6%). Visitor arrivals at the Inner Harbour rose 30.7% to 96,930, within which 68.8% were from Mainland China. In the first seven months of 2005, arrivals by land increased 18.6% to 6,209,033, with 5,727,524 arriving through the Border Gate. The majority of these visitors came from Mainland China (77.0%) and Hong Kong (16.3%). Visitor arrivals through the Checkpoint of CoTai were 481,509. In addition, arrivals by air were 606,633, a growth of 33.8% compared with the same period of last year, with 599,687 arriving at the Macao International Airport (+35.1%). Visitors from Taiwan, China (70.0%) and Mainland China (15.6%) were the major users of this access.
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In order to enrich the information on the average transaction prices per square meter of Macao’s building units, the DSEC has begun to release information on the average transaction prices of industrial and office building units from this quarter. Information from the DSEC shows that in the second quarter of 2005, construction of 15 buildings was started. They included residential, dual residential & commercial, commercial, industrial buildings and buildings for other uses. The gross floor area was 56,631 m², up 21.8% and down 30.0% in comparison with the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. The total number of units was 304, up 62.6% and down 53.4% over the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. In the first half of 2005, the number of units and gross floor area of the buildings started went up 187.1% and 46.5% respectively in comparison with the same period of 2004. In the second quarter of 2005, 4 buildings were completed or extended. They included residential, dual residential & commercial buildings and buildings for other uses. The gross floor area of these buildings was 6,497 m², down 72.3% and 92.1% in comparison with the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. The total number of units was 18, down 85.0% and 63.3% compared with the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. In the first half of 2005, the number of units and gross floor area of the buildings completed and extended fell 77.0% and rose 38.2% respectively in comparison with the same period of 2004. According to the information supplied by the Finance Services Bureau, 11,135 units with a total value of MOP6.64 billion were transacted in the second quarter of 2005. Among them, 6,838 were residential units, with a value of MOP4.69 billion. Among all the building units transacted, 1,947 units were exempt from property tax (i.e. they were new buildings) with their value amounting to MOP1.80 billion. In the first half of 2005, 19,485 units were transacted and their total value amounted to MOP12.16 billion. In the second quarter of 2005, the overall average transaction price of residential units per square meter of usable area in Macao was MOP10,072, up 31.3% and 9.6% over the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. Meanwhile, the average transaction prices of residential units in the Macao Peninsula and Taipa were MOP8,821 and MOP13,436 per square meter respectively. Moreover, the average transaction price of residential units in Coloane was MOP13,019 per square meter. In terms of year of building completion, in the second quarter of 2005, the overall average transaction price per square meter in Macao was MOP16,267 for the residential units completed in “2000 and after”, up 31.0% and 1.0% compared with the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. For those completed “From 1990 to 1999” and “1989 and before”, the average prices were MOP11,085 and MOP5,998 respectively. In terms of unit’s area, in the second quarter of 2005, the overall average transaction price per square meter in Macao was MOP16,335 for the residential units with usable area of “150 square meters and over”, up 46.2% and 4.3% compared with the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. The average transaction prices of residential units of “100 to 149.9 square meters”, “50 to 99.9 square meters” and “less than 50 square meters” were MOP15,500, MOP10,838 and MOP5,605 respectively, higher than the levels recorded in the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005. In the second quarter of 2005, the overall average transaction price of industrial units per square meter of usable area in Macao was MOP3,261, up 77.3% and 0.1% over the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. In terms of year of building completion, the overall average transaction price per square meter in Macao was MOP3,360 for the industrial units completed in “From 1990 to 1999”, up 11.4% and down 21.4% compared with the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. The average price for those completed in “1989 and before” was MOP3,142, higher than the levels recorded in the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005. In the second quarter of 2005, the overall average transaction price of office units per square meter of usable area in Macao was MOP14,148, up 47.0% and 24.6% over the second quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005 respectively. Among the office units, the area of Baixa de Macau recorded the highest average transaction price per square meter, at MOP18,653, whereas the area of NAPE e Aterros da Baía da Praia Grande had the lowest average, at MOP13,316.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that per-capita spending of visitors in the second quarter of 2005 dropped by 12% over the same quarter of 2004 to MOP 1,334. Per-capita spending of visitors from Mainland China topped with MOP 2,856 and visitors from Hong Kong spent an average of MOP 831. Per-capita spending of tourists and same-day visitors was MOP 1,900 and MOP 463 respectively, down by 4% and 1% over the same period of 2004. Per-capita non-shopping spending (excluding gaming expenses) of visitors decreased by 7% year-on-year to MOP 787, of which “food and beverage” accounted for 40% of the total non-shopping spending and “accommodation” shared 34%. In addition, per-capita shopping spending of visitors was MOP 547, a decrease of 19% compared with the same period of 2004. Spending on “Chinese pastry, candy and food” (30% of the total shopping spending) and “clothing and fabrics” (22%) took the predominating shares. Per-diem spending of visitors was MOP 1,312 in the second quarter of 2005, down by 3% over the same period of 2004. Mainland visitors had the highest per-diem spending, at MOP 2,250. The average length of stay of visitors was 1.0 day, a decrease of 0.1 day compared with the second quarter of 2004, while the average of tourists (1.5 days) and same-day visitors (0.2 day) remained unchanged.
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Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) undertakes a population by-census between two censuses in obtaining the latest demographic information on the population of Macao. To ensure smooth operation of the next By-census in 2006, a Pilot Survey will be conducted from 20 August to 5 September 2005; all individuals living in the 4,000 housing units selected from the Fai Chi Kei, Tamagnini Barbosa, Mercado Vermelho and Ouvidor Arriaga districts will be interviewed. DSEC is going to organize a promotional activity at 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. this afternoon, in the open leisure area between the “Veng Hoi” and “Veng Kei” buildings of the Fai Chi Kei district; the objective is to present the importance and a better understanding of the Pilot Survey to the public. The activity is lined up with stage drama, lots of games and plenty of prizes. Everyone is invited to participate.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that in June 2005, visitor arrivals in package tours totalled 214,932, up 14.3% over June 2004. Visitors from Mainland China (167,430) increased 8.7% year-on-year; visitors from Taiwan, China (22,901) jumped 88.5% and those from Hong Kong (6,299) dropped 50.7%. In the first half of 2005, visitor arrivals in package tours grew 6.9% over the same period of 2004 to 1,237,100. Number of Macao residents travelling in package tours totalled 28,206 in June 2005, a year-on-year increase of 33.4%. Mainland China, Thailand and Taiwan, China were the three more popular tour itineraries, which accounted for 79.1%, 4.6% and 3.5% of the total respectively. In the first half of 2005, Macao residents travelling in package tours surged 51.6% compared with the same period of 2004. Meanwhile, 27,224 Macao residents travelled under own arrangements with the assistance of travel agencies, an increase of 3.0% over June 2004; Mainland China (40.0%), Hong Kong (20.1%) and Taiwan, China (18.5%) were the major destinations. In the first half of 2005, Macao residents travelling under such arrangements decreased slightly by 0.5% compared with the same period of 2004. At the end of June 2005, there were 10,571 rooms available in hotels and similar establishments, an increase of 1,271 rooms (13.7%) over June 2004. In June 2005, a total of 335,215 guests checked into hotels and similar establishments in Macao, a growth of 5.3% over June 2004. The average hotel occupancy rate fell 7.3 percentage points to 67.7% compared with the same month of 2004. The highest occupancy rate was in 3-star hotels, at 78.3%. The average length of stay of hotel guests dropped 0.06 night over June 2004 to 1.14 nights. The majority of the guests came from Mainland China (58.0%), Hong Kong (26.8%) and Taiwan, China (3.5%). In the first half of 2005, number of hotel guests showed a year-on-year increase of 1.6% to 1,904,927. In the first half of 2005, hotel guests (excluding Macao residents) accounted for 42.4% of the total number of tourists, which was lower than the 46.5% recorded in the same period of 2004.
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