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Members of the public can enjoy a series of magnificent performances by the “South African Dance Ensemble” jointly presented by the Macau Government Tourist Office and the South African Consulate-General, Hong Kong SAR/Macau SAR, in celebration of Chinese New Year. The “South Africa Dance Ensemble”, formed by two groups, the Vuka Uzenzele Cultural Production” and “Vhakololo”, will perform today (February 4) at Senado Square (2pm to 3pm) and Macau Fisherman’s Wharf (4:30pm to 5:30pm). The Director of Macau Government Tourist Office, João Manuel Costa Antunes and Consul-General of the South African Consulate-General, Hong Kong SAR/Macau SAR, Mario George Masher will be present at the event at Senado Square today (February 4). The “South Africa Dance Ensemble” will bring to the audience the unique culture of Zulu, Vhavenda and Shangaan people of South Africa, through their high-energy athleticism and authentic tribal dances combined with signature costumes, rhythmic drumming and songs. “Vuka Uzenzele Cultural Production” was established in 2003. Their aim is to boost the production of cultural performing groups. “Vuka Uzenzele” means “wake up and do it yourself” in the Nguni languages of South Africa. Since its establishment, the group has performed in various arts festivals and carnivals in South Africa. Formed in 2001, “Vhakololo” gathered the cultural diversity and uniqueness of tribes in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Individuals from different communities were invited to showcase their ethnic characteristics via their own languages and forms of dances. Since the year 2002, they have been playing an active role in different artistic events in South Africa. “Vhakololo”, in the Tshivenda language means “the anointed ones”. South Africa Dance Ensemble’s performance in Macau include dances such as “Ufolo” (hunting dance), “Tshifasi” (young lovers’ dance), “Isizingili” (Zulu war dance), “Umzansi” (a collaboration of dances), and the jaw dropping “Umgido” (dance of celebration).
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the year 2005, 3,072 newly incorporated companies were established, with MOP595.83 million in registered capital. Compared with the year 2004, variations in the number and registered capital of newly incorporated companies were up 38.7% and 22.6% respectively. These newly incorporated companies were mostly in Wholesale and Retail sector (811). Among the stockholders of the newly incorporated companies, 57.8% were Macao residents. In addition, 93.2% of the newly incorporated companies were limited companies. On the other hand, 246 companies were dissolved, with MOP159.71 million in registered capital. These dissolved companies were mostly in Wholesale and Retail sector (77), 95.5% of the dissolved companies were limited companies. In the fourth quarter of 2005, 721 companies were newly incorporated, with MOP68.71 million in registered capital. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2004, the number of newly incorporated companies increased 24.3% whereas their registered capital decreased 45.8%. These newly incorporated companies were mostly in Wholesale and Retail sector (209), followed by Construction (157), Business Services (110) and Real Estate (100). On the other hand, 67 companies were dissolved in the fourth quarter of 2005, with MOP63.38 million in registered capital. Among them, most had engaged in Wholesale and Retail (19), followed by Business Services (13). Among the stockholders of the newly incorporated companies, 56.9% were Macao residents. In addition, newly incorporated companies with capital of MOP50,000 or less accounted for 67.1% (484 companies) of the total number, but their capital only made up 20.2% of the total. Meanwhile, 674 of the newly incorporated companies were limited companies. Based on the residence of the stockholders, the capital of the newly incorporated companies in the fourth quarter of 2005 mostly came from Macao (MOP37.09 million), followed by Hong Kong (MOP13.17 million) and Mainland China (MOP9.36 million). Among the capital from the Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces, Guangdong province topped the list with MOP5.44 million. As regards the combination of the residence of stockholders, 572 of the newly incorporated companies were established by stockholders from a single country/region, the majority of which (331 companies) were established solely by Macao stockholders, followed by those from Hong Kong (141 companies). The number of the newly incorporated companies with stockholders from Macao and other countries/regions was 117, of which 51 were joint ventures of Macao and Hong Kong stockholders and 47 were of Macao and Mainland China stockholders. The newly incorporated companies with stockholders solely from countries/regions other than Macao totalled 32, of which 15 were joint ventures of Hong Kong and Mainland China and 5 were of Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.
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Immigration authorities recorded a total of 1,325,398 crossing the five immigration checkpoints of the Macao SAR over the Chinese New Year holidays (28 January 2006 to 1 February 2006). Total number of arrivals stood at 671,061, with Border-gate 454,385 Lotus Bridge 131 Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal 182,889 Inner Harbor Wharf Nº14 10,147 Macao International Airport 23,509 Total of departures stood at 654,337, with Border-gate 484,219 Lotus Bridge 320 Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal 146,701 Inner Harbor Wharf Nº14 7,502 Macao International Airport 15,595. Meanwhile, total number of tourists entering Macao in that period stood at 391,971, with a growth of +9.05% over the same period of last year.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that, in December 2005, Macao’s total value of exports amounted to MOP2.15 billion, up 11.8% over the same month of 2004. Among this, the value of domestic exports went up 15.8% to MOP1.70 billion and the value of re-exports decreased 1.3% to MOP450 million. Value of imports amounted to MOP3.06 billion, up 17.2% over the same period of 2004. A trade deficit of MOP912 million was recorded this month. The cumulative value of total exports in 2005 registered a year-on-year decrease of 12.1% to MOP19.82 billion. Among this, the value of domestic exports fell 17.1%, whereas the value of re-exports rose 4.2%. Meanwhile, the value of imports amounted to MOP31.34 billion, up 12.3% over the year of 2004. In 2005, Macao’s trade balance registered a deficit of MOP11.52 billion and the exports/imports ratio decreased from 80.9% in 2004 to 63.3% in 2005. In 2005, the value of Textile & garment exports, which accounted for 77.4% of the total exports, decreased 15.1% over 2004. However, the value of Non-textile exports remained unchanged. As the major components of non-textile exports, Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof expanded 13.5%, whereas Footwear dropped 91.5% year-on-year. The USA and the EU remained as Macao’s major export markets, together making up 65.8% of the total value of exports. Among this, exports to the USA, which made up 48.7% of the total value of exports, decreased 12.2% over 2004; exports to the EU, which made up 17.1% of the total value of exports, also decreased 30.6% over 2004. In 2005, Macao’s total value of imports increased 12.3% year-on-year, mainly due to the increase in the value of imports by broad economic categories. Increases were registered for Fuels & lubricants (41.3%), Capital goods (20.6%), Consumer goods (9.3%) and Raw materials & semi-manufactures (5.4%). Meanwhile, Macao’s main suppliers of imported goods still concentrated in the Asian region. Imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong together constituted 53.1% of the total value of imports. Compared with 2004, the value of imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong rose 9.0% and 6.0% respectively.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, has sent his greetings to the people of Macao during the joyful spring festival on behalf of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government. Mr Ho said that we had not only enriched our experience and consolidated our confidence, but had also sharpened our minds through various experience the society had gained over the past year. Macao would have sustainable continuous development when we continued to keep our coherent attitude. For the Lunar New Year ahead, the Chief Executive encouraged Macao residents to face challenges with active behaviour, and to grow with faith. He cheered the citizens for future success with a motto: hard work makes success, co-operation makes enlargement, devotion makes gain, and present makes future. Promotion of humanities and establish ethical principles to our times are important measures the MSAR Government would implement, he said. He urged everyone to devote their efforts to the society so that we might live in a place full of opportunities. Mr Ho expressed his sincere greetings to civil servants and citizens who had to work over the holidays. As spring returns in the Year of the Dog, he also wished everyone in Macao a fruitful, harmonious and serene New Year.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that number of licensed vehicles in Macao reached 153,867 at the end of 2005, of which 51% (78,816) were motorcycles and 44% (68,334) were light vehicles. New registration of vehicles surged by 15% year-on-year to 17,550 in 2005, motorcycles and light vehicles accounted for 59% and 38% respectively of the new registrations. There were 13,318 cases of traffic accidents reported in 2005, an increase of 4% over 2004, resulting in 4,331 casualties and 18 of them were killed. Traffic flow by land between Macao and Mainland China grew by 10% to 3,101,421 vehicle trips. The Border Gate was the major passage that took up 78% of the total, the Checkpoint of CoTai recorded 687,254 vehicle trips. In 2005, arrival and departure of commercial flights at the Macao International Airport totalled 42,766, up by 12% over 2004. Taiwan, China and Mainland China were the major routes that accounted for 53% and 36% of the total commercial flights to/from Macao. At the Outer Harbour, 17,061 helicopter flights (-7% year-on-year) between Macao and Hong Kong were recorded; besides, helicopter flights between Macao and Mainland China totalled 3,022 in 2005. Compared with 2004, passenger transport by sea between Hong Kong and Macao increased by 6% to 80,052 ferry trips, while passenger ferry between Macao and Mainland China (11,562 trips) rose by 8%. Number of cargo vessel departures was 11,986, with a total capacity of 3,331,000 net registered tons, 66% (7,866) of the vessels were flying the Chinese flag. In 2005, total seaborne container throughput was 117,482 TEUs or 93,935 seaborne containers handled, which fell by 10% and 8% compared with 2004. Number of container flow by land showed a 17% year-on-year decrease to 9,401. In addition, gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo in the first eleven months of 2005 decreased by 14% over 2004 to 267,940 tonnes, of which 80,676 tonnes were transshipment goods; meanwhile, gross weight of containerized cargo by land dropped by 19% to 81,447 tonnes, including 62,229 tonnes of transit goods. Total weight of outward cargo handled at the Macao International Airport registered a year-on-year decrease of 9% to 96,366 tonnes in 2005, while that of inward cargo also fell by 6% to 27,957 tonnes. Number of fixed telephone lines totalled 174,389 at the end of 2005; mobile telephone and stored value GSM card users reached 532,758. Regarding internet services, number of subscribers increased to 88,592 and cumulative hour of usage reached 79.18 million hours in 2005, up by 15% and 47% respectively compared with 2004.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the fourth quarter of 2005, the average daily nominal wage of construction workers was MOP454, of which the average daily nominal wage of skilled workers & semi-skilled workers was MOP486 and unskilled workers MOP282. The overall nominal wage index increased 6.4% compared with the third quarter of 2005. Nominal wage index of skilled workers & semi-skilled workers rose 6.6%, and that of unskilled workers went up 4.4%. In the fourth quarter of 2005, the overall real wage index increased 5.0% compared with the third quarter of 2005. Real wage index of skilled workers & semi-skilled workers rose 5.2%, and that of unskilled workers went up 3.1%. Among the various occupations of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers, the real wage index of truck drivers rose the most, up 15.0%, whereas that of plant operators registered the largest decline, down 7.0%. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2004, the overall real wage index increased 25.1%, of which the index of skilled workers & semi-skilled workers rose 24.5%, and that of unskilled workers went up 29.7%. Compared with the whole year of 2004, both the 2005 annual nominal and real wage indices of construction workers recorded increments, up 27.3% and 21.8% respectively.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the fourth quarter of 2005, price indices rose in most of the surveyed construction materials, compared with the third quarter of 2005. Steel, aluminium, sand, concrete, aggregates, glass, paint, pipes, sanitary articles, cement and electric wires rose between 0.1% and 7.8%, whilst lime, timber, red bricks and ceramic products fell between 0.1% and 3.1%. Among the above changes in price indices, sand recorded the largest increase of 7.8%, whereas red bricks decreased the most, down 3.1%. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2004, price indices rose in all the surveyed construction materials, with the biggest increase in sand, up 40.4%, followed by concrete, up 16.5%. Compared with the whole year of 2004, the price indices in most of construction materials rose in 2005, except sanitary articles, which was down by 0.2%. The biggest increase was in electric wires, up 34.4%.
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According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for October - December 2005 was 4.0%, which remained at the same level as recorded in September - November 2005, and decreased by 0.1 percentage point compared with the same period of 2004. The underemployment rate was 1.4%, down by 0.1 percentage point compared with September - November 2005, but unchanged compared with the same period of 2004. Number of the unemployed searching for their first job was about 1,100, which represented 10.6% of the total unemployed population, down by 3.1 percentage points over September - November 2005. Compared with September - November 2005, the unemployment situation continued to improve in Hotels, restaurants & similar activities; and Retail trade sector. Recreational, cultural, gaming & other service activities also showed improvement, while the situation was less favourable in Real estate, renting & business activities; and Transport, storage & communications. Total labour force was estimated at 259,000 in October - December 2005; the employed and the unemployed populations were 249,000 and 10,000 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 64.3%, up by 0.8 and 1.3 percentage points respectively compared with September - November 2005 and the same period of 2004. Administrative information from the Public Security Police indicated that number of non-resident workers with working permits totalled 39,411 at the end of December 2005, an increase of 13.5% over September 2005. Please refer to the attached table for detailed information on non-resident workers by industry.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today that the interaction of different thoughts and concepts, which developed in the evolving society, had lifted Macao people’s consciousness as the master of the SAR. Mr Ho was speaking when he attended the Lunar New Year reception hosted by the Liaison Office of the Central Government in the Macao SAR. He said that in the past year, China had achieved political, economic and cultural developments, and those different developments had interacted in harmony, thus improving people’s livelihood. The society was moving towards the goal of prosperity and harmony, with the continued advancement in the successful implementation of “One Country Two System” principle, and in the course to unify the country, he said. “The fifth plenary session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has drawn a incisive, sustainable blueprint for the country’s development in the next five years and it is expected that the achievement of the reformation would be shared by everyone in the country. “With the trust and support of the Central Government, the Macao SAR had sailed through the Year of the Rooster, grasping the pulse of our time and following closely our country’s developments. Many new issues were set to be discussed and matters that raised public concerns had been discussed in depth.” He said continued economic growth had contributed to Macao’s prosperity, but more importantly was the interaction of different thoughts and concepts which promoted the active adjustments in many issues, which prepared the SAR for its future and lifted Macao people’s consciousness as the master of the SAR. The Central Government had continued to fully support the Macao SAR in many aspects and intensified the policies favourable to the SAR in order to meet the needs of social development. “The experience of the development of Macao SAR in the past six years had became an important part of the successful implementation of ‘One Country Two Systems’ principle.” Mr Ho conveyed his gratitude to the staff of the Liaison Office for their efforts in ensuring the continued and stable implementation of the Central Government’s policy in Macao. He said with the strong leadership of its Director, Mr Bai Zhijian, the office would always carry out its duty with excellence.
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