News

The two Shouzhou VI astronauts who completed a five-day manned space mission last month, will play a three-day visit to Macao next Wednesday, at the invitation of Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah. The astronauts, colonels Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, will be part of a delegation, which will include experts who contributed to the mission, led by Deputy Commander-in-Chief of China's Manned Space Flight Programme, Mr Hu Shixiang. Members of the 30-strong delegation will include Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Mr Zhou Bo, Deputy Director of China Manned Space Engineering Office, Mr Su Shuangning, and Deputy General Manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group, Mr Xu Dazhe. During the visit, the astronauts will give a briefing to local students and residents to share with them their experience.
…

Macao will be host of the Secretariat of the UNESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau announced today. The Director of the Bureau, Mr Fong Soi Kun, said that Macao was elected to host the Secretariat in the 38th annual session of the Typhoon Committee, which was jointly established by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Mr Fong said an advisory group from the organisation was in Macao last month to assess its standard in meteorological technology, economy, telecommunication and transportation. Winning the bid confirmed Macao’s achievements in these areas, he said. He said that Macao would set up the Secretariat within 12 months. The Secretariat would be responsible for advising members of the Typhoon Committee, namely 14 countries or regions, on the technical and administrative co-ordination of plans for the implementation of improved meteorological, hydrological, disaster prevention and preparedness, plus other facilities needed in the mitigation of typhoon damage. Macao became a member of the Typhoon Committee in 1992.
…

The SAR Government would support outstanding but needy students so they could further their education at university, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today. Speaking at the official commencement of the 2004/2005 academic year of the University of Macau (UMAC), Mr Ho said that in addition to granting needy students special scholarships, the Government would also increase the loans to enable more to further their studies. In this way, the treasury of human resource of the university would be facilitated, as well as better educating Macao’s new generation, said Mr Ho. As the University would nurture the leaders of the future society, is an importance academic foundation of Macao. "In the past few years, with better facilities and better qualification of teaching personnel, the image and reputation of UMAC has been enhanced. Following the amendments to the UMAC’s regulations, the institution will enjoy greater autonomy in operation that will advance its academic position in the international area," said Mr Ho. He said he hoped the UMAC would create a better environment for students to study and to turn out more distinguished students. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive highlighted that the Government would formulate a tertiary education policy that would well fit social development in accordance with international and local requirements. He also encouraged graduates to dedicate their efforts and knowledge to the society.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service showed that value of total retail sales for the third quarter of 2005 was estimated at MOP2.20 billion. The largest share was in the sales of motor vehicles (16%); followed by sales of goods in supermarkets (11%) and in department stores (11%); watches, clocks and jewellery (10%); adults' clothing (8%); automotive fuels (6%); fuels for household use (5%); cosmetic and sanitary articles (4%); and household electric appliances (4%). In this quarter, value of retail sales rose by 23% compared with MOP1.79 billion recorded in the third quarter of 2004, with marked increases in the sales of motor vehicles; goods in supermarkets; adults' clothing; watches, clocks and jewellery; cosmetic and sanitary articles; and automotive fuels. In comparison with the second quarter of 2005 (MOP2.11 billion), value of retail sales also registered a 4% increase. In the first three quarters of 2005, value of total retail sales reached MOP6.45 billion, an increase of 20% over the same period of 2004. A comparison of the retailers’ opinions indicated that about 41% reported decrease in the sales volume in the third quarter of 2005, down by 22 percentage points over the previous quarter; 59% reported constant or increase in sales volume. In terms of retail prices, 66% and 13% reported constant and increase in retail prices whereas 21% reported decrease. Compared with the same quarter of 2004, about 69% of the retailers said that the stock level was normal in the third quarter of 2005, while 19% indicated that the stock level was low. Regarding the prospect for the fourth quarter of 2005, about 74% of the retailers predicted increase or constant in sales volume; 26% predicted decrease. Meanwhile, about 85% forecasted constant or increase in retail prices, while 15% forecasted decrease.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that Composite CPI for October 2005 was 100.62, up by 0.41% compared with September 2005. Rising prices in cigarettes, LP gas as well as increasing housing rent pushed the indices of Tobacco and alcoholic beverages; and Rent and housing expenses up by 4.28% and 1.02% respectively. On the other hand, lower prices in fresh fish drove the index of Foodstuff and beverages down by 0.05%. Composite CPI for October 2005 recorded a significant year-on-year increase of 5.62%. For the 12 months ended October 2005, the average Composite CPI rose by 3.91% over the previous period. Average Composite CPI for January to October 2005 increased by 4.17% over the same period of 2004. In comparison with September 2005, CPI(A) and CPI(B) increased by 0.40% and 0.37% 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.
…

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 November 29 (Tuesday). Dr. Han Qi will give a lecture on “The Rites Controversy: Carlo Tommaso Maillard de Tournon in China”.
This lecture will analyze Maillard de Tournon’s stay in China, the activities of Emperor Kangxi and those of the missionaries and their followers according to recently discovered Chinese and western documents. Dr. Han will look at their understanding of the Controversy, and throw light on the complex backdrop to this event.
Han Qi is a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute for the History of Natural Sciences and also serves as an advisor for the Academy’s Ph.D. programme. His research mainly covers Chinese and western science and cultural exchange in the Qing Dynasty. Han Qi has been invited to visit America, Japan, France, England, Germany, Portugal and Italy. Throughout his research in European libraries and archives he has amassed a vast amount of documents relating to exchange between China and the West during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Han has published extensively in his field and is a member of several academic centres such as the Centre for the Study of Religion and Chinese Society at Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History at the University of San Francisco, the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and leads the project team formulating the science section of the national compilation of Qing Dynasty history (2005-2009). This research topic was awarded a grant in the 12th Research Scholarship Competition of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government. The lecture will be given in Mandarin with Cantonese, Portuguese and English simultaneous interpretation. Entrance is free. For further details, please contact Ms. Chu of the Studies, Research and Publications Division of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at 3996381, or visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s website: www.icm.gov.mo.
…

Statistics and Census Service released the results of Employment Survey for the third 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 October 2005. In the third quarter of 2005, total labour force was estimated at 251,000, within which 241,000 were employed and 10,000 were unemployed. Compared with the previous quarter, the employed population and unemployed population increased 9,000 persons and 300 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 (17.8%), Wholesale & retail trade (14.6%), Manufacturing (13.7%), as well as Construction (10.5%). § In terms of occupation, 22.1% of the employed population were Clerk, Service & sales workers (20.6%) and Unskilled workers (17.7%). § The median actual hours worked per week was 47.5 hours and the median monthly employment earnings was MOP5,843. Within the unemployed, 81.3% were searching for a new job, while 18.7% had never worked and were searching for their first job. With regard to the educational attainment of the unemployed, 7.0% had lower than primary education; 29.8% had primary education; 29.8% had junior secondary education; 20.7% had senior secondary education and 12.7% had tertiary education. Within the unemployed that were searching for a new job: Analysed by previous industry, the majority had worked in Manufacturing (19.9%), Hotels, restaurants & similar activities (18.4%), Wholesale & retail trade (18.4%), Recreational, cultural, gaming & other service activities (14.5%). In terms of their previous occupation, 29.7% had been Service & sales workers, Unskilled workers (27.2%), as well as Clerks (11.9%).
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that, the total number of visitor arrivals reached 1,663,623 in October 2005, up 10.2% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, China increased 9.8%, 10.9% and 2.9% respectively. Meanwhile, same-day visitors accounted for 52.8% of the total arrivals, at 878,158. The majority of visitors came from Mainland China (57.9% of the total), Hong Kong (28.2%) and Taiwan, China (7.8%). Among the Mainland visitors, 491,989 (51.1%) travelled to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme. In the first ten months of 2005, visitor arrivals totalled 15,438,078, up 12.7% over the same period of last year. Visitors from Mainland China increased 9.8% to 8,603,807 (55.7% of the total), with 4,412,915 arriving in Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme. Moreover, visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan, China shared 30.1% (4,653,326) and 8.2% (1,271,645) of the total arrivals respectively. Same-day visitors accounted for 52.1% of the total, at 8,047,371. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea went up 5.9% year-on-year to 5,500,622 in the first ten months of 2005, with 5,339,148 arriving at the Outer Harbour (+5.0%); the majority of these visitors were from Hong Kong (60.0%) and Mainland China (29.0%). Visitor arrivals at the Inner Harbour rose 44.4% to 161,514, within which 68.9% were from Mainland China. In the first ten months of 2005, arrivals by land increased 16.1% to 9,064,103, with 8,454,726 arriving through the Border Gate. The majority of these visitors came from Mainland China (76.7%) and Hong Kong (16.3%). In addition, arrivals by air were 873,313, up 25.7% compared with the same period of last year, with 864,453 arriving at the Macao International Airport (+27.0%). Visitors from Taiwan, China (69.6%) and Mainland China (16.1%) were the major users of this access.
…

Starting tomorrow, 21 November, at 6:30 pm, in the Legal and Judicial Training Centre (Luso-International Bank Building, 18th floor), is a Seminar on “Mutual Legal Assistance – Criminal Matters – Transfer of Sentenced Persons”. Included in the Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao, the training course will have as speaker Otto Lagodny, Professor at the University of Salzburg, in Austria, and will last until Friday, 25 November. During the five sessions of the seminar, that will take place daily, between 6:30 and 8:30 pm, will be discussed the following topics: “Basic structures of legal relations”, “Avoiding/circumventing transfer proceedings by applying expulsion procedures”, “The beginnings in Europe: European convention – CETS No. 51, 30 November 1964 and CETS No. 70, 28 May 1970”, “Development and common features of legal instruments on transfer of sentenced persons since 1983”, “Closely connected instruments of transfer” and “Combination of transfer of sentenced persons – instruments with other instruments”. The seminar is jointly organised by the Legal and Judicial Training Centre and the International Law Office and will be conducted in English. The seminar targets Law degree holders and will count on the participation of around thirty local participants. The Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao, in which this seminar is integrated, has as its main objective the “Consolidation of the Macao Legal System”. Currently in its fourth year of execution, the Co-operation Programme will proceed until February 2007. The total budget for the programme is of 1.980.000 euros, shared in equal parts by the European Union and Macao. The co-ordination of the Co-operation Programme is at the responsibility of the International Law Office, being the organisation of the pertaining activities ensured by several other entities of the MSAR’s Government, namely the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Economic Services and the Institute of European Studies, other than the International Law Office itself.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the third quarter of 2005, construction of 26 buildings was started. They included residential, dual residential & commercial, commercial, industrial buildings and buildings for other uses. The gross floor area was 447,659 m². The total number of units was 1,456. In the first three quarters of 2005, the gross floor area was 1,545,766 m² and number of units of the buildings was 2,414, increased 222.2% and decreased 2.4% respectively in comparison with the same period of 2004. In the third quarter of 2005, 18 buildings were completed or extended. They included residential, dual residential & commercial buildings, commercial and buildings for other uses. The gross floor area of these buildings was 91,184 m². The total number of units was 833. In the first three quarters of 2005, the gross floor area was 180,254 m² and number of units of the buildings completed and extended was 900, went up 59.3% and 93.5% respectively in comparison with the same period of 2004. According to the information supplied by the Finance Services Bureau, 7,080 units, with a total value of MOP 4.47 billion, were transacted in the third quarter of 2005. The number of units decreased 15.2% and 36.4% in comparison with the third quarter of 2004 and second quarter of 2005 respectively. Among them, 4,525 were residential units, with a value of MOP 2.94 billion. Among all the building units transacted, 959 units were exempt from property tax (i.e. they were new buildings) with their value amounting to MOP 885 million. In the first three quarters of 2005, 26,565 units were transacted and their total value amounted to MOP 16.63 billion. In the third quarter of 2005, the average transaction price of residential units per square meter of usable area was MOP11,159, up 39.2% and 10.8% over the third quarter of 2004 and second quarter of 2005 respectively. Meanwhile, the average transaction prices of residential units in the Macao Peninsula and Taipa were MOP9,568 and MOP14,560 per square meter respectively, higher than the levels recorded in the third quarter of 2004 and second quarter of 2005. Moreover, the average transaction price of residential units in Coloane was MOP16,066 per square meter. In the third quarter of 2005, the average transaction price of industrial units per square meter of usable area was MOP3,352, up 37.0% and 2.8% over the third quarter of 2004 and second quarter of 2005 respectively. On the other hand, in the third quarter of 2005, the average transaction price of office units per square meter of usable area was MOP14,935, up 40.7% and 5.6% over the third quarter of 2004 and second quarter of 2005 respectively. Among the office units, the area of Baixa de Macau recorded the highest average transaction price per square meter, at MOP21,355, whereas the area of NAPE e Aterros da Baía da Praia Grande had the lowest average, at MOP14,148.
…