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According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for August - October 2005 was 4.1%, which remained at the same level as recorded in July - September 2005 and decreased 0.4 percentage point compared with the same period of 2004. The underemployment rate was 1.5%, unchanged compared with July - September 2005 and the same period of 2004. Number of the unemployed searching for their first job was about 1,700, which represented 16.1% of the total unemployed population, down by 2.6 percentage points over July - September 2005. Compared with July - September 2005, unemployment situation was improved in Construction, Transport, storage & communications and Manufacturing sectors, while it was worsened in Wholesale & retail trade and Hotels, restaurants & similar activities. Total labour force was estimated at 253,000 in August - October 2005; the employed and the unemployed populations were 243,000 and 10,000 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 63.6%, up by 0.2 and 1.0 percentage point compared with July - September 2005 and the same period of 2004 respectively.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that in the first nine months of 2005, 19,149 acts of deed, with a total value of MOP20.29 billion, were notarized on sales and purchases of real estate and mortgage credits. The number and value of these deeds were up 27.5% and down 12.7% respectively in comparison with the same period of 2004. In the third quarter of 2005, 5,376 acts of deed were notarized on sales and purchases of real estate and mortgage credits, down 1.1% year on year. The total value of these acts of deed was MOP5.20 billion, down 62.1% year on year. The number and value of the acts of deed decreased 30.2% and 37.2% respectively compared with the second quarter of 2005. In the first nine months of 2005, 16,638 contracts of sales and purchases of real estate were made, and their value amounted to MOP13.73 billion. The number and value were up 21.9% and 34.0% respectively over the same period of 2004. In the third quarter of 2005, 4,502 contracts of sales and purchases of real estate were made, of which 6,160 real estate units were transacted, amounting to MOP3.55 billion. The number and value went down 10.1% and 3.9% respectively over the third quarter of 2004. In comparison with the second quarter of 2005, the number and value decreased 31.5% and 36.7% respectively. In terms of end-use, transactions of residential units still topped the list (60.8%) in the third quarter of 2005. According to the records of the notary offices, in the first nine months of 2005, the total value of mortgage credits reached MOP12.12 billion, down 26.5% year on year. In the third quarter of 2005, the total value of mortgage credits amounted to MOP3.31 billion, of which MOP1.66 billion (50.2%) was related to purchases of real estate and MOP1.65 billion to mortgage credits not involving actual property transactions. The total amount decreased 70.9% over the third quarter of 2004; credits involving actual property transactions registered an increase of 21.7%. In comparison with the second quarter of 2005, the above indicators fell 30.6% and 20.9% respectively.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that foreign direct investment to Macao reached MOP 4.00 billion in 2004, of which investments from the United States, Hong Kong and Portugal accounted for MOP 2.41 billion, MOP 920 million and MOP 230 million respectively. In addition, outward direct investment made by Macao enterprises was MOP 3 million, resulting in a net inflow of foreign direct investment to Macao, at MOP 3.99 billion in 2004. At the end of 2004, stock of foreign direct investment in Macao amounted to MOP 31.91 billion, an increase of MOP 3.38 billion compared with 2003. Stock of outward direct investment made by Macao enterprises increased by MOP 150 million over 2003 to MOP 3.92 billion in 2004. In terms of industry, stock of foreign direct investment to Macao was mainly invested in Cultural, Recreational, Gaming & Other Services, with MOP 18.91 billion, up by MOP 2.33 billion over 2003; followed by Financial sector (MOP 7.14 billion) and Industrial Production (MOP 2.76 billion), which registered an increase of MOP 480 million and a decrease of MOP 32 million respectively compared with 2003. Analyzed by investors’ place of usual residence, the majority of Macao’s foreign direct investors were from Hong Kong, their stock of direct investment grew by MOP 520 million to MOP 20.78 billion in 2004. Followed by investors from Mainland China and the United States, with MOP 3.72 billion and MOP 3.04 billion, up by MOP 160 million and MOP 2.42 billion respectively over 2003. Income earned from foreign direct investment in Macao totalled MOP 8.15 billion, a significant increase of MOP 4.18 billion over 2003. On the other hand, outward direct investment made by Macao enterprises reported a loss of MOP 65 million. Direct Investment Statistics include information on the main industries of Macao, namely Industrial Production; Construction; Wholesale & Retail; Hotels & Restaurants; Transport, Storage & Communications; Financial Services; and Cultural, Recreational, Gaming & Other Services. Altogether, there were 1,024 foreign direct investment enterprises in 2004, among which 979 were engaged in the Non-financial sector and 45 enterprises were engaged in the Financial sector.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the resident population of Macao was estimated at 482,000 as at 30 September 2005, an increase of about 17,000 persons compared with the end of 2004. In the third quarter of 2005, number of live births increased 26.5% over the second quarter to 994 and 52.2% of live births were male. At the same time, 369 cases of death were reported. The major cause of death included “Malignant neoplasms” and “Diseases of the circulatory system”. In addition, the Health Bureau received 346 cases of “notifiable diseases”, which included 151 cases of “Varicella (chickenpox)”, 90 cases of “Tuberculosis of lung” and 29 cases of “Enterovirus infection”. In this quarter, 407 cases of marriage were registered, which increased by 1.2% over the previous quarter whereas the figure was identical to the number of cases registered in the third quarter of 2004. In the third quarter of 2005, there were 677 legal immigrants from Mainland China, a decrease of 72% compared with the same quarter of 2004, while 131 illegal immigrants were repatriated to Mainland China. The quarter-end balance of persons that were authorized to reside in Macao totalled 47,369, up 2,846 and 10,060 persons over the previous quarter and the third quarter of 2004 respectively. At the end of this quarter, total number of non-resident workers in Macao was 34,718, up 3,621 and 8,184 persons compared with the previous quarter and the same quarter of 2004 respectively.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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