News

The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam, said today the appointment of a new management committee for Banco Delta Asia is positive to the stabilisation of Macao’s financial system and the benefit of the bank’s clients. The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Hau Wah, appointed a new management committee for Banco Delta Asia two days ago. “The takeover of the bank’s management by the Government will help fortify its operation and development,” Said Mr Tam. He said the new management committee would appoint the consultant firm Ernst and Young to conduct an independent investigation on the incident, in addition to the investigation being carried out by the Macao SAR Monetary Authority. He said according to the law, the new management committee would summit a report to the Government within 45 days and the consultant would submit their report to the committee before then.
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Statistics and Census Service released the results of the Manpower Needs and Wages Survey of the Gaming Industry. Survey coverage for the second quarter of 2005 excluded junket promoters and junket associates. At the end of the second quarter of 2005, there were 23,368 paid employees working in the Gaming Industry, an increase of 18.2% compared with the second quarter of 2004. Analyzed by occupation, 13,560 were engaged in positions that are directly related to betting services, such as hard and soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, dealers, betting service operators, etc., while 4,085 were engaged as services and sales workers, including casino and slot machine attendants/hosts, security and surveillance workers, etc., up 27.4% and 13.8% respectively, compared with the second quarter of 2004. In June 2005, average earnings (excluding year-end bonuses, holiday allowances, profit-sharing bonuses and other similar bonuses) for full-time paid employees rose slightly by 0.5% over June 2004 to MOP 10,931. Average earnings for positions that are directly related to betting services, such as hard and soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, dealers, betting service operators, etc. was MOP 11,303, which fell by 5.8% over June 2004. The average earnings of casino and slot machine attendants/hosts, security and surveillance workers, etc. increased by 5.0% compared with June 2004 to MOP 6,492. At the end of June 2005, there were 13,046 vacant posts in the Gaming Industry, a remarkable increase of 164.9% over June 2004. Within these vacancies, 7,240 were related to hard and soft count clerks, cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floorpersons, dealers, betting service operators, etc., while services and sales workers had 4,572 vacancies. As regards recruitment prerequisites, 10.6% of the vacant posts required working experience; 58.9% required senior secondary or higher education. Besides Cantonese, other preferred language skills were Mandarin (88.8%) and English (54.5%).
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(Macao—29 September 2005) The MSAR Government will hold a series of celebrations in commemoration of the 56th National Day on 1st October. The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah will officiate a rising national flag ceremony in Lotus Flower Square at eight in the morning. Representatives from the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the MSAR, the Macao Garrioson of the People's Liberation Army, Macao's chief officials and celebratities will attend the live-broadcasting ceremony. In the afternoon, the MSAR Government will hold a reception at Macao Tower to mark the national day. Some governmental departments will hold different activities to sparkle the national day, such as the National Day Marathon with over 16 thousand runners will participate in the three-kilometer run starting at Lotus Park; commemoration covers will be available for at a special counter in front of the Post Office and hand-back service will be provided; song and dance performance, as well as firework display during the night time.
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According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for June - August 2005 dropped slightly by 0.1 percentage point over May - July 2005 to 4.1%, down 0.8 percentage point compared with the same period of 2004. Underemployment rate went up 0.1 percentage point over May - July 2005 to 1.6%, down 0.2 percentage point compared with the same period of 2004. Number of the unemployed searching for their first job was about 1,700, which represented 16.2% of the total unemployed population, up 4.1 percentage points over May - July 2005. Compared with May - July 2005, unemployment situation continued to improve in Construction sector. Recreational, cultural, gaming & other service activities and Manufacturing sectors also showed improvement, while the situation in Wholesale & retail trade was worse. Total labour force was estimated at 250,000 in June - August 2005; the employed and the unemployed populations were 240,000 and 10,000 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 63.4%, up by 0.8 and 1.3 percentage point compared with May - July 2005 and the same period of 2004 respectively.
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Organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by the Macao Health Bureau, the workshop on “Appropriate and Safe Clinical Blood Transfusion” is convened on 27 to 30 September 2005 at the Macau World Trade Center. First time ever held in Macao, the workshop includes representatives from WHO, guest speakers who are blood transfusion experts from Australia, Luxembourg, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as some 30 participants coming from the western Pacific region and local medical practitioners. The objectives of this workshop are to update on various elements of appropriate and safe blood transfusion; to review the current status of and to share experiences in improving appropriate and safe clinical blood transfusion, in addition to develop strategies and national action plans to establish policy, systems and mechanisms to improve appropriate and safe blood transfusion. The Opening Ceremony of the Workshop will be held on 27 September at 9:00am on the 5th floor of the Macau World Trade Center. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Dr. Chui Sai On and Director of Health Bureau Dr. Koi Kuok Ieng will be the guests of honor inaugurating the ceremony. During the 4-day workshop, representatives of WHO will present topics on global and regional overview of blood safety, inappropriate transfusion practice – magnitude of the problem as well as the WHO strategy on appropriate clinical use of blood and safe transfusion practice. Advisor from Luxembourg Dr. Jean-Claude Faber will conduct an overview of establishing systems in that area. Besides, advisors from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia will share their experiences in developing haemovigilance program. 10 Country/regional reports on clinical use of blood will be presented. In addition, the workshop will also invite experts from South Korea, Malaysia and Australia to share their experiences in developing policy and establishing systems for ensuring appropriate clinical use of blood and safe transfusion practice. Other topics include roles of transfusion services, national and hospital transfusion committees; strategies/effective interventions in promoting and changing the prescribing habit of blood transfusion. Group discussion sessions will be held for participants to exchange problems encountered and the measures taken to set up appropriate practices. Director of Health Bureau Dr. Koi, in his welcoming speech, says that the Macao Government has imposed stringent standards on blood safety and has been very supportive in promoting voluntary and non-remunerated blood transfusion. Since Macao is only at the early stage of implementing appropriate and safe clinical blood transfusion practices, this workshop organized by the WHO will provide our local medical practitioners the perfect opportunity to understand the importance of appropriate and safe clinical transfusion. At the same time, they will acquire knowledge to develop and establish a system for Macao’s setting through group discussion and experience sharing with other participants.
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The Health Bureau of Macao SAR government and the Polytechnic Institute of Macao are jointly conducting a pilot study for first regional health survey in Macao on October 8th and 9th, 2005. The aims of the Health Survey are to look at the distribution of common health problems and their risk factors in the Macao residences at the ages over 18. Results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the health needs and to define the public health policies. The pilot study will be conducted in health centers during the weekend. The survey includes three parts: 1) specimens (blood and urine samples) collection; 2) health assessment, and 3) individual questionnaire interview. An information letter will be sent to the address randomly selected by DSEC and two research assistants with badges will visit the family to verify the eligibility of the residents in the house, and to answer questions about the survey. Confidentiality about the personal information of participants will be strictly ensured. Participation is entirely on a voluntary basis. Participants have the right to refuse answering any question that they feel uncomfortable and even to withdraw from the Survey at any stage. When the residents in the house fully understand the survey procedure and agree to participate in the survey, they would need to sign a consent form in two copies. Then the research assistants will help to arrange the appointment for the health center visit. In order to appreciate their contribution, participants would receive a participation certificate and a souvenir when they have completed the survey. .
Should there be any questions, please feel free to call: the School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Macao at 3998600 or the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Bureau of MSAR at 5041506.
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The signing ceremony of the Agreement between the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Commonwealth of Dominica on Mutual Abolition of Visa Requirements took place at the Yellow Hall of the Macao SAR Government Headquarters on 26 September 2005. Chief Executive Mr. Edmund Ho, Prime Minister Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit represented the Government of the Macao SAR and the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica respectively to sign the agreement. Holders of Macao SAR passport and travel permit of the People’s Republic of China will be able to enter the Commonwealth of Dominica without a visa for a stay not exceeding ninety days after the entry into force of the agreement. Until now, there are 66 countries/territories that agree to grant the visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the holders of the Macao SAR passport, 7 countries that agree to grant the visa-free access to the holders of the Macao SAR Travel Permit.
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The Chairman of the Legislative Assembly Election Commission, Judge Fong Man Chong, said tonight he was satisfied that the process of the election was generally up to expectation. Speaking to reporters after polling had came to an end, he said the process in most of the polling stations were smooth, making it possible for voters to cast their votes within five minutes. Mr Fong said special arrangements were made at a station where a group of elderly voters, who had arrived at the same time, were unclear with the procedures, causing a longer queue. “Staff explained to them the process and they proceeded to cast their votes. The crowd was cleared later.” Mr Fong said candidate groups accusing each other, mostly of irregular promotions, made up most of the election complaints received. Staff had also taken down particulars of people who used mobile phones in the polling stations and prosecutions would be instituted if they were found to have breached the law. Mr Fong strongly denounced the cases of violence today, including the assault on a candidate and a journalist: he condemned such behaviour and said those who took part should be criminally liable. The police were investigating the cases, he said.
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128,830 registered voters had voted in today’s Legislative Assembly direct election, making a turnout rate of 58.39%. Meanwhile, a total of 2,704 organisation voters had voted in the indirect election, which came to a turnout rate of 61.95%. The polling for the 2005 Legislative Assembly Election had came to an end when the polling stations closed at 8:00 p.m., Among the seven perishes, Coloane has the highest turnout rate (63.45%), besides, turnout rates in the other perishes are :Our Lady of Fatima (60.52%); Taipa (59.40%); St Lawrence (57.17%); St Lazarus (56.71%); St. Anthony (56.70%); Cathedral (54.90%). For the indirect election, 2,224 organisation voters (65.12%) cast votes. Among the four constituencies, the highest turnout rates were recorded in that of the business (83.54%), followed by labour (75.13%), professional (70.42%) and Charity, Cultural, Educational and Sport (53.69%). There are 29 seats in the second Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR, of which 12 are directly elected and 10 are indirectly elected. The Chief Executive will nominate the remaining seven within 15 days after being notified of the results of the election.
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(Macao – 26 September 2005) following are the provisional result of the 2005 Legislative Assembly election: Direct Election:
Group 3 New Democratic Macau Association 23,472 votes - 2seats;
Group 18 Macau United Citizens association 20,695 votes - 2seats;
Group 14 Development Union 16,588 votes - 2 seats;
Group 7 United Force 11,985 votes - 2 seats;
Group 9 Macau Development Alliance 11,642 - 1 seat;
Group 16 New Hope 9,973 votes - 1 seat;
Group 8 Love Macao General Union 8,517 votes - 1 seat;
Group 13 Macau Development Convergence 6,079 votes - 1 seat;
Group 10 Association for Democracy and Social Well-being of Macau 4,356 votes;
Group 5 Macau New Youth 3,060 votes;
Group 15 Close to the People Association 2,941 votes;
Group 11 Macau Vision Association 1,973 votes;
Group 12 Union of the General Federation of Gaming Sector Workers 922 votes;
Group 1 For Macau 892 votes;
Group 4 Democratic Activism Association 654 votes;
Group 6 Workers Union 457 votes;
Group 2 Man Tat Macau New Power 448 votes;
Group 17 Citizen Right Association 191 votes; Indirect Election:
Business: Macau Bussiness Interest Union 462 votes - 4 seats;
Labour:Employees Association Joint Candidature Commission 419 votes - 2 seats;
Professional: Macau professional Interest Union 247 votes - 2 seats;
Charity, Cultural, Educational and Sport: Excellent Culture and Sports Union Association 1,446 votes - 2 seats; Information Department
Government Information bureau
Macao SAR
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