News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 4,416 building units and parking spaces were purchased and sold in 2023 as per Stamp Duty record, a decrease of 2.8% year-on-year. The total value of transactions was MOP23.23 billion, down by 5.9%. Purchase and sale of residential units went up by 70 year-on-year to 2,879 units, and the total transaction value swelled by 1.8% to MOP18.30 billion. The transaction values of existing residential units (2,722 units) and pre-sale residential units (157 units) amounted to MOP17.42 billion and MOP882 million respectively. In comparison with 2019, the volume and value of residential units transacted declined by 65.2% and 64.2% respectively.
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According to the statistics released today (19 February) by the Monetary Authority of Macao, the proportion of international business in the local banking sector fell in the fourth quarter of 2023. At end-December 2023, the share of international assets in total banking assets decreased to 83.8% from 84.0% at end-September 2023, while the share of international liabilities in total banking liabilities remained at 81.8%.
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The eight-day Spring Festival Golden Week (10 – 17 February) has come to an end in the Mainland. Visitor figures fair better than expected. According to the preliminary statistics, Macao registered nearly 1.36 million visitor arrivals cumulatively throughout this Spring Festival Golden Week. On the 3^rd day of Chinese New Year (12 February), the number of visitors hit the second highest single-day record. Average daily visitor arrivals neared 170,000, which rose by over 1.6-fold year on year and almost reached the level in 2019. The average hotel occupancy rate topped 95%. The figures mirror the positive trend of tourism recovery.
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The second parade of the “Celebrations of the 25^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR – Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Dragon 2024” was held tonight (17 February), the 8^th day of Chinese New Year. 15 uniquely-stunning floats filled the northern district with best wishes and carried on the festive ambience, attracting residents and visitors into the community for a memorable night of Chinese New Year, thereby invigorating the community economy.
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The Second “Foreign Language Award” National English Translation Competition for College Students, organized by the Center for Asia and Pacific of the China International Communications Group, was held earlier. This highly anticipated competition garnered participation from over 40,000 students across the country. Notably, Ma Yunqing and Wu Yanchao, students from the Bachelor's Degree Programme in English-Chinese Translation and Interpretation at the Faculty of Languages and Translation of Macao Polytechnic University, achieved remarkable success under the guidance of Professor Li Li, won the Second Prize and Merit Award respectively. The primary objective of the Competition is to enhance the English language application skills of students in higher education institutions while promoting Chinese stories and effectively disseminating the Chinese voice. By comprehensively evaluating participants' English proficiency, the competition emphasizes the practical application of students’ English knowledge.
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The academic paper “From Scots to Mandarin: The Translation and Reception of Hugh MacDiarmid’s Poetry in China” by Professor Li Li and Associate Professor Liu Aihua of the Faculty of Languages and Translation of Macao Polytechnic University has been published in the international journal Translation and Literature.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today (16 February) that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP225.7 billion (USD28.03 billion) at the end of January 2024. The reserves increased by 0.9% from the revised value of MOP223.6 billion (USD27.77 billion) for the previous month. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-January 2024 represented 11 times the currency in circulation or 91.1% of pataca M2 at end-December 2023.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau presents Mediterraneo, an ancient music concert that will take the audience back to the roots of old civilizations at the Macao Cultural Centre’s Grand Auditorium on March 16 (Saturday).
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average rent per square metre of usable area for residential units in Macao was MOP131 in 2023, down by 3.0% year-on-year. When compared to 2019, the figure represented a fall of 19.6%, which showed that the coronavirus pandemic had a rather large impact on residential rents. Among the districts with a relatively high number of lease declarations, the average rents for residential units in Areia Preta & Iao Hon (MOP123), ZAPE (MOP111) and Baixa da Taipa (MOP131) decreased by 5.4%, 4.3% and 3.7% year-on-year respectively, whereas the average rent for those in NATAP (MOP154) increased by 1.3%.
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The New Year marks a new beginning. In 2024, as we welcome the Year of the Dragon, it is also a joyous moment marking the 75^th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25^th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. With the twin anniversaries, Macao Polytechnic University organised Lunar New Year event to send festive greetings. Faculty members, staff, and students come together to welcome the arrival of spring, expressing their heartfelt wishes for prosperity and happiness for our motherland and Macao in the new year.
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