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The Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuok Va, said today that the police would make crime prevention and combating theft one of the priorities in the fight against crime this year. Mr Cheong said this when he announced the crime statistics for the first quarter of 2005, which showed a drop in offences against the persons and violent crime, compared with the same quarter last year. Latest statistics showed a total of 2,461 crimes were recorded in the first three months of 2005, an 11% increase (+258 cases) over the same period last year. Mr Cheong said that was mainly due to a 22.7% increase (+249 cases) in property related offences, namely theft and loan sharking, which went up by 21.9% and 76.9% respectively. Meanwhile, offences against the person, violation of social lives and violent crime had dropped by 1.9% (-10 cases), 10.4% (-22 cases) and 9.2% (-20 cases) respectively. Among the offences against the persons, 308 cases were physical offences, a drop of 6.4% (-26 cases). Criminal intimidation had dropped by 4.9% (-4 cases) while serious physical offences had increased from five cases to seven. Violent crimes continued to drop in the first three month of this year, Mr Cheong said – there were a total of 197 cases; a drop of 9.2% (-20 cases) was recorded, with a 12.6% drop in robbery (-11 cases), a 21.7% drop in extortion (-5 cases) and a 33.3% drop in murder, with two cases (-1 case). He said that the police had solved all four murder cases this year. On the other hand, juvenile crimes increased by 18.8% to 38 cases (+6 cases); and the number of underage people involved also increases by 36 people, to 86. Mr Cheong had the police would respond to the new crime trend and take the initiative in introducing more patrols, act and work more closely with the public and social organisations to promote awareness of crime prevention.
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The Chairman of the Legislative Assembly Election Commission, Judge Fong Man Chong, has pledged to keep the election lawful, fair and orderly. He was speaking today as the Legislative Assembly Election Commission was sworn in, marking the beginning of preparations for the Legislative Assembly Election, to be held in 25 September. Judge Fong, said that after working together in the last election four years ago, stable and firm bonds have been established in the Commission and with other related agencies, which was helpful in all proceeding related to the election this year. However, he said, the commission will spend more time in preparation this year as both registered voters had increased and more election candidate groups were expected to take part in the election. The Commission will hold its first meeting tomorrow. The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, who appointed members of the Commission by Executive Order, presided at today’s ceremony. The Chief Executive’s order also stipulated that the maximum expenditure of each election candidate group in the coming legislative election to be MOP 4,320,357.28. This is the second Legislative Assembly election after the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region in 1999. The previous election was held in 2001. The Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region has provided for a steady increase in the number of elected seats in the Legislative Assembly. In the coming legislature, directly elected seats will be increased from 10 to 12 while the number of indirectly elected seats and appointed seats will remain at 10 and seven respectively.
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A Macau Grand Prix delegation of 10 representatives attended the first ever Chinese FIM MotoGP held in Shanghai. The mission of the delegation was to study and learn the organizational arrangements for a major international sporting event to further enhance Macau’s qualities and capabilities in this area.
During the visit, the Macau Grand Prix Committee delegation studied and observed in detail elements such as the organization of the race meeting, logistical arrangements (particularly technical support for competing teams), equipment and facilities at the event, security arrangements, and rescue and medical support, as well as media centre facilities. It is anticipated that the information learned by the delegation will result in further improvements to the organization and quality of the Macau Grand Prix.
The members of the Macau Grand Prix delegation included: Engineer João Manuel Costa Antunes, Coordinator of the Macau Grand Prix Committee (Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office); Ms. Davina Chu, Deputy Coordinator of the Macau Grand Prix Committee; Mr. Lo Keng Chio, Coordinator of the Marketing and Advertising Subcommittee (Chairman of China – Macau Autosports Club); Mr. Chong Coc Veng, Coordinator of the Sporting Subcommittee (President of China – Macau Autosports Club); Mr. Chum Pak Tak, Chairman of the Board of Stewards of the 51st Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix); Mr. Carlos Barreto, Clerk of the Course of the 51st Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix; Mr. Lai Chi Kit and Mr. Herculano Ribeiro, Members of the Sporting Subcommittee; Mr. Mario Ferreira Sin and Mr. Lyman Wong Chi Hong,Technical Assistants.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicates that at the end of March 2005, there were 144,708 licensed vehicles in Macao, of which 51% (73,570) were motorcycles and 45% (64,919) were light vehicles. New registration of vehicles in the first quarter of 2005 increased 15% year-on-year to 4,121 and the majority were motorcycles (58%) and light vehicles (39%). In the first quarter of 2005, there were 3,063 cases of traffic accident, an increase of 4% over the same period of 2004, resulting in 957 casualties, among which 2 persons were killed. Traffic flow by land between Macao and Mainland China increased 15% to 721,022. The Border Gate was the major passage with 78% of the total and the Checkpoint of CoTai recorded 157,711 vehicles. In this quarter, arrivals and departures of commercial flight at the Macao International Airport totalled 9,915 flights, a jump of 23% over the same period of 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, 3,487 helicopter flights were recorded (-21% year-on-year) between Macao and Hong Kong and 583 flights were recorded between Macao and Mainland China. Passenger transport by sea between Hong Kong and Macao increased 9% to 19,576 ferry trips compared with the first quarter of 2004; passenger ferry trips between Macao and Mainland China dropped 4% to 2,634. Number of cargo vessel departures was 3,024 with a total capacity of 682,000 net registered tons, among which 2,150 vessels (71%) were flying the Chinese flag. In the first quarter of 2005, total seaborne container throughput was 23,057 TEUs, or 17,030 seaborne containers handled, which fell 9% and 6% compared with the same period of 2004. Number of container flow by land expanded 53% year-on-year to 2,485. In addition, gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo in the first two months of 2005 increased 19% over the same period of 2004 to 43,119 tonnes, of which 16,538 tonnes were transshipment goods. Meanwhile, containerized cargo by land rose 65% to 17,150 tonnes, including 14,424 tonnes of transshipment goods. Compared with the first quarter of 2004, total weight of outward cargo handled at the Macao International Airport surged 11% to 20,974 tonnes in the first quarter of 2005 whereas inward cargo decreased 1% to 6,125 tonnes. At the end of March 2005, there were 173,627 fixed telephone lines and 458,799 mobile telephone and stored value GSM card users. Besides, number of internet subscribers increased to 80,154 and total hour of usage reached 15.86 million hours, up 19% and 39% over the first quarter of 2004.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the first quarter of 2005, the average daily nominal wage of construction workers was MOP370, of which the average daily nominal wage of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers was MOP398 and unskilled workers MOP243. As several large-scale construction projects started in the first quarter of 2005, the overall nominal wage index increased 8.4% compared with the fourth quarter of 2004. Nominal wage index of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers rose 7.2%, and that of unskilled workers went up 18.0%. The overall real wage index increased 7.2% compared with the fourth quarter of 2004. Real wage index of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers rose 6.0%, and that of unskilled workers went up 16.6%. Among the various occupations of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers, the real wage index of plant operators (excavator, road roller & crane operators) rose the most, up 16.2%. Compared with the first quarter of 2004, the overall real wage index increased 14.0%, of which the index of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers rose 11.4%, and that of unskilled workers went up 36.9%.
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In March 2005, Macao’s total export value amounted to MOP1.22 billion, down 26.0% over the same month of 2004. Among this, the value of domestic exports decreased 35.3% to MOP775 million, and the value of re-exports also went down 1.6% to MOP448 million. Value of imports amounted to MOP2.28 billion, down 2.8% over the same period of 2004. A trade deficit of MOP1.06 billion was recorded this month. During the period of January – March 2005, the value of total exports recorded a year on year decrease of 18.1% to MOP3.50 billion. Among this, the value of domestic exports decreased 25.4% whereas the value of re-exports rose 4.7%. Meanwhile, the value of imports amounted to MOP5.99 billion, up 4.8% over the same period of 2004. In the first three months of 2005, Macao’s trade balance registered a deficit of MOP2.49 billion. During this period, the exports/imports ratio decreased from 74.7% in the corresponding period of 2004 to 58.4%. In the first three months of 2005, the value of Textile & garment exports, which accounted for 72.7% of the total exports, decreased 22.3% over the same period of 2004. Moreover, the value of Non-textile exports also went down 4.2%. As the major components of non-textile exports, Machines & apparatus, parts & accessories thereof expanded 11.5%, whereas exports of Footwear fell 87.9% year on year. The USA and the EU remained as Macao’s major export markets, together making up 58.9% of the total export value. Among this, exports to the USA, which made up 45.8% of the total export value, decreased 12.0% in value over the same period of 2004; exports to the EU, which made up 13.1% of the total exports, also decreased 58.1% in value over the same period of 2004. During the period of January – March 2005, Macao’s total import value increased 4.8% year on year. In terms of broad economic categories, Fuels & lubricants, Capital goods and Consumer goods rose 24.9%, 14.7% and 10.4% respectively, whereas Raw materials & semi-manufactures registered a year on year decrease of 9.1%. Meanwhile, Macao’s main suppliers of imported goods still concentrated in the Asian region. Imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong together constituted 48.3% of the total import value. Compared with the same period of 2004, the value of imports from Mainland China and Hong Kong fell 1.7% and 2.5% respectively.
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(Macao - 29 April 2005) The Macao Government would continue to enhance vocational training in order to solve the lack of human resource, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today. Speaking at the annual reception hosted by the Macao Joint Labour Association, Mr Ho said human resource was one of the hottest issues as far as the community was concerned, and that it was also a factor that could restrict growth. He said the MSAR Government would step up pre-employment and continuing training, and urged workers to promote their own competitiveness and knowledge, and to optimise services quality. Mr Ho said he believed the employment rate would further rise when both citizens and investors have faith in Macao's future. "Facilitating social and economic development, and to promote the people living standard, are two main policies," said the Chief Executive. "The Government will allocate social resources through various mechanisms in a reasonable manner. We'll adopt effective measures to guarantee Macao that has a sustainable growth."
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the first quarter of 2005, price indices rose in most of the surveyed construction materials compared with the fourth quarter of 2004. Among them, steel, aluminium, sand, concrete, lime, aggregates, timber, red bricks, ceramic products, glass, paint, pipes and electric wires rose between 0.03% and 11.2%. However, price indices of sanitary articles and cement fell 0.4% and 0.1% respectively. Among the above changes in price indices, sand recorded the largest increase of 11.2%, whereas the largest decrease was in sanitary articles, down 0.4%. Compared with the first quarter of 2004, price indices rose in most of the surveyed construction materials, with the biggest increase in electric wires, up 62.4%, whereas steel decreased the most, by 2.7%.
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A Macao SAR delegation has returned from a visit to Beijing and achieved fruitful results for mutual co-operations in water resources management, environmental protection and science technology. The delegation, led by the Secretary of Transport and Public Works, Mr Ao Man Long, left for Beijing on 25 April. During the three-day visit, the MSAR and the mainland’s Ministry of Water Resources signed protocol to enhance water resources management in the Pearl River Delta. The Macao side also expressed gratitude for the emergency water diversion to the Pearl River Delta conducted earlier this year. Guangdong Province and Macao were seeking a mutually beneficial proposal for the guarantee of water resources and a stable supply of water to Macao, Mr Ao said. On environmental protection, Macao and the State Environmental Protection Administration have agreed to enhance co-operation based on past experience. With a background of close relationships with the European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries, Macao was willing to act as a platform for environmental products for mainland and foreign countries with advanced environmental technologies, Mr Ao said. The Macao delegation also visited the Ministry of Science and Technology. Mr Ao also updated his counterparts on the latest science and technology development in Macao. The two parties also exchanged views on the co-operative framework. In the meeting with Ministry of Construction, both sides have agreed to step up contacts and communication, and also exchanged opinions on traffic, construction and management of polluted water. Members of the delegation included the Director of the Office of the Secretary, the Director of Port Authority, the Deputy Director of Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau, the Deputy Director of Housing Bureau, the acting President of the Environmental Protection Committee, and the Secretary of the Science and Technology Committee.
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According to the results of the Employment Survey released by the Statistics and Census Service, unemployment rate for January - March 2005 was held stable at 4.1% compared with December 2004 - February 2005, but decreased by 1.4 percentage points over the same period of 2004. The underemployment rate was 1.1%, down 0.1 and 1.2 percentage points over December 2004 - February 2005 and the same period of 2004 respectively. The number of the unemployed searching for the first job was about 900, or 8.8% of the total unemployed. This represented a decrease of 1.5 percentage points over December 2004 - February 2005. Compared with December 2004 - February 2005, unemployment situation continued to improve in Wholesale & retail trade and Restaurants & similar activities, while it worsened in Real estate, renting & business activities and Construction. Total labour force was estimated at 240 000 in January - March 2005; the employed and the unemployed populations were 230 000 and 9 900 respectively. Labour force participation rate was 62.5%, up 0.1 and 0.9 percentage point over December 2004 - February 2005 and the same period of 2004 respectively. According to the administrative information provided by Public Security Police, number of non-resident workers with working permits totalled 28 648 at the end of March 2005, an increase of 3.3% over December 2004. Please refer to the attached table for detailed information on non-resident workers by industry.
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