Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
ZHUHAI CITY
GREEN ISLAND HILL BORDER GATE
MACAO PENINSULA
N
54.5
MONG HA HILL
60.7
GUANGDONG PROVINCE
GUIA HILL
ZHUHAI CITY
INNER HARBOUR
90.0
OUTER HARBOUR
71.6
SA I N VA BR IDG E
BRIDGE
TAIPA ISLAND
110.4
TAIPA VILLAGE
158.2
GUANGDONG PROVINCE
TAIPA-COLOANE CAUSEWAY
THE BAY OF KA HO
ZHUHAI CITY
KA HO VILLAGE KA HO HILL
123.8
170.6
HAC SA VILLAGE
HAC SA BAY
COLOANE ISLAND
LEGEND ELEVATION / METER
120.0
Published by the Government Information Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region November 2013
Editors note
Editors note
The Macao Yearbook is a reference book published annually by the Government Information Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). It outlines major events, details of progress achieved, and changes made in the course of Macaos political, economic, social and cultural development. The Macao Yearbook has been published since 2002, with the aim of promoting Macao and providing detailed information and data for all who wish to study and understand Macao. The Macao Yearbook is divided into four sections: Administrative Priorities of the MSAR Government; Calendar of Events; Annual Review of the Macao SAR; and Appendices. The Annual Review of the MSAR in 2012 records all the major work undertaken in the administrative, legislative and judicial areas in Macao during the year. It also presents, in a systematic and integrated manner, data and information on 16 areas, namely the political and administrative system; legal and judicial system; external relations; economy; gaming industry; tourism; public order; education; culture and sport; health and social welfare; media, communications and information technology; land, infrastructure, housing and public utilities; transport; geography, environment and population; religion and customs; and history. To illustrate various aspects of the latest developments in the MSAR in a visual way, the Government Information Bureau jointly organised with eight local photography organisations and four news media organisations a photographic competition entitled Precious Moments in Macao in early 2013. The yearbook has been enhanced by eight of the winning entries. Most of the figures and data quoted in the Macao Yearbook 2013 were provided by relevant departments and the Statistics and Census Service, and they correspond to the situation at the end of 2012. However, some content is more up to date, reflecting the current situation in Macao, including Government directories and details of the visa validity of MSAR Passports and travel permits. Unless specified otherwise, all the monetary amounts shown are in Macaos currency the pataca. The English version of the Macao Yearbook has been translated from the Chinese original. Therefore, in the event of any discrepancies, the Chinese version should take precedence. This publication uses the official spelling of Macao, except in the cases of proper names and titles that use Macau. The success of the Macao Yearbook is due to the strong support and cooperation received from various departments of the Macao SAR Government, as well as other public bodies and institutions. We wish to express our gratitude to all whose efforts to provide detailed documentation and data have enabled us to complete our editorial work smoothly. Its content has been carefully checked and proofread during the editorial process, production and printing. However, we apologise in advance if any errors remained undetected. We also welcome all comments and suggestions. The Macao Yearbook Editorial Committee
Contents
Contents
Enhance the Well-being of Society and Prepare for Long-term Development
-- Administrative Priorities of the MSAR Government in 2013 ...................................................09
Calendar of Events in 2012 ......................................................................................21 Overview of the Macao Special Administrative Region in 2012
Ensuring stable economic growth and developing Macao as a tourism and leisure centre to diversify the economy .................................................................................57 Successful progress in constitutional development and continued improvement in public administration ..................................................................66 Improving social welfare and securing peoples well-being .........................................................71 Strengthening efforts to combat crime and reinforcing civil protection .......................................80 Fulfilment of legislative and supervisory duties with the passage of 16 bills ..............................82 Efficient and fair trials and stringent action in criminal prosecution ............................................83 Fighting corruption and promoting probity, and adopting new technology to improve auditing .......................................................................86 1. 2. 3. 5. 7. 9. Political System and Administration ....................................................................................91 The Legal System and the Judiciary ...................................................................................119 External Relations ...............................................................................................................137 The Gaming Industry ..........................................................................................................205 Public Order ........................................................................................................................237 Culture and Sport ................................................................................................................271
4. Economy .............................................................................................................................149 6. Tourism ...............................................................................................................................221 8. Education ............................................................................................................................253 10. Health and Social Welfare ..................................................................................................291
11. Media, Communications and Information Technology ......................................................309 12. Land, Infrastructure, Housing and Public Utilities .............................................................329 13. Transport .............................................................................................................................353 14. Geography, Environment and Population ...........................................................................373 15. Religion and Customs .........................................................................................................405 16. History ................................................................................................................................415
Appendices
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Principal Officials of the Macao SAR ................................................................................427 Members of the Executive Council of the Macao SAR .....................................................428 Members of the Fourth Term Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR ...........................429 Judges of the Courts of the Macao SAR .............................................................................434 Public Prosecutors of the Macao SAR ...............................................................................436 Government Departments and Agencies of the Macao SAR .............................................438 Representative Offices of the Macao SAR Government Tourist Office .............................467 Countries Exercising Consular Jurisdiction in the Macao SAR .........................................471 Visa-free Access for Holders of Macao SAR Passports and Travel Permits ......................472
10. Countries/Territories Granted Visa-free Access by the Macao SAR ..................................477 11. Multilateral Treaties Applicable to the Macao SAR (by Subject) ......................................481 12. Decorations, Medals and Certificates of Merit Conferred by the Macao SAR in 2011 .....500 13. Macao SAR Budget Revenue and Expenses for 2013 (Summary) .................................503 14. External Trade Statistics for Five Years to 2012 ................................................................505 15. Imports from Major Countries and Territories for Five Years to 2012 ...............................506 16. Exports to Major Countries and Territories for Five Years to 2012 ...................................507 17. Domestic Exports to Major Countries and Territories for Five Years to 2012 ...................508 18. Tourism Statistics for Five Years to 2012 ...........................................................................509 19. Visitor Arrivals for Five Years to 2012 by Place of Residence ..........................................510 20. Statistics on Hotels, Restaurants, Travel Agencies, Discos and Karaoke Parlours for Five Years to 2012 ........................................................................................................511 21. Consumer Price Index (Including Rent) for Five Years to 2012 ........................................512 22. Monetary and Financial Statistics for Five Years to 2012 (at year-end) ............................513
Contents
23. Gross Domestics Product and Main Components of Expenditure for Five Years to 2012 ........................................................................................................514 24. Public Finances for Five Years to 2012 ..............................................................................515 25. Stock, Flows and Income of Inward Direct Investment by Industry for Five Years to 2011 .........................................................................................................516 26. Stock, Flows and Income of Inward Direct Investment for Five Years to 2011, Classified by the Usual Residence of Direct Investors .......................................................518 27. Demographic Statistics for Five Years to 2012 ..................................................................519 28. Law and Order Statistics for Five Years to 2012 ................................................................520 29. Labour and Employment Statistics for Five Years to 2012 ................................................521 30. Industrial and Commercial Establishments for Five Years to 2012 ...................................524 31. Statistics on the Employed Population for Five Years to 2012 by Industry .......................525 32. Health Statistics for Five Years to 2012 .............................................................................526 33. Regular and Continuing Education .....................................................................................527 34. Construction Statistics for Five Years to 2012 ...................................................................528 35. Transport Statistics for Five Years to 2012 .........................................................................529 36. Communications Statistics for Five Years to 2012 .............................................................531 37. Consumption of Energy and Construction Materials, and Liquid and Gaseous Fuel Statistics for Five Years to 2012 ..................................................................532
Macao at a Glance
Population and Households
Total population (As at 31 December 2012): 582,000 Of whom 280,300 were males 301,700 were females Age structure: Under 15 years old: 11.6 percent 15 64 years old: 80.8 percent 65 years old and above: 7.7 percent Major nationalities (according to Census 2011) Chinese: 92.3 percent Filipino: 2.7 percent Portuguese: 0.9 percent Major birthplaces of Macao residents (according to Census 2011) Macao: 40.9 percent Mainland China: 46.2 percent Of whom 69.2 percent were born in Guangdong and 13.9 percent in Fujian provinces Hong Kong: 3.5 percent The Philippines: 2.6 percent Portugal: 0.3 percent Crude birth rate: 12.9 per 1,000 population Crude death rate: 3.2 per 1,000 population Marriage rate: 6.7 per 1,000 population Divorce rate: 2.2 per 1,000 population Ageing index: 66.2 percent Total number of households (as at 31 December 2012): 178,600 Average persons per household: 3.03 Total number of households living in apartments (according to Census 2011): 168,937 Of which 70.8 percent lived in private housing; 24.5 percent lived in rented housing; 1.4 percent lived in housing provided by employers or rent-free properties. Population density: 19,000 persons per square kilometre Average temperature: 22.3C Total rainfall: 1,556 mm Average relative humidity: 80 percent Total sunshine: 1,545.3 hours Employed population: 343,200 Of whom 10,300 were employed in manufacturing 32,300 in construction 8,200 in nance and banking 78,900 in gaming Labour force participation rate: 72.4 percent Unemployment rate: 20 percent Underemployment rate: 0.8 percent
Employment
Tourism
Visitor arrivals: 28,082,300 By sea: 11,484,800 By land: 14,829,700 By air: 1,767,800 Hotel occupancy: 83.1 percent Per-capita spending of visitors (excluding gaming): 1,864 patacas
Note: 1. Due to round-up adjustment, the total figures may not exactly equal the sum of individual items.
I. Develop a long-term mechanism for effective administration, and share the fruits of development
The Government will strengthen its standardised, stable, long-term and supportive administrative system with timely supplementary measures, to steadily promote long-term development of the social security system, health care, education and housing. In order to continuously improve peoples livelihoods at all levels, the government will facilitate stable economic development and secure the basis of the continued sound investment of resources.
Standing Council on Social Concerted Action as soon as possible. The Social Security System of the Macao SAR is based on the pay-as-you-go and social insurance principles, which mean the elderly receive benefits drawn from contributions made by younger people, in a virtuous cycle of cross-generational assistance. A solid retirement protection system is a shared responsibility among the government, enterprises and individuals. In this system, contributions to and payments from the Social Security Fund, especially those related to pensions, reflect citizens rights and obligations. The Government will study the possible incorporation of the old-age allowance into the Social Security System, in order to improve the administrative efficiency of payments of pensions and the old-age allowance, and to maintain pension levels above the minimum subsistence index on the basis of multi-faceted support and multi-layered protection. Therefore, it is proposed to raise the pension level to 3,000 patacas. To take care of the retirement life of the elderly, a cross-departmental study group led by the Social Welfare Bureau has been set up to conduct a broad assessment of health care, housing, and retirement protection for the elderly. A series of measures are being implemented to establish short, medium and long-term coordinated financial, living and educational assistance schemes, to provide subsistence support to people in need. This will also tie in with an employment assistance programme to enable benefit recipients to make the most of their expertise and be self-sufficient. The minimum subsistence index has now been raised to 3,450 patacas. Assessment and distribution of allowances for the disabled have already begun so that all holders of disability assessment cards can enjoy free health care services. The need for services and facilities is carefully analysed prior to drawing up development plans for rehabilitation services. To accelerate the improvement of social facilities, a total of 43 social service facilities are expected to commence operations between 2013 and 2015, involving a total budget of about 910 million patacas. These facilities will provide services to children, young people, the elderly, families, communities, as well as treatment for drug dependence. At the same time, we plan to reserve a newly reclaimed area for the construction of social facilities.
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Through investment and integration of resources, the Government will continue to strengthen the training and recruitment of doctors and nurses, promote the continuing development of medical staff, and encourage participation in international accreditation programmes and medical research. The Government will also enhance professional regulation and facilitate reform of medical systems to meet Macaos future needs. We are determined to implement the Law of Smoking Prevention and Control and make great efforts in the promotion of smoking control and law enforcement to build a smoking-free environment.
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provide financial allowances to eligible low-income, full-time employees of up to 4,400 patacas per month. The Government is fulfilling its commitment to increase education resources by continuing to provide textbook allowances. The amount will be raised from 1,900 patacas to 2,400 patacas per school year for each primary and secondary student in Macao; and from 1,500 patacas to 2,000 patacas per school year for each kindergarten pupil, to further alleviate the financial burden on parents of buying textbooks. The Government continues to provide a study allowance to each Macao resident pursuing post-secondary or postgraduate studiesat a local or overseas institution. The amount is also increased from 2,000 patacas to 3,000 patacas per academic year, in order to lessen the financial burden of buying books, reference materials and stationery. 2013 marks the conclusion of the three-year Continuing Education Programme. The Government continues to provide a subsidy of up to 5,000 patacas to each local resident aged 15 or above who participates in continuing education, and will conduct a comprehensive review of the implementation of the programme. The Government will raise the total amount of health care vouchers for each permanent resident from 500 patacas to 600 patacas and is once again offering an electricity fee subsidy of 200 patacas per month to each residential household. The Government is implementing the following tax cuts and waivers in 2013: a reduction in personal income tax for all Macao residents from 25-percent exemption to 30-percent exemption with the basic allowance set at 144,000 patacas; waivers of all business taxes, hawker licence fees, wet market stall rents, inspection and quarantine fees for live food, and stamp duty on life insurance, nonlife insurance and bank service charges; waivers of signboard taxes for businesses; exemption from tourism tax for restaurants; waiver of the first 3,500 patacas of real estate tax; maintained increase in profit tax allowance from 32,000 patacas to 200,000 patacas; waiver of stamp duties on entrance passes and tickets for cultural and arts performances, exhibitions and entertainment programmes; waiver of real estate stamp duty on the first three million patacas of a homes value, for Macao permanent residents purchasing a residential property for the first time. The Government also offers a rebate of 60 percent of the personal income tax paid in 2012 by each Macao resident, subject to a ceiling of 12,000 patacas, to ease the burden on middle-income earners. Eligible residents will receive their tax rebate in 2014.
II. Establish Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre and promote adequate diversification of the economy
Taking into account external and local economic trends in 2013, we are cautiously optimistic about the economic outlook for Macao in the coming year and expect it to maintain positive growth. The Government is continuing to take effective precautionary measures against economic and financial risks, and is prepared to tackle any capital volatility or overheating of the real estate market. The Government also closely monitors the liquidity and safety levels of its fiscal reserves, and is diversifying its investment portfolio according to the global financial situation to achieve higher returns.
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To provide more practical, safer and more regulated protection to the government budget under the law, and to strengthen regulation and supervision, the Government will further review the Budget Framework Law and commence necessary legislative amendment procedures. The Government continues to monitor and control the pace of development of the gaming industry while actively supporting the development of integrated tourism and associated industries. Gaming operators are urged to act with social responsibility to promote responsible gaming, and join efforts to facilitate the healthy development of tourism and the gaming industry. The Government is strengthening its focus on existing sources of tourist visitors, developing potential markets, and continuing to promote multi-destination tours and diverse travel products, as well as intensifying its efforts to promote and support the development of the food and beverage, convention and exhibition, Chinese medicine and cultural and creative industries. The Government will continue to support the training of talent for the convention and exhibition industry by organising professional training courses on international conference event management. Furthermore, a foundation to foster the development of cultural and creative industries has also been established and commenced operation. The Government has taken diverse measures to support the development of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) including the provision of financial assistance and the enhancement of the business environment and human resources, drawing on this effectiveness to organise events such as the Dynamic Macao Business and Trade Fair. The Government has also set up an interestfree loan scheme under the Commercial Development Fund to provide financial assistance to local young people who want to start their own business but lack resources. The upper limit of loans is 300,000 patacas and the maximum loan tenor is eight years. The Government is committed to the protection of local residents employment rights by further cracking down on illegal employment. The Government is reviewing the Labour Relations Law and the issue of workers compensation to facilitate the passing of legislation for the Part-time Job System. The Standing Council on Social Concerted Action is conducting a study to seek consensus between employers and employees in the property management industry on minimum wage levels for cleaners and security guards. The Government is also strengthening supervision of non-resident workers and encouraging enterprises to give priority to local employees in promotion. Larger enterprises are encouraged to launch targeted vocational training programmes for grassroots employees on relatively low incomes, to support upward mobility for local employees. The establishment of a professional accreditation system is essential to nurture professionals, develop human resources, and build a reserve of talent for Macaos development. The Government will therefore continue to promote a professional accreditation system in the social work, construction and health care sectors. The implementation of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao has benefited all parties, and cooperation between the two on the economy, society and peoples livelihood has achieved new progress. Macao will actively leverage its capabilities as a regional player to demonstrate and strengthen its unique advantages in the promotion of the joint development of the region. Further, we will comprehensively consider the needs and capacity of Macao to support its development and the actual needs of local residents.
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To complement the National Twelfth Five-Year Plan and the further implementation of the Outline Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta, Macao will participate in regional cooperation with a more forward-looking and pragmatic approach. With the gradual development of Macao into a world tourism and leisure centre and a commerce and trade service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the Government is sparing no effort to improve peoples livelihoods and promote regional synergies. In implementing Supplementary Protocol IX to the Mainland and MacaoCloser Economic PartnershipArrangement (CEPA), the Government actively encourages local enterprises to seize the opportunities of accelerated liberalisation of service trade between the mainland and Macao to optimally open up new markets. The Government will continue the implementation of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao and the strengthening of our participation in the development of Hengqin. It is working tirelessly to complete the overall planning of the Guangdong-Macao Chinese Medicine Industrial Park early next year, after which the construction of the major buildings will commence to expedite the establishment of various projects in the park. To facilitate adequate economic diversification, the Government will assist qualified Macao investment projects to enter the park and will act to support effective participation by Macaos SMEs. With the Nansha integrated business zone under CEPA as a key platform of Macaos participation in the development of Nansha, the Government will expand the scope for the sustainable development of Macao by constructing a cruise home port in Nanshan, putting forward a pilot scheme for the free entry and exit of pleasure boats, and developing the creative and cultural industries. In the light of the gradual implementation of the new Guangdong-Macao border-crossing project, the Government is considering several actions: implement new customs clearance arrangements, optimise the living conditions and business environment of the North District, and strive to improve the environment of the Canal dos Patos. The current live food wholesale market will move to the Macao zone of the Zhuhai-Macao Crossborder Industrial Zone. The new wholesale market, which will officially open shortly, will be larger with an improved management model and regulatory mechanism to ensure the supply of live food to Macao. Macao will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in 2013, and will host the related ministerial conference. Through regional cooperation with Guangdong, Fujian, the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) and other regions of the mainland, Macao will leverage the advantage in its close relations with Portuguese-speaking and Romance language-speaking countries, to bolster its function as a platform for commercial and trade services. Furthermore, building on its close cooperation with Hong Kong, Macao will spare no effort to promote the joint progress of Hong Kong and Macao by enhancing the synergy of the established mechanisms of the Government and its close nongovernment contacts. In support of the implementation of the development blueprint, the Governments population policy will embrace its vision to enhance the capabilities of the populace, improve population structure, boost the overall strength of our human resources and promote quality of life, ultimately to achieve the sustainable development goal of Macao. The Policy Research Office has completed a public consultation on Macaos population policy framework in order to carefully formulate a
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population policy that meets the needs of Macaos development. The Government is committed to conserving Macaos tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The Cultural Heritage Protection Law has already been submitted to the Legislative Assembly for consideration. The Government is also stepping up education on cultural heritage and the construction of cultural facilities, to create an atmosphere rich in cultural elements, promote creative activities, nurture cultural talent and enrich the cultural life of Macao residents. Enhancing residents physical fitness is the core purpose of sport development. The Government is actively extending the scale of sports-for-all events based on the existing structure, and is intensifying the promotion of parent-child sports programmes as well as encouraging schools to incorporate physical education as an essential part of teaching. Meanwhile, sports facility management and the nurturing of potential elite athletes will continue to be enhanced. The Food Safety Law has already been submitted to the Legislative Assembly for consideration, and the first phase of preparation work for the establishment of the Centre for Food Safety has also been completed. The Government will strengthen the monitoring and management of food safety, and will enhance contact and communication between Guangdong and Macao regarding food safety matters. An efficient mass transit system, which helps shorten commuting time and release land resources for public housing and greening areas, is the best solution to our transportation requirements. The Government attaches great importance to its technology, quality and safety, and seriously and extensively solicits public opinion. Recognising that the new bus services still fall short of the commuting needs of the public, the Government will emphasise the enhancement of traffic safety, bus service scheduling and quality, and will continue to improve road networks in various districts in order to facilitate the development of transport in Macao. The new Taipa Ferry Terminal will soon be completed followed by a trial operation. It will officially commence operations to serve the public in the first half of 2014 at the earliest. In regard to civil aviation, the Government will gradually implement the master plan for the development of Macao International Airport based on the results of relevant studies, to provide more convenient external transport services to local residents and visitors. The Government spares no effort in addressing flooding risks, and will build rainwater pumping stations in San Kio District, Baa do Norte of Fai Chi Kei and urban Taipa. Drainage systems will also be improved to enhance flood discharge capacity. Based on the valuable views collected during the consultation on the Master Plan for Macaos New Districts, the Government will proceed with its planning for public housing, community facilities and greening step by step, with the aim of improving the overall quality of life for local residents by increasing available urban living space. The protection of the environment is a global issue. In support of the target set by the central government for the reduction of carbon emissions, the Government will put forward legislation and propose environmentally conscious construction projects. It will also continue to perfect the operation of the Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation Fund, and further enhance its functions by extending eligibility to schools. The Government will establish a funding scheme for the phasing out of highly polluting vehicles. The funding requirement is estimated at about
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400 million patacas. At the same time, a pilot electric bus scheme for selected routes in Taipa will be introduced. The Government has also determined to establish a water recycling plant at the Coloane Sewage Treatment Plant, and to explore new sources of recycled water. It also plans to further improve the facilities of the Macao Peninsula Sewage Treatment Plant and the central collection point of the automated solid waste collection system. At present, the overall law and order situation in Macao is relatively stable. In the face of Macaos development into a world tourism and leisure centre and the need for economic and social development, the Government will further strengthen police human resources and technology, perfect its internal administration, foster police-community relations, and improve contingency plans, so as to prevent and combat crime and maintain civic cohesion and public order. The popularisation of science is the cornerstone ofthe enhancement of residents personal qualities and competitiveness. The Government will continue to foster the popularisation of science to enhance the scientific literacyof residents and nurture talent for the high-tech service industries. While strengthening the supervision of the security of telecommunication networks, the Government will also gradually open up the telecommunication market according to the actual situation, and perfect the relevant regulatory mechanisms, and will review the Concession Contract of Terrestrial Pay TV Service of TV Cabo Macau, S.A.R.L.
III. Strengthen the operational mechanisms of government and improve public administration efficiency
The Government will implement the Amendment to Annex II of the Basic Law: Method for Forming the Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the newly amended Legislative Assembly Election Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, to ensure the fairness, impartiality and openness of Legislative Assembly elections. From past experience, desired policy outcomes are sometimes not fully achieved due to weak enforcement. To remedy this, it is necessary to undertake a root and branch review and actively seek improvement. With the aim of systematically improving governance, the Government will establish a performance management system with major indicators to assess the performance of government departments, including the effectiveness of their execution, whether concrete and effective actions are taken in response to specific policies, and whether policy objectives are achieved. The Government will apply these analyses to carefully and objectively assess and rationalise the overlapping and mixed functions of various departments, and will adopt a scientific and pragmatic approach to draw up plans to modify, restructure and streamline the organisational structure of Macaos public administration. On the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law, the Government will continue to promote it through various channels, with the emphasis on helping the public to learn about and understand it. The Government will make greater effort to strengthen the software and hardware of the judicial organisations, improve the working conditions and remuneration of judicial officers, and will start
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to amend the Macao SAR Judicial Organisation Framework Law. The Government will also continue to perfect the legal coordination mechanism, and step up the implementation of major legislative plans. The three-year project to review and adapt existing laws will conclude this year and will be announced in due course to allow the completion of this work, which is a significant advance in the history of the development of Macaos legal system. The handling of personal data has become an important aspect of social and economic activity and of our daily lives. The Government will strengthen the protection of personal data and other personality rights of local residents, in order to provide a favourable environment for the construction of a stable and harmonious society under the rule of law. The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) will step up supervision, effectively handle complaints made to the ombudsman, and continue to run public education and publicity programmes to promote integrity in society. The Commission of Audit (CA) will improve its human resources and workflow, extend the scope of electronic audits, and enhance the efficiency of major followup audit projects.
Conclusion
The development blueprint of Macao is gradually and steadily being implemented, leading the Macao SAR into a new stage of continuous development. In 2013, the Government will continue to prioritise the improvement of the peoples well being, and attaches great importance to and proactively addresses the concerns of the people. We are responsive to problems that arise in the course of our development, and seek to resolve them appropriately. We are keen to raise the effectiveness of our short-term policies for the benefit of the people, and work tirelessly towards the establishment of a long-term administrative mechanism. We will firmly uphold our values and at the same time broaden our horizons, with a view to building our beautiful home together with the whole community of Macao. Holding fast to our administrative promises, we strive to responsibly pull together the wisdom and strength of the whole community of Macao. As we continuously seek self-improvement, we will acknowledge each problem and difficulty along the way and raise governance levels. We must together apply ourselves to contemplation, and a steadfast contribution, in order to push forward the implementation of the great principle of One country, two systems hand in hand, and live out the unique advantages and powerful vitality of Macao as a special administrative region.
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11 The Guangdong-Macao Strategic Development Group holds its inauguration ceremony and first working meeting for concrete implementation of cooperation in the consultative mechanism under the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Framework Agreement. 12 The two note-issuing banks in Macao, Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino, each issue 10 million Zodiac Dragon banknotes with a face value of 10 patacas, for the Year of the Dragon. They are extremely well received. 16 The Government announces a doubling of the issue of the 10-pataca Zodiac Dragon banknotes and gets ready to make further adjustments at any time according to the actual situation. 17 The Government issues two more fixed telecommunications network licences and puts them up for public tender. At the deadline of 27 March, only one tender is received. 19 Edf. do Lago, the first Home-Ownership Scheme housing project in Taipa wholly funded by the Government, commences presales. 26 The Civil Service Pay Council is established to study and set basic principles, standards and procedures regarding adjustments of civil service salaries.
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February
4 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Guangdong Governor Zhu Xiaodan and principal officials to exchange opinions on accelerating the progress of cooperation between Guangdong and Macao. A serious failure occurs in CTMs telecom network affecting about 50 percent of mobile phone users in Macao. Chief Executive Chui Sai On submits a report to the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress indicating that it is necessary to make appropriate amendments to the method for the formation of the Legislative Assembly in 2013 and the selection of the Chief Executive in 2014, according to the actual situation of the Macao SAR under the framework of the Basic Law. This is the first step in the five-step process of Macaos constitutional development.
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10 The Government holds the 2011 Decorations, Medals and Certificates of Merit Awards Ceremony. On behalf of the Macao SAR Government, Chief Executive Chui Sai On presents medals, awards and/or certificates to 35 individuals and three groups and organisations. 13 Chief Executive Chui Sai On is invited to attend the first China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services and meets with Beijing mayor Guo Jinlong. 14 The National Science and Technology Award Conference is held in Beijing. A research project in Macao wins a second class award under the category of State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. This is the first time for Macao to receive such an honour since its reunification with the motherland. 21 The groundbreaking ceremony of the urban Taipa section of the Macao LRT is held, marking the official commencement of the construction project of this section of the LRT system. 22 Chief Executive Chui Sai On inspects construction progress at the new campus of the University of Macau on Hengqin Island. 24 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Mozambiques Finance Minister Manuel Chang and ministerial-level officials, on a visit to Macao,. 27 The Statistics and Census Service estimated Macaos population at 557,000 as at 31 December 2011, an increase of 16,800 (+3.1 percent) compared with the adjusted number of 540,000 in 2010. 29 The 25th session of the 11th Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress approves the decision of the Standing Committee of National Peoples Congress concerning the methods for forming Macaos Legislative Assembly in 2013 and selecting its Chief Executive in 2014, and thus completes the second step of the five-step process of Macaos constitutional development. The Bill on Amending the Legal System of Copyright and Related Rights and Bill on
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the Framework for Private School Teaching Staff pass their second readings in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly.
March
1 The by-law on the Standard Limits of Exhaust Emissions for Imported New Vehicles comes into effect, requiring exhaust emissions of imported new cars to comply with the relevant standards of one of the following places: mainland China, the European Union, the United States or Japan. Deputy Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of National Peoples Congress Qiao Xiaoyang, Deputy Director of the Legislative Affairs Commission Li Fei, and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Zhang Xiaoming visit Macao to talk with representatives from various sectors. They explain to the attendants the Standing Committees decision on allowing appropriate amendments to the methods of selecting the Chief Executive and forming the Legislative Assembly, and listen to participants views on Macaos constitutional development. Vice-President and member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee Xi Jinping meets with Hong Kong and Macao members of Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and raised three requirements to accurately grasp the current domestic and international economic trend to continuously strengthen the international competitiveness of Hong Kong and Macao; deepen mutually beneficial cooperation among mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao to achieve synergies and cooperative development; and actively promote social cohesion regarding the macroeconomic situation and rational communication to maintain social harmony and stability in Hong Kong and Macao. Chief Executive Chui Sai On departs for Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Fifth session of the 11th National Peoples Congress. Premier Wen Jiabao delivers his government work report and stresses that the Central Peoples Government will continue to support Macaos economic development to improve peoples livelihoods and promote democracy, to participate in international and regional economic cooperation, to build a world-class tourism and leisure centre, and to develop a diverse economy. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Wang Yang, to discuss the feasibility of opening an additional border crossing between Guangdong and Macao and extending the operating hours of the Border Gate and Gongbei checkpoints. 8 Chief Executive Chui Sai On pays a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Yang recognises Macaos achievements in social and economic development, and states that the central government will continue to support Macao to participate in work related to regional and international economic forums.
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10 A new round of consultation on constitutional development starts and will end on 23 April, spanning a period of 45 days. During the period, 10 consultation sessions will be held to gather public views on Macaos constitutional development. 14 The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the Bill on Adjustment on Salaries, Pensions and Gratuities of Public Servants. Each point on the civil service salary scale will be raised by four patacas to 66 patacas, an increase of 6.45 percent. The National Peoples Congress passes the draft law on the method of electing representatives from the Macao SAR for the 12th National Peoples Congress. The number of representatives from Macao and the election method remain unchanged.
19 The Government promulgates the Law Governing Video Surveillance in Public Places, which comes into effect on 19 April. 22 The Executive Council announces the draft of the by-law on the Amendment to the SME Assistance Scheme, which will raise the maximum limit of a support loan from 500,000 patacas to 600,000 patacas. 23 The Dynamic Macao Business and Trade Fair opens in Hefei, Anhui province. This event aims to promote Macaos business and tourism environment, showcase Macaos branded products and services, and enhance mainland peoples knowledge and understanding of Macao. 26 The Government promulgates the by-law on the Reservation of Land for Use by the Peoples Liberation Army Macao Garrison. A piece of land of 18,858 square metres located at the east of PLAs Taipa barracks is designated as a military site. 27 The Government injects 50 million US dollars into the Cooperation and Development Fund between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. The initial plan is for the fund to register in the Cayman Islands and seek a capital injection in 2012. 28 The Government issues the Interim Report of Macaos deliberative polling: Amendment of the Press Law and Broadcasting Law. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Minister Jiang Zengwei of the Ministry of Commerce to exchange views on the promotion and establishment of a trading and commercial cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
29 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang, Vice-President of Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, and exchanges views on promoting environmental protection and the development of the green sector. The 2012 Macao International Environmental Cooperation Forum and Exhibition opens.
April
1 Chief Executive Chui Sai On attends the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2012 in
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Hainan province. 2 The Governments interdepartmental task force takes action to recover a 3,800-square-metre plot of land near Hac Sa Village, Coloane. Together with adjacent plots of land recovered in the past three years, a single 25,600-square-metre lot can be created. Gongbei Customs seizes the largest ever haul of smuggled photographic equipment in China, with a market value of over 400 million yuan. The case involves at least one Macao resident.
12 Chief Executive Chui Sai On leads a government delegation to Guangzhou and Jiangmen to attend the Macao Week event held in the two cities, a major tourism promotional programme launched in Guangdong province. The Executive Council concludes the discussion of the draft of the by-law on the Wealth Partaking Scheme for 2012. The Government, starting from 24 April, distributes to more than 542,000 permanent residents and 70,000 non-permanent residents a total of over 4.12 billion patacas. Guangdong and Macao sign a collaborative communication agreement on the supply of water from Zhuhai to Macao.
16 The third phase of trials in the corruption cases involving former Secretary for Transport and Public Works Ao Man Long begins in the Court of Final Appeal. 19 The Marine and Water Bureau approves three new maritime passenger transport routes utilising the temporary Taipa Ferry Terminal. 20 The Government and the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the MSAR jointly hold a press briefing. Director of the liaison office Bai Zhijian, Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee and Director of the Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao SAR and the Hong Kong SAR Qiao Xiaoyang present their reports at the conference. The conference is attended by Chief Executive Chui Sai On and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Edmund Ho Hau Wah. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with a delegation led by Hebei Provincial Party Committee Secretary and Director of the Standing Committee of Hebei Provincial Peoples Congress Zhang Qingli to discuss further strengthening of exchanges and cooperation. To combat petty smuggling and facilitate smooth cross-border movement of travellers, dedicated immigration counters are provided at the Gongbei, Hengqin and Wanzai border checkpoints to handle travellers who cross the border more than once a day and strictly implement inspection of their hand-carry luggage.
22 The open call for tenders for the batch of 200 new eight-year taxi licences concludes. More than 2,000 tenders are received. The successful bidding prices range from about 830,000 patacas to over 1.1 million patacas.
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26 Chief Executive Chui Sai On attends a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Assembly to respond to members concerns about the governments administration and social issues. The Chief Executive says that the Government plans to inject 10 billion patacas into the Social Security Fund in the next two years to ensure its sustainable operation. 30 A Buddhas parietal-bone relic worshipping ceremony is held in Macao.
May
2 The Executive Council concludes the discussion of the Basic Law Annex I Amendment to the Methods of Selecting the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR (Draft) and Annex II Amendment to the Methods of Forming the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR (Draft), and submits the bills to the Legislative Assembly for deliberation. The Government starts a 60-day public consultation on its Public Housing Development Strategy (2011-2020).
6 The Authority of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Civil Engineering Laboratory of Macao sign a contract for the concrete certification of the island and tunnel of the main part of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The laboratory is commissioned to test and certify that the concrete used for the main part of the Bridge meets strength and durability requirements. 8 The Legialtive Assembly passes the first reading of the Basic Law Annex I Amendment to the Methods of Selecting the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR (Draft), and passes the first reading of Annex II Amendment to the Methods of Forming the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR (Draft) the following day.
10 The Bill on Additional Remuneration for Public Security Forces and Services (so-called dangerous duty allowance) and the Food Safety Law pass their first readings in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly. 11 Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U visits Taipei and pays a courtesy call on Lai Shin-Yuan, Director of Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council. 13 The Government officially opens its Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. 14 CTMs 3G mobile phone network fails again. Services in numerous districts on the Macao peninsula are interrupted. 15 At the 2012 Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Joint Conference, Guangdong and Macao sign five agreements: Implementation of the major tasks in 2012 under the Framework Agreement on Cooperation Between Guangdong and Macao, Guangdong-Macao New Cross-border Route Cooperation Framework Agreement, Leasing Contract of Land Use Right for Stateowned Infrastructure, Guangdong-Macao Standard Work Task Force Cooperation Agreement
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and Memorandum on Guangdong-Macao Tourism Cooperation. 17 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets Li Zhaoxing, Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), Chairman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, to exchange views on the current international situation. 19 The LRT community liaison station in Taipa officially commences operation. The liaison station immediately begins to receive and process public opinion on the LRT project. 21 The Seac Pai Van Lot CN3 Home-Ownership Scheme Housing Project is named Koi Nga Building, which provides 1,824 residential units. The Housing Bureau launches the presale from 11 June 2012, at an average selling price of 1,137 patacas per square foot. 22 The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences releases its China Urban Competitiveness Blue Book 2012 with Macao ranked 13th among 294 cities. 23 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chinese Estates Group Joseph Lau is indicted by Macaos Public Prosecution Office for bribery and money laundering. The case is transferred to the Court of First Instance for trial. 24 The Government announces the planning of the first public housing project of its post19,000 units public housing programme. Located at Lot 1 and 2 of Bairro da Ilha Verde, the project will provide more than 2,300 residential units. The Transport Bureau imposes a fine of 50,000 patacas on Reolian Public Transport Company Limited for service delays. This is the first penalty case since the implementation of the new bus service model. 26 Chief Executive Chui Sai On leads a government delegation to Beijing and Sichuan for the first China (Beijing) International Service Trade Fair, and the project completion ceremony of the Aoyuan Sports Centre held in Guangyuan, Sichuan. 27 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Minister of Commerce Chen Deming to exchange views on the development of the exhibition industry, supplies of material to Macao and the role of Macao as a service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. 28 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Sichuan Provincial Peoples Congress Liu Qibao. Through post-disaster reconstruction projects in Sichuan, it is hoped that both parties would establish a strong communication mechanism and platform for more extensive cooperation in the future. 29 The Government launches guidelines on anti-theft and safety facilities for buildings but stresses that the guidelines do not imply that the Government will legalise unlawful structures and will not tolerate illegal structures. 31 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Li Jinhua to exchange views on promoting the development of culture and the arts in Macao and giving full play to the cultural characteristics of Macao.
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The verdict in the third phase of the corruption trials of Ao Man Long is pronounced by the Court of Final Appeal. He is found guilty on all nine charges. Ao Man Long is sentenced to a single term of 29 years of imprisonment, a fine, and the confiscation of all his unlawfully gained properties. The Bill on the Legal System of Commitment to Title Transfer of Buildings Under Construction (that is, the bill on the system regarding transactions relating to off-plan properties) passes its first reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly.
June
1 To comply with the Bill on Amending the Legal System of Copyright and Related Rights, six public antenna companies stop transmitting more than a dozen satellite TV channels with immediate effect. The Government announces that among a total of 19,260 public housing flats, there are 10,064 public housing units and 9,196 Home-Ownership Scheme housing units, proportions of 52.25 percent and 47.75 percent respectively. The resolutions on the Amendment to the Methods of Selecting the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR (Draft) and Amendment to the Methods of Forming the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR (Draft) pass their second reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly, thus concluding the third step of the five-step process of Macaos constitutional development. Chief Executive Chui Sai On signs his assent to the two draft amendment bills, and formally submits them to the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress for approval or filing, thus concluding the fourth step of the five-step process of Macaos constitutional development. Macao and Hong Kong customs smash a copyright infringing video website that has been active in Asia for almost 10 years. The website is found to have been operated and managed in Macao via servers in Hong Kong. This is the first case successfully resolved since the Amendment to the Legal System of Copyright and Related Rights law came into effect earlier in June. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Dr Jos Cesrio, Portuguese Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities.
11 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Li Wuwei to exchange views on optimising Macaos advantages, promoting the development of cultural and creative industries, in order to promote a reasonable degree of economic diversity. 12 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with John Tsang, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR, to exchange views on promoting further cooperation between the cities.
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The Fifth Hong Kong Macao Co-operation High Level Meeting is held in Macao. Both parties believe that the existing cooperation and communication mechanisms are effective and both agree to continue to actively promote and deepen cooperation in various fields to realise complementary advantages and common development.
13 The LRT holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the LRT Cotai Section and Taipa Terminal Section, setting in motion the construction of all LRT projects for the Taipa Section. 16 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Wang Yang. They review the interim results of Guangdong-Macao cooperation. Both parties agree to interact even more closely in the future and work together to promote more extensive and in-depth cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, and develop innovative forms of cooperation to achieve mutual benefits and common goals. 17 The Government holds a briefing to introduce the details of the study of the redevelopment plan of the west side of Rua dos Navegantes in the old town of Coloane. 19 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Sergey S. Razov, Russian Ambassador in China, to discuss the promotion of tourism, bilateral trade, cultural exchange and education cooperation. The results of the second phase of public consultation on the Master Plan for Macaos New Districts are announced. After consolidation and analysis of 232 opinion submissions, the task force proposes to preserve the existing Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. The new reclamation area will not reserve land for the construction of a ferry terminal.
21 The Commission of Audit releases a value-for-money audit report on the disbursement of sponsorships by the Macao Foundation to local organisations. The report points out that the foundation does not fully comply with internal regulations on funding approval, and that the regulatory risks would increase if investigation and auditing of the organisations accounts are only limited to review and brief analysis of the written accounts submitted by the organisations. Chief Executive Chui Sai On inspects the construction site of the new Taipa Ferry Terminal to learn about the progress of the expansion project of the main terminal building.
22 The Bill on the Amendment to the Criminal Procedural Code passes its first reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly. The Bill on Additional Remuneration for Public Security Forces and Services passes its second reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly. The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the draft of the by-law on Adjustment of Additional Remuneration for Criminal Investigative Officers of the Judicial Police.
25 Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao jointly publish the Regional Cooperation Plan on Building a Quality Living Area. The publication points out that the three parties should further strengthen cooperation to develop more convenient and integrated cross-border
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transport services, and move towards gradually achieving urban integration of traffic flows between Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and adjacent regions. 26 The General Administration of Customs announces its opinion on supporting the opening and development of the Hengqin New Area, establishing the framework for the open development of Hengqin Island. The new area will implement a border management model that hasfirst-line and second-line control points, to allow Hong Kong and Macao citizens to conveniently work, live and travel in Hengqin. 29 The Government announces that it has received applications for bus fare adjustment from three bus service companies and that it has approved these in accordance with the contract provisions. The calculations and analysis of consolidated data show that the average increment in unit prices of various services is about 23 percent. 30 The 27th session of the 11th Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress passes by majority vote the draft bill on the Amendment to the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive of Macao submitted by Chief Executive Chui Sai On for approval, and passes by unanimous vote the draft bill on the Amendment to the Methods for Forming the Legislative Assembly submitted for filing. President Hu Jintao meets with Chief Executive Chui Sai On. Hu appreciates the present situation of Macao and the performance of the Macao SAR government, and expects the SAR government to work even better in all aspects, in particular to attach high importance to peoples livelihoods and to achieve further progress in various areas.
July
1 The Government raises the minimum subsistence index by five percent. The amount for single-occupier households is increased to more than 3,300 patacas, while a series of allowances and subsidies relating to the minimum subsistence index will also be raised accordingly. Hong Kong North West Express Limited suddenly announces suspension of all services between Tuen Mun and Macao due to a mechanical failure in its passenger vessels. The Maritime Administration opens an investigation of the case. The Mainland and Macao sign the ninth supplementary protocol of the Mainland China and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which comes into effect on 1 January 2013. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Minister Jiang Yaoping of the Ministry of Commerce to exchange views on further implementation of CEPA, facilitating Macaos integration into regional cooperation initiatives, and the realisation of complementary advantages and mutual benefits. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai to
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exchange views on the further development of Macaos foreign relations and continued exchanges regarding various aspects of cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries. 4 5 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Governor of Fujian Province Su Shulin, to exchange views on deepening cooperation at all levels. Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China in the Macao SAR Feng Tie assumes office. Chief Executive Chui Sai On issues an Executive Order to promulgate the decision of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress to pass the bill on the amendment to Annex I of the Macao Basic Law the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive, and the circular of putting on record the bill on the Amendment to Annex II of the Macao Basic Law the Methods for Forming the Legislative Assembly. The two amendment bills are approved by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress and come into effect upon the date of promulgation. The Government announces the second post-19,000 units public housing project Taipa Northeast Road Public Housing Estate, which will provide about 694 residential units upon completion. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with the delegation led by Portuguese Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Paulo Sacadura Cabral Portas to discuss strengthening and deepening cooperation between Portugal and Macao. The two parties exchange views on the role played by Macao in the development of relations between China and Portugal, and as a service platform for business cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the draft laws of the amendment to the Chief Executive Electoral Law and Legislative Assembly Electoral Law and will submit them to the Legislative Assembly for deliberation.
10 Registration for committee members for the election of Macao representatives for the 12th National Peoples Congress begins. About 50 eligible persons complete their registration either in person or by representatives to become electoral committee members. 11 The Government suspends the administrative process regarding the adjustment of bus fares and asks the three bus companies to improve their services. Only when they have met the related requirements will the administrative process resume. The Government implements the new Law Governing Video Surveillance in Public Places. The Secretary for Security approves the installation of over 1,350 surveillance cameras at all cross-border checkpoints, the Lotus Square, the Guia Lighthouse, and the offices of Public Security Police, Judicial Police and Macao Customs.
12 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Governor of Yunnan Province Li Jiheng to discuss deepening cooperation at all levels and improving the functioning of Macaos role as a commercial and trading platform for Portuguese-speaking countries.
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13 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Minister and International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce Gao Hucheng. The two parties exchange views on the implementation of liberalisation of trade in services and the promotion of continuous development of the local conference and exhibition industry. 16 Chief Executive Chui Sai On visits Beijing to meet with Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu, Minister of General Administration of Customs Yu Guangzhou and Minister of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) Zhi Shuping to exchange views with relevant central ministries on the establishment of the new Guangdong-Macao cross-border checkpoints. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Minister Zhong Shan of the Ministry of Commerce to discuss how to ensure the supply and safety of agricultural products from mainland China to Macao and the exploration of more extensive resources to support moderate diversification of Macaos economy. The Bill on the Amendment to Chief Executive Electoral Law and the Bill on the Amendment to Legislative Assembly Electoral Law pass their first readings in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly.
19 About 30 metres of support structures of the Hengqin section of the riverbed tunnel at the new campus of the University of Macau collapses. No casualties are reported in this incident. 23 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Cape Verde Prime Minister Jos Maria Pereira Neves and his delegation. The Government adjusts the Old-age Allowance to 6,000 patacas per year. 24 Typhoon Vicente hits Macao and the typhoon signal number 9 is hoisted. The typhoon blows for more than 10 hours and causes various levels of damage at locations all over the Macao peninsula and Taipa and Coloane islands. 26 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Chairman of the Guangzhou Political Consultative Conference Su Zhijia. Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Minister of Culture and Director of State Administration of Cultural Heritage Li Xiaojie to exchange views on the relationship between urban development and heritage protection.
27 The Government signs a 25-year public franchise contract for natural gas distribution with Nam Kwong Natural Gas Company Limited. Nam Kwong is required to complete a natural gas trunk network covering all areas of Macao in three phases within five years. 30 The Commission of Audit (CA) announces its special audit report on the Preparatory Committee for the Participation of Macao in the Shanghai World Expo, in which the CA reveals that there is room for improvement in the financial management of the preparation committee for not using a scientific method to estimate at the beginning of the project the expenses needed for Macaos participation in the World Expo. The boundary coordinates of the Hengqin campus of the University of Macau are confirmed.
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The Macao SAR Gazette publishes the State Councils approval of the area of the new Hengqin campus of the University of Macau. 31 The construction of the Zhuhai link road for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge commences. With a total length of 13.4 kilometres, the cost of the project is estimated at 9.15 billion yuan. This link road is expected to be completed in 2016 simultaneously with the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
August
1 6 The central recruitment system holds its first examination to recruit 128 technical support staff to be deployed to 30 government departments. Vice Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Edmund Ho Hau Wah leads a Macao CPPCC delegation to Xinjiang for a seven-day visit. The bill on the Conditions of Entering, Staying and Gaming in Casinos passes its second reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly. The regulations take effect on 1 November prohibiting persons under 21 years old from entering, gaming or working in casinos. The first phase of the Taipa transport hub project breaks ground. At a construction cost of 900 million patacas, the hub is expected to be completed in 2014. Chief Executive Chui Sai On visits Jiangmen in Guangdong to attend the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the theme project Promoting cooperation in the modern service industry between Guangdong and Macao to develop Chinas green lighting city. The Government makes disclosures to the Committee to Review the Public Financial Affairs of the Legislative Assembly that the current total fiscal reserve and foreign exchange reserve is 290 billion patacas.
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10 Chief Executive Chui Sai On announces several relief measures at a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Assembly. To ensure the normal operation of the Social Security Fund, the Government plans to inject, year by year, a total of 37 billion patacas into the fund from 2013 to 2016. 11 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with the delegation led by Chang Rongjun, Executive Vice Chairman of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, to exchange views on long-term cooperation supporting China to improve the livelihoods and education of people in poor regions. 15 The Government publishes in the Macao SAR Gazette an announcement that the land grant contract of five plots of land on Wai Long Avenue and Estrada da Ponta da Cabrita of Taipa, which was approved in 2006, is invalid as the transfer of land rights involves illegal activities.
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16 Guangdong and Macao police conclude their one-month Thunderbolt 12, in which Macao police smash two cross-border theft gangs and two rings of con men, involving a total amount of more than 100 million patacas. 19 The special lane for motorcycles at the Sai Van Bridge officially opens. 21 The Home-Ownership Scheme housing flats at Edifcio Ip Heng in Seac Pai Van go on sale for the first day. The Housing Bureau arranges for 61 families to choose their three-bedroom apartments. However, less than 30 percent of the families show up to choose their flats, while the others abandon their right. 26 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Chinas delegation of gold medalists in the London Olympic Games led by the State Administration of Sport, Liu Peng, and congratulates them on their success. 29 The bill on the Amendment to Law No. 3/2004 (Chief Executive Electoral Law) and the bill on the Amendment to Law No. 3/2001 (Legislative Assembly Electoral Law) pass their second reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly, marking the completion of the five-step amendment process of the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and the methods for forming the Legislative Assembly. 30 The bill on Central Provident Fund Individual Accounts and the bill on the General System for Legal Aid pass their second readings in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly. 31 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with the visiting delegation that organised Chinas First Manned Spacecraft Rendezvous and Docking Exhibition in Macao. They exchange views on how to strengthen young students knowledge of aerospace technology and enhance their understanding of Chinas aerospace development. The deliberative polling work for collecting opinions from the public and the media on the amendment to the Press Law and the Broadcasting Law is completed.
September
1 5 The Government sets up the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office to handle protocol matters and consulate affairs not related to foreign policy. The Government announces the commencement of administrative procedures to invalidate the land grant of eight plots of land following the invalidation of five plots of land opposite to the airport. The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) publishes its investigation report on the complaints about the LRT route passing through Rua de Londres and Rua do Porto. It states that the handling methods and procedures of the Transportation Infrastructure Office for approving and decision making on the design of the LRT are inappropriate. The Commission of Audit releases its audit report on the second phase of the LRT construction. It states that the estimated construction cost of 11 billion patacas announced
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in 2012 is already over budget. The Government receives an application from Northwest Express Limited to terminate its regular maritime passenger transportation services licence. Next day, the company officially announces termination of services, after operating the ferry service for less than a year and a half. The Environmental Protection Bureau releases the final version of Macaos Environmental Protection Conceptual Planning (2010-2020). The Macao and Taiwan Relations Forum 2012 opens in Taipei. Focusing on tourism, cultural and creative education and economics and trade, the forum helps further develop the relationship between Macao and Taiwan and leverages Macaos role as a bridge between the mainland and Taiwan. Chief Executive Chui Sai On sends a letter to the Central Peoples Government indicating that the Macao SAR will provide full support in the disaster relief work for the Yunnan earthquake. The Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2012, the first such event, opens in Macao. At the event, Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CCPCC) and President of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce Huang Mengfu, Governor of Gansu Province Liu Weiping, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai, Vice Chairman of the CCPCC Ablet Abdurishit, Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism of Thailand Chumpol Silpa-archa and Portuguese Minister of Economy and Employment lvaro Santos Pereira.
10 The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met today with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Mr Sha Zukang, and the Chairman of National Tourism Administration, Mr Shao Qi Wei, who are in Macao taking part in the Global Tourism Economy Forum. 17 The case involving Hong Kong businessmen Joseph Lau and Steven Lo who are accused of bribing Ao Man Long is scheduled to go on trial today. However, as the Chairperson of Collegial Panel Alice Leonor das Neves Costa is not feeling well, the court announces the postponement of the trial to 7 January 2013. The Government signs with the Chinese Academy of Governance the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and the Chinese Academy of Governance to strengthen and expand the existing good cooperative relations and further deepen bilateral cooperation and exchanges.
19 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Hong Kong SAR Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam to exchange views on strengthening the Macao-Hong Kong relationship and cooperation in tourism. The Government Information Bureau decides to give legislative priority to the amendment to the Press Law based on the principle of limited to deletion only, that is to delete
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controversial provisions of the Press Council and Code of Practice for Journalists, while suspending the amendment to the Broadcasting Law. 21 The Ministry of Commerce and the Macao Government signs an agreement to strengthen cooperation within the conference and exhibition industry. it provides for policy support, the nurturing of brand exhibitions in Macao, promoting coordinated development of the conference and exhibition industry in Macao and Hengqin, and establishing a cooperative working group of the conference and exhibition industry to coordinate and manage mainland exhibitors participating in Macao events. 24 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Committee Li Jia to review and share views on the joint development between Macao and Zhuhai and the development of Hengqin Island. 25 The Governments interdepartmental task force recovers two adjoining plots of land located between Rua de Choi Long and Beco da Sorte of a total area of about 3,000 square metres. The lot is now reserved for construction of post-19,000 units public housing. The Government injects 6,000 patacas into the individual central savings accounts of each eligible resident.
26 Chief Executive Chui Sai On leads a government delegation to Beijing to attend the first Beijing-Macao Economic and Trade Exchange Fair. The Executive Council concludes the draft by-law on the Deposit Protection Fund and the Limit of Compensation of the Deposit Protection Scheme. The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the draft bill of the by-law on Extension of the Period of Temporary Subsidies for Families on the Waiting List for Public Housing, which extends the implementation period of the scheme for one year, until 31 August 2013, and adjusts the subsidy amount and lowers the income limits appropriately.
27 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee Guo Jinlong and Deputy Secretary and Acting Mayor of Beijing Wang Anshun. The two parties agree to strengthen cooperation in economics and trade, culture and other fields, with particular commitment to a joint effort by Beijing and Macao to the promotion of trade with Portuguese-speaking countries. 29 Macao records 11 confirmed local dengue fever cases in total. The Government launches the third-level contingency plan (epidemic) against dengue fever. The main tasks include expanding the scope of mosquito elimination and stepping up publicity to mobilise the public to join hands in eliminating mosquito breeding sources.
October
1 The Government holds a series of activities to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China.
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Gongbei Customs cracks a smuggling case involving a gang of frequent travellers smuggling laptop computers across the border. Two of the group are Macao residents and the total sum involved is 140 million yuan.
10 A main structural pile of Sin Fong Garden Carpark in Patane suddenly cracks causing damage to corridors on the upper floors. The Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau verifies that the building poses a risk and immediately seals off the building. About 200 residents are affected. 11 Chief Executive Chui Sai On calls an interdepartmental meeting and pays a visit to Sin Fong Garden emphasising that the safety of residents is of first priority. Another meeting is held on 15 October to review the follow up work, and to further assess possible scenarios and derive a comprehensive plan for contingency action. 12 The Government announces eight new policies to raise the cost of real estate speculation in order to lower the potential impact of an asset bubble. 15 The Law of Central Provident Fund Individual Accounts comes into effect. 16 The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the draft bill of Amendment to Law No. 6/2011 Special Stamp Duty on Transfer of Immovable Property for Residential Purposes and Stamp Duty Regulations. The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the draft bill of Amendment to Law No. 21/2009 Law of Employment of Non-resident Workers.
17 A system failure occurs in the HGC (Macao) mobile telephone network. The service is disrupted for nearly seven hours affecting about 30,000 users. 18 The 17th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair opens with over 1,800 exhibition booths, an increase of nine percent over the previous year. The Real Estate Agency Law passes its second reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly, and the Cultural Heritage Protection Law passes its first reading in the same session.
20 The Ninth World Summit of Chinese Entrepreneurs opens.The event is attended by 1,700 representatives from Chinese enterprises visiting Macao to explore soft power application and competition around the world. 22 Block Three of Edifcio Koi Fu Garden is classified as a dangerous building by the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau and is required to be demolished within the specified time limit. 24 The bill on the Amendment to Law No. 6/2011 Special Stamp Duty on Transfer of Immovable Property for Residential Purposes and Stamp Duty Regulations pass their first and second readings under the emergency procedures of the Legislative Assembly. 25 Zhuhai and Macao reach consensus on the unified arrangement to extend the opening hours for cross-border tourist and cargo customs clearance at Hengqin checkpoint. 26 The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) announces the results of public consultation
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on the Sai Van Lake Square Integrated Tourism Project, and designs a new plan in response to comments made by advisory bodies and the general public as well as the results of the environmental impact assessment. Public opinion is divided over the new plan, and the Government decides to extend the consultation period and continue to listen to the voices of the public. 30 The by-law on Regulations on the Requirements in the Smoking Areas of Casinos takes effect.
November
1 The Law on Conditions for Entering, Working and Gaming in casinos comes into effect. Persons under 21 years old are prohibited from entering casinos. The Government announces a consultation paper on the Population Policy Framework of the Macao SAR. The public consultation period starts from 3 November and will last three months. The Commission of Audit publishes a value-for-money audit report on the Continuing Education Development Plan. It states that the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau is deficient, to varying degrees, in execution, management and supervision. Chief Executive Chui Sai On has a courtesy meeting with President of Olympic Council of Asia H.H. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah to exchange views on sports promotion and tourism development.
13 Chief Executive Chui Sai On delivers his policy address for the fiscal year 2013 in the Legislative Assembly. Entitled Enhance the Well-being of Society and Prepare for Longterm Development, the policy address announces the continuation of a series of measures to promote the peoples well-being. 15 The 59th Macau Grand Prix kicks off. Sadly, two foreign drivers die in separate accidents during the two-day event. 19 The bill authorising the Macao SARs jurisdiction over the new campus of the University of Macau on Hengqin Island passes its first reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly. The Governments budget for 2013 passes its first reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly. The Government conservatively forecasts a total revenue of 134.8 billion patacas, of which 92.4 billion patacas comes from the main source Special Gaming Tax. The total expenditure of the 2013 budget reaches 82.5 billion patacas, representing an increase of 6.7 percent as compared with 2012.
20 Hengqin New Area introduces its first sale listing of commercial land specifically for Macao businesses. Of an area over 30,000 square metres, the land is offered at an auction reserve price of about 250 million yuan.
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21 The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the draft by-law on the Supply System and Requirements on Gaming Machines, Equipment and Systems. 23 The Government decides to extend the expiry date of 2G services to 4 June 2015. 27 The Housing Bureau arranges families according to the waiting list for selection of the first batch of Home-ownership Scheme housing units of Ching Yi Building. 28 A Macao economic and trade delegation of 70 members visits Haikou in Hainan Province to participate in the opening and contract signing ceremony of the Eighth Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum. Six project agreements are signed between Macao enterprises and other provinces at this years event. 30 The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the bill of the Land Law. It is recommended that land concession must be conducted in open tender under normal circumstances, but also sets exceptions.
December
2 The first central recruitment examination for civil service positions commences. The examination on general knowledge is held simultaneously in 19 venues. Among the 14,000 candidates, 74 percent sit for the examination. The Government announces to temporarily adopt a flood control and drainage approach by setting up a 2.3-metre-high flood prevention wall from Barra to Patane Market by the Harbour Building to prevent influx of sea water, and plans to establish two flood control drainage zones at the north and south ends to drain floodwater. The Government announces the upward adjustment of the social security contributions level. It is initially proposed, in the coming four years, to adjust in three phases the ratio of the employees and employers contributions from 1:2 to 1:1.
11 The presidium of the election of representatives of the 12th Macao National Peoples Congress confirms the eligibility of 15 Macao candidates. 13 The 2013 fiscal year budget passes its second reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly. The total revenue of the Government in 2013 is estimated at more than 134.8 billion patacas, while the total expenditure is estimated to be more than 82.5 billion patacas. 14 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Dr Shin Young-soo, Western Pacific Regional Director of the World Health Organization. Both parties agree to continue supporting and cooperating with each other in disease prevention and control as well as in other areas. The First Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly concludes detailed discussion of the bill of Amendment to Law No. 11/2003 (Declaration of Incomes and Properties). The committee signs the submission of opinions and proposes to rename it the Law of Declaration of Properties and Interests.
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17 The second plenary meeting of the election assembly of the 12th Macao National Peoples Congress votes for the 12 new Macao National Peoples Congress representatives. 18 The Executive Council concludes its discussion of the draft bill of the Urban Planning Law. The Housing Bureau arranges for the first batch of buyers of reserved Home-Ownership Scheme housing flats at Edf. do Lago to settle their payments and collect the keys to their units.
19 The Government plans to extend the Taipa walking system facilities by building an elevated green walkway to provide a comfortable and slow traffic environment in urban Taipa. 20 The Government hosts a reception to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Chief Executive Chui Sai On leaves for Beijing on a duty visit. The new General Secretary of the Communist Party and Vice President of the Peoples Republic of China Xi Jinping meets with Chief Executive Chui Sai On. Xi Jinping recognises the efforts of Chui Sai On and the Government. He emphasises that the Central Peoples Government major policies on Hong Kong and Macao after the 18th National Peoples Congress will remain unchanged, and is confident that Macao will enjoy an even better future. Parade through Macao, Latin City, one of the activities to celebrate the 13th anniversary of Macaos return to the motherland, is held in Macao, with the participatioin of about 2,000 performers and supporting staff from different countries and regions.
21 President Hu Jintao meets with Chief Executive Chui Sai On and listens to his report on Macaos current situation and its social and economic development. Premier Wen Jiabao meets with Chief Executive Chui Sai On and listens to his report on Macaos social and economic development over the past year, as well as the policy priorities for the coming year.
23 The pouring of concrete is completed for the first non-navigable span of the Hong KongZhuhai-Macao Bridge, marking the commencement of construction of the main body of the bridge. 27 The Government commences its post-19,000 units public housing programme. Located at Lot 1 and Lot 2 of Bairro da Ilha Verde, the project will provide more than 2,300 residential units. 28 The Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security announces the introduction of a new version of the Home Return Permit. The bureau starts accepting applications from 2 January 2013, and the number of the new permit will remain unchanged for the duration of its holders life.
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20 December General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi Jinping meets with Chief Executive Chui Sai On in Beijing
21 December President Hu Jintao meets with Chief Executive Chui Sai On and listens to his duty report
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21 December Premier Wen Jiabao meets with Chief Executive Chui Sai On and listens to his duty report
8 January Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with EU President Jos Manuel Duro Barroso
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4 February Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Guangdong Governor Zhu Xiaodan
4 January Chief Executive Chui Sai On chairs the rst forum on constitutional development
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8 March Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi
10 August Chief Executive Chui Sai On responds to questions on government administration and social issues at the Q&A session at the Legislative Assembly
16 June Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Wang Yang
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29 August The bill on the Amendment to Chief Executive Electoral Law and the bill on the Amendment to Legislative Assembly Electoral Law pass their second reading in the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly
13 November Chief Executive Chui Sai On delivers his policy address for the scal year 2013 in the Legislative Assembly
14 December Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Dr Shin Young-soo, Western Pacic Regional Director of the World Health Organization
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17 December The second plenary meeting of the election assembly of the 12th Macao National Peoples Congress 19 September The Government Information Bureau holds a press conference to announce the nal report on deliberative polling on the amendment to the Press Law and the Broadcasting Law
27 August Chinas delegation of gold medalists in the London Olympic Games take a group photo at the Ruins of St Pauls
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10 February The Government holds the 2011 Decorations, Medals and Certicates of Merit Awards Ceremony
13 August Shenzhou-9 Space Delegation visits Macao 31 August Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with the visiting delegation that organised Chinas First Manned Spacecraft Rendezvous and Docking Exhibition in Macao
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19 January Selected families are arranged to choose their Home-Ownership Scheme housing ats at Edf. do Lago
13 June Macao LRT holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the LRT Cotai Section and Border-gate Terminal Section
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10 October Chief Executive Chui Sai On pays a visit to understand the situation of Sin Fong Garden
11 October Chief Executive Chui Sai On calls an interdepartmental meeting for an overall planning of the follow up work at Sin Fong Garden
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13 May Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U ofciates at the opening ceremony of the Macao Economic and Cultural Ofce in Taipei
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22 February Chief Executive Chui Sai On inspects construction progress at the new campus of the University of Macau
9 September The Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2012, the rst such event, opens in Macao
14 February The National Science and Technology Award Conference is held in Beijing. A research project in Macao wins Second Prize under the category of State Scientic and Technological Progress Award (Photo: U SENG PAN)
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24 July Typhoon Vicente hits Macao and the typhoon signal number 9 is hoisted
2 December The rst central recruitment examination on general knowledge for civil service positions commences
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19 August The special lane for motorcycles at the Sai Van Bridge opens for trial operation
21 February Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lau Si Io ofciates at the groundbreaking ceremony of the urban Taipa section of the Macao LRT Phase 1
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Ensuring stable economic growth and developing Macao as a tourism and leisure centre to diversify the economy
The Government strictly adhered to the Basic Law of the Macao SAR in its pragmatic and progressive endeavours during 2012, in line with the principles of One country, two systems, Macao people governing Macao and a high degree of autonomy. With the generous support of the Central Peoples Government and the concerted efforts of the Macao people, the SAR Government has overcome internal and external problems, pressed ahead with economic diversification, and enhanced peoples well being in the first place. Upholding the principle of Putting people first, the Government has achieved stable growth on the social, political, economic and cultural fronts.
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Total investment increased by 21.8 percent. Investments in private and public construction rose by 8.5 percent and 39.3 percent respectively, with an increase of 22.6 percent in total investment in construction. Investments in private and public facilities rose by 7.8 percent and 39.3 percent respectively, an overall increase of 18.3 percent. The number of newly established companies increased by 6.1 percent, while the total value of registered capital decreased by 38.0 percent. A total of 3,612 companies were established during 2012, which was 207 more than in the previous year, however the total registered capital decreased by 38.0 percent to 610 million patacas. These newly established companies operate mainly wholesale and retail businesses. Meanwhile, a total of 501 companies were dissolved in 2012, a year-onyear decrease of 2.0 percent. Capital withdrawn amounted to 110 million patacas, a year-on-year decrease of 63.3 percent. Fiscally, the total revenue of the Government in 2012 increased by 14.9 percent to 129.5 billion patacas, of which income from gaming tax accounted for 113.38 billion patacas, representing a rise of 13.8 percent. Total expenditure increased by 15.8 percent to 56.75 billion patacas, of which recurrent expenditure accounted for 40.45 billion patacas, a rise of five percent. The fiscal surplus for the year totalled 72.75 billion patacas. During the year, Macao officially implemented the Fiscal Reserve System, allocating reserve assets and injecting capital into the foreign currency reserves. Meanwhile, the Government also started to work on partial amendments to the Budget Framework Law, and improved procedures for the budget for the Plan for Investment and Development Expenses of the Administration(PIDDA). By the end of 2012, Macaos basic reserves amounted to 98.8 billion patacas, while the excess reserve amounted to 58.262 billion patacas. As someforeign currency assets in the foreign reserves were transferred to the newly established fiscal reserves in 2012, the balanceof the foreign reserves by the end of the year dropped sharply by 51.3 percent to 132.5 billion.
Establishing Macao as a tourism and leisure centre, and revitalising resources to promote cultural and creative industries
In 2012, Macao received 28,082,292 visitors, a slight increase of 0.3 percent over 2011. Gross gaming revenue (excluding tips) amounted to 305.235 billion patacas, an increase of 13.4 percent over the previous year. Total expenditure by visitors (excluding gaming expenditure) reached 52.3 billion patacas, representing a year-onyear increase of 15 percent over the figure of 45.3 billion patacas in 2011.
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The Government is determined to position Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre, and bolster its functionality as a regional platform for commercial and trade services. While reinforcing and intensifying the development of the tourism and gaming industry, the Government also implemented moderate regulation, enhanced monitoring of the growth of the gaming industry, and actively facilitated the development of integrated tourism and other associated industries. Emphasis was put on the convention and exhibition, cultural and creative, Chinese medicine, and commercial and trade industries, to facilitate appropriate economic diversification. In 2012, the Government focused on several aspects of the medium and long-term development of the tourism industry, and set up internal working groups to study various proposals. An expert delegation from the Pacific Asia Travel Association was invited to release a study report on Macao. At the First Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao, opinions on the positioning and establishment of Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre were collected from experts and academic researchers from around the world. With a brand-new tourism theme, the Macao Government Tourist Office (MGTO) continued to promote Macao with the slogan Touching Moments, Experience Macau, and cooperated with MGTO representatives in overseas markets to carry out promotional activities on social networks, blogs and websites. An audio guide service was also launched to encourage tourists to visitMacaos attractions independently. Through inter-departmental cooperation and collaboration with relevant organisations, new tourism products were developed focusing on culture, study, religions, festivals and ecology. The development of budget hotels has drawn the attention of society and the public. The MGTO took the initiative to cooperate with tourism-related organisations to launch a dedicated website for budget hotels which also serves as a platform for room reservation. To ensure the quality of our tourism products and protect the rights of tourists, the MGTO conducted inspections on establishments, industries and tourist spots under its supervision. It also continued to work with inter-departmental action groups tocrack down on illegal accommodation. The Government actively promoted regional cooperation in tourism by participating in the formulation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Tourism CooperationPlan, and regularly meeting representatives of other provinces and cities. As the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao continued to be intensified and implemented, Macao strengthened its cooperation with Guangdong by co-organising major publicity programmes such as the Macao Week in Guangdong. Furthermore, the tourism authorities of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao also actively promoted multi-destination itineraries, co-organised tourism promotion activities in overseas markets, and participated jointly in local travel exhibitions. On heritage conservation, cultural and creative industries, and the development of cultural tourism, the Government successfully completed the legislative process of the Cultural Heritage Protection Law, bringing success in the protection and continuationof intangible cultural heritage. Moreover, the Government made great efforts in the development of local cultural and creative industries by establishing the Cultural and Creative Industry Fund, and actively promoting the innovation and continuity of Macaos culture.
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On 18 October, the bill on Cultural Heritage Protection Law passed its first reading in the Legislative Assembly, marking a milestone inthe conservation of cultural heritage. The bill was then studied and discussed by the Third Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly. As the bill involved cultural heritage conservation values and the interests of multiple stakeholders, the committee launched a public exercise to collect views and opinions, which was a rare practice, in a bid to improve the bill. To promote the development of the local cultural and creative industries, the Government actively explored room for cultural and creative development which included the establishment of the Macao Creative Pavilion, C Shop and Macao Fashion Gallery. Moreover, a Macao wedding customs museum, an art film cinema, and an outdoor caf are to be included in the Ho Song I Tong Cultural and Creative Space and the architectural complex at the Lane of Romance (Travessa da Paixo), which are now under construction. The research programme on the benchmarking system for assessing Macaos cultural and creative industries also achieved initial success in adopting a more scientific approach to the assessment of Macaos cultural and creative industries. The study focused on analysing existing statistics in relation toMacaos cultural and creative industries, as well as data that is yet to go through any statistical analysis, to establish a framework for a dedicated statistical system for Macao and allow comparison with other places, to facilitate monitoring of the development of the local cultural and creative industries. Regarding conservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage in 2012, Mazu (A Ma) belief and customs, Na Tcha belief and customs, Macanese Gastronomy, and Macanese Theatre (Theatre in Patu)were included on the list of Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage. After several years of promotional effort, the conservation work of Macao intangible cultural heritage is gradually recognised, respected and joined by the public. The Government also launched a number of restoration and reuse projects. Statistics show that more than 60 maintenance and revitalisation projects were launched in 2012, among which the NaTchaTemple and Tung Sin Tong Historical Archive Exhibition Hall projects are already completed and open to public. Moreover, theRed Market Library has also opened to enhance the cultural environment of the community. To reinforce local culture, the Macao Arts Festival was held to encourage local creativity. Over half of the arts festival programmes were performed by local art groups. As well as the Macao Literary Selection 2011, a new publication entitled Annual Selection of Macao Performing Art Reviews 2010-2011 was released.
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Promoting gradual development of gaming and giving full support to convention and exhibition industries
The Government continued to implement a series of regulations and measures to regulate and control the scale and pace of development of the gaming industry in 2012, with the aim of supporting optimum growth in the sector. To enhance the supervision of casinos, the recording of gaming data was completely computerised. Supervision of slot machines in casinos was strengthened by replacing on-site monitoring systems with parallel electronic and remote devices. Monitoring and control of the financial status of gaming concessionaires was also tightened and stock-taking of fixed assets was carried out as required. Gaming promoters were closely monitored by establishing a database of their shareholders, directors and major employees under the database of gaming promoters and their partners. The implementation of the cap on junket commissions was examined and the monitoring of sports lotteries and horse-racing tickets was enhanced. Auditing of gaming concessionaires in regard to the fulfilment of the Minimum Internal Control Requirements (MICR) was continued, and responsible gaming was promoted. To further regulate the healthy development of the gaming industry and prevent problem gambling, the Regulation on the Conditions of Entering, Staying and Gaming in Casinos came into effect on 1 November 2012. According to the regulation, people under the age of 21 are forbidden to enter casinos, whereas anyone or his/her spouse, older family members, younger family members or relatives by blood within the second degree of kinship may apply for prohibition of his/her entry into casinos for up to two years. The Executive Council also concluded its discussion on the draft of the by-law on the Supply System and Requirements on Gaming Machines, Equipment and Systems, which set up strict requirements for the establishment of gaming machine parlours. According to the draft by-law, to improve the living environment of Macao residents, gaming machine parlours are only allowed to be set up in hotels rated five-star or above, buildings approved for non-residential use that are within 500 metres of a licensed hotel casino, or buildings for commercial and leisure purposes that are regarded as a tourist location not in a high density residential area. Meanwhile, the Convention and Exhibition Incentive Programme was introduced to continue assistance and support for the planning and organisation of conventions and exhibitions in Macao. In addition, studies were conducted by the Convention Industry Development Committee and its sub-groups in order to formulate policies and measures to promote the development of Macaos convention and exhibition industry. In 2012, a total of 1,022 conventions and exhibitions were held in Macao, 23 fewer than the previous year. However, the
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number of participants increased by 26 percent to 1,612,961. In September, the Government signed the Agreement to Strengthen Cooperation of the Convention and Exhibition Industry with the Ministry of Commerce to enhance cooperation with the mainlands convention and exhibition industry. Last year, several respected mainland-branded conventions and exhibitions were held in Macao, including the Third China Catering Expo and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum. Moreover, the Government continued to establish Macaos brand conventions and exhibitions, and successfully held the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), the Macao International Environmental Cooperation Forum (MIECF), the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair, and the Macao Franchise Expo (MFE). The Government strongly supported industries to hold conventions and exhibitions, and to enhance connections between local conventions and exhibitions and major mainland events, to promote regional industrial cooperation. It also encouraged companies to organise and participate in local and overseas exhibitions, and created a favourable environment and platforms that facilitate diversified development of Macaos economy.
Actively support small and medium enterprises and reasonably coordinate human resources
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are an important part of Macaos economic diversification. In 2012, the Government continued to implement and improve supportive measures for SMEs. Stronger financial assistance was offered to SMEs by increasing the upper limit of interest-free loans from 500,000 patacas to 600,000 patacas. The Government also continued to run the SME assistance scheme, credit assurance scheme and interest subsidy scheme on bank loans to enterprises, as well as to support the development of SMEs through the Commercial Development Fund. To remedy the manpower shortfall faced by SMEs, the Government accelerated the approval process for applications to employ non-resident staff. The territorys steady economic development is attributed to a stable and efficient labour force. The Government has been facilitating the appropriate matching of human resources through training and employment and job-changing assistance, so as to promote local residents job engagement and maintain a low unemployment rate, as well as to provide impetus to the development of enterprises. In 2012, Macaos unemployment rate was 1.9 percent, a year-on-year decrease of 0.7 percentage points. In the fourth quarter, the median monthly income of the employed population was 12,000 patacas, an increase of 1,700 patacas year on year. As at the end of 2012, the job-referral programme had provided instant job-referral services and employment assistance to 3,237 job seekers. Communication and cooperation between employers and employees was also strengthened to help balance supply and demand for manpower. Meanwhile, employment assistance was strengthened with the launch of the Employment Training Scheme for the Middle-aged and the Training Series for the Middle-aged to assist members of that age group who have low education levels to secure a job. To support upward mobility for the underprivileged, employers were encouraged to hire the disabled and relief training courses were continued. Meanwhile, applications for the import of labour were approved in strict accordance with the law, and the deployment of labour in local companies was monitored to protect local residents employment rights.
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Promoting regional cooperation and fulfilling Macaos function as a commercial and trade services platform
In 2012, the Government continued to actively promote regional economic integration and strengthen cooperation with mainland China and neighbouring regions, and established win-win relations with mainland China and Portuguese-speaking countries, advanced Macaos economic development and the quality of its commercial and trade services, thus progressively promoting adequate diversification of the economy. In April 2012, the Eighth Supplementary Protocol to the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was officially implemented; while in July the Ninth Supplementary Protocol to the CEPA was signed between Macao and the Ministry of Commerce, taking effect
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on 1 January 2013. A total of 48 service sectors have now been liberalised, among a total of 318 liberalisation measures. To further demonstrate Macaos function as a service platform for commercial and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the Government actively promoted cooperation between Macao and various mainland provinces and cities. On the foundation of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation Between Guangdong and Macao, cooperation in the convention and exhibition industry and among SMEs of Guangdong and Macao on intellectual property and finance were strengthened. Arrangements were made for enterprises of the two regions to visit Portugal and Italy to promote investment. Delegations were also sent to participate in economic and trade events in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) region. Moreover, the Government also strived to construct a platform for the cooperation between the PPRD region and the international environmental industries, and through which the enterprises in the PPRD region could open up overseas markets in Portuguese-speaking countries and the European Union. The Government also further fostered economic and trade exchange and cooperation between Macao and mainland provinces and cities such as Fujian, Chongqing and Anhui.
Joining hands for regional planning and promoting development of major infrastructure
In the positive environment under the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, cooperation between the two regions in the economy, society and peoples livelihoods has achieved new progress. Through active participation in the development of key areas such as Hengqin and Nansha, Macao has further improved its development structure, enhanced planning and accumulated experience, thus laying a solid foundation for effective cooperation in the next stage. To implement the framework agreement and step up efforts to promote Guangdong-Macao cooperation, the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of CEPA to Promote Guangdong-Macao Cooperation was signed in February to foster cooperation between the service sectors of the two regions. Meanwhile, both sides continued to facilitate the development of Hengqin and actively assisted local chambers of commerce and associations to organise visits to Henqqin. As one of the major projects in the development of Hengqin, work on the Guangdong-Macao Chinese Medicine Industrial Park has been progressing smoothly. In 2012, completed aspects included bidding for land use rights, transferring the land and making relevant payments, writing
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and submitting the business planning report, and the first stage of construction. Cooperation between Guangzhou and Macao in the development of Nansha has also made progress, and cooperation between the two in economic and trade strengthened. In 2012, the Government further pursued the establishment of the Major Action Plan for the Bay Area Development of the Pearl River Estuary, the Macao and Zhuhai Collaborative Development Plan and the Pearl River Estuary West Bank Development Plan, strengthened coordination and planning with Zhuhai Municipality and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region in respect of urban planning, infrastructure, customs clearance, public services, industrial layout and ecology, developed the Zhuhai-Macao Metropolitan Area with its pleasant ecological environment, interconnected public services, coordinated industrial development and convenient working and living environments, fulfilled Macaos function as a world tourism and leisure centre and a commercial and trade services platform, strengthened Macaos momentum towards adequate economic diversification, and developed a hinterland for such diversification. In 2012, the construction of the new Hengqin campus of the University of Macau made good progress. However, in view of the collapse in July of the section of the cross-river tunnel connecting to Henqin, the Infrastructure Development Office emphasised that safety and quality remained the Governments highest priorities, and thus required the contractor to submit a new, feasible project plan in order to safeguard the quality and safety of the project. The contractor also had to assume all responsibility for any loss or delay in works resulting from the incident. At the end of 2012, construction of all individual buildings within the campus has entered the final stage. The construction of the major structure of the cross-river tunnel was also completed in January 2013. To relieve the workload of customs clearance, the governments of Guangdong and Macao announced a new border-crossing project in 2012, followed by a joint application and report to the Central Peoples Government, discussion of the implementation of the project with relevant ministries, and active preparation for various studies at the initial stage. In support of the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Hong Kong-ZhuhaiMacao Bridge Border-crossing Policy Research and Coordination Group was formed by the governments of the three cities to carry out studies of various proposals related to movement across the border and to push forward relevant works on both sides. In regard to cross-border transport, studies were launched of the public transport system and the feasibility of Macao-registered motor vehicles moving between Macao and Hengqin; interoperability of fare cards between Macao and the other two cities was promoted, and liaison and communication was strengthened to facilitate mutual recognition of driving licences, in an effort to implement relevant management solutions and measures within 2013. On the support offered to Sichuan, all 103 reconstruction projects in which the Government participated were completed in 2012. It only remains to perform final review and assessment of the project audit reports to ensure that the projects were constructed in accordance with the goals and requirements of the Government, and that quality and safety are up to the national standard.
Launch consultation on population policy to support development and strengthen human resources
In tandem with the stable development of the economy and society, we must enhance the overall
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strength of Macaos population and attach importance to leveraging the advantages of Macaos talent pool, in order to promote economic and social development in line with the enhancement of local residents benefits and welfare. In support of the implementation of the development blueprint, the Governments population policy will embrace the vision to enhance population quality, improve population structure, upgrade overall strength of human resources, promote quality of life, and ultimately achieve Macaos sustainable development goals. After comprehensive analysis of the 2011 Population Census results and further specific studies, the Policy Research Office has kicked off a public consultation on Macaos population policy framework. The Government would consolidate and summarise the comments collected from various sectors of the community and carefully formulate population policy that meets the needs of Macaos development. The three-month public consultation on Macaos population policy framework was launched in November to collect opinions and suggestions from different sectors with the aim to reach social consensus. A number of briefing sessions were organised by the Policy Research Office during the consultation period to collect opinions and suggestions on Macaos population policy framework directly from the public. The Policy Research Office has made full record of and compiled the public views collected during the consultation sessions on issues such as ageing population, management of non-resident workers, supply of professional workers, population quality, population scale and carrying capacity of the population, to facilitate in-depth studies on population policy conducted by the Government, and to provide reference for relevant departments in formulating policies and measures.
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Constitutional development was a major focus of the Governments agenda in 2012. In the course of looking for election methods that suit the social characteristics of Macao, the Central Peoples Government has given its full support to Macao while the Government has adhered strictly to the relevant requirements of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Based on the interpretation and decision of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) and taking into consideration the practical situation of Macao, the Government has secured mainstream consensus after the consultation period, and started the amendment process of the selection and formation methods for the Chief Executive and Legislative Assembly respectively. On 31 December 2011, the Standing Committee of the NPC passed the bill on the Interpretation of Article 7of Annex I andArticle 3of Annex II of theBasic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region (the Interpretation), thus officially establishing the five-step process to revise the methods of selecting the Chief Executive and forming the Legislative Assembly. During the one-month initial public consultation, the Government received a total of 2,692 submissions of opinions and suggestions. After considering mainstream opinion from various sectors of society and the general public, the Chief Executive submitted a report to the Standing Committee of the NPC on 7 February 2012. On 29 February, the Standing Committee of the NPC adopted a decision on the methods for forming the Legislative Assembly of the MSAR in 2013 and selecting its Chief Executive in 2014 (the Decision). Constitutional development is closely related to the daily life of Macao people, andthe Government attaches great importance to the support and participation of the general public. Public opinion was widely collected through various consultation channels, and consideration given to the interests of different sectors of society, in order to reachcommunity-wide consensus. In accordance with the Basic Law and the Interpretation and the Decision passed by the Standing Committee of the NPC, the Government published its consultation paper on Macaos constitutional development, and on 10 March 2012 launched a 45-day public consultation on the methods for forming the Legislative Assembly of the MSAR in 2013 and selecting its Chief Executive in 2014. A total of ten consultation sessions were organised, which enabled the Government to better understand public opinion through direct conversation. During the consultation period, the Government received 165,247 submissions of opinions and suggestions from different sectors of society, various community groups and organisations, as well as the general public. With regard to the method for selecting the Chief Executive in 2014, among the 153,092 submissions collected, 133,431 supported increasing the membership of the Chief Executive Election Committee from 300 to 400. In regard to the allocation of the newly added seats in the Election Committee, of the 54,100 submissions, 28,362 were for increasing the numbers of seats for the professional, labour, and social services sectors. As for the method for forming the Legislative Assembly, among the 159,837 submissions collected, 138,251 supported the idea of having two additional directly and indirectly elected legislators, with the number of appointed legislators remaining the same. After concluding and analysing the opinions collected, the Government accordingly tabled the draft bill of amendment to the method for the selection of the Chief Executive, and the draft bill of amendment to the method for the formation of the Legislative Assembly. The former suggested that the number of members in the Chief Executive Election Committee be increased from 300 to 400; while the latter suggested adoption of the adding two to each proposal, meaning that the
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fifth Legislative Assembly formed in 2013 would have 33 members, with the number of directly elected legislators increased from 12 to 14, the number of indirectly elected legislators increased from 10 to 12, and the number of legislators appointed by the Chief Executive remaining at seven. The bills were endorsed by a two-thirds majority of the Legislative Assembly on 5 June 2012. On 30 June 2012, the bill on the Amendment to Annex I of the Basic Law: Method for Selecting the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the bill on the Amendment to Annex II of the Basic Law: Method for Forming the Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region, were approved and officially recorded by the Standing Committee of the NPC, signifying the successful completion of all legislative procedures for the amendment to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and forming the Legislative Assembly. The Government considers that its first initiative in proposing appropriate amendment to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive and forming the Legislative Assembly was an important step in the constitutional development of Macao, which would have a positive impact on the maintenance of a stable political system and improved democratic elements in the constitution of Macao, on effective practice of executive-led government, on balancing the interests of different social strata and sectors, and on securing the long-term prosperity, stability and development of Macao. The Government immediately started legislative work relating to the selection and formation methods to implement the decision made by the Standing Committee of the NPC and the results of the initial consultation. On 29 August 2012, the bill on the amendment to the Chief Executive Electoral Law and the Legislative Assembly Electoral Law passed their second readings in the Legislative Assembly, providing a legal basis for the Legislative Assembly Election in 2013 and the Chief Executive Election in 2014.
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and Civil Service Bureau, Government Integrated Service Centre and various public services centres on Saturdays and Sundays, visiting tertiary institutions and secondary schools to register teachers and students as voters, and setting up registration counters at events organised by nonprofit-making organisations. Statistics show that in 2012, the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau received 26,909 applications for natural person voter registration, among which 2,102 were eligible advance applications from permanent residents who reached the age of 17. By 31 December 2012, the number of natural person voters was 277,153 (including those under the age of 18 who completed the registration in advance), an increase of 10.18 percent compared with the figure of 251,542 on 31 December 2011. In 2013, six legal person voters were newly entered into the register of voters.
Ensuring effectiveness of consultation guidelines and acting as a bridge between the Government and communities
In 2012, the Government continued to uphold the Putting people first principle in the administrative and judicial aspects by implementing and promoting a series of measures in regard to public administration, development of the legal system and civic and municipal affairs. After the Standard Guidelines for Public Policy Consultation came into effect, various stages of consultation were carried out by different public departments as required. The Public Administration Reform Coordination Committee performed its coordination role by following up on the implementation of various consultation projects, communicating with different departments, and providing assistance to them to ensure effective implementation of the guidelines. The merging of the Public Administration Reform Consultation Committee and the Public Administration Reform Coordination Committee enabled the Government to strengthen internal coordination and enhance communication with the community. The 15 special panels under the Community Services Consultation Committee cooperated with various public services centres, acting as a bridge between the Government and the community. As an important channel for direct communication between the Government and residents, the functions of community seminars have become more significant. The Community Services Consultation Committee organised direct discussion sessions with local residents, during which they explored, exchanged and followed up on issues such as environmental hygiene, food safety, urban infrastructure and public facilities management. In 2012, the Community Services Consultation Committee reported 364 cases, of which 261 were handled or settled, and among which 104 involved several departments. In addition, the 345 submissions received during the 12 community seminars were all followed up on.
Implementation of central recruitment system and central promotion and training scheme
The implementation of the central recruitment system and central promotion and training scheme in response to changes in society and the demands of local residents has made management of human resources in public administration more systematic, standardised and transparent, demonstrating
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the principles of fairness, impartiality and openness in human resource management, as well as enabling better coordination and management of civil servants. The central recruitment system was applicable to a total of 34 general and specific positions. According to Executive Order No. 230/2011, central recruitment and selection should be conducted for senior technician and technical assistant posts at the first stage. In 2012, with reference to the Governments recruitment plan for the next three years, the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau completed its analysis of the recruitment and requirements for the positions of technical assistant and senior technician, applicants for which would have to take a central examination. In August, recruitment proceduresfor the positions of technical assistant in general administrative support, administrative support in public reception and information technology, which included application, examination of relevant knowledge and professional interview, were undertaken to fill 128 vacancies in 30 public departments. According to the published list of candidates, a total of 14,051 people sat the central recruitment general knowledge examination. The implementation of the Rank and Grade System for Civil Servants and the Recruitment, Selection and Training for Promotion of Civil Servants linked the training of civil servants with the central promotion scheme. The formulation of the training route map enabled civil servants to enhance their capabilities in accordance with various policy objectives, job nature and their career development through fundamental, consolidation, upgrading and continuing courses. The training route map offered two main course types compulsory and elective. In 2012, eight targeted promotion training courses were organised for 250 civil servants due to be promoted in 2013. The Civil Servant Training Centre opened in February 2012 with responsibility for consolidating resources and improving course organisation. Courses offered by the centre enable civil servants to receive systematic and tailor-made training, to strengthen their overalladministrative ability. In 2012, the Civil Service Pay Council, composed of the relevant government departments and a number ofcivil service associations, was established with the aim to perfect the civil service remuneration system and establish a scientific and reasonable adjustment mechanism for civil service salaries. After considering various factors, the council put forward a proposal for salary adjustment for civil servants in 2012, which was submitted to the Executive Council and the Legislative Assembly for discussion and examination. With the bill on the adjustment to civil servants salaries and pensions passed in May, each point on the civil service salary scale increased from 59 patacas to 62 patacas. Regarding the judicial aspect, the Government prioritised the formulation of regulations concerning peoples livelihoods according to their importance and urgency. In 2012, the Government submitted 14 bills to the Legislative Assembly, of which nine were in the legislative plan and five were non-planned items. A total of 17 bills passed their second reading in the Legislative Assembly, including the Law Governing Video Surveillance in Public Places, the Deposit Protection Scheme, the amendment to the Chief Executive Electoral Law (Law No. 3/2004), and the amendment to the Legislative Assembly Electoral Law (Law No. 3/2001). Furthermore, 26 by-laws were promulgated by the Chief Executive, including the Wealth Partaking Scheme for 2012, the amendment to the SME Assistance Scheme and the Deposit Protection Fund.
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In regard to the review and amendment of major legal codes, the bill on the amendment to the Criminal Procedural Code passed its first reading in the Legislative Assembly. Regarding the amendment to the Civil Procedural Code, preliminary analysis, data collection and studies of comparative law were completed, with emphasis on enhancing judicial efficiency, simplifying legal proceedings, and better allocating judicial resources. The consultation paper regarding amendment of the Contract System was also ready for consultation. Promoting the Basic Law was a major task in the field of law promotion. The government departments concerned made use of favourable elements in society, and integrated the governments information networks with those of the community to organise various publicity activities to raise awareness among Macao residents of the Basic Law. These activities include fun fairs, academic seminars and Basic Law training courses, a photo exhibition cum quiz game in Anhui to commemorate Macaos reunification with the motherland, a series of seminars and lectures on the Basic Law co-organised with Anhui University, promotional activities in schools, library events and panel displays. Moreover, the construction of the Commemorative Gallery of the Macao Basic Law was expedited and the content of the exhibition was enriched in order to develop a base for the promotion of the Basic Law.
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In light of high inflation in recent years, the Government continued to share the wealth by implementing short-term measures to help the population cope with the hard times. It also gave further financial and policy support to the underprivileged and families with difficulties to support their living.
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In regard to long-term social security measures, two years have passed since the law on the Social Security System (Law no. 4/2010) was promulgated, and by the end of 2012, about 60,000 people had received their pensions. The allocation of the Central Provident Fund for 2011 started in July, and it was estimated that about 320,000 residents were eligible to receive the funding. On 10 August, the Government decided to inject a total of 37 billion patacas into the Social Security Fund over the next four years. On 25 September, 6,000 patacas were injected into the Central Provident Fund account of every eligible Macao resident. However, the Government injection into the Social Security Fund alone is insufficient to maintain a sound social security system. Therefore, on 5December, the Government proposed to raise the pension contribution and adjust the contribution proportion, aiming to achieve equal contributions by employers and employees within the next four years, to further improve the two-tier social security system.
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Government expedited the construction of medical service facilities, among which the expansion of the Emergency Services Building of Conde S. Januario Hospital is almost complete. Through transitional measures and comprehensive arrangements, such as strengthening cooperation with notfor-profit medical institutions, medical and healthcare services are ensured in spite of the adjustment of the completion time of the Islands District Medical Complex and the new health centres. In the second half of 2012, the Health Bureau proposed to create an electronic patient record system to share patient records among different medical institutions in Macao. In the first stage, patients records of government medical institutions, Kiang Wu Hospital and the University Hospital were compiled. Integrated community wards also started operation in July 2012. In view of economic and social changes, the Health Bureau further strengthened medical and healthcare services for the elderly through the provision of integrated community wards, reorganisation of the triage system for emergency services, extension of service hours of the Chinese medicine, acupuncture and oral healthcare outpatient services, and through the recruitment and training of additional staff. All these played an important part in strengthening the healthcare system of Macao and improving overall social welfare and health protection for local residents.
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talent database with the information collected during registration for the stationery allowance by tertiary students. Analysis of three aspects, namely the current situation, the demand for and the supply of talent, were carried out to provide references for the Government to formulate policies for tertiary education and other areas. Such information also helped the public, students, parents and various sectors in society to make objective and scientific decisions based on the demand and supply of talent in the future market. With regard to the reserve and supply of talented individuals, during the period from June to August 2012, the Tertiary Education Services Office conducted a survey of the study and career aspirations of final-year students at Macao tertiary institutions. Together with the usual length oftertiary education programmes and the application rate for the stationery allowance for tertiary students, the Tertiary Education Services Office worked out the number of graduates who would enter the local market in the years ahead. In addition, the Tertiary Education Services Office commissioned several tertiary institutions in Macao to conduct studies of the overall future demand and the demand of specific industries for talent, so as to collect accurate data for the further enhancement of the talent database. The Government also increased support for students by raising the quota and amountof scholarships offered to postgraduate students and cooperating with relevant departments to make transitional arrangements while adjusting the various scholarships for tertiary students. Furthermore, the Policy Address also stated clearly that the Tertiary Scholarship Scheme would be further adjusted and improved to ensure that family financial circumstances would not limit the opportunities for young people to pursue tertiary education. To this end, an Executive Order was published on 12 March to increase the quota and amountof student loans and scholarships to benefit more than 10,000 tertiary students starting from the 2012-2013 academic year. Total expenditure on the scheme was about 390 million patacas, an increase of 56 percent. At the same time, the Government actively promoted legislation relating to Macaos tertiary education system, and began the drafting of relevant regulations to develop the tertiary education system; followed up on the introduction of a joint entrance examination for universities in Macao and coordinated the relevant preparatory task forces to hold discussions. The Government also coordinated with various tertiary institutions to submit information for the compilation of a report on the quality assurance of Macaos tertiary education, which has been submitted to the education authority of Taiwan to seek qualification recognition ofmore Macao tertiary institutions. The budget for non-tertiary education reached nearly 4.16 billion patacas in 2012. However, on 24 February, the Government proposed to further increase the free education subsidy per class by 6.1 to 6.9 percent for the 2012-2013 academic year on the plenary meeting of the Non-tertiary Education Council. The total expenditure involved in this proposal increased by 7.2 percent compared with that for the 2011-2012 academic year. Other subsidies were also increased. In September, the Government further proposed to extend school fee subsidies to cover Macao high school students studying in Zhuhai and Zhongshan, and to organise summer courses on the cultural and social development of Macao for these students, in order to devise policies for the benefit of the people, promote Guangdong-Macao cooperation, as well as work towards the goal of perfecting every aspect of Macao education policies.
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These proposed measures were expected to be implemented in the second term of the 2012-2013 academic year. A subsidy of 17,000 patacas per academic year will be credited to the accounts of the parents or schools in Zhuhai for every eligible student. The governments of Macao and Guangdong have held several meetings to discuss relevant details, before deciding to launch a pilot scheme in high schools in Zhuhai and Zhongshan. The numbers of Macao high school students studying in Zhuhai and Zhongshan were estimated at about 500 and 300 respectively. The Government also progressively implemented policies and measures under Macaos ten-year plan for non-tertiary education 2011-2020, among which the bill on the Framework for Private School Teaching Staff was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 29 February. On 19 March, the Government promulgated the provisions of the bill and announced that it would take effect from the next academic year. The aims of the bill were to secure a quality teaching team and ensure the effectiveness of the non-tertiary education provided by private schools, through upgrading the professional standards of teachers and ensuring their job security. To support the implementation of the framework, the ranking system for teachers at private schools providing non-tertiary education was introduced and approved by an Executive Order dated 13 August, with retrospective effect from1 April. On 22 August, another Executive Order was promulgated by the Government to appoint all 13 members of the Teaching Staff Professional Committee, with the Director of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau as the Chairperson, with school management, teachers, representatives of educators and government officials forming the rest of the committee. Four teacher members and four alternate members were elected by education groups. The major responsibilities of the committee are to draw up a professional code of practice for teaching staff and to define the requirements for the number of professional development hours for teachers. Following the passing of the Framework for Private School Teaching Staff, professional development subsidies for teaching staff and plans to refine student-teacher ratios were implemented progressively. Attributed to the framework, the number of teaching sessions per teacher per week was reduced and the demand for teaching staff increased in the new academic year. All these helped to create better conditions for healthy development of Macaos education system. The establishment of the framework also encouraged the education sector to formulate a professional code of practice for teachers, motivate teachers at public and private schools in Macao, promote their professionalism and upgrade their professional standards, as well as help them to gain recognition by the community. After half a year of extensive consultation, the professional code of practice for teachers was officially introduced in November.
Response to demand for public housing and introduction of policies to stabilise property market
The Government was aware of the overheated state of the property market, and put forward a series of policies and strategies in 2012 to meet the policy objective of enabling and encouraging residents to own their home. In 2012, the Government expedited the construction of public housing, and made an advance
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allocation and arrangements for successful applicants to move in gradually. There were around 4,189 completed housing units, with a further 15,071 under construction, a total of 19,260 available units. Under the post-19,000 units public housing programme, land had been reserved for the provision of more than 6,000 further units, among which plans were in place for 3,800 units, and relevant tender invitation procedures had also commenced. In April, the Executive Council published the draft law on the sale of uncompleted residential units, and proposed to establish a system for the pre-sale of uncompleted residential units and the regulation of associated sale and purchase agreements. On 24 May, the Government announced plans for the first public housing projects under the post-19,000 units public housing programme at Lot 1, 2, Bairro da Ilha Verde; and on 6 July it introduced the second project at Northeast Road, Taipa. On 4 June, the Housing Bureau announced the ratio of public housing units to Home-Ownership Scheme housing units under the post-19,000 units public housing programme. On 20 August, the sale prices and shortfall repayment ratio of and the pre-sale arrangements for the public housing at Lot 4, Bairro da Ilha Verde were announced, so that families on the waiting list could gradually move into their new homes. On 12 October, the Government launched a further series of policies and measures, which addressed the housing problem from three perspectives, namely managing demand, increasing supply and improving the market mechanism. Eight measures were formulated in four directions the loan-to-value ratios for mortgages, taxation, pre-sale of uncompleted flats and increased supply of residential units. To prevent property speculation by foreign capital, acquisition costsfor non-resident flat buyers were increased and restrictions on their taking out mortgages were tightened. The scope of the law on the Special Duty on Transfer of Immovable Property for Residential Purposes was extended to cover shops, offices and parking spaces. On 24 October, an amendment to the law was passed by the Legislative Assembly via an emergency procedure. At the end of the month, new regulations on the special stamp duty and extra stamp duty levied on the resale of immovable property came into effect.
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environmental protection and improvements to living space. The General Road Traffic and Transport Policy of Macao reached the end of its first phase in 2012. Priority was given to the revamp of public transport system and relevant improvement measures. Since the introduction of new bus services a year earlier, the number of passengers reached a record high, with bus service frequency increased by some 36 percent. To ensure effective supervision of bus operations, a service appraisal system was introduced, a platform for the direct involvement of passengers was constructed, and the Transport Advisory Committee as an interactive platform was fully implemented to collect community views. The year also saw the granting of 200 new eight-year taxi licences through open tender. As the trunk system for future road transport, the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) is key to long-term traffic improvements in Macao, and is a milestone in the territorys transport development. In 2012, the LRT entered the construction stage with the commencement of three sections in Taipa (urban Taipa section, Cotai section and Taipa Terminal) and the commencement of building of the LRT depot. Furthermore, public presentations on the routes and the detailed design and improved facilities at the stations of the two sections on the Macao peninsula (South Sai Van Lake section and Outer Harbour section) were also held. The contractor began to work on the improvement project of the Sai Van Bridge in the second half of the year, following finalisation of the design. To meet the schedule of the LRT Phase 1 project, construction of the public transport interchange at Estrada Governador Albano de Oliveira in Taipa has commenced. During the construction phase of the LRT project, enhanced comprehensive planning of the traffic system in the area was implemented to improve connectivity between LRT stations and other transport modes, especially bus and taxi services. The Government maintained its efforts to expand the road network, such as through opening Rua Lei Pou Chon, connecting Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga with RuaNovadoPatane and Ilha Verde, revamping the road network around Avenida Marginal do Lam Mao, and extendingAvenida Marginal do Patane. Road crossing facilities for pedestrians were also improved and barrier-free walkways were constructed in phases. The walkways crossingEstrada da Baa de Nossa Senhora da Esperana were opened for use in 2012, and the construction of underground carriageway connecting Estrada da Baa de Nossa Senhora da Esperana and Avenida Wai Long in Taipa entered its most significant stage. To complement the completion of public housing projects, community facilities in those areas were improved. For instance, the first recycled water pipeline network will be completed for the public housing project at Seac Pai Van. The Government completed the construction of Iao Hon Market Complex and arranged for hawkers to move in. The improvement project of S. Lourenco Market was also completed. Renovation projects on the exterior of Iao Hon Market and Mercado Municipal Horta da Mitra, the hawker areas at Rua Sul do Mercado de S. Domingos, Rua Norte do Mercado de S. Domingos, and Fai Chi Kei were also commenced as scheduled. Meanwhile, the redevelopment plan of the
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Five Streets Rua da Emenda, Rua do Lu Cao, Rua de Brs da Rosa, Rua de Tom Pires and Rua do Rebanho was implemented in phases. Part-time pedestrian zones were set up to eliminate potential safety hazards and maintain order in the hawker areas, creating a safe and comfortable living and business environment for residents and retailers. In the realm of environmental protection, the Government introduced a number of new policies and initiatives in 2012 to ensure healthy development of the living environment in Macao. For instance, through continuous improvement the leakage rate of water pipelines dropped to about 8.8 percent reaching the goal set in the Macao Water Conservation Plan. Several environmental protection policies such as the by-law on Standard Limits of Exhaust Emissions for Imported New Vehicles were introduced, and efforts were made to educate the public to make efficient use of resources and to encourage society to use renewable energy. In February, the solar photovoltaic system pilot project at Edficio Hou Kong commenced operation. At the same time, the natural gas pipeline network, which helped to safeguard the energy supply necessary to meet the demands of Macao residents, officially came into use.
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arrested. In March, the Public Security Police and mainland public security authorities smashed across-borderhuman trafficking syndicate in a joint operation in which seven suspects were arrested and a number of victims freed.
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Governments reports on budget implementation for 2010. In addition, the Follow-up Committee for Public Finance Affairs received an explanation from the Secretary for Economy and Finance in regard to interim report. During the normal operation period of the Legislative Assembly, legislators submitted 466 written and 49 oral questions to the Government, and held nine plenary meetings for these enquiries. During the plenary meetings, legislators presented 224 pre-agenda speeches, relating to politics, society, the economy, culture, administration and other matters of public interest for Macao.
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According to the Agreement on the Delivery of Judicial Writs and Evidence in Civil and Commercial Cases between Mainland and Macao SAR Courts, in 2012, the Court of Final Appeal received 26 judicial writs from mainland China courts, and delivered 56 judicial writs to mainland China courts on behalf of courts in Macao. According to the Protocol on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons signed by the governments of Portugal and Macao, and the Arrangement between the Government of the Macao Special Administration Region and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, the Examining Magistracy received and filed 16 transfer requests from the Government in 2012, among which five were successful, all of them involving Hong Kong.
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cases of traffic contraventions were filed, representing an increase of 11 percent, most of which were evasion of traffic accident liability, followed by drunk driving.
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Fighting corruption and promoting probity, and adopting new technology to improve auditing
In 2012, the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) maintained its independence and continued to discharge its duties according to the law while promoting probity through extensive publicity and educational activities, in order to guide the creation of a system of integrity in the community. In 2012, the CCAC received 852complaints and filed 751 cases for investigation, including 297 criminal cases, of which 198 were concluded. In regard to complaints to the ombudsman, 563 cases were concluded and filed. Additionally, the CCAC received 1,231 inquiries of various kinds during the year, of which 645 were or involved criminal cases. There were 586 inquiries concerning complaints to the ombudsman. Regarding complaints to the ombudsman, the CCAC adopted various timely and efficient measures, of which the most frequent were the review of documents and the giving of direct advice, in order to settle problems and protect the legitimate rights of residents. In 2012, the CCAC organised 459 talks and seminars attended by 27,679 participants. Also, with the aim of entrenching a culture of probity in society, the CCAC educated the public on the importance of probity through jointly organising activities with community groups and through other channels. Spreading the anti-corruption message across the private sector was a major task of the CCAC in 2012. As well as continuing to explain the law on the Prevention and Suppression of Bribery in the Private Sector to private institutions and organisations in different industries, the CCAC also published a book, jointly with the anti-corruption authorities of Guangdong and Hong Kong, entitled Legal Guide for SMEs in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao as a reference for corruption prevention to anyone doing business in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, At the same time, to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2012, the CCAC organised a special seminar on integrity management and corruption-free business practice, during which experts and scholars from mainland China and other countries were invited to share their experience of corruption prevention in the private sector. In 2012, the Commission of Audit released five audit reports: two performance audit reports, on the Disbursement of Sponsorships by the Macao Foundation to Local Organisations and the Continuing Education Development Plan respectively; two special audit reports, on the Preparatory Committee for the Participation of Macau in the Shanghai World Expo and the second phase of the
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LRT construction; and the audit report on the Governments Public Accounts of 2011. The two performance audit reports on the Disbursement of Sponsorships by the Macao Foundation to Local Organisations and the Continuing Education Development Plan proposed that the authorities concerned strengthen the management of subsidy disbursement and examine the use and effects of the relevant subsidies to ensure the proper use of public funds. The two special audit reports on the Preparatory Committee for the Participation of Macau in the Shanghai World Expo and second phase of the LRT construction pointed out deficiencies by the authorities concerned in estimating expenses and formulating budgets. The former report also pointed out that the office concerned had not given any concluding statement about the overall financial status of the event upon its completion. In accordance with the requirements set out in the Rules for Formulation, Content and Compilation of the Budget of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Rules for Formulation, Content and Compilation of the General Account of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Executive Order No. 121/2011), and to support the introduction of computer-aided auditing, the Order of Commissioner of Audit No. 2/2012 was announced in 2012 to enable better regulation of the annual accounts submitted by the public departments. At the same time, to assist the public departments with submitting their annual accounts and required basic information, six briefing sessions were organised in November for the public departments/organisations to ensure that the auditing of 2012 accounts was carried out in an orderly manner.
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Political Structure
Chief Executive
The Chief Executive is the head of the MSAR and is accountable to the Central Peoples Government
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and the MSAR. The Chief Executive is charged with the responsibility of leading the MSAR Government; implementing the Basic Law and other laws applicable to Macao; signing bills passed by the Legislative Assembly and promulgating laws; signing budgets passed by the Legislative Assembly and reporting those budgets and final accounts to the Central Peoples Government for the record; making decisions on SAR Government policies and issuing executive orders; formulating by-laws and promulgating them for implementation; nominating and reporting to the Central Peoples Government candidates for the posts of Secretaries, Commissioner Against Corruption, Commissioner of Audit, and leading officials of the Police and Macao Customs Service, and recommending to the Central Peoples Government the removal of the above officials; appointing a proportion of the members of the Legislative Assembly; appointing and removing members of the Executive Council; nominating and reporting to the Central Peoples Government the appointment of the Public Prosecutor-General and recommending his or her removal; appointing or removing presidents and judges of the courts at all levels, public prosecutors and civil servants; and, under particular circumstances, dissolving the Legislative Assembly. The first and second Chief Executive of the MSAR was Edmund Ho Hau Wah. The third Chief Executive is Chui Sai On, currently serving his first term of office.
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The Legislature
According to the Basic Law, the MSAR enjoys legislative autonomy and the Legislative Assembly is its sole legislature. The Macao SAR has full legislative autonomy, which embodies and guarantees Macaos high degree of autonomy. The legislative power of Macao is exercised solely by the Legislative Assembly. No other body or entity has legislative power. Laws formulated by the Legislative Assembly shall conform to the Basic Law. The Legislative Assembly exercises its legislative power and supervisory power under the Basic Law and the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly.
Legislative Authority
The term legislative authority broadly refers to the power to formulate general and abstract laws that are applicable to the MSAR and its residents. More specifically, the powers of the Legislative Assembly include the right to make laws, the right to amend laws, the right to suspend the execution of laws, and the right to abolish laws. According to the Basic Law and the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Assembly members and the Government have the right to introduce bills and propose amendments. The Government has exclusive sponsorship rights in the four following respects: electoral law for the Legislative Assembly, public income and expenditure, political structure and Government operation. Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly shall come into effect only after being signed and promulgated by the Chief Executive.
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them are elected and the term of office, except for the first term, is four years. The first Legislative Assembly of the MSAR had 23 members, eight of whom were elected directly, eight indirectly and seven appointed by the Chief Executive. Their term of office expired on 15 October 2001. The second Legislative Assembly had 27 members, 10 of whom were elected directly, 10 indirectly and seven appointed by the Chief Executive. Their term expired in 2005. The third and the fourth Legislative Assembly likewise had 29 members, 12 of whom were elected directly, 10 indirectly and seven appointed by the Chief Executive. The fifth and the succeeding Legislative Assembly will have 33 members, 14 of whom are elected directly, 12 indirectly and seven appointed by the Chief Executive. However, the aforementioned does not apply to the amendments made through legal procedures to the method for forming the Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The Legislative Assembly has one president and one vice president, elected by and from among its members. The president and vice president shall be permanent Chinese residents who have lived continuously in Macao for at least 15 years.
Executive Board
Standing Committees
Follow-up Committees
Provisional Committees
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Electoral Law
Macaos electoral system is based on the Voter Registration Law (Law No. 12/2000 as amended by the Law No. 9/2008) and the Legislative Assembly Election Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Law No. 3/2001 as amended by the Law Nos. 11/2008 and 12/2012). The two laws govern both the direct and indirect elections of the Legislative Assembly, and the appointment of legislators as prescribed in Annex II (1) of the Basic Law. The Voter Registration Law contains 60 articles, which govern the voter registration procedures for natural persons and legal persons, whereas the Legislative Assembly Election Law contains 205 articles, which govern the direct and indirect elections of members of the Legislative Assembly.
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In indirect elections, representatives of legal persons who are confirmed as members of the relevant sectors for at least four years may, after being registered with and given legal personality by the Identification Services Bureau for at least seven years under the Voter Registration Law, vote for the 12 indirectly elected members of the Legislative Assembly. Under the two election systems, the method used for converting the number of votes into seats in the Legislative Assembly is as follows: the first candidate on each list receives a quotient equal to the number of votes recorded for that list. The second candidate on each list receives a quotient equal to half the number of votes recorded for that list. The third candidate on each list receives a quotient equal to a quarter of the number of votes recorded for that list, and so on. Legislative Assembly seats are then awarded to the candidates who, among all lists, have the highest quotients. As regards the assignment of the final seat: if two candidates from different lists have equal quotients, the seat shall be given to the candidate from the list that has yet to win a seat. If both lists have won one or more seats, the seat shall be given to the list that received the most votes. If both lists have won the same number of votes, the winner of the seat shall be determined by the open drawing of lots. The Chief Executive shall appoint seven legislators to the Legislative Assembly within 15 days of receiving the final verified results, as stipulated in Clause 2 of Article 133 of the Legislative Assembly Election Law.
The Judiciary
The courts of the MSAR have judicial autonomy. They are subordinate only to the law and are guaranteed to be free from any interference. The MSAR has a Court of First Instance, a Court of Second Instance and a Court of Final Appeal. The power of final adjudication is vested in the Court of Final Appeal. The Court of First Instance may, when necessary, establish special courts. The previous criminal prosecution system has been maintained since the establishment of the MSAR. The MSAR also has an Administrative Court, which is responsible for administrative and tax litigation. Defendants and plaintiffs who find the ruling of this court unsatisfactory can file an appeal to the Court of Second Instance. Judges at all levels are appointed by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of an independent commission composed of local judges, lawyers and prominent members of the community. The Chief Executive appoints the presidents of the courts from among the judges.
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The President of the Court of Final Appeal shall be a Chinese citizen who is a permanent resident of the MSAR. Any appointment or removal of the President of the Court of Final Appeal shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the NPC for the record. The Public Prosecutions Office is independent and free from interference, as defined by law. The Public Prosecutor-General shall be a Chinese citizen who is a permanent resident of the MSAR. He or she shall be nominated by the Chief Executive and appointed by the Central Peoples Government. Other public prosecutors shall be nominated by the Public Prosecutor-General and appointed by the Chief Executive. The structure, powers, functions and remit of the Public Prosecutions Office are prescribed by law.
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Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the National Emblem; Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone; Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf; Garrison Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China; and Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the Immunity of the Property of Foreign Central Banks from Judicial Compulsory Measures.
The MSAR has no jurisdiction over acts of state such as defence and foreign affairs. Chinese citizens who are residents of the MSAR are entitled to participate in the management of state affairs according to law.
Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region
Under the Basic Law, the Central Peoples Government is responsible for handling foreign affairs related to the MSAR. To this end, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China in the MSAR was established on 20 December 1999. The duties of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the MSAR are: 1. Handling foreign affairs issues related to the MSAR that are the responsibilities of the
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Central Peoples Government; 2. Handling and coordinating affairs related to the MSARs participation in international organisations and conferences; issues concerning international organisations and associations that establish branch offices in the MSAR; and matters related to inter-governmental conferences to be held in the MSAR; 3. Handling matters concerning the application of international treaties in the MSAR; and assisting with issues concerning the Central Peoples Governments processing of authorisation for the MSAR Government to negotiate bilateral agreements with foreign countries; 4. Coordinating and handling issues related to the establishment of foreign consular bodies, or other official and semi-official organisations in the MSAR, and dealing with relevant consular affairs; and 5. Handling any other responsibilities assigned to it by the Central Peoples Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Executive Structure
The MSAR Government is the executive authority of the MSAR. The Chief Executive is the head of the Government, supported by secretariats, bureaux, departments and divisions. Secretariats: there are five secretariats in the Government, namely the Secretariat for Administration and Justice, the Secretariat for Economy and Finance, the Secretariat for Security, the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture, and the Secretariat for Transport and Public Works. Each is headed by a secretary. The secretaries, in the above order of seniority, stand in for the Chief Executive when the Chief Executive is unable to perform his or her duties. Bureaux: units directly under the secretariats, performing designated functions. Departments: units affiliated to the bureaux, responsible for establishing operational procedures. Divisions: units affiliated to the bureaux or departments, responsible for operational duties.
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In addition, the Government structure includes affiliated units, such as teams and sections. The principal officials of the Government are the secretaries, the Commissioner Against Corruption, the Commissioner of Audit, and leading police and customs service officials. Principal officials of the MSAR shall be Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of Macao and who have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than 15 years. The Government is responsible for formulating and implementing policies; conducting administrative affairs; managing external relations as authorised by the Central Peoples Government under the Basic Law; drawing up and introducing budgets and final accounts; introducing bills and motions and drafting by-laws; and designating officials to attend meetings of the Legislative Assembly to listen to opinions or to speak on behalf of the Government. The Government must abide by the law and be accountable to the Legislative Assembly; implement laws passed by the Legislative Assembly and already in force; present policy addresses regularly to the Legislative Assembly; and answer questions raised by members of the Legislative Assembly.
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Region of the Peoples Republic of China and the Government of Jamaica for the Exchange of Information Relating to Taxes.
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rights, freedom, legal guarantees, and legitimate rights and interests, and aims to ensure the justice, legitimacy and efficiency of public administration, and investigates corruption in the private sector in accordance with the law. In 2012, the Commissioner Against Corruption attended the Board of Directors Meeting of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), the Board of Directors Meeting of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA), the 4th Seminar and the 6th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), the 17th Steering Group Meeting and Regional Seminar of the ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific, and the 10th International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) World Conference.
Commission of Audit
The Commission of Audit has been set up in accordance with the Basic Law. It functions independently and is not subject to interference. The Commissioner of Audit is accountable to the Chief Executive. The major duties of the Commission of Audit are to monitor the implementation of the Government budget; to compile an audit report on the overall Government accounts; to monitor the implementation of target departments budget and the final accounts, as well as the management and expenditure of capital not included in the budget, together with assessing everything including assets, debts, profits, losses, and accounts, and verifying that all public expenditure is according to the proper purview of audit; and to conduct value-for-money assessments, through reviewing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The following bodies are subject to audit: (1) Those deriving over half their income from the Government; (2) Those with less than half their income from the Government, but subject to audit by written consent. For public interest, the Chief Executive can issue a written authorisation to the Commissioner of Audit to audit and inspect any person of interest. In 2012, the Commissioner of Audit attended the 12th Annual Meeting of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) and the 7th annual meeting of the Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions of Portuguese Speaking Countries.
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In 2012, the office assisted liaisons between the MSAR Government and mainland China authorities, and liaisons between enterprises and organisations in Macao and mainland China, to seek opportunities for mutually beneficial development; and assisted Macao and mainland China residents with solving disputes and difficulties faced in investing, living, studying, and travelling in unfamiliar places. During the year, over 10 organisations from Macao and mainland China visited the office. In 2012, the office promoted Macao culture and tourism and released news stories via the Internet, showcasing Macaos current situation, establishing an effective communication and interactive platform for the public, and allowing more mainland China and overseas people to get to know and understand Macao. The office opened official accounts on Internet media such as Sina.com and People.com; its Weibo account on Sina.com (http://weibo.com/draemp) attracted more than 170,000 followers.
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Municipal Services
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) carries out the functions of now defunct municipal bodies that formerly provided cultural, recreational, and environmental hygiene services. It has also taken on responsibility for affairs concerning peoples livelihoods and the living environment; formulating and organising civic education activities; assisting non-governmental organisations and developing community spirit. It resolves practical problems encountered by Macao residents by receiving and handling their requests and complaints concerning their daily lives. The IACM is composed of an Administration Committee, a Consultative Committee and a Supervisory Committee. The Administration Committee is an executive body that supervises subordinate departments of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. It holds regular closed meetings to deal with relevant issues. The committee arranges public sessions every month to listen directly to citizens suggestions, opinions or criticisms.
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during the Chinese New Year and the Mid Autumn Festival, to distribute Macao Foundation Blessing Packs, and visited grassroots services and social services groups to understand their operational needs. The foundation followed up on recommendations in the value-for-money audit report on the disbursement of sponsorships by the Macao Foundation to local organisations, and held numerous seminars to consult various sectors on the new format of the grant application form. The grant application, evaluation and follow up process also underwent significant improvements, including as a result of a study on the system for evaluating grant applications and the electronic system for fund-raising, facilitating further progress with the system for granting funds. The foundation cooperated with local art groups, Caritas Macau, and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation to launch a project focusing on public charity.
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External Cooperation
The three Sichuan earthquake post-disaster reconstruction projects supported by the Macao Foundation reconstruction of Qing Cheng Shan Temple ancient architectural complex, the Beichuan Qiang Folk Museum and the Sanxingdui Ruins Museum were completed in 2012. In 2012, the foundation made donations to support the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, organised participation by Macao students in the UNESCO Childrens Performing Arts Festival of East Asia in Ulaanbaatar of Mongolia, and nominated the works of four local artists for an exhibition at Olympic Fine Arts 2012, London. As a founding member of the Boao Forum for Asia, the Macao Foundation sent a delegation to participate in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2012 and the 2012 Education Forum for Asia Annual Conference. Through the China Association of Inventions, the foundation awarded the Macao Foundation Invention Prize to Jwo Hwu Yi and colleagues of the Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences of Taiwan for their project, which seeks a solution to maintain the normal operation of wind turbines during strong winds, at the Seventh International Exhibition of Inventions.
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98 and 99 of the Basic Law, Macaos serving civil servants, including the police and supporting members of the judiciary, remained in employment after the establishment of the MSAR. They may remain in the civil service and retain their seniority with pay, allowances, benefits and conditions of service no less favourable than before. The Government shall pay such civil servants, or their dependents, all pensions and allowances due to them on terms no less favourable than before, and irrespective of their nationality or place of residence. The Government may employ Portuguese and other foreign nationals previously employed in the civil service who are permanent residents of the MSAR to serve as public officials in government departments at all levels, unless otherwise prohibited by the Basic Law. The Government may also employ Portuguese and other foreign nationals as advisers or to fill professional and technical posts. These persons shall be employed only in their individual capacities and shall be responsible only to the Government. At the end of 2012, Macao had 26,943 civil servants (excluding 32 people recruited through the outsourcing contract system and labour provision contracts) of whom 26,751 were recruited locally and 192 from elsewhere. Of this total, 58 percent were male and 42 percent female. There were 15,989 civil servants with tertiary education qualifications, representing 59.3 percent of the total; 691 of the bureau directors, department heads, division and section chiefs 90.6 percent of the total held tertiary education qualifications.
E-Governance
The Government continues to promote scientific management to align with the ongoing public administration reform. From planning, information infrastructure, management and digitising services, the Government intensifies the development of electronic administration to improve efficiency, transparency and effectiveness, thus offering faster and more convenient public services.
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In 2012, the 2013-2014 e-Governance Development Plan was formulated as a blueprint for developing the basis of reforming public services, procedural reform and human resources management. It aims to promote the development and application of e-governance as a basis for long-term development in corporate structure and standards, document management, procedural management, knowledge management and centralised human resources management. A plan has been devised for the new generation of the government portal website and development of the electronic information kiosk as an interactive platform for disseminating government information. The information facilities hosting service and the disaster recovery application of the Government Central Data Centre continued to be expanded to improve security and share the benefits of information management. To date, there are 23 government departments using the various hosting services offered by the centre, which also cooperates with seven departments to construct a mechanism for information system disaster recovery, assist in handling information failure incidents, and maintain normal operations of public services. The overall system analysis and design of the e-governance application platform has been completed. The workflow involves applications, processing, approvals and filing. The shared components are analysed and developed to assist with the future development and application of different working procedures. The integrated solutions for electronic identification have been completed. These combine electronic certificates, smart identity card and ePass, allowing various departments to launch more public e-services and enabling the public to access relevant services more safely and conveniently. In 2012, the electronic information kiosk for self-service voter registration was introduced, enabling qualified citizens to register as voters at any time that is convenient to them.
Official Languages
In accordance with Article 9 of the Basic Law, in addition to the Chinese language, Portuguese may also be used as an official language by the executive authorities, the legislature and the judiciary of the MSAR.
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The Flag of the MSAR The circular MSAR emblem consists of a narrow green border, a ring of characters on a white background, a green inner circle and elements including stars, a lotus flower, a bridge and seawater. The outer ring of characters lies between the narrow green border and the green inner circle. In the upper half of the ring of characters, 14 Traditional Chinese characters meaning The Macao Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China are set in a standard traditional font, evenly distributed along the width of the arch. The lower portion of each character points to the centre of the emblem. In the lower half of the ring of characters, the Portuguese word Macau
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is printed in a standard font. The letters are evenly spaced, with the upper portion of each letter pointing to the centre of the emblem. Both the Chinese and Portuguese characters are distributed symmetrically on opposite sides of a vertical axis through the emblem. A white lotus flower with three petals is in the centre of the green inner circle. Above the lotus flower, five golden stars, of which the middle one is largest, radiate from the centre of the emblem. The lower points of the stars are directed at the centre of the emblem. Below the lotus flower, a white bridge and seawater are represented as green and white stripes.
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Secretariat for Security Secretariat for Transport and Public Works Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture
Office of the Secretary for Security Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau Public Security Police Force Marine and Water Bureau Fire Services Bureau Academy of Public Security Forces Macau Government Tourist Office Social Welfare Bureau Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works Transport Bureau Social Security Fund Environmental Protection Bureau Tourism Crisis Management Office Macau Tourism Promotion and Information Center in Portugal Infrastructure Development Office Energy Sector Development Office Transportation Infrastructure Office
Identification Bureau
Printing Bureau
Macao Foundation
Pension Fund
Supporting Office to the Secretariat of China and Portuguese - speaking Countries Economic Cooperation Forum (Macao)
Science and Technology Development Fund Macao Economic and Trade Office to the European Union In Brusseis
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1. The Basic Law; 2. National laws listed in Annex III to the Basic Law; 3. Laws that were in effect before 20 December 1999 and which have been retained as laws of the Macao SAR by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress; and 4. Laws enacted by the legislature of the Macao SAR. The Penal Code, Criminal Procedural Code, Civil Code, Civil Procedural Code and Commercial Code, collectively known as the Five Codes, form the authoritative framework of Macaos legal system. National laws shall not be applied in the Macao SAR, except those listed in Annex III to the Basic Law. Laws listed in Annex III shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation by the Macao SAR. Currently, 11 national laws apply in the Macao SAR. The Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress may add to or delete from the list of laws in Annex III after consulting its Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao SAR and the MSAR Government. Only those laws relating to defence, foreign affairs and other matters outside the limits of the Regions autonomy as specified in the Basic Law are to be listed in Annex III to the Basic Law.
Fundamental Rights
The Basic Law safeguards the fundamental rights of the people of Macao. These include: freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association and assembly, freedom of procession and demonstration, the right to organise and join trade unions and to strike, freedom of religion, freedom to travel, and freedom to enter and leave Macao. Provisions applicable to Macao in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and International Labour Conventions also remain in force. Macao continues to comply with the main international conventions on human rights, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Judicial System
Judicial Independence
Under the Basic Law, the Macao SAR enjoys independent judicial power, including the power of final adjudication. Courts of the Macao SAR exercise independent judicial power. They are subordinate to nothing but the law, and they are not subject to any interference. Judges of the Macao SAR exercise judicial authority according to the law, and not according to any orders or instructions, except as prescribed in the third paragraph of Article 19 of the Basic Law. Judges are immune from legal action for discharging their judicial functions. The Macao Public
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Prosecutions Office likewise exercises the procuratorial functions vested in it by law, independently and free from any interference.
Judicial Organs
Under the Basic Law and the Macao SAR Judicial Organisation Framework Law, Macao has two independent judiciary bodies: one is the court system, which exercises judicial power; the other is the Public Prosecutions Office, which exercises the power of prosecution.
The Courts
Designed in accordance with the Basic Law and the Macao SAR Judicial Organisation Framework Law, Macaos three-level court system became fully operational following the formal establishment of the Macao SAR. This systems operations totally embody the independent judicial authority and final adjudication authority granted to Macao by the Central Peoples Government. Courts are the only institutions vested with judicial functions. They seek to safeguard legally protected rights and interests, stop unlawful practices and settle public and private disputes. Each court hears legal proceedings belonging to its respective jurisdiction. Courts are not subject to interference by any other authority, and they do not abide by any order or instruction. This constitutes the foundation of judicial independence, promotion of justice, guarantee of social stability and protection of civil rights.
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Statutory claims limits of appeal cases of the Lower Court: 1. 50,000 patacas for civil cases regarding civil affairs and labour law; 2. Unlimited claims in criminal cases tried under criminal or labour law, or in cases concerning the educational and social protection system that fall within the jurisdiction of the juvenile judicial system. As at December 2012, the Lower Court has 26 judges: six presidents of Collegial Panels and 20 judges of Single-judge Benches. The Civil Court has the power to hear cases that are civil in nature, and which do not fall under the jurisdiction of other courts. It also hears cases of other types that do not fall under the jurisdiction of other courts or tribunals, including all the related matters and issues raised by such cases. The Criminal Court has the power to hear criminal cases or misdemeanours that do not fall under the jurisdiction of other courts or tribunals, including all related matters and issues raised by such cases. The Examining Magistracy currently has three judges. The Examining Magistracy hears criminal cases at various stages of investigation. It also conducts preliminary investigations and, based on the available evidence, decides whether a case should be brought to trial. This court also carries out judicial work related to imprisonment and detention. The Court for Minor Civil Cases, commonly known as the Small Claims Tribunal, deals specifically with litigation concerning monetary debts and consumer rights not exceeding 50,000 patacas in cash value. These include, but are not limited to, consumer credit, management fees, rentals, use of letters of credit, and instalment payments. As defined by law, the Court for Minor Civil Cases has the power to hear litigation conducted in accordance with the special proceedings for minor cases, which include all the matters and questions raised by such litigation, as long as it does not prejudice other jurisdictions attributed by law. In 2012, the Information Office of the Lower Court and the Court for Minor Civil Cases continued to provide an enquiry service to litigants, and handled 10,011 enquiries involving a total of 9,431 cases. According to the Arrangements on Transfer of Sentenced Persons between the Government of Macao and the Government of Portugal and the Arrangements on Transfer of Sentenced Persons between the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region and the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Examining Magistracy opened 16 cases on requests for transfers of sentenced persons that were referred by the Government. Five cases were successful; all of which were related to Hong Kong.
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3. Unlimited claims for other disputes related to administration, taxation and customs; or for cases involving the assessment of the legality of regulations. The Administrative Court currently has two judges, who also oversee the office of the Administrative Court and assume the posts defined by Items 2 to 5 of Clause 4 of Article 33 of the Judicial Organisation Framework Law. Each post is occupied for a three-year term and is assumed on a rotation basis according to descending seniority.
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levels of courts, and offers the courts technical, administrative and financial support. It is headed by the President of the Court of Final Appeal, and comprises the Judicial and Technical Support Department, the Translation Support Division, the Administrative and Financial Department, as well as the Judicial Affairs Division, the Organisation and Information Division, the Human Resources Division, the Finance and Property Division, and the General Services Division.
Appointment of Judges
Judges at all levels of courts in Macao are appointed by the Chief Executive on the recommendation of an independent committee composed of local judges, lawyers and prominent members of the community. They are chosen on the basis of their professional qualifications, and qualified judges of foreign nationality may also be appointed.
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prosecutions, and safeguarding legality and legal rights. Moreover, under specific situations defined in the procedural laws, the Public Prosecutions Office oversees the implementation of the Basic Law. The Public Prosecutions Office is an autonomous agency and it exercises its functions independently and free from any interference. Its independence and autonomy are limited by the criteria of legality and objectivity of the Public Prosecutions Office, and the instructions and guarantees contained in other laws to which its officers must strictly adhere. Furthermore, the organisation, responsibilities and operations of the Public Prosecutions Office are clearly defined by law. The Public Prosecutor-General is the head and representative of the Public Prosecutions Office and is appointed by the Central Peoples Government on the nomination of the Chief Executive. Judicial officers are nominated by the Public Prosecutor-General and appointed by the Chief Executive.
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This function is reflected in the Public Prosecutions Offices authority to investigate whether police investigations or court functions are being carried out according to the law. It is likewise the duty of the Public Prosecutions Office to ensure strict adherence to the law, both before and after the fact, in its supervision of the way various public departments apply the law. When requested, the Public Prosecutions Office may also exercise a legal consultative role to the Chief Executive or Legislative Assembly. Finally, another important function of the Public Prosecutions Office is to safeguard legitimate rights and interests. This function is exercised in several ways. One is the defence, in situations defined by law, of collective or public interests. In other situations, the Public Prosecutions Office acts as the representative of employees and their relatives, or attends any judicial proceedings regarding bankruptcy or insolvency when public interests are involved. Finally, the Public Prosecutions Office represents in court individuals who are considered incapable, or who are missing or absent. One important task that history has delegated to Macaos judicial institutions is the development of a judicial framework that is suited to the characteristics of Macao society and consistent with the legal principles enshrined in the Basic Law. With this aim in mind, the Public Prosecutions Office has established a new judicial framework entitled One Institution, Three Levels of Assignment. One Institution refers to the existence of one unified body within the organisational structure of the Public Prosecutions Office, as opposed to the three different levels of the office corresponding to the three tiers of courts. This simple, unified structure better suits a territory with the size and population of Macao, and it helps to streamline the institution and its personnel structure, and increase efficiency. Three Levels of Assignment refers to the assignment delegation system inherited by the Public Prosecutions Office of the Macao SAR from the pre-Handover procuratorial system. Under this system, three levels of Public Prosecutors (also known as judicial officers of the Public Prosecutions Office), including the Public Prosecutor-General, Assistant Public Prosecutor-General and Public Prosecutor, act as representatives of the Public Prosecutions Office in Macaos three tiers of courts and participate in legal actions. In conformity with this framework, the Public Prosecutions Office has established subordinate offices in the following courts: In the Court of Final Appeal its office is headed by the Public Prosecutor-General, who is the chief representative to that court and is supported, when necessary, by an Assistant Public Prosecutor-General;
In the Court of Second Instance, the office is headed by an Assistant Public ProsecutorGeneral; In the Court of First Instance, offices have been established in both the Lower Court and the Administrative Court. In both offices, a Public Prosecutor acts as the representative of the Public Prosecutions Office. If a case is serious, complicated, or involves substantial public interest, the Assistant Public Prosecutor-General may act as the representative of the Public Prosecutions Office in the Court of First Instance; and
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An independent office at the Examining Magistracy is headed by a Public Prosecutor, who leads investigations and initiates criminal prosecutions.
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A public prosecutor selected as a representative by judicial officers and from among their own ranks; and Two members of the community appointed by the Chief Executive.
Legal Aid
The Basic Law provides that every resident of Macao shall have certain inalienable legal rights. These include the right to appeal to the law, the right to initiate a court action, the right to seek assistance from a lawyer in protecting his or her legitimate rights and interests, and the right to receive legal aid. But while every Macao resident is legally entitled to appeal to the courts for the resolution of a dispute, not all residents are financially capable of paying the consequent court costs and lawyers fees. For this reason the law also provides a legal aid system that assists residents who are less financially able to exercise their legal rights fully. Legal aid provides exemption or postponement of all or part of advance fees and court fees for residents who are less financially able, and appoints a legal representative for them at no charge. All residents of Macao, including temporary residents, can apply for legal aid if they meet certain legal requirements. Legal aid can be applied for at any stage of a legal action.
The Public Prosecutions Office Office at the Court of Final Appeal The Prosecutorial Office at the Court of Second Instance
The Court of Final Appeal The Court of Second Instance Competent Divisional Courts for Criminal Cases and Other Cases The Court of First Instance Civil Court, Examining Magistracy, Court for Minor Civil Cases, Criminal Court, Labour Tribunal, Family and Minors Court
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Prosecutions Office and the courts. It is also responsible for offering continued training to judicial officers. According to the law, all judges and public prosecutors must complete a two-year training course and practical training provided by the training centre. Since the establishment of the MSAR, the centre has completed three training sessions for 25 local judicial officers (14 judges and 11 public prosecutors). The fourth session, which commenced in July 2011 and was expected to be completed in July 2013, has 12 candidates. As for continued training courses for judges and public prosecutors, the centre organised joint programmes with the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, the National Judges College, the National Prosecutors College of China, the Centre for Judicial Studies of Portugal and the National School for Magistrates of France. The centre also hosts training programmes featuring legal experts and other professionals in Macao as major speakers. In 2012, the centre organised seminars with topics including Chinas Foreign Affairs and International Law and Juvenile Delinquency: Judiciarys Response. The training centre launched two one-year judicial clerk induction programmes, from which a total of 125 participants have been appointed as judicial clerks in the courts or the Public Prosecutions Office. The third training programme admitted 120 trainees, and commenced in April 2012. As per requests from the Office of the Public Prosecutor-General and the Office of the President of the Court of Final Appeal, the centre launched promotion preparation programmes for judicial support staff of the courts or the Public Prosecutions Office, and for clerks-in-charge of the courts. The centre began preparing for Promotion Training Course for Clerk Specialists of the Public Prosecutions Office and Promotion Training Course for Assistant Clerks of the Public Prosecutions Office, which are to commence in June 2013. Another important task of the centre is to provide training on general legal knowledge for civil servants. In 2012, the centre organised numerous programmes with the aim of improving professional skills of public servants and facilitating the development of the MSAR. The courses focused especially on the drafting of laws, international laws and enhancements in legal language and public administration laws. The centre continued to organise training courses on the Basic Law; administrative procedures; civil service laws and regulations; public finance management system; regulations and laws on administrative contracts; administrative litigation procedures; laws regarding discipline and punishment, and laws on undertaking public works. The centre rolled out activities planned for the 2nd EU-Macao Cooperation Programme in the Legal Field. In 2012, it organised seminars and workshops such as: Seminar on Urban Law; Workshop on Legislation Quality and Assessment; Seminar on Fundamental Rights System, and Workshop on Criminal Judicial Assistance. These events aimed to further develop Macaos legal system. Moreover, the centre continued to organise training courses for trainee lawyers, at the request of the Macau Lawyers Association.
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the ability of residents to seek legal recourse and have access to the courts. No resident should, due to financial difficulty or any other reason, be denied access to the courts. Lawyers have an obligation to help residents exercise the right to litigate, and they are obliged to accept courtappointed legal aid cases. The Lawyers Statutes (Decree-Law No. 31/91/M) of 6 May 1991 stipulate that the Macau Lawyers Association is a public corporate institute representing the legal profession. Its professional ethics and practices are defined by the Associations regulations. The Macau Lawyers Association is composed of a Presidency, Executive Committee, Supervisory Committee and Higher Council of Lawyers. The Higher Council of Lawyers exercises exclusive disciplinary jurisdiction over lawyers and trainee lawyers, and it is responsible for monitoring their discipline, professional ethics, and moral ethics. Individuals who wish to practise law in Macao and who hold a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Macau must register with the Macau Lawyers Association and undergo a period of practical training of no less than 18 months. Trainee lawyers must register as practising lawyers within 60 days of internship completion. In line with relevant regulations, Bachelor of Law degree holders who graduated from a university recognised by Macao and wish to become practising lawyers in Macao must take certain orientation courses. After completing the courses, such persons must undergo an internship before they may practise law. At the end of 2012, there were 248 practising lawyers and 105 trainee lawyers in Macao.
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Civil Registry
The Civil Registry is responsible for the civil registration of births, parentage, adoption and custody, marriages, marriage agreements, deaths and the legal deaths of missing persons, and for issuing relevant certificates.
Private Notaries
Macaos Private Notary system was established to undertake part of the work previously handled by the Notary Public Offices. The Legal Affairs Bureau is responsible for coordinating and supervising licensed private notaries. At the end of 2012, there were 55 private notaries in Macao.
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EXTERNAL RELATIONS
External Relations
External Relations
The Central Peoples Government is responsible for the foreign affairs of the Macao SAR. When the MSAR was established, the Central Peoples Government set up the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, to handle foreign affairs issues related to Macao. The Central Peoples Government also authorised Macao to manage certain external affairs in accordance with the regulatory framework stipulated in Chapter 7 of the Macao Basic Law. As a non-sovereign region, Macao enjoys wide-ranging and close relationships with most countries and regions throughout the world. This is an advantage for Macao in its longstanding, extensive, direct, friendly and beneficial relationships, particularly those with European Union (EU) member states and Romance language-speaking countries. To facilitate Macaos further development, the Government frequently conducts external activities and makes great efforts to foster interactions and collaboration with countries and regions around the world, in areas such as economics, trade and culture.
Consulates in Macao
Under the provisions of Article 142 of the Macao Basic Law, the establishment of foreign consular and other official or semi-official missions in the MSAR is subject to approval by the Central Peoples Government. Consular and other official missions established in Macao before the Handover by states with formal diplomatic relations with the Peoples Republic of China were allowed to remain. According to individual circumstances, consular and other official missions established in Macao by states with no formal diplomatic relations with the Peoples Republic of China were allowed either to remain, or to change to semi-official missions. States not recognised by the Peoples Republic
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of China were only allowed to establish non-governmental institutions in the MSAR. By the end of December 2012, a total of 89 countries had reached agreements with the Macao SAR on establishing consular services in Macao or had extended the duties of their consulates general in Hong Kong to include Macao, or had empowered them to execute consular duties in Macao (see Appendix 8, Countries Exercising Consular Jurisdiction in the Macao SAR). Angola, the Philippines and Portugal are the three countries that have established a consulate general in Macao. Fifty-three other countries have assigned their consulates general in Hong Kong to cover consular affairs in Macao, including several countries that may execute consular duties in Macao. These are (in alphabetical order, similarly hereinafter): Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, the State of Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. China has signed an agreement with Antigua and Barbuda that allows the island country to establish a consulate general in Hong Kong, but it has not yet opened. The consulates general of Samoa, Bahamas and Denmark in Hong Kong were closed but their agreements on provision or expansion of consulate services were not terminated. Ten countries have appointed honorary consuls to Macao: Cape Verde, Estonia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Peru and the United Kingdom. The posts of honorary consul of Bhutan, France and Surinam are currently vacant. Twenty countries with honorary consulates in Hong Kong cover or extend services to Macao: Cyprus, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iceland, Kenya, Lithuania, Maldives, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, Rwanda, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania and Uruguay.
International Organisations
The principles contained in Articles 136 and 137 of the Macao Basic Law regarding the appropriate participation of Macao in international activities form the legal bases on which the Central Peoples Government and the MSAR Government handle issues relating to Macaos participation in international activities. Since the establishment of the MSAR, the Central Peoples Government has assisted and
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supported Macaos participation in relevant international conferences and activities in accordance with the Macao Basic Law, and has also shown concern for and safeguarded Macaos rights and interests in these international organisations. The Government participates in intergovernmental organisations in one of two ways: As a full member of the organisation concerned, with the identity of a separate region that undertakes international obligations and enjoys corresponding rights and interests; or as an associate member (or affiliate member) or member without voting rights that speaks as Macao, China. In such circumstances, Macao undertakes its international obligations and enjoys corresponding rights and interests, subject to certain conditions. In addition, Macao attends meetings of other intergovernmental organisations as a member of the central government delegation. Its delegates may express opinions on matters relevant to the MSAR in the name of Macao, China. Macao may also attend non-governmental, regional and specialist meetings of international organisations. Macaos participation in international activities of non-governmental organisations should fall within the sphere of Macaos autonomous affairs following the establishment of the MSAR. Such issues would thus be left to Macaos own discretion, and according to its needs. During 2012, Macao attended several international conferences as a member of central government delegations, including: The Seventh Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, The Council on General Affairs and Policy of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, The 101st Session of the International Labour Conference, The International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings, The World Health Organization Executive Board Meeting, The 55th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, The United Nations Climate Change Conference, The World Radiocommunication Conference 2012, The 12th Air Navigation Conference of the International Civil Aviation Organization, The 18th International Hydrographic Conference, The Consideration of Report on Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, The 25th Universal Postal Union Congress, and The 12th Assembly of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions. Also, under the name Macao, China, Macao attended international conferences including: The Sixth International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance, The 18th CINDER International Congress,
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The 16th ICAO PKD Meeting, The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes: Competent Authorities Meeting, The 15th Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) Annual Meeting, Seminars on Counting the Seven Billion: The Future of Population and Housing Censuses and Integrating Statistical and Geospatial Information: Cloud and Web Service Applications- UNSD (United Nations Statistics Division), The 35th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group Meeting, The Financial Action Task Force plenary meeting, The London Olympic Committee Paralympic Leadership Conference 2012, The Fourth World Curriculum Studies Conference, The Institutional Management in Higher Education General Conference 2012, The 36th Session of World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), The Annual Meeting of the Pacific Asia Travel Association 2012, The 68th Session of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, The 81st INTERPOL General Assembly, The Ninth Meeting of Presidents of Supreme Courts in Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Regions, The Board of Director's Meeting of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), and The Sixth Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.
International Treaties
Article 138 of the Basic Law stipulates the applicability of multilateral treaties to Macao; and this forms the legal and regulatory framework for the Central Peoples Government and MSAR Government to implement multinational treaties applicable to Macao. As of 2012, 275 multilateral treaties were applicable to Macao: 51 treaties on foreign affairs and defence; 15 on civil aviation; 10 on customs; four on drugs; seven on economics and finance; seven on education, science, technology, culture and sport; 20 on the environment and conservation; three on health; 20 on human rights; four on intellectual property; 12 on international crime; two on international trade; 36 on labour; 34 on maritime affairs; 10 on private international law; three on road traffic; eight on postal affairs and telecommunications; and 29 on the establishment of
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international governmental organisations (see Appendix 11, Multilateral Treaties Applicable to the Macao SAR, for details). On regional and international laws, the Government began negotiations with the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2012 on the signing of the Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitration Awards, regarding confirmation of the documents to be signed. The Government also followed up on mutual legal assistance agreements with other countries, completed the implementation reports on several rights conventions, such as replies to the list of questions on the first report of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and began preparatory work for Macaos first participation in the deliberation meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council as an individual member under the name Macao, China.
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to the Council and the European Parliament The European Union, Hong Kong and Macao: Possibilities for Cooperation 2007-2013. The EU is Macaos second-largest trading partner. In 2012, the total value of Macaos exports to the EU was 315 million patacas, representing a decrease of 12.1 percent over 2011; while imports from the EU were worth 16.6 billion patacas, up by 7.1 percent from 2011.
Visa-free Access
Currently, MSAR Passport holders are allowed to remain for 90 days or six months without a visa in the 27 EU member countries. These countries are: Denmark, Belgium, Lithuania, Spain, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Finland, France, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Ireland, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, Cyprus, Estonia, Sweden, Portugal, Germany, Luxembourg, Romania and Malta. To enhance relations with EU member countries and increase economic and trade relations with them, the first and second Chief Executive Edmund Ho led delegations to visit Portugal, France, Belgium and Germany in 2000, 2001 and 2004. During 2006, Edmund Ho led a delegation to Portugal and Belgium, including the EU headquarters in Brussels. In 2012, Chief Executive Chui Sai On led a delegation to visit the EU.
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strengthened in areas such as combating illegal transhipment, anti-piracy measures, law enforcement training and anti-terrorism measures. Both sides have expressed readiness to establish a good relationship, and to extend bilateral cooperation to promote trade and investment. The US Consulate General for Hong Kong and Macao encourages US officials to visit Macao in order to consolidate ties between the two parties further. The United States is Macaos largest export market. The total value of Macaos gross exports during 2012 was 8.16 billion patacas; of these, gross exports to the United States accounted for 507 million patacas, 8.8 percent less than in 2011 figure. Macaos total imports from the United States were valued at 3.68 billion patacas, representing a decrease of 1.39 percent over 2011. Three of the companies granted casino concession or sub-concession contracts by the Government following the liberalisation of Macaos gaming industry are US-funded.
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attended the event and delivered a keynote speech. Attendees representing different countries jointly signed the 2010-2013 Action Plan on Trade and Economic Cooperation at the conference. To strengthen sporting exchanges between Macao and Portuguese-speaking countries, Macao hosted the First Lusofonia Games in October 2006. The first and second Chief Executive Edmund Ho paid official visits to Mozambique and Brazil in 2002 and 2005, respectively. During 2006, the Government also remained committed to strengthening its relations with East Asia, particularly Southeast Asian countries, for the enhancement of cooperation in areas such as the economy and tourism. From the establishment of the MSAR Government to the end of 2006, the first and second Chief Executive, Edmund Ho Hau Wah led delegations to countries including Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. In 2007, he made further visits to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. In January 2011, the incumbent Chief Executive Chui Sai On led a delegation for an official visit to Singapore.
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Signing agreements
With support and assistance from the Central Peoples Government, the MSAR Government strives to pursue mutual exemption from visa requirements with many other countries and regions. By April 2013, a total of 104 countries and regions had granted visa-free access or visas on arrival to holders of Macao SAR Passports.
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ECONOMY
Economy
Economy
Although Macao has a relatively small economy, it pursues an open economic policy. It is one of the two international free ports in China. Goods, capital, foreign exchange and people flow freely in and out of Macao. As a separate customs territory, it boasts one of the lowest tax regimes in the region. Macao is integrated with the global economy and maintains traditional and special economic ties with the European Union (EU) and Portuguese-speaking countries. Consequently, Macao plays a relatively important role in the regional economies and is an important gateway and bridge linking mainland China with international markets.
Investment Incentives
Macao provides a level playing field for investors from around the world. At the same time, the series of measures that have been implemented to encourage investment including the provision of various tax and financial incentives have gradually made Macao an ideal place for investors.
Tax Incentives
To promote Macaos long-term economic development, the Government offers tax incentives for projects that benefit the territorys development. Investment plans outlined in applications for these must meet one or more of the following criteria: They must promote economic diversity; They must contribute to the promotion of exports to new markets; They must add value to the production chain; or They must contribute to technological modernisation.
Once an application is approved, applicants or their companies may be granted the following tax incentives: 1. Property purchased and used for production is exempt from all property tax. Rented property used for production is partially exempt. The exemption period for production facilities on the Macao peninsula is no more than ten years; for those on the two islands, it is no more than 20 years; 2. Business tax is entirely waived for candidates who have received preliminary approval. Establishments (other than offshore banks) on the two islands enjoy a 50-percent reduction; 3. Profit tax is reduced by 50 percent; and 4. Stamp duty is reduced by between 50 percent and 100 percent for all property transfers involving industrial use. This includes transactions involving trade, administration, offshore companies, long-term leases and non-profit organisations. Charitable donations related to property transfers valued at less than 50,000 patacas also enjoy reduced stamp duty. In addition, the Government offers the following incentives:
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1. Businesses such as guest houses, hotels and restaurants are completely exempt from tourism tax; and 2. Motor vehicles, tour buses, mass transit vehicles and trucks used by Government departments in Macao are all exempt from motor vehicle tax.
Financial Incentives
The Interest Subsidy Scheme on Bank Loans to Enterprises (By-law No. 16/2009), which on 30 May 2011 was amended by By-law No. 10/2011, supports some struggling local enterprises so they can improve business conditions and thereby adapt to changes in the industrial structure, with a series of supportive Government financial measures that include increased resource allocation, expanding the scope of support to cover more industries, granting entitlement to rebates to more investment projects, simplified application requirements, and relieving the financial burdens of enterprises benefiting from the rebates. The scheme is enacted to provide loan interest rebates to encourage local enterprises investing in Macao to increase investment within their business areas, so as to foster diversification of local economic activities, promote environmental protection, support technological innovation and transformation, increase their competitiveness, and realise business modernisation. Enterprises that benefit from the scheme enjoy a four percent interest subsidy per year. The maximum period of subsidy is four years, counting from the first day of loan repayments, and the subsidy is calculated according to the outstanding capital in each instalment.
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(Cont.)
Notes: (1) As a percentage of the total approved subsidy amount; (2) Subject to approval date
Under Decree-Law No. 49/85/M, Article 11 in particular, the Government will grant repayable or non-repayable subsidies for the following investment projects: Manufacturing of new products that involve serious economic risks but are nonetheless worthwhile; Introduction of new projects and developments that support Macaos industrial development; and Establishment of pollution-prevention facilities that benefit Macao.
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Manufacturing
Following its 1980s boom, Macaos manufacturing industry now faces changes in the worldwide manufacturing supply chain and disparity in regional manufacturing costs. Since the 1990s, Macao has gradually transformed into a more service-oriented economy. As a result, the GDP share of the manufacturing industry dropped from 20.6 percent in 1989 to 0.7 percent in 2011. In 2011, the total output and added value of the manufacturing industry were 6.36 billion and 1.32 billion patacas respectively. In 2012, the total value of Macaos exports was 8.16 billion patacas, representing year-on-year growth of 17.1 percent, of which Macaos domestic product exports accounted for 2.29 billion patacas, down 4.4 percent year on year. The value of re-exports was 5.87 billion patacas, up 28.2 percent year on year. Hong Kong continued to be the major export market for Macao with a share of 50.2 percent of Macaos total export value, an increase of 31.7 percent year on year. Mainland China accounted for 16.8 percent of Macaos total export value, an increase of 24.7 percent year on year. The United States accounted for 6.2 percent, a decrease of 8.7 percent. A breakdown of product exports reveals that textile and garment exports in 2012 were worth 1.05 billion patacas, down 21.3 percent year on year and representing 12.9 percent of total export value. Machinery and spare parts and tobacco and wines accounted for 17.5 percent and 9.4 percent of total exports respectively, while copper and copper products accounted for 4.6 percent. Product export value under CEPA in 2012 totalled 104 million patacas and included: garments and textiles, copper-clad laminates, stamps, recycled plastics, coffee, food items, printer ribbons and ink. Tax with a total value of 9.292 million patacas was waived. During the past nine years, the total value of zero-tariff goods entering mainland China in accordance with CEPA provisions was 360 million patacas, with 29.09 million patacas of taxes waived.
Financial Industry
The financial industry in Macao underwent rapid development towards the end of the 1980s. Following 20 years of growth and refinement, Macao now boasts a sophisticated and open financial system with unique characteristics in the region. The Monetary Authority supervises Macaos financial industry. Macaos financial institutions consist of banks, insurance companies, financial companies, financial intermediaries, bureaux de change, cash remittance companies, non-banking credit agencies and the representative offices of overseas financial institutions. As at 31 December 2012, among financial institutions authorised to operate in Macao there were 29 banks (including the Government-owned Postal Savings Office), 23 insurance companies, one pension-fund management company, one finance company, two financial intermediary companies, 12 bureaux de change, six bureaux de change counters, two cash remittance companies, one non-banking credit agency and one representative office of an overseas financial institution.
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Of these, 11 were life insurance companies and the other 12 were engaged in non-life insurance. Classified by their origins, eight of these companies were local, and the other 15 were branches of overseas companies. In addition, one fund-management company was authorised to conduct pension-fund business in the SAR. At the end of 2012, Macaos insurance industry employed 459 people. There were 3,364 authorised insurance intermediaries: 2,266 individual agents, 1,016 salespersons, 69 corporate agents, and 13 insurance brokers. In 2012, total insurance premium income was 5.4 billion patacas, 23.8 percent more than in 2011. Life insurance premium income accounted for 69.4 percent of the insurance markets total income, with the remaining 30.6 percent coming from non-life insurance. Life insurance premiums totalled 3.7 billion patacas, up by 19.1 percent from the previous year. Non-life insurance premiums totalled 1.7 billion patacas, representing an increase of 35.9 percent. At the end of 2012, seven life insurance companies and one pension-fund management company were providing private pension fund management services. So far, 46 pension funds have been established under the Legal Framework for Private Pension Funds, of which five are closed-end and 41 are open-end funds. To date, more than 780 private pension fund schemes have been established by businesses or self-employed individuals, benefiting a total of more than 100,000 employees. The assets of the managed funds totalled about 8.5 billion patacas.
Compulsory Insurance
There are six categories of compulsory insurance in Macao, all of which require uniform policy wording and tariff rates. The compulsory insurance categories include: motor vehicle (third-party risks) insurance, employees compensation insurance, professional liability insurance for travel agents, public liability insurance relating to the installation of publicity and advertising objects, third party liability for pleasure boats, and civil liability insurance for lawyers.
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linked insurance products to pass a qualifying examination. However, intermediaries who had obtained life insurance licences before this date were granted a two-year transition period before they had to meet the requirement. The transition period ended on 30 June 2013. At the end of 2012, a total of 1,024 candidates had sat for the qualifying examination with a pass rate of 82 percent. To further safeguard customer interests, the Monetary Authority has enacted various rules that set standards for data disclosure methods and procedures for insurance companies. The rules include detailed explanations of the cooling-off period specific to life insurance policies, and the rights and interests concerned, as well as various guidelines regarding life insurance.
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for residential buildings rose by 3.5 percent year on year to 120.1. The price indices for sand and concrete rose by 22.6 percent and 21.2 percent respectively. The average daily wage of a construction worker in 2012 decreased by 2.1 percent year on year to 565 patacas, however, the average daily wage of local construction workers increased by 9.7 percent over the past year to 670 patacas. The real wage index for construction workers, discounted for inflation, was 88.4, down 6.9 percent on the previous year. The real wage index of local construction workers, however, increased by 2.4 percent to 99.9.
Employment
Of Macaos employed population in 2012, the median age was 39.4 (40.0 for males and 38.8 for females). Broken down by sector, the working population was mainly engaged in cultural, entertainment, gaming and other service industries (25.8 percent); hotels and catering (15.5 percent); wholesale and retail (12.7 percent); and construction (9.3 percent). Classified by occupation, clerical workers made up the largest group, followed by service and retail workers, and non-technical workers; these three categories accounted for 29.0 percent, 20.7 percent and 16.3 percent, respectively, of the entire working population. Of the employed population, 17.7 percent had qualifications not higher than primary education, 26.1 percent had completed lower secondary school education, 28.9 percent had completed higher secondary school education and 27.3 percent had completed tertiary education. The main age groups in the employed population were 25 to 34, 35 to 44 and 45 to 54, accounting for 28.3 percent, 24.2 percent and 23.6 percent, respectively, of the working population.
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Monthly Earnings
Statistics reveal that in the fourth quarter of 2012, the overall median monthly income of Macaos employed population was 12,000 patacas. The median monthly income of the cultural, entertainment, gaming and other services sector, which employed the largest number of workers, was 15,000 patacas, and that of gaming in particular was 15,000 patacas. Sectors with the highest median monthly income were, in descending order, public administration and social security (28,400 patacas), education (17,000 patacas), water, electricity and gas production and supply (16,500 patacas), and medical, healthcare and social welfare (15,000 patacas).
Non-Resident Workers
At the end of December 2012, Macao had 110,552 non-resident workers, an increase of 17.6 percent year on year. The hotel and catering industry accounted for the largest share of non-resident workers (30.8 percent), followed by household jobs (16.4 percent), construction (13.9 percent), wholesale and retail (10.5%), cultural, entertainment, gaming and other services (10.1 percent), including 1,427 construction workers directly hired by gaming companies.
Financial Management
The Financial Services Bureau fulfils its public finance management function by supervising the financial operations of the MSAR in accordance with the law. It puts in place a set of regulations and guidelines concerning budget management, and enhances its financial supervision over autonomous entities. The principle of setting budgets is that public resources should be allocated in the way that
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most appropriately serves the best interests of the public. In accordance with the annual budget passed by the Legislative Assembly, the Financial Services Bureau oversees the financial status of each public department, and ensures compliance with the public accounting system and regulations, guaranteeing legitimacy of all expenses. These rigorous administrative measures are designed to maintain balance of the Governments revenues and expenses, foster steady economic development and increase the international competitiveness of Macao. To fulfil the functions of coordinating and monitoring the financial operations of public departments, the Financial Services Bureau compiles the Budget of the Macao Special Administrative Region (General Budget) and General Accounts of the Macao Special Administrative Region (General Accounts) on an annual basis.
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the general comprehensive government budget reflects the results of implementing the general comprehensive budget as well as the year-end financial situation, and is prepared according to cash-basis accounting. The second part the budget of specific organisations adopts accrual accounting to reflect the overall operating results of six specific organisations. The Financial Services Bureau is required to submit the information necessary for the General Accounts of the Macao Special Administrative Region to the Commission of Audit within five months of the end of a financial year, to facilitate the audit process.
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Gaming Tax
The operators of all types of gaming activities, including casino gaming, horse racing, dog racing and lottery bets, are liable to pay a certain percentage of their gross revenues in tax, or pay tax according to other levy scales. Gaming tax is calculated by gross casino gaming revenue taxed at the rate of 35 percent. Gaming tax is the Governments major source of revenue.
Business Tax
The Regulations on Business Tax require that business tax be levied on all natural persons and legal persons operating any activity with the nature of industrial or commercial business. The amount of tax depends on the fixed amounts stipulated in the Summary of Activities contained in the Regulations on Business Tax. Although business tax is typically 300 patacas a year, for commercial banks the tax is 80,000 patacas.
Profit Tax
Regulations on Profit Tax require that profit tax be levied on the total income of individuals or groups from local industrial or commercial activities. Rates of profit tax are set out as follows: Taxable annual revenue Revenue up to 32,000 patacas Progressively in excess of designated amount: 32,001 patacas to 65,000 patacas 65,001 patacas to100,000 patacas 100,001 patacas to 200,000 patacas 200,001 patacas to 300,000 patacas Over 300,000 patacas 3% 5% 7% 9% 12% Percentage Waived
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Taxable annual revenue Revenue up to 95,000 patacas Progressively in excess of designated amount: Up to 20,000 patacas 20,001 patacas to 40,000 patacas 40,001 patacas to 80,000 patacas 80,001 patacas to 160,000 patacas 160,001 patacas to 280,000 patacas Over 280,000 patacas
Percentage Waived
Tourism Tax
Regulations on Tourism Tax require that a five-percent tourism tax be levied on all the service charges of hotels and similar establishments, gyms and saunas, massage parlours and karaoke bars.
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Excise Duty
Excise duty is levied on cement, fuel, lubricants, tobacco, alcoholic drinks and sparkling soft drinks containing flavourings and minerals. Certain alcoholic drinks are subject to an ad valorem tax based on their CIF price in Macao, while other products are subject to fixed rates of consumption tax.
Cars
Level of taxable value (patacas) Up to 100,000 patacas From over 100,000 patacas to 200,000 patacas From over 200,000 patacas to 300,000 patacas From over 300,000 patacas to 500,000 patacas Over 500,000 patacas Corresponding rate of each level --40% 65% 70% --Effective average tax rate 30% 35% 45% 55% 55%
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The Mainland China and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
The Mainland China and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) is an
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arrangement between two separate tariff zones of a single country that is similar to a free-trade agreement. In conformity with WTO rules and with the approval of the State Council, consultations for establishing CEPA were initiated in June 2003 in Beijing. On 17 October 2003, the Macao SAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce signed the general principles of CEPA and its six annexes, namely: the Arrangement for Implementation of Zero Tariff for Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin for Trade in Goods, Procedures for the Issuing and Verification of Certificates of Origin, Specific Commitments on Liberalization of Trade in Services, Definition of Service Supplier and Related Requirements, and Trade and Investment Facilitation. CEPA became effective on 1 January 2004. Between 2004 and 2012, mainland China and Macao signed nine Supplementary Protocols to CEPA. Essentially, the three broad areas involved are: trade in merchandise, services trade, and trade and investment facilitation. Regarding merchandise trade: since 2006, all goods originating from Macao that are imported into mainland China have enjoyed zero tariffs, after the standards on places of origin are stipulated. At the end of 2012, a total of 1,260 types of goods had set standards on place of origin. (There were 273 in 2004, when the measure was first implemented.) Regarding services: mainland China has relaxed its market entry requirements for Macao service providers in various industries. Since 1 January, 2013, mainland China has opened 48 areas and formulated 318 measures for Macao, creating great room for collaboration and an extensive platform for the cooperative development of both Macao and mainland China. Regarding facilitation of trade and investment: Macao and mainland China have begun cooperation in 10 fields. These are: 1. Trade and investment promotion; 2. Facilitation of customs clearance; 3. Merchandise inspection, fauna and flora quarantine, food safety, health and communicable disease inspection and quarantine, accreditation and standardised management; 4. E-commerce; 5. Transparency of laws and regulations; 6. Cooperation between SMEs; 7. Cooperation with different industries, including Chinese medicine, MICE, cultural industry, environmental protection, and creative technology; 8. Protection of intellectual property rights; 9. Cooperation between brands; and 10. Cooperation in education. The Economic Services Bureau joined hands with the Legal Affairs Bureau and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute to launch the official CEPA website (www.cepa.gov. mo). This aims to provide a convenient channel for industrial and commercial enterprises and the public to obtain information about laws and regulations regarding trade and investment between
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Zone aims to enhance development of industries, and serves as a hub for logistics, transhipments and exhibitions. In March 2011, the Framework Agreement on Cooperation Between Guangdong and Macao was signed in Beijing, representing a new milestone in the history of cooperation between the two places. The agreement has eight chapters and 38 articles, encompassing all areas of economic, social and cultural cooperation as well as cooperation in peoples livelihoods. It serves to define the approach, principles and objectives of Guangdong-Macao cooperation, and covers major cooperative projects including joint development of Hengqin Island, synchronised development of industries, infrastructure and customs clearance facilitation, community public services and regional cooperation planning. The Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Joint Conference was held on 19 April 2011 in Zhuhai, Guangdong. The conference was followed by the signing of the Plan for the Implementation of the Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Framework Agreement, and the Agreement on Guangzhou and Macao Jointly Promoting the First Trial Implementation of CEPA in the Nansha Integration Demonstration Area, and the Agreement on Zhuhai and Macao Governments Jointly Developing the Guangdong and Macao Traditional Chinese Medical Science and Technology Industrial Park. On 19 April, an official launch ceremony was held for the Guangdong and Macao Traditional Chinese Medical Science and Technology Industrial Park in Hengqin, as part of the main agenda of the Joint Conference on Guangdong-Macao Cooperation. This signified the first GuangdongMacao construction project to be officially launched since the signing of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation Between Guangdong and Macao. The Industrial Park, covering 0.5 square kilometres, has been developed with the aim of becoming the base and an international trading platform that integrates Chinese medicine and pharmacy, technology, convention and exhibition, and logistics. In January 2012, the Macao Guangzhou Famous Products Fair was held in Guangzhou for the first time. During the same period, the 2012 Guangzhou-Macao Trade Promotion Organisations and Business Associations Meeting cum Industry Exchange and Cooperation Conference was also held in Guangzhou. On 4 December 2012, three documents were signed at the Guangzhou-Macao Cooperation Task Force meeting held in Macao. Agreements were made in the areas of convention and exhibition, cultural development and food supplies of the two cities. In 2012, Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute co-organised the following trade and economic promotion activities: In June, the China-Portugal Enterprises Business Investment Forum and 2012 GuangdongMacao-Portugal Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Seminar and the 2012 GuangdongMacao-Italy Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Seminar were held in Lisbon and Rome respectively. In the same month, the two organisations joined the Fourth Cape Verde Tourism Fair and the Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Cooperation between China and Portuguese-
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speaking Countries Sal Isle of Cape Verde 2012, which was held in Cape Verde.
Industrial Licences
Under Decree-Law No. 11/99/M dated 22 March 1999, all assembly and processing manufacturing enterprises licensed under Decree-Law No. 55/97/M dated 9 December 1997 and listed in Category D of the first revised edition of the Macao Industries Classification Index must apply for industrial licences from the Economic Services Bureau. Under Article 11 of Decree-Law No. 11/99/M, it is strictly prohibited to carry out the above activities in residential buildings. Applications for industrial licences are classified as general system (for industrial buildings), special system or special activities. A non-special activities licence for a general-system operation in an industrial building costs 500 patacas. The fees for special-system (not located in industrial buildings) or special-activity licences are calculated according to the floor area, and they range from 700 patacas to 4,500 patacas. In 2012, the Economic Services Bureau issued five general-system industrial licences and 17 special system/special activities industrial licences. In addition, 11 general-system industrial unit licences and 32 special-system/special-activity industrial unit licences were issued, 34 industrial licences and 86 industrial unit licences were revoked, and 126 industrial licences were reissued due to the transfer, removal or merger of industrial establishments, or because information relating to them had changed.
Certificates of Origin
Certificates of Origin (CO) may be applied for from the Economic Services Bureau. These are used to prove to a third party that exports have been sufficiently assembled and processed in Macao, and are thus classified as products originating in Macao. There are four types of COs: the Certificate of Origin, the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Certificate of Origin, the Certificate of Origin (Foreign Products) and the CEPA Certificate of Origin. The first is a general document used for customs clearance. The second is used for customs clearance in importing countries and regions that use GSP. The third is used to prove that Macao was not the origin of products re-exported via Macao. The fourth is used for goods of Macao origin that enjoy zero tariff and other incentives under CEPA. In 2012, the Economic Services Bureau issued 8,881 COs, for exports primarily destined for the United States and the EU. Exports to the United States accounted for 41.8 percent of the total; exports to the EU for 26.6 percent. The bureau also issued 19 GSP Certificates of Origin; 73.7 percent of these were for exports to the EU. It also issued 465 CEPA certificates of origin.
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According to law, licences for commodities that are subject to the special regime, listed in Exportation Table A and Importation Table B (contained in Executive Order No. 452/2011), must be applied for in advance, regardless of the type of import or export. These licences are issued by authorised institutions. The Economic Services Bureau is authorised to issue such licences. Regulated exported goods include: Textiles and garments;
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Species regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Ozone-depleting substances; CD ROM production facilities; Weapons, ammunition and related parts and accessories; and Pharmaceutical items and medicines, and certain chemicals. Drinks with alcohol concentrations of at least 30 percent by volume, and tobacco; Motor vehicles; Species regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Ozone-depleting substances; CD ROM production facilities and materials; Live animals, meat and seafood, eggs and certain milk products; Pharmaceutical products and drugs, and certain chemicals; Weapons, ammunition and related parts and accessories; Inflammable explosives; and Certain telecommunication transmitters and receivers.
Since applications for export licences for textile and garment products were first processed electronically in the fourth quarter of 2000, the Economic Services Bureau has been stepping up its efforts to electronically process applications for import and export licences. Since the introduction of the pilot scheme for electronically processing the import licence applications of some products in 2004, the number of applications for electronic services increased gradually from 2005 to 2012, with product categories expanding to include cigarettes, alcohol, motor vehicles, and air conditioners. In 2012, the Economic Services Bureau issued 6,548 export licences and 32,107 import licences.
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relevant organisations. The Macao Customs Service is responsible for enforcement of legislation and implementation of punitive measures regarding intellectual property rights, to enhance fair competition and combat counterfeiting, thus promoting compliance with intellectual property rights and authorship regulations.
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trademarks; the names and logos of business establishments; places of origin and geographical indications; and awards.
Trademark Registration
Any trademarks that fulfil the requirements of the Industrial Property Law may be registered in Macao, but registration is not compulsory. Trademark registration is geographical: trademark regulations in the Macao SAR protect only trademarks issued locally. Separate applications must be made in other countries and regions for protection there. In 2012, the Intellectual Property Department of the Economic Services Bureau accepted 9,581 applications for trademark licences, an increase of 11.54 percent on the 8,590 applications processed in 2011. Applications were mainly from mainland China, the United States, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan and British Virgin Islands. As at 31 December 2012, the Economic Services Bureau had received a cumulative total of 87,336 applications.
Patent Registration
Since 7 June 2000, all applications for patents including invention patents and utility patents, designs and new products may be submitted directly to the Economic Services Bureau. The Economic Services Bureau and the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) signed the Cooperation Agreement on Intellectual Property between the State Intellectual Property Office and the Economic Services Bureau of the Macao SAR on 24 January 2003. They agreed to extend the applicability of SIPO patent approvals to Macao. The effective period of this agreement was extended for five years from 2008. In 2012, the Economic Services Bureau accepted 239 applications for patent extensions for inventions, 82 patent registration applications, and applications for registration of 167 designs and new products. These applications were mainly from Switzerland, Japan, the United States, Macao and mainland China. As at 31 December 2012, the Economic Services Bureau had received a cumulative total of 966 applications for patent extensions for inventions, 1,309 applications for patents and applications for the registration of 1,033 designs and new products.
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In March 2012, another revision increased the maximum amount to 600,000 patacas. As at the end of December 2012, a total of 7,005 applications had been received, of which 6,223 were approved, involving total financial aid amounting to 1.481 billion patacas (These figures include the financial aid applications by businesses affected by Severe Typhoon Hagupit in 2008). The enterprises that received loans are mainly engaged in retailing, construction and public works, Chinese restaurants and hotels, wholesale, public services, social welfare and private services, as well as real estate and company services. The SME Credit Assurance Scheme was launched in August 2003. The scheme is designed to assist enterprises in obtaining bank loans for business development. The MSAR Government provides eligible enterprises with credit guarantees of up to 50 percent of a bank loan up to 1.5 million patacas. The scheme was revised in June 2009, with the maximum credit guarantee rate raised to 70 percent, and the maximum credit guarantee amount raised to 3.5 million patacas. From the schemes commencement to the end of December 2012, the Government received 308 applications, involving a total loan amount of 748 million patacas; of which 295 applicants obtained Government credit guarantees totalling 492 million patacas. Most applicants were from the construction and public works sector, followed by retailing, wholesaling, imports and exports, real estate, company services, textiles, garments and leather manufacturing. The SME Special Credit Assurance Programme was introduced in August 2003. Its aim is to assist enterprises to carry out special projects. Under the financing scheme, the Government provides banks with a maximum of 100 percent credit guarantee for the eligible enterprises. The maximum credit is one million patacas. Since the schemes implementation at the end of December 2012, the Government has received 69 applications, involving a total credit guarantee of 55.037 million patacas, of which 56 applicants obtained 100 percent credit guarantees from the Government, with a total value of 45.73 million patacas. Most of the approved enterprises are engaged in retail, followed by wholesale, paper, printing and publishing, imports and exports, textiles, garments and leather manufacturing, restaurants and hotels.
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Monetary Policy
Capital flows freely and currencies are freely convertible in Macao. The Governments currency policies are to defend Macaos currency and maintain its foreign exchange stability. The two policy tools used to achieve these objectives are the deposit reserve and monetary bills. The deposit reserve ratio is three percent for current savings, two percent for time deposits of less than three months, and one percent for time deposits of over three months. Monetary bills are a short-term money market tool issued by the Monetary Authority; and they are used to adjust the liquid capital of patacas in the financial system. The interest rate usually remains competitive with interbank offer rates in Hong Kong. In addition, the Monetary Authority of Macao adjusts liquidity in the money market via repurchase agreements and currency exchange contracts with the banks.
The Pataca
The pataca has been the legal tender of Macao for more than a century. As early as 1905, the former Portuguese administration authorised the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) to issue pataca notes. The first pataca notes were issued on 27 January of the following year. At that time, the Mexican eight reales silver coin, called Pataca Mexicana in Portuguese, was very popular in Asia, and the pataca was named after it. In 1980, the former Portuguese administration set up the Issuing Institute of Macau (Instituto Emissor de Macau), which was given the monopoly right to issue pataca notes. Since then, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino has continued to issue banknotes, but has acted only as the agent of the Issuing Institute of Macau. On 1 July 1989, the Monetary and Foreign Exchange Authority of Macau was created. The Government redeemed the right to issue patacas, but the Banco Nacional Ultramarino remained the agent bank for issuing notes. In October 1995, the Bank of China (BOC) became the second agent bank for note issuing. Although more than one bank is now authorised to issue notes in Macao, overall power to issue currency is retained by the Government. Under the currency board system, all the patacas issued must be 100-percent-backed by foreign exchange reserves. As legal backing for the notes they issue, the agent banks for note-issuing are required to pay an equivalent amount in Hong Kong dollars to the Monetary Authority of Macao; in exchange they receive a Zero-Percent Certificate of Indebtedness at a fixed exchange rate of one Hong Kong dollar to 1.03 patacas. The 100-percent reserve backing system enables the Monetary Authority to ensure the full convertibility of the pataca into its reserve currency the Hong Kong dollar thus establishing the linked exchange rate relationship between the pataca and the Hong Kong dollar. As the Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar, the pataca is indirectly pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of one US dollar to about eight patacas. The Governments policy is to support the circulation and use of the pataca without rejecting the circulation and use of other currencies. Decree-Law No. 16/95/M, Circulation of Local Currency Mandatory Use of the Pataca, requires that any goods sold and services offered in local business transactions must be clearly priced in patacas; and they can also be simultaneously priced in one or more other currencies. Under the decree-law, regardless of the nature and objectives of the debts and transactions, no reasons or excuses can be used to decline settlement using the pataca.
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From September 2002, the Bank of China began to provide deposit, remittance and exchange services in patacas in some major cities in Guangdong. The exchange business network has since been extended to cover nearly all provinces and municipalities in mainland China. This move is certain to increase the usage and circulation of patacas.
Fiscal Reserve
A fiscal reserve was established on 1 January 2012, with the Monetary Authority of Macao responsible for its investments and management. The initial investment period adopts a generally prudent approach. The capital of the fiscal reserve comes from the balance of the MSARs reserve fund as well as the balance of past annual budgets. Balances amounting to 98.86 billion patacas were transferred to the fiscal reserve as start-up capital, while the remaining 54.2 billion patacas were transferred from the foreign exchange reserve. The MSARs reserve fund was written off following the above transfers. At the end of 2012, the total asset value of the fiscal reserve was 100.24 billion patacas, an increase of 1.38 billion patacas on the start-up capital. The fiscal reserve comprises two parts: the basic reserve and the excess reserve. The basic reserve refers to the financial reserves that provide ultimate protection for the Governments ability to cover public finances, at an amount equal to 1.5 times the provisions for expenditures of central departments set out in the latest fiscal budget reviewed and approved by the Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile, the excess reserve is used mainly to facilitate the implementation of the Governments public financial policies as well as to protect the liquidity of public finances, and is the fiscal reserve balance after meeting the basic reserve requirement.
External Cooperation
The Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) is a member of World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and Asia Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF). In recent years, IPIM has signed cooperation agreements with trading organisations of various Portuguesespeaking countries and many provinces and regions of mainland China as well as the trade and
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Economy
economic authorities of the United States and Vietnam. To better service Macao enterprises in mainland China, and to attract mainland China enterprises to invest in Macao, since 2006 IPIM has established liaison offices in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province; Jieyang, Guangdong Province; Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and Shenyang, Liaoning Province. In 2012, the IPIM officially established a liaison office in Fuzhou, Fujian.
Macao Business Support Centre, the SME Service Centre and Macao Ideas
A subsidiary of IPIM, the Macao Business Support Centre (MBSC) was officially opened on 1 August 2002. The centre provides not only office space in Macao for local and overseas official and semi-official trade promotion organisations and chambers of commerce, but also offices, meeting rooms, small exhibition venues, a library and a computer zone with internet access for enterprises and investors aiming to establish operations in Macao. It also offers comprehensive trade and commercial services to SMEs. These efforts have helped lower start-up costs and risks for enterprises, facilitating their development. The centre also established a long-term office and enquiry booth for chambers and institutions, to provide regional trade consultations and business referral services, increasing the number of channels for exchanges between Macao and foreign businesses. To implement the Governments policy of strengthening support for SMEs, the Macao Business Support Centre established the SME Service Centre (SMEC) on 23 August 2007. The main function of the centre is to launch various services in support of local SMEs, catering to the different needs of the enterprises in their process of development. These services include support for brand building, one-stop Macao trade consultation, mainland China business operations consultation, convention information and consultation, franchise information and consultation, and providing the latest trade publications; financial incentives for participation in exhibition and trade fairs, promotion incentives in electronic business, and SME promotion scheme. The service centre provides enterprises with facilities and services to help them promote their products and services, find business partners and seek business matching. Since its establishment, the SME Service Centre has held various business and trade activities, such as seminars, business exchanges, and promoting products and services in foreign countries, to help local SMEs to expand their operations. Macao Ideas, established by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), is the first merchandise exhibition centre in Macao dedicated to all things Macao-manufactured, Macao-branded, Macao designed and Agent for products of Portuguese-speaking countries. The exhibition centre, with several themed exhibition zones, houses over 900 display items. Macao Ideas has on-site staff offering detailed introductions for visitors and provides commercial and trade enquiry services, helping visitors to understand Macao enterprises and products. The exhibition centre also features a MinM sales zone, which promotes made-in-Macao products among visitors. In 2012, Macao Ideas launched a quarterly magazine Macao Ideas. Each issue of the magazine, published in printed and electronic versions and also downloadable from the Internet, offers a different theme to introduce the enterprises and products featured in the exhibition centre. The publication effectively promotes and advertises Macaos enterprises, thereby developing overseas markets for local products.
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Offshore Services
Macaos Offshore Law, Decree-Law No. 58/99/M, has been in effect since 1 November 1999. Tax
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incentives for operating an offshore service business in Macao include exemption from profit tax, business tax and certain stamp duties. In addition, managers and specialised technicians of the offshore institution who are non-Macao residents and who are authorised to reside in Macao are exempted from personal income tax for the first three years of their employment in the offshore institution. Offshore institutions are classified into the offshore financial industry (approved and supervised by the Monetary Authority of Macao) and non-financial offshore service industry (approved and supervised by IPIM). Operations of offshore services in Macao must abide by the following rules: use only non-Macao currency in their transactions and settlements; target only non-Macao residents as customers; and focus only on non-Macao markets. Offshore businesses are permitted in the following eight categories: 1. IT hardware consultancy; 2. IT consultancy and programming; 3. Data processing; 4. Database-related activities; 5. Administrative and archive/filing support; 6. Research and development; 7. Testing and technical analysis; and 8. Operation and management of ships and aircraft.
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Technology Industrial Park in July 2010. The Office is responsible for organising and coordinating the initial preparatory efforts of the Industrial Park to be built in the Hengqin New Area. The Industrial Park, a Guangdong-Macao cooperative project, commenced infrastructure construction works on 19 April, 2011. The Macau Investment and Development Limited was established in June 2011 pursuant to Chief Executive Notice No. 17/2011 and By-law No. 14/2011. The company has a board of shareholders comprising the Financial Services Bureau representing the Government, the Macau Industrial and Commercial Development Fund, and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM). With regard to administration and management, the company has a board of five directors. It also has a board of three supervisors. Both governments have invested to set up the Guangdong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medical Science and Technology Industrial Park Development Company Limited (the cooperative company) to implement the development project. The shareholders of the cooperative company are Macau Investment and Development Limited and Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Investment Company Limited. In 2010, the Government commissioned the Shanghai Innovative Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine to compile a design and research report for the Guangdong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medical Science and Technology Industrial Park. Macau Investment and Development Limited also hired Jurong Consultants of Singapore to draft a report outlining the strategic development, feasibility study, review and conceptual layout plan of the Industrial Park. Based on these two reports, Macau Investment and Development Limited compiled a summary report and submitted it to the Government and the Administrative Committee of Hengqin New Area. In 2012, a delegation from the cooperative company visited a number of industrial parks in Taiwan and Singapore, and in September visited Chinese medicine industrial parks in Shanghai, Suzhou and Taizhou. In November, the cooperative company held the Guangdong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medical Technology Industrial Park Construction Project and City Design International Open Competition, successfully attracting the participation of 16 organisations from seven countries. The three finalists were a Sino-German joint venture, a Singapore company and a U.S. company. The final master design plan is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2013.
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1. Continuing Development Series for Employees; 2. Training Series for the Middle-aged, which helps middle-aged people to renew and improve their vocational skills; 3. Training Series for Adolescents, which inspires adolescents creativity and vocational interests; and 4. Enterprise and Business Management Series, specially designed for entrepreneurs and business persons. Training in relation to continuing studies can be categorised as: 1. Training series for adolescents; 2. Training series for the middle-aged; 3. Continuing development series for employees; and 4. Business management series for enterprises. Programmes include training courses on fashion and innovation, information technology, business language and management. In 2012, the centre held a total of 1,152 courses (an increase of 28.4 percent over the previous year), comprising 23,853 learning hours (up 25.2 percent). The number of students totalled 24,150 (up 32.9 percent).
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3. Languages, including LCCI business language examinations, City & Guilds ISESOL conversational skills and EBC English business writing. TOEIC examinations were added in 2012; and 4. Vocational skills, including City & Guilds professional training and appraisals, professional beauty care, makeup and customer service in service industry examinations, and National Vocational Qualification Assessment. The professional nail art certificate examination of the Central TAFE of Australia was added in 2012. Moreover, the centre also became an official examination centre of the ATA Testing Authority (Beijing) Limited in 2012. The centre reached a cooperation agreement on One Examination, Two Accreditations with the Labour Affairs Bureau in October 2011. All Macao residents awarded a National Vocational Qualification via the centre will receive the relevant local vocational skill certificates issued by the bureau. As at the end of 2012, at least 141 individuals applied for local vocational skill certificates.
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Resurgence of Qipao Fashion Exhibition at the gallery. To communicate the latest fashion information and technology, CPTTM held five seminars in 2012, attracting more than 300 attendees.
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In 2012, CPTTM issued a total of 184 SQL-Ledger software packages and served 104 training workshop participants. During the same period, a total of 130 EIMS-employee information management systems were issued and 59 training workshop participants served.
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Economy
To help enterprises profit from opportunities in Europe; To provide enterprises with information on the EU; To provide advice and guidelines on connections between enterprises and the EU; To assist enterprises by allowing them to benefit from EIC-Macaus close contacts with other Euro-Info Centres and links with the European Commission; and To promote information exchange, business, trade and cooperation among enterprises in the EU, Macao, the mainland, and other Asian countries and regions.
Employment Services
The Employment Department of the Labour Affairs Bureau assists job seekers looking for work in the private sector, as well as employers who are hiring workers. It also handles applications for
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business licences by employment agencies, providing advice and analysis. In 2012, the department continued to provide registration, matching and employment follow-up services for the Graduate Mainland Internship Scheme. It also maintained close communication and cooperation with organisations representing employers and employees, providing matching placement services for both parties. As the Cotai Strip construction project entered its fifth and sixth stages, and Studio City and Galaxy Mega Resort Phase2 commenced recruitment, the department met with relevant organisations and businesses to review such recruitment activities and follow up on the employment status of job seekers. It also participated in monitoring the recruitment activities of various large corporations and public construction projects, mainly relating to construction, catering, gaming and transportation. A total of 2,048 job seekers found employment in these projects. The department also helped to review and amend the law governing employment agencies. In 2012, the department registered 7,975 job seekers, among whom 62 who were disabled received employment matching services from a dedicated task force under the department. A total of 265,226 job vacancies were registered with the department during the year. Based on the recruitment requirements of each vacancy, the department provided the personal profile of recommended job seekers to employers in more than 43,969 cases. In this way, the department successfully arranged 5,194 employment interviews, and placed 1,189 job seekers (50 of whom were physically disadvantaged) in new positions involving 87 different types of occupation. In 2012, the department issued 3,517 unemployment subsidy certificates, three proposals regarding subsidised jobs for the unemployed, and one proposal regarding subsidies for young first-time job seekers. The department received 186 applications for employment agency business licences during the year, including 18 new applications, 110 renewals, 43 applications for changing the particulars of existing licences, six cancellations and nine renewals with changes in the particulars of existing licenses.
Vocational Training
The Vocational Training Centre provides various kinds of vocational training to citizens, aiming to enhance skills among local workers. In addition, it strived to promote technological cooperation and information exchange with other departments in terms of vocational training, and to align the development approaches of training programmes. It has also begun to establish a vocational skill certification system for different industries, to further improve professionals skills and enhance recognition of their qualifications, supporting the upward mobility of the labour force. In 2012, the Vocational Training Centre provided training to 11,487 people in a wide range of courses that emphasised practicality and an objective-oriented approach, in order to increase the choices available to the public, as well as to train and reserve talent for every industry in Macao.
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Apprentice F. 3 graduate or training (2-year above aged full-time) 14-24 Training for professional qualification (half-year fulltime) Aged 15 or completed lower secondary school education Completed second year of senior secondary education with certified qualification or work experience in electronics, electrical, electrical and mechanical and electrical engineering
20
22.2%
39
19
84.2%
Tertiary graduates
61
40
Continuous training
104
2,298
185
(Cont.)
Second-skill training
To develop occupational skills outside ones own occupation so as to increase choices and chances of employment
68
1,524
Continuous training
For the middleaged and those with a low level of education Employment or difficulties training for the in finding a middle-aged job to enhance occupational skills through training A 96-hour course mainly to alleviate the financial pressure faced by fishermen during the moratorium, and to provide assistance in developing other occupational skills For those who have signed up for vocational skills assessment
213
6,329
17
396
32
668
11,487
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Economy
Skills Evaluation
In 2012, the Labour Affairs Bureau issued a total of 763 vocational skill certificates of various kinds. Among the recipients, 36.8 percent were in the engineering and maintenance industry, 18.6 percent were in the building industry, 17.7 percent in the floral industry and 14.2 percent in the hotel and catering industry. With regard to Guangdong-Macao vocational skill development and cooperation, the two regions conducted a series of meetings on the implementation of One Examination, Three Accreditations, and came to agreement on the classification of the vocational skill assessment of facility management occupation into three skill levels, namely assistant facility management officer, facility management officer and senior facility management officer. They also agreed to implement the One Examination, Two Accreditations programme for assistant facility management officer, and the One Examination, Three Accreditations for the senior facility management officer. Moreover, three electrician-trainers from the Labour Affairs Bureau passed the examination and became qualified assessors in China national examinations for professional qualifications (maintenance electrician). The Bureau also held training workshops for senior maintenance electrician assessors and on electronic skills for electricians in Macao, enabling local assessors to learn about the overall operations of senior maintenance electrician skill national assessment, as well as the skills of matching assessment equipment to particular assessments.
Labour Regulations
The Labour Relations Law (Law No. 7/2008) is the legal basis of industrial relations. It defines the rules and regulations on working hours, working at night and on shifts, weekly rest days, mandatory holidays, annual leave, absence from work, maternity leave, remunerations, termination of employment, contract types, administrative infractions, and procedures and penalties for minor contraventions. The law further protects and balances the legal interests and rights of employers
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and employees alike. Law No. 21/2009, the Law on Employment of Non-Resident Workers, and its relevant supplementary rules further implemented the Framework Law on Employment Policy and Workers Rights, reaffirming that when employing non-resident workers, the employer must assure employment priority for local employees, and ensure equal rights, working conditions and benefits for local and non-resident workers. In view of the characteristics of Macaos industries and social needs, the Labour Affairs Bureau studied several laws concerning labour relations, including the System of Part-time Work, Workplace Sub-contract Management System and Maritime Labour Convention, as well as Decree Law No. 40/95/M, Employees Compensation Insurance Ordinance, and Decree Law No. 32/94/M, System for Approvals of Recruitment Agency Licences.
Labour Relations
The Labour Inspection Department under the Labour Affairs Bureau provides consultancy services on labour regulations to local citizens free of charge, accepts and mediates in labour-relations or work accident disputes, and monitors enterprises compliance with labour regulations. To effectively curb illegal employment, the Labour Inspection Department, the Public Security Police, and the Macao Customs Service jointly or independently carried out regular or non-regular inspections, according to their authority. In 2012, the Labour Inspection Department provided 5,251 consultations about labour regulations to enquirers visiting the office. Among the individuals who sought assistance, 76.8 percent were employees and 23.4 percent were employers. Most enquiries were from the community, social and individual services in terms of industry, as well as from families hiring domestic helpers. Topics of consultation were mainly dismissal compensation, prior notice period and annual leaves, which accounted for 14.3 percent, 12.4 percent and 10.4 percent of all enquires. There were 38,247 enquiries via telephone. A total of 2,016 complaints from 3,907 employee enquiries were handled, 25.3 percent fewer than in 2011. Most involved wages (16.3 percent), overtime compensation (11.5 percent) and weekly leave (8.6 percent). By industry, most complainants were from construction, followed by group, social and individual services, each accounting for 28.9 percent, and accommodation, western and Chinese restaurants and establishments of similar nature (19.7 percent). The 8,363 complaints settled in 2012 involved 9,020 employee enquiries and 3,009 workplaces; 619 transcripts were prepared. Among the identified illegalities concerning employment disputes, 1,433 cases involved creditors rights mainly regarding wages, reduction of basic remuneration and suspension of work. Of all breaches of law, 1.2 percent were cases in which the employer paid the employees claim without resorting to compiling transcripts of evidence; the remaining cases were resolved through the compilation of evidence transcripts or litigation in court. Creditors rights arising from employment disputes, industrial accidents and occupational diseases totalled 55.64 million patacas, involving 6,293 employees. Industrial accidents, wage compensation and reduction of basic remuneration accounted for 60.0 percent, 15.8 percent and 7.0 percent of these cases, respectively.
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In 2012 the Labour Inspection Department received notifications of 87 cases of agreement on lowering basic remuneration, involving 292 local employees, and seven non-resident employees. After investigations, one case was filed as alleged contravention of the Labour Relations Law, involving one person. The Labour Inspection Department received 233 copies of employment contracts for the underaged, involving 838 individuals aged over 16 but below 18, and six aged over 14 but below 16. After verification, 31 cases were filed as alleged contraventions against the Labour Relations Law, involving 59 persons. In its efforts to combat illegal employment, the Labour Affairs Bureau filed 709 cases of illegal employment, in accordance with the Regulation on the Prohibition of Illegal Employment and the Law on Employment of Non-resident Workers and its relevant supplementary laws. After investigation, 743 offenders were penalised for breaches of the law, with fines imposed totalling 8.24 million patacas. In these cases, 264 non-local residents were found working for others in the MSAR without permits. Also, 171 non-local residents were found to be engaged in activities for their own benefit. Individuals in the two groups were fined a total of 5.64 million patacas. Under the Law on Employment of Non-resident Workers and rules related to non-resident worker accommodation rights stipulated in Executive Order No. 88/2010, 27 cases regarding the accommodation rights of non-resident workers were initiated and 40 inspections were carried out in 2012.
189
(Cont.)
Unit in charge Site inspection item Safety inspection jointly conducted with other departments Inspection target Number of inspections Number of suggested improvements Other actions
154 enterprises
216
228
Assessment of hazardous elements, including lighting, heating, workplace noise levels, and organic solvents (including building exterior cleaning)
52 hotels (Inspection and reinspection) 16 catering venues (site inspection and re-inspection) Industrial laundries, department stores, food processing factories and fuel suppliers (re-inspection)
132
59
24
Occupational health medical check-up Sampling assessment of employers of organisations using high Occupational noise-level Health Clinics equipment, according to Decree-Law No. 34/93/M Occupational health inspection at workplace
4,583
7,312
175
192
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Economy
(Cont.)
Unit in charge Site inspection item Inspection target Number of inspections Number of suggested improvements Other actions
Medical check-up for student applicants of Occupational vocational Health Clinics skills courses organised by the Labour Affairs Bureau
1,443
159
Occupational safety and health training in 2012: Course/activity Occupational safety and health seminar Occupational safety and health training module Temporary anchor devices courses Construction industry occupational safety cards training courses Construction industry occupational safety cards refresher courses Construction safety supervisor certificate courses (in cooperation with University of Macao) 35 1 818 424 Number Number of of classes participants 4,509 880 (certificate of competency) 20 (certificate of competency) 8,669 (construction industry occupational safety cards) 4,454 (renewed construction industry occupational safety cards) 105 (construction safety supervisor certificate) Number and types of certificates awarded
Occupational safety and health promotional activities in 2012: Activity Occupational safety and health promotional activities Safety shoes promotion Number of participants 15 construction sites 23 hotels 30 enterprises Number of participating individuals 834 1,291 215
191
(Cont.) Activity First-aid kit promotion Temporary anchor devices promotion Construction Industry Safety Award Scheme Occupational safety and health charter signing Number of participants 62 enterprises 2 enterprises 31 construction companies (19 construction sites) 9 local Macao enterprises 19 construction companies and 23 industry professionals received award Number of participating individuals
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Economy
Of these applications, 15,368 were for non-professional employees, 3,732 were for professional employees and 18,451 were for domestic helpers. Also, there were 40 applications for work permits to engage in activities for the applicants personal interest. At the end of 2012, there were 110,552 employees with non-resident ID cards in Macao.
Consumer Council
The Consumer Council is responsible for providing comments on consumer protection policies to be implemented by the Government, and driving various efforts to protect consumers rights.
Reception Services
At the end of 2011, the Consumer Council moved its Iao Hon Office to the Government Integrated Service Centre in Areia Preta. In March 2013, the Consumer Council moved its head office to 3rd5th floors, Clementina A. L. Ho Building, No. 26 Avenida de Horta e Costa. In addition, consumers can file complaints and submit enquiries to the Consumer Council via e-mail.
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By 2012, 1,261 active companies had joined the Consumer Arbitration Centre. They included Chinese and western pharmaceutical businesses, department stores, supermarkets, catering companies, jewellery and timepiece shops, insurance agencies, laundry and dyeing companies, beauty and fitness centres, mobile telephone companies, computer products companies, travel agencies and real estate agencies.
Consumer Rights
Under Law No. 12/88/M, any person who accepts products and services for private use from individuals or groups of a business nature who engage in business activities is regarded as a consumer. Consumers have the right to receive health protection and be safeguarded against dishonest and irregular practices relating to the promotion or provision of goods or services; to receive guidance and be informed; to be safeguarded against risks that could damage their interests; to be protected against any loss and to receive compensation; and to be treated fairly and be able to participate in the legal and administrative defence of their rights and interests.
Complaints
In 2012, the Consumer Council received 1,609 complaints and 5,520 enquiries. The number of cases handled totalled 7,222, including 93 suggestions. The complaints mainly concerned telecommunications services, the quality, maintenance and sales method of communications equipment, and disputes arising from food and beverage sales methods. In line with the Governments strategy to develop gaming and tourism and the facilitated individual travel (FIT) scheme for mainland residents, the Consumer Council is strengthening its services for tourists, and is dedicated to promoting the development of a sound consumer rights protection mechanism in Macao. Of the nearly 7,200 complaints and enquiries received in 2012, about 12 percent were made by tourists.
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protection, the council has requested these shops to abide by the following additional rules: To offer consumers after-sales service, and provide accurate information about the products and services they sell; To list the specific prices of products and services on their invoices; and To settle disputes with consumers within 14 days of receiving complaints, either through refunds, replacement of goods or submission to the Arbitration Centre.
The Consumer Council has formulated a code of practice for each industry sector in keeping with social developments. At present, 15 industry sectors under the Certified Shops mechanism covering cleaning and dyeing services, real estate agents, supermarkets, pharmacies, beauty services, souvenirs, photography equipment retail and photo printing services, gold and jewellery, leather garments and shoes, communication equipment, computer products, birds nest products, electrical appliances, eyewear and furniture retailing have implemented these codes of practice. These codes set stricter standards for the operation of Certified Shops. The Consumer Council has also established a mechanism to assess whether the Certified Shops implement their general pledges and codes of practice.
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The Gross Domestic Product value and the Gross Domestic Income reflecting the macro economic conditions of Macao are also compiled by the DSEC, by integrating and analysing Macaos economic, social and public financial statistics.
Announcement of results of the 2011 Population Census and the Geographic Information System (GIS)
In April 2012, the Government released the results of 2011 Population Census containing detailed analysis of changes in the demographic characteristics over the past decade. Meanwhile, the Geographic Information System (GIS) of the 2011 Population Census is readily accessible at the DSEC website. To further enhance effective application of data from the population census, the system allows users to search for demographic characteristics and distribution within 23 statistical critieria, including gender, age group, population density and household.
Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries
The Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade
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Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries was established in Macao in accordance with Executive Order No. 33/2004, on the foundation of the Preparatory Office for ChinaPortuguese Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Co-operation Forum, established in 2003. It focuses on providing administrative and resources support to the secretariat, which promotes the development of economic and trade relationships between China and Portuguesespeaking countries, based on Macaos role as an economic and trade services platform. Since its establishment, the supporting office has diligently assisted the work of the Permanent Secretariat, particularly in promoting mutual visits between the senior officials of China (including Macao) and Portuguese-speaking countries, initiating joint development of human resources, facilitating economic and trade investments, exploring new areas of cooperation, and demonstrating the role of Macao as a commercial and trade services platform. In 2012, the supporting office worked in tandem with the Permanent Secretariat to continue to follow up on the post-meeting stage of the first, second and third Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation Between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, pressing forward development in various areas and fully demonstrating the service platform function of Macao.
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Financial Services Bureau and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. The Financial Intelligence Office stipulated guidelines for industries being monitored, compiled regular reports from information on suspicious transactions, and provided various monitoring authorities with information on trends in reports of suspicious transactions and characteristics of these cases. In the area of international cooperation, the Financial Intelligence Office joined the Egmont Group in May 2009, and with the group as a platform it looked towards promoting connection and collaboration with even more countries and regions. It also signed memorandums on cooperation with the financial intelligence bodies of 11 countries and regions: mainland China, Portugal, Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Fiji. The Financial Intelligence Office will continue to explore the possibilities of signing cooperation memorandums with other regions.
Consultative Bodies
Economic Development Council
The Economic Development Council was established under By-law No. 1/2007. It is the Governments consultative department for formulating economic development strategy, economic policies and manpower policies. The council comprises the Chief Executive as its chairperson and Secretary for Economy and Finance, together with representatives of organisations with different economic interests, professionals, outstanding and reputable people in relevant fields, and representatives of relevant public organisations and departments.
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Fashion Show
Fashion Design and Production is one of the major training programmes developed and promoted by the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center (CPTTM), and aims to cultivate new generations of fashion designers. In October 2012, the CPTTM again joined hands with the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) in organising the Macao Fashion Festival 2012. The event showcases masterpieces by local and overseas fashion designers as well as award-winning works by training programme graduates, and promotes the development of Macaos fashion design and garment industry. (Photos: CPTTM)
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Under its franchise concession contract, STDM paid a special gaming tax to the Government. Its rate was revised many times; but as of 2001, it was 31.8 percent of the companys gross revenue. Meanwhile, the concessionaire was required to invest in major infrastructure developments, and fulfil an obligation to benefit the Macao community. Prior to Macaos return to the motherland, the highest-ever annual casino gaming gross revenue was only around 17.78 billion patacas a much lower figure than those seen in more-recent years. Horse racing and dog racing are also legal gaming activities in Macao, and they are categorised as pari-mutuels. According to the definition in MSAR Law No. 16/2001, Gaming Industry Regulatory Framework, pari-mutuels are animal races or sports on which bets are placed, and the winners share the pooled bets in accordance with their stakes and after the deduction of commissions, charges and taxes. In fact, the histories of horse racing and dog racing in Macao can be traced back at least as far as 1842 and 1932, respectively, although repeated suspensions and resumptions of racing have occurred, due to changing economic conditions. At present, the Macau Jockey Club (MJC) operates Macaos horseracing activities; while the Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co. organises dog races. To create more favourable conditions for the development of horse racing and dog racing in Macao, the Government granted approval in August 2003 for related franchise operators to accept online bets via the Internet. At present, the MJC has approval to simulcast and accept bets on races in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. In 2010, approval was granted to simulcast races in South Africa. In 2012, there was a decrease in gross revenue from horse racing in Macao, with the figure dropping 19.4 percent over the previous year, while gross income from dog racing decreased by 31.6 percent. In addition to casino gaming, horse racing and dog racing, many other gaming activities are popular in Macao. The most popular of these are sports lotteries. Sports lotteries are operated by Macau Slot Co. (Macau Slot). The Government granted the company a franchise to conduct football betting in 1998 and basketball betting in 2000. Since 1987, Macau Slot has also held the franchise to operate instant lottery tickets, which were launched in Macao in 1984. Pacapio, a kind of Chinese lottery, is one of the oldest lottery formats in Macao. Pacapio tickets are printed with the first 80 Chinese characters from a book called The Thousand-Character Classic. Formerly, the 20 winning characters were picked at random by a pigeon, later they were decided by a ball-draw system. From the late 1990s onwards, the drawing of pacapio was computerised, and it subsequently became known as Computer Pacapio. Since April 2004, the Government has also allowed betting on pacapio via telephone or the Internet. The Wing Heng Lottery Company currently holds the concession for operating Chinese lotteries. Gross revenue from sports lotteries, instant lotteries and pacapio accounted for only 0.18 percent of Macaos gross gaming income during 2012. Macaos long heritage and rich variety of gaming activities has brought it worldwide renown as a tourism and gaming destination.
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and conducting research regarding cultural, academic, charitable and other relevant activities; plus another 1.4 percent to bodies supporting urban development, tourism and social security. Wynn and Galaxy must likewise contribute 1.6 percent of their gross gaming revenues to the foundation, as well as contribute 2.4 percent of gross gaming revenues to bodies supporting urban development, tourism and social security. The successful granting of the new casino concessions indicates that Macaos gaming industry has entered a new era. Under the contracts, the three concessionaires were to invest a combined total of at least 17.54 billion patacas by the end of 2009. According to Law No. 16/2001, a maximum of three casino gaming concessions can be granted. However, after granting licences to three operators, the Government agreed to allow Galaxy, SJM and Wynn to each grant a gaming sub-concession to one other operator, to meet Macaos changing needs. Thus, a 3+3 market structure was formed. In December 2002, the Government and Galaxy agreed to amend its concession contract. The Venetian Group was authorised to operate casino gaming in Macao under a sub-concession. With the permission of the Government, in April 2005 SJM signed a sub-concession contract with MGM Grand Paradise (hereinafter referred to as MGM), and in September 2006 Wynn signed a contract with Melco PBL Gaming (Macau) (hereinafter referred to as Melco PBL). As a result, there are now six licensed gaming companies in Macao, each of which enjoys the right to autonomously operate casino gaming businesses as an independent legal person. On April 2002, SJM, a subsidiary of STDM, became the first new concessionaire to open for business. The opening-up of the gaming market has greatly added to the development of Macaos economy. After the gaming industry had grown rapidly for several years, the Government found the time was right to review the present conditions and future development. On 22 April 2008, the Chief Executive announced new measures for the gaming industry, and decided the number of gaming licences would not be increased in the foreseeable future. In February 2010, the Government restructured the Macao Gaming Committee; it is now chaired by the Chief Executive. The committee is responsible for formulating relevant policies for development of the gaming industry, monitoring the industrys development and operation, and drawing up regulations and guidelines. One new casino was opened in 2012. At the end of the year, there were 35 casinos operating in Macao, of which 20 belonged to SJM, four to the Venetian Group, six to Galaxy, one to Wynn, three to Melco PBL, and one to MGM. By the end of 2012, the numbers of gaming tables increased from 5,302 to 5,485, a 3.45 percent rise over the previous year, while the number of slot machines increased from 16,056 to 16,585, 3.29 percent more than the previous year. At the end of 2012, there were 2,144 vacant gaming jobs, representing a year-on-year decrease of 130 vacancies. Vacancies for dealers decreased by 295 to 1,209; vacancies for cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floor persons and betting service operators increased by 195 to 393. By year end, there were 54,835 gaming industry employees, representing a year-on-year increase of 9.2 percent.
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Categorised by occupation, there were 23,895 dealers, representing an increase of 6.9 percent; 14,696 cage cashiers, pit bosses, casino floor persons and betting service operators, representing an increase of 8.9 percent; 6,177 casino waiters, slot machine attendants, security guards and CCTV surveillance staff, representing an increase of 11.5 percent. At the end of 2012, the average monthly wage for full-time paid employees in the industry (excluding incentive bonuses and rewards) was 18,040 patacas, an increase of 7.9 percent compared with the 2011 figure. The average monthly wage of dealers was 15,990 patacas, 8.8 percent higher than in the previous year. The average monthly wage of cash cashiers, pit bosses, casino floor persons and betting service operators was 21,890 patacas, representing an increase of 5.4 percent. The average monthly wage of casino waiters, slot machine attendants, security guards and CCTV surveillance staff increased by 11.4 percent, to 12,180 patacas.
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As a result of more aggressive market competition, the price war in junket commissions increased the operating costs of VIP rooms in casinos, thus reducing their profits. The resulting vicious competition has hindered the normal development of the gaming industry. To maintain market order and effective regulation of the industry, the Government decided to set a cap on junket commissions, for safeguarding the healthy development of the gaming industry. On 21 May 2008, the Government held the first joint meeting with the management of the six casino operators, to discuss the cap on junket commissions. After negotiations in several meetings, the Government and the industry operators reached a consensus to cap junket commissions at 1.25 percent. In August 2009, the Government promulgated By-law No. 27/2009, to amend By-law No. 6/2002 concerning the regulations of the commissions or other rewards to gaming promoters. TheSecretary for Economy and Finance, Francis Tam, then signed an order to set the upper limit on the junket commissions for gaming promoters from gaming concessionaires; in September, the Secretary signed Order No. 83/2009 to cap junket commissions of gaming promoters at 1.25 percent of bets, and require each gaming concessionaire to submit a monthly report to the DICJ. Following promulgation of the by-laws, the Government continues to maintain communications, discussions and reviews with the gaming concessionaires and other industry operators. The Government will also listen to opinions from all parties, and introduce more refined and detailed guidelines. The amended by-law came into force on 1 December 2009. Gaming promoters are legally obliged to pay tax at a rate of five percent on commissions they collect from concessionaires, and other remuneration they receive. The Government is also making efforts to regulate gaming-related loan activities. The Law on Regulating Credit Related to Gaming and Betting in Casinos or Other Gaming Venues (Law No. 5/2004) was passed by the Legislative Assembly in May 2004, and came into force on 1 July the same year. It stipulates that only concessionaires and sub-concessionaires are authorised to conduct credit-related business. In addition, gaming promoters and management companies are also allowed to conduct such business provided they have already signed relevant contracts with a concessionaire or sub-concessionaire. The credit provided in accordance with this law is regarded as statutory debt. The law also states principles and conditions governing the signing of contracts, credit activities and other related matters. It defines the granting of credit as being transfer of the ownership of casino gaming chips to a third party when the lender is not immediately compensated by a monetary payment. It also clearly defines different types of money. The enactment of the Law on Regulating Credit Related to Gaming and Betting in Casinos or Other Gaming Venues is a significant step forward in regulating the development of Macaos gaming industry.
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DICJ after the Handover, the functions and effectiveness of supervision in this area have been continuously strengthened. Since the liberalisation of the gaming industry, the Government has restructured the DICJ under By-law No. 34/2003. The DICJ provides guidance and assistance to the Chief Executive on the formulation and implementation of the economic policies for the operations of casino games of fortune or other ways of gaming, pari-mutuels and gaming activities offered to the public. Its major responsibilities include the following:
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cooperation with other Government departments and community groups to educate teenaged students and the general public via promotional campaigns; collection of information about illegal gambling activities through a variety of channels, and referral of relevant data to the police for further action if investigations confirm such activities have taken place; and identification and administrative punishment of individuals involved in illegal gambling in accordance with Law No. 8/96/M. A total of 245 people were found to be involved in illegal gambling during 2012, a decrease of 19.1 percent on the previous years figure. Of these, 93 percent were Macao residents who were involved mainly in mahjong games. The DICJ would continue to educate the public, to stringently combat and prevent illegal gambling.
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all information related to the activities of licensed gaming operators and their financial indicators, in order to create and continuously update a database about the major activities of licensed gaming operators. Besides compiling financial forecasts about gaming activities, the department supervises and investigates the financial background and eligibility of gaming-related companies on a dayto-day basis. In 2012, the DICJ continued to improve the mechanism of gaming regulations, amend relevant laws and regulations to improve the internal structure of the gaming industry and enhance the competitiveness of the Macao gaming industry in the international market. Additionally, the DICJ was committed to preventing problem gambling, promoting responsible gambling and reducing the negative effects of the gaming industry on society. Its efforts can be summarised as follows: 1. The DICJ continued to cooperate with government departments and organisations, including the Social Welfare Bureau and the University of Macau, to organise various activities and publicity campaigns to promote responsible gambling, and established a trial version of responsible gambling information kiosks with these two parties. 2. To enforce Law No. 10/2012, the DICJ inspected casinos for clear notices stating that individuals under 21 years old are prohibited from entering since the law came into effect. DICJ inspectors are stationed at venues to provide necessary assistance to casino staff on checking the age of casino visitors. 3. From 1 November 2012, self-exclusion and third-person exclusion were made effective. The DICJ kept close contact with casino operators to improve the application process and provide assistance to individuals in need. At the end of December 2012, the DICJ had received 30 applications, which were mainly for self-exclusion. 4. To comprehensively monitor the air quality of casinos and safeguard the health of frontline staff, the DICJ joined hands with other government departments such as the Health Bureau and the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau for a strict and thorough assessment of applications for smoking space in casinos, to ensure the smoking area does not exceed 50 percent of that of gambling space. The DICJ also held regular meetings and communicated with the six casino operators regarding the guidelines on casino smoking areas, in preparation for enforcement of the guidelines from 1 January 2013 onward. 5. To strengthen auditing and technology advancement, the DICJ set up CCTV rooms in flagship casinos of every operator and stationed inspectors to monitor the cashiers offices. Moreover, personnel were sent to gambling concessionaires to carry out field auditing regarding the requirements stipulated in the Minimum Internal Control Requirements, including the implementation of the cap on junket commissions. 6. To implement and promote the Macau Central Monitoring Systems Technical Standard, the DICJ set up specific monitoring rooms to improve regulation of slot machines. 7. The money laundering control procedures submitted by the gaming concessionaires under Directive No. 2/2006, were reviewed on a regular basis, and amended and updated in accordance with changes in the operating modes of different gaming concessionaires and technological developments. The Summary Report on Large Transactions was further
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analysed and examined, while relevant information was gathered and transferred to the Financial Intelligence Office for further case analysis, filing and investigation. 8. With regard to inspection of pari-mutuels, close monitor over gaming data of pari-mutuels and lotteries was retained. The DICJ spared no effort in coordination regarding replacement and improvement of betting systems of gaming companies and studying of the revision of law, including sports lotteries-football betting regulations.
The Contribution of Casino Gaming to Macaos Gross Gaming Revenue during 2012
(Billion Patacas)
Item Gross revenue from casino gaming Gross gaming revenue Proportion of contribution
Source: DICJ
(Billion Patacas)
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(Cont.)
(Billion Patacas)
Gross revenue 0.0047 0.211 0.022 0.347 0.0014 0.035 0.895 1.472 0.246 0.137 0.289 0.206 0.00081 304.139
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Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is the backbone of Macaos economy. With the long-term goal of building Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre, the government department responsible for tourism development started adjusting tourism policies and measures in accordance with Macaos new positioning, and promoted sustainable and healthy development of the tourism industry in areas including marketing and promotion, tourism planning, products and events, tourism industry management, and training and quality control.
In 2012, Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) comprised 89.2 percent of the total market, and the international market comprised 10.8 percent. Mainland China continued to be the largest market for visitors to Macao, with the number of visitors increasing by 4.6 percent over the 2011 figure. They accounted for 60.2 percent of the total number of visitors, and 7,131,914 (42.2 percent) of them travelled to Macao under the Facilitated Individual Travel (FIT) scheme. Hong Kong and Taiwan were the second and third largest markets for visitors to Macao, respectively; the numbers of visitors from these regions decreased by 6.6 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively, compared with the figures in 2011.
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In 2012, there was a significant increase in the number of Thai tourists, up by 17.8 percent over the figure in 2011. Thailand became the eighth largest source of tourists, compared to tenth in the previous year. There was a large drop in numbers of Singaporean tourists, down by 26.7 percent over the 2011 figure. As a result, Singapore was ranked tenth among sources of tourists. Despite the slowdown in the global economy, Macao tourism sustained its 2011 momentum. Certain individual markets with great potential recorded considerable growth, especially Russia. In 2012, 26,844 Russian tourists visited Macao, a 62.6 percent increase over the 2011 figure. During the year, there were 3,026,588 tourists from international markets, 0.5 percent more than in 2011.
Number of Hotels 8 20 14 14 13 69 33
Number of Rooms 3,679 13,223 5,717 2,620 841 26,080 639 26,719
The total number of guests who occupied hotel rooms in Macao during 2012 was 9,541,397, a 10.8 percent increase over the 2011 figure. The average year-round hotel occupancy rate dropped from 84.1 percent in 2011 to 83.1 percent in 2012. The average length of stay was 1.4 nights, a decrease of 0.13 nights compared with the 2011 figure.
Travel Agencies
At the end of 2012, there were 169 licensed travel agencies in Macao, 12 (7.6 percent) more than in 2011. A total of 1,643 people held tourist guide licences issued by the MGTO, an increase of 125 (8.2 percent) compared with the 2011 figure. The language abilities of these tourist guides span Cantonese, Putonghua, English, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Korean, Thai, French, Spanish, Russian, Indonesian, Hokkien and Chaozhouese.
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In 2012, 9,122,332 tourists visited Macao on package tours, an increase of 21.0 percent over 2011. Most package tourists (6,521,675) came from mainland China, an increase of 18.9 percent over the 2011 figure. The second and third-largest sources of package tourists were Taiwan and Hong Kong, at 784,386 and 417,127, respectively. In 2012, a total of 430,065 Macao residents joined outbound group tours. Of these, 319,270 (74.2 percent) headed for mainland China. Korea and Taiwan were the second and third most-popular tourism destinations for Macao residents, with Korea attracting 29,703 visitors or 6.9 percent of the total, and Taiwan attracting 21,285 visitors or 4.9 percent of the total. A total of 861,152 residents used travel agent services without joining package tours, which is 31.2 percent more than in 2011.
Business Tourism
To promote Macao as a business tourism destination, the MGTO continued to participate in relevant international expos held overseas. Incentive programmes also continued, to encourage the industry to further engage in overseas marketing. In 2012, the MGTO jointed hands with the Economic Services Bureau and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute to participate in overseas expos to promote Macaos meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition (MICE) industry and related incentive measures and policies. The MGTO launched its incentive travel stimulation programme to attract overseas companies to choose Macao as a destination for their incentive travel, enhance cooperation between the local industry and international buyers and organisations, and help raise the quality of the local industry to international levels. In 2012, 39 applications for the programme were accepted, involving 28,242 participants.
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Industry Management
In 2012, the legislative procedures for the bill on the amendments to the law governing travel agents and tour guides commenced. The bill on the amendments to the law governing the hotel and catering industries was also under the drafting process. After the law on Prohibition of Illegal Provision of Accommodation came into effect in 2010, the MGTO has been joining hands with homeowners councils and social groups in combating illegal provision of accommodation. The MGTO has also received and transferred complaints through the 2833 3000 hotline, via the Internet, in person and by post. In 2012, the inter-departmental task force conducted 238 joint operations and the MGTO undertook 2,441 inspections. During the year, the MGTO processed 2,131 cases regarding licence applications. Moreover, it conducted 1,780 inspections of the establishments, industries and tourist spots under its administration. During 2012, the MGTO held four training sessions to improve service quality of tourism and related businesses. A total of 132 participants received training; retail industry employees were the first target group.
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Information Counters
The MGTO has 10 information counters, which are at major ports and tourist attractions in Macao (the Border Gate, the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Edif Ritz Largo do Senado, Guia Lighthouse, Macau International Airport, Macau Fishermans Wharf and Taipa Ferry Terminal), and major ports in Hong Kong (Shun Tak Centre and Hong Kong International Airport), providing up-to-date tourism information and assistance to tourists. In 2012, MGTOs information counters in Macao and Hong Kong offered assistance to 1,389,437 visitors, an increase of one percent over the 2011 figure.
Tourism Training
Tourism and related industries account for a significant proportion of Macaos total workforce. The Government attaches great importance to training people employed in the tourism sector; it offers training courses for various tourism-related professionals through the Institute for Tourism Studies.
Tourism Resources
Boasting a brilliant and fascinating history encompassing 400 years of cultural exchanges between
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China and the West, Macao has a unique appeal to tourists. Its scenery is embellished with tourist treasures of all types, including picturesque dwellings constructed in traditional styles and ancient temples built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, buildings with Southern European architectural features, baroque-style churches and impressive contemporary structures.
Churches
Ruins of St Pauls
Macaos most famous landmark is the Ruins of St Pauls, the surviving facade of St Pauls Church. Designed by a Spanish Jesuit, construction of the original church began in 1602, and it was completed between 1637 and 1640. St Pauls Church has been destroyed by fire three times but fortunately its precious facade remained standing after the blaze. The facade has since been repaired many times, and it is now generally known as the Ruins of St Pauls. St Pauls Church is a delicate mixture of European Renaissance and Eastern architectural styles. The Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt was built at the location of the church, and houses collections paintings, sculptures and ceremonial decorations from churches and abbeys.
St Dominics Church
St Dominics Church stands on part of the former site of St Dominics Convent. In 1587, Spanish friars built the original church, which was dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. It was initially built of camphor wood and then restructured with stucco bricks and cream-coloured stones. The architecture is in Portuguese style, which was popular in the Orient in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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In the main chapel stands a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, from which the Parade of the Virgin commences on 13 May each year. Believers march to Penha Hill to commemorate the Virgin Marys appearance in Fatima, Portugal. There is a museum of sacred art inside the chapel. The collection includes religious items of artistic value, as well as scriptures and carved wooden representations of saints. In recent years, major international concerts held inside the church have imbued it with an even more profound sense of culture.
St Lawrences Church
St Lawrences is one of Macaos most famous large churches. Built in the middle of the 16th century, it has undergone several restorations, and its present construction was completed in 1846. The Portuguese, who were great mariners and navigators, believed that St Lawrence offered protection and bestowed the gift of the wind.
The Cathedral
The Cathedral was built in 1576 and was originally a simple wooden structure. Between 1844 and 1850, Catholic parishioners collected donations to rebuild the church and enlarge it to its present size. Many major events in the Churchs calendar centre on the Cathedral, especially during Easter. In addition to the procession of Our Lord of Passion, a solemn parade takes place on Good Friday and special masses are held on Easter Sunday.
Fortresses
Mount Fortress
Mount Fortress is one of Macaos major tourist attractions. Work on its construction began in 1617, during the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty, and it was completed in 1626. Mount Fortress was originally used by the Church to protect the clergymen of St Pauls Church from pirate attacks. It was later turned into a military installation. In the past, the fortress stood high above the city centre of Macao, and it was regarded as an important part of its defensive fortifications. It has now become a heritage site and witness to history.
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Mount Fortress occupies about 8,000 square metres. The ancient fortress tower was once an office of the Society of Jesus. It was also used as the office of the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau, and it has since been rebuilt as the Museum of Macao. At the entrance, a stone carving records the forts military successes in defending the city against invasions.
Mong Ha Fortress
Construction of Mong Ha Fortress began in 1849. It covers an area of 650 square metres. The fortress was once a barracks for African Portuguese soldiers stationed in Macao, and was called Black Ghost Fortress. After the former Portuguese administration withdrew its Macao garrison during the 1970s, the barracks were abandoned. In the 1980s, Mong Ha Fortress was renovated and became the Government-owned Tourism School, now known as the Institute for Tourism Studies.
St Francis Fortress
St Francis Fortress was constructed in 1622. In 1584, Spanish clergymen built St Francis Convent on the site behind the fortress; subsequently, the convent was converted into a barracks. In the 20th century, after Portuguese soldiers withdrew from Macao, the barracks became the headquarters of the security forces in charge of the Marine Police, Public Security Police and Fire Service.
Guia Fortress
Guia Fortress occupies about 800 square metres. Its construction began in 1622, and it was expanded from 1637 to 1638. It was formerly valued for military purposes, because of its position overlooking the entire peninsula. It was therefore classified as a restricted military area until 1976, when the Portuguese army left. It was then turned into a tourist spot, and its appearance has been kept intact until now. The Chapel of Our Lady of Guia was built in the fortress in 1622. Adjacent to the hermitage is the 13-metre-high Guia Lighthouse, which was built in 1864, and is one of the oldest lighthouses in the Far East. It resumed service in 1910 and has been guiding seamen ever since, with a visibility of 25 nautical miles from Macao. When a typhoon approaches, typhoon signals are hoisted on the side of the lighthouse to warn nearby residents.
Barra Fortress
Barra Fortress, also called Pousada de S. Tiago Fortress or Sai Van Fortress, was built in 1622. It was an important fortress for protecting Macaos Inner Harbour. Inside the castle is the Chapel of St James. In 1981, the castle was converted into a hotel, while retaining its old characteristics.
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and backgrounds they represent, and because of the gods to whom they are dedicated.
A-Ma Temple
The A-Ma Temple is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Macao and the oldest of Macaos three ancient grand temples. Built in the Ming Dynasty, the A-Ma Temple was originally called the A-Ma Pavilion or Tin Hau (Heavenly Queen) Temple by local people. The entire temple consists of four main structures: the Stone Hall, the Main Hall, the Hong Ren Hall and the Kun Iam Pavilion. This ancient structure is distinguished by its traditional Chinese cultural characteristics. Between Hong Ren Hall and Kun Iam Pavilion, there are many stone inscriptions along the cliff path written by celebrities, statesmen, poets and scholars and engraved in different calligraphic styles.
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the Na Tcha Temple, Hong Kung Temple, Tam Kung Temple, Yeok San Buddhist Monastery, Chu Lam Chi Buddhist Monastery, Sam Po Temple, Po Tai Buddhist Monastery, Lin Kai Temple, Pak Tai Temple and Tin Hau Temple.
Cybernetic Fountains
Macao has a cybernetic fountain at Nam Van Lake. The fountain comprises various spouts and lights for fountain shows. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau schedules two musical fountain shows and laser fountain shows on Saturdays and Sundays. More shows are staged during special festivals, such as New Years Day, Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Christmas.
Macau Tower
The Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre, which was funded and constructed by the Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, officially opened on 19 December 2001 as Macaos new signature landmark. Soaring 338 metres high, the Macau Tower was the tenth-highest freestanding tower in the world and the eighth-highest in Asia when it was completed. The main observation level is 223 metres above the ground, and consists of four floors. Two floors accommodate an indoor viewing deck, cafe, revolving restaurant and outdoor viewing deck. The indoor viewing deck provides visitors with panoramic views of up to 55 kilometres. The multifunction convention and entertainment centre integrated with the tower also has four floors containing exhibition and conference facilities.
A-Ma Statue
Located at the top of the Alto de Coloane, the A-Ma Statue is the tallest white marble statue of this goddess in the world. Constructed from 120 white marble boulders and completed on 28 October 1998, it is 19.99 metres in height. The face is carved from a single white marble boulder, and the statue weighs 500 tonnes.
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The Formula Three race of the Macau Grand Prix is the premier event, drawing national championship racers from throughout the world to compete for the honour of first prize. Grand Prix street track riders and motorcycle superstars such as Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Jenson Button, Kevin Schwantz, Carl Fogarty, Didier de Radigues and Ron Haslam have competed at the Guia Circuit.
Culinary Delights
Since Chinese and Western cultures coexist in Macao, it offers food that blends culinary influences from around the world. Different cuisines can be sampled throughout the area, and tourists may taste the regional dishes of Beijing, Shanghai, Sichuan, Guangdong and Taiwan to their hearts content. They can also enjoy authentic cuisines from Portugal, Italy, France, Japan, India, Vietnam, Korea, Brazil and Thailand. Regarded as one of the worlds unique cuisines, Macanese cuisine is actually a distillation of
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the culinary arts of Portugal, Africa, India, Malaysia and mainland Chinas Guangdong Province. Bacalao balls, African chicken, spicy prawns, Portuguese chicken, stewed duck with herbs, stewed knuckle with red beans, stuffed crab shells, and grilled sardines are celebrated delicacies in Macao. Macao specialties also include almond cakes, egg rolls, crackers, peanut candy, chicken-shaped pastries, dried preserved fruits and various dried meats. Tourists love to buy these snacks as gifts for relatives and friends, or for their own enjoyment. Pastry houses and snack shops cluster along Almeida Ribeiro Avenue to the Auto Novo Alley, Sao Paulo Road and around the old district on Taipa island.
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PUBLIC ORDER
Public Order
Public Order
Macao is a peaceful, safe city with a much lower crime rate than many other cities around the world. Its citizens are well housed and adequately paid for their work. Taking into account the social situation and crime trends, the Governments security authorities adjust, deploy and execute relevant measures to effectively combat and prevent crime, safeguard the security of residents and their property, and maintain social stability and peace in accordance with the policy guidelines.
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and arranges for police officers to visit the scene and take action. The Operations Control Centre received 422,285 emergency calls during 2012. The centre also supervises traffic-monitoring systems. Video cameras installed on all sea bridges transmit images of traffic that enable its officers to observe and control traffic flows. The Operations Control Centre is equipped with a computer-controlled video alarm system that can transfer video footage from crime scenes direct to the centre. This enables officials to learn about a situation quickly, and respond to it.
Judiciary Police
The Judiciary Police is a criminal investigation police department under the supervision of the Secretary for Security, and it specialises in crime prevention and investigation. It also assists the judiciary and other Government departments in investigating criminal activities. At present, the subsidiary units of the Judiciary Police are the Criminal Investigation Department; the Department for the Investigation of Gaming-related and Economic Crimes; the Intelligence and Support Department; the Forensic Science Department; the IT and Telecommunications Management Department; the Management and Planning Department; the Judiciary Police Training School; and the Interpol Macau, China (Sub-bureau of the Chinese National Central Bureau of ICPO Interpol). At the end of 2012, the total number of permanent staff positions in the Judiciary Police was 1,356, and there were 1,045 serving staff. In 2012, the Judiciary Police received 9,283 criminal cases, of which 4,556 were designated as investigations, 1,886 were preliminary investigations, 2,540 were investigations that had been requested and the other 301 were indictments. The investigations completed involved: three homicides, 23 illegal confinements, 32 extortion cases, 23 arson cases, 141 robberies, 1,800 thefts, 93 cases of drug trafficking, 142 cases of drug taking, 18 human trafficking cases, 17 cases of prostitution exploitation, six triad cases, 16 cases of criminal groups, 150 profiteering and loansharking cases, 2,070 gambling-related cases, 249 cases of passing counterfeit currency (including using counterfeit credit cards), 210 fraud cases, 175 cases of computer or internet fraud, and two cases of phone fraud.
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in the Judiciary Police, supervise trainees, publish promotional materials and organise publicity programmes. Its training programmes include induction, in-service training and promotional training for inspectors and assistant inspectors, detectives and assistant criminologists handling criminal cases. In 2012, the school provided 88 courses totalling 2,672 teaching hours for 2,251 staff on induction training, in-service training, promotion-related training and joint programmes co-hosted with other institutions.
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Recruitment
Recruitment of police officers and fire service officers comes under the central control of the DSFSM. The minimum academic entry requirement for police officers and Fire Service officers is senior high school level. Applicants must pass a full medical examination, a physical fitness test, a general knowledge test and a psychological test. The following table shows details of the 2012 recruitment: Training Programmes for FSM Police Cadets 17th 18th Number of Applicants 1,076 1,064 Number of Students after Selection Male 131 137 Female 19 25 Total 150 162
After passing the training programme examinations, an eligible candidate can choose to become a police officer or a fire service officer. Also, clerical staff are recruited by the Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau (DSFSM). After examinations and assessments, successful applicants are allocated to various divisions of the Macao Public Security Forces (FSM).
Disciplinary Cases
The FSM requires rigorous disciplinary compliance from all its officers. According to information provided by the FSM, during 2012 it handled 331 disciplinary cases involving 378 people, 285 of whom were in the Public Security Police, 40 in the Fire Service, two in the DSFSM and four in the Academy of Macao Public Security Forces. Most disciplinary actions were for minor offences. However, 12 Public Security Police officers and one Fire Service officer were disciplined for criminal offences.
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Fire Service
The core functions of the Fire Service are to assist in cases of fire, flooding, building collapses, and other situations threatening life and property. It takes measures to prevent fires and provides assistance in emergency cases involving illness or danger. The Fire Service also participates in civil protection and emergency management. Its organisation currently consists of a Command Office, Discipline Committee, Legal Advisors Division, Command Support Office, Resources Management Department, Personnel and Logistics Division, Technical Support Division, Macao Operations and Ambulance Division affiliated to the Macao Operations Department, Islands Operations and Ambulance Division affiliated to the Islands Operations Department, Fire Service School, Services Division and Airport Division. At the end of 2012, the Fire Service had a staffing level of 1,173 posts, with 1,021 serving personnel and 144 vacancies. It has seven fire stations on the Macao peninsula, Taipa and Coloane islands: the Fire Service Headquarters and Sai Van Lake Station, Central Station, Areia Preta Station, Taipa Island Station, and Coloane Island Station, plus two stations at Macau International Airport. The Fire Service responded to 38,524 incidents during 2012.
Fire Fighting
In 2012, the Fire Service handled 25 medium-sized fires, 718 small fires, and 362 miscellaneous fires. Classified by cause, 613 fire incidents were due to the careless disposal of embers, 94 were the result of electrical short circuits, 132 were accidental false alarms, two were deliberate false alarms, 17 were due to suspected arson and 247 were due to other causes. 161 people were injured in fires during the year.
Ambulance Service
The Fire Service is also responsible for all emergency assistance work in Macao. Its emergency
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ambulance team comprises 796 paramedics. In 2012, the Fire Service responded to 31,750 emergency requests for ambulances, and dispatched ambulances on 35,592 occasions.
Fire Prevention
Under the Rules and Regulations on Fire Prevention and Safety, the Fire Service is responsible for monitoring the design of all new buildings and fire-prevention equipment. It also inspects older buildings and advises on improvements to fire-prevention facilities. In addition, it examines and monitors fire-prevention measures in shopping malls, factories, catering establishments, and various recreational and entertainment venues. In 2012, the Fire Service examined 2,043 construction plans, conducted 1,934 site inspections, performed 1,187 fire-fighting-equipment tests and undertook 2,118 fire-prevention and safety patrols. It handled 400 complaints about fire safety and awarded 30 quality certificates for fire-prevention and fire-fighting equipment.
Traffic Accidents
According to statistics provided by the Public Security Police, 14,688 traffic accidents occurred in Macao during 2012, resulting in 5,250 injuries and 18 fatalities.
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public authority. It is responsible for leading, implementing and monitoring measures related to customs policies, as well as policing duties related to customs affairs. The duties of Macao Customs include preventing, tackling and eliminating customs fraud. It is also committed to curbing and stamping out unlawful trafficking. It helps to monitor external trade activities and contributes to protecting and enhancing Macaos international reputation. Macao Customs also safeguards intellectual property rights, as prescribed by law. It is dedicated to fulfilling Macaos international obligations relating to customs matters and looking after the safety of people and property, as set out in the security policies of Macao. It also participates in civil protection preparedness, and special emergency operations. Macao Customs has a Director-General, Deputy Director-General, Assistant Director-General, Operation Management Department, Checkpoint Enforcement Department, Intellectual Property Rights Department, Marine Enforcement Department, Information and Communication Technology Department, Internal Affairs Office, and Finance and Administration Department. In 2012, Macao Customs seized large quantities of illegal and smuggled contraband imports including 27.97 kilograms of ivory, 1.48 kilograms of turtles, 3.48 kilograms of deer antlers, 183,359.42 kilograms of meat and vegetables, 524.44 litres of alcoholic beverages, 810,368 cigarettes, 383 items of leather products related to protection of intellectual and industrial property rights, and 4,007 items of electronic and communications equipment and accessories. Moreover, 15.49 grams of drugs were seized at border checkpoints, including psychoactive substances totalling 167,306.52 grams of powder, 592 pills and tablets and 1.44 litres of liquid.
Marine Supervision
The Macao Customs Fleet is responsible for patrolling Macaos coastal waters. With the cooperation of the Frontier Defence Office of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and other mainland China customs departments, it has strengthened its role in tackling organised illegal immigration and smuggling activities. In 2012, the Macao Customs Fleet and customs-related units in mainland China (such as the Frontier Defence Brigade of the Zhuhai Public Security Bureau) conducted 40 joint operations along the coast of Macao, to ensure order and safety at sea. The Macao Customs Fleet also conducted 43 joint sea patrols with the Macao Maritime Administration in the Inner Harbour and Outer Harbour to strengthen order and safety along the two harbour channels. The Macao Customs Fleet currently has nine patrol vessels and 22 high-speed boats.
International Cooperation
Macao Customs is a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO). The service has participated in various operations with the World Customs Organizations Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific as well as activities to prevent and combat crime related to terrorism, measures against human trafficking and activities to prevent and combat money laundering.
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Civil Protection
Civil protection aims to prevent major loss of life and damage to property in the event of serious accidents, natural disasters and crises. It is jointly conducted by Government departments and public institutions, with the involvement of residents. Civil protection procedures can reduce casualties and save lives in dangerous situations. The Action Coordination Centre makes suggestions and deploys manpower and material resources to coordinate and supervise a programme of measures to limit or prevent the effects of any serious accident, disaster or other catastrophe that occurs. It takes all necessary precautions to maintain basic services and normal living conditions for residents in the event of tropical storms or other abnormal situations. Should a disaster occur, civil protection action will be carried out in phases, according to the nature of the disaster and the needs it creates in terms of rescue and other requirements. If necessary, Macao can be divided into two districts, the Macao peninsula and the islands area. Separate district action centres can be set up to carry out or coordinate activities under the overall command of the Action Coordination Centre headquarters. The Public Security Forces, other Government departments, non-governmental organisations and private-sector companies jointly participate in civil protection. They include the Civil Protection Action Centre; Islands Area Action Centre; Fire Service; Public Security Police; Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau; Academy of Macao Public Security Forces; Public Security Coordination Office; Judiciary Police; Macao Customs; Civil Aviation Authority; Maritime Administration; Conde S. Januario Hospital; Education and Youth Affairs Bureau; Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau; Government Tourist Office; Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau; Government Information Bureau; Social Welfare Bureau; Housing Bureau; Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; Health Bureau; Transport Bureau; Companhia de Electricidade de Macau (CEM); Companhia de Telecomunicacoes de Macau (CTM); Kiang Wu Hospital; Macao Water Supply Company (SAAM); and Teledifusao de Macau (TDM).
Macao Prison
Located on Coloane island, the Macao Prison, formerly called Coloane Prison, was completed and became operational in 1990. After a few years, to meet special public security needs, construction
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of a Special Detention Centre located next to the Academy of Macao Public Security Forces on Coloane island and managed by the prison began in 1998. It was put into service in 1999, to house inmates requiring special supervision or custody. The nearby facility, formerly called the Coloane Youth Prison, is now a section for female inmates. The Coloane Prison was officially renamed the Macao Prison when the Macao SAR was established on 20 December 1999.
Prison Population
The prison can accommodate a maximum of 1,341 inmates. As at 31 December 2012, it held 1,112 inmates: 238 were on remand and 874 were convicted.
13%
66%
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Returning to Society
To implement its plan to assist inmates in returning to society, the prison provides education and occupational training. Inmates can apply to study according to their educational level, interests and needs.
Social Rehabilitation
The Social Rehabilitation Department under the Legal Affairs Bureau has three primary responsibilities: to provide rehabilitation services to adult inmates and to provide correctional services to rectify the behaviour of juvenile delinquents. It attempts to help clients reintegrate themselves into society and start new lives, and to help them get back on the right track. As at 31 December 2012, the Social Rehabilitation Department had followed up on 1,161 cases, of which 811 concerned adults and 350 concerned minors.
Juvenile cases
Cases Cases Cases in received concluded progress 87 15 86 17 90 18
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359
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Probation orders
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Temporary residence
22
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(Cont.)
Juvenile cases
Cases Cases Cases in received concluded progress --8 203 --9 236 --9 350
1,161
Inmates
The reformatory generally only accepts young people aged 12 to 16, but may extend its services to them until they reach 21. There were 17 boys and three girls in the reformatory at the end of 2012.
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EDUCATION
Education
Education
Since its establishment, the Macao SAR Government has actively promoted the development of non-tertiary education and tertiary education in Macao. It has continued to enhance the 15-year free education scheme, and explored the formulation of a series of policies including the blueprint of education development, and implementing the administration directions of Improving Macao through education and Strengthening Macao with talents. In addition, in adherence to the principle of diversity in tertiary education, the Government supports the autonomy of tertiary institutions, and coordinates the development of different tertiary institutions, to enhance the overall quality and academic standard of Macao education.
Non-tertiary Education
Macao is the first region in Greater China to provide 15 years of free education. Since the promulgation of the Fundamental Law of Non-tertiary Education in 2006, non-tertiary education in Macao has been classified into two types: formal education and continuing education. The former mainly includes kindergartens, primary schooling, secondary schooling, and special education; while the latter includes recurrent education, family education, community education and occupational training. Vocational and technical education, which may be implemented as part of formal education or recurrent education, is only offered at senior secondary school level. The Macao school system comprises public and private schools, with a free education network comprising public schools offering formal education, and most subsidised private schools providing free education. Private schools in Macao can be classified into two types: those following the local education system and those following a non-local education system. Non-profit private schools that follow the local education system may apply for entry into the free education network. The Government encourages schools to develop their own characteristics and style in terms of mission, curriculum and teaching mode according to their backgrounds. The Government also supports the development of a diversified school system, to nurture more talent for society. According to Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) statistics, there were 78 licensed schools in Macao during the 2012/2013 academic year, 11 of which were public schools, while the remaining 67 were private. Of the schools, 66 offered formal education only, three offered recurrent education only, and nine offered both formal and recurrent education. During the 2012/2013 academic year, 71,815 students received non-tertiary education, among which 69,403 received formal education. Of these, 12,669 (17.6 percent) attended kindergartens, 22,231 (31 percent) attended primary schools, and 33,921 (47.2 percent) attended secondary schools. Of those attending secondary schools, 1,605 (2.2 percent) received vocational and technical education, and 582 (0.8 percent) were enrolled in institutions for children with special educational needs. Some 2,412 students were receiving recurrent education, including 188 primary school pupils (0.3 percent) and 2,224 secondary school students (3.1 percent). Of the secondary students receiving recurrent education, 256 (0.4 percent) attended vocational schools. There were 5,590 teaching staff in non-tertiary education during the 2012/2013 academic year, an increase of 5.8 percent over the 2011/2012 academic year.
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Compulsory Education
Compulsory education is defined as universal education that is compulsory for all minors aged from five to 15. Parents have an obligation to enrol minors entitled to compulsory education in school every year. The Government and education institutions are obliged to ensure that school-age children complete compulsory education.
Free Education
Since the 2007/2008 academic year, free education has been extended to cover the entire 15-year period of compulsory education: three years of kindergarten, six years of primary, three years of junior secondary and three years of senior secondary schooling.
2012/2013 academic year Free Education Subsidies and Tuition Fee Subsidies
Education Level Kindergarten Primary Junior Secondary Senior Secondary Free Education Subsidies (patacas) 605,000 per class 640,000 per class 820,000 per class 930,000 per class Tuition Fee Subsidies (patacas) 14,000 per student 16,000 per student 17,000 per student 17,000 per student
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Education
The Government further increased its subsidies to students attending private schools that are not part of the free education network. It raised the subsidies for kindergarten pupils to 14,000 patacas per head, and for primary school pupils to 16,000 patacas per head; whereas each secondary school student received an increased subsidy of 17,000 patacas. In addition, the Government continued to offer textbook allowances in the 2012/2013 academic year to students who are Macao residents receiving formal education in Macao. The textbook allowances for secondary and primary school pupils were 1,900 patacas per head, while each kindergarten pupil received an allowance of 1,500 patacas. To create favourable conditions for small-class teaching, the Government has reduced the number of pupils for each class from 35-45 pupils to 25-35 students. This began in the 2007/2008 academic year, initially covering the first year in preschool education, and was subsequently expanded to cover other academic years. The pupil limit for the 2012/2013 academic year was extended to the first year in junior secondary education, speeding up implementation of small-class teaching. In the 2011/2012 academic year, the class-teacher ratio in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools was enhanced to not less than 1.6, 2.0, and 2.3 teachers per class, respectively. In the same year, the teacher-student ratio in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools was enhanced to not more than 16.7, 14.1 and 14.4 pupils per teacher, respectively.
Life-long Learning
In July 2011, the Government launched the Continuing Education Development Plan, under which Macao residents aged 15 or above are eligible to receive a subsidy of 5,000 patacas for pursuing continuing education. By December 2012, the Continuing Education Development Plan had provided over 270 million patacas in subsidies to more than 89,000 residents pursuing continuing education. Applications for a total of 38,704 tertiary education programmes, continuing education programmes and certification examinations provided by 287 local organisations had been approved and recognised under the plan, providing over 780,000 places. There were also about 6,500
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applications for subsidies for participation in overseas tertiary education or continuing education programmes and certification examinations. Recurrent education has provided education opportunities to residents who did not complete formal education at the normal age. During the 2012/2013 academic year, three public schools and eight private schools offered recurrent education. Each Macao resident enrolled in private schools for recurrent studies received a subsidy of 14,600 patacas for primary courses, 18,600 patacas for junior secondary courses and 21,100 patacas for senior secondary courses. In 2012, the Life-long Learning Incentive Award Scheme had provided 3,500 learning activities of various types and 99,000 learning opportunities.
Arts Education
In 2012, the DSEJ continued to organise various arts education schemes and activities including
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the Secondary Students Popular Arts Education Scheme, the Arts Education Snowball Project and the Macao School Bands Show.
Youth Affairs
Youth Affairs Council
The Youth Affairs Council is a consultative body that is responsible for providing professional
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advice and recommendations on formulating relevant policies, and evaluating the results of their implementation. The DSEJ supports the council by providing technical, administrative and financial expertise. The Holistic Development Strategies for Young People in Macao, the Blueprint for Youth Services in the Gaming Sector, and the Blueprint of Services for Juvenile Delinquents were formulated in May 2007, 2008 and 2010, respectively. They provided directions and references for the practical work of related Government departments and civil organisations. In 2010, research on overall planning was started, and the Youth Policy was gradually formulated to allow simultaneous development of youth affairs and society. The Youth Policy set out the directions, as well as strategy and executive principles for future youth development. Based on the opinions collected regarding the Youth Policy in 2011 and the social situation, and with reference to the youth policies of international organisations, mainland China, foreign countries and other regions, a timetable for formulating the Youth Policy was drawn up. Different sections of the Youth Policy were drafted in phases, and a two-month public consultation was launched from 21 August to 21 October 2012, to collect opinions and suggestions from the public, and join forces with the community to formulate the policy document on the holistic development of young people.
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Education
In 2012, the DSEJ organised the Schools Interport Swimming Competition. Macao mens and womens teams both won 1st runner-up. Macao school sports teams also competed in eight external inter-school sports competitions, with outstanding performances in the Schools Interport (Macao and Hong Kong) Football Competition (Primary) and the Portugal Youth Olympics Athletics Games. Regarding activities to promote popular science, Macao school delegations joined one international and seven national competitions and won 102 prizes, including two champions in the primary and secondary sections of the World Robotic Olympiad 2012.
Tertiary Education
Building on the foundation of basic education, tertiary education fosters high quality talents in different areas for society. Its mission is also to pass on culture and knowledge, promote academic exchanges, develop scientific research, and serve society. Macao only started to develop modern tertiary education some 30 years ago. Since there were only a few tertiary education institutions in the early days, the range of programmes and disciplines offered by these institutions were relatively limited. However, as the number of institutions increased, and society demanded different types of expertise, the types of programmes have diversified. Macao has 10 tertiary educational institutions. Four of them are public and six are private. During the 2011/2012 academic year, there were 1,840 teaching staff and 26,213 registered students in these institutions, with 266 programmes in operation including doctorate, masters and bachelors degree programmes, higher diplomas, postgraduate certificates and higher diploma programmes. During the 2012/2013 academic year, there were 1,916 teaching staff and 27,776 registered students in these institutions, with 272 programmes in operation. In addition, in 2012 overseas institutions were granted approval to offer 28 tertiary educational programmes. In 2012, the Government followed up on the legislative work of the law on tertiary education and began drafting the other complementary regulations, to promote the development of tertiary education.
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Coordination of Student Enrolments in Programmes of Macao Tertiary Educational Institutions Conducted on the Mainland
During 2012, with approval from the Ministry of Education, the University of Macau, Macao Polytechnic Institute, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macau University of Science and Technology, City University of Macau and Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau continued to recruit students from 31 provinces and municipalities in mainland China. During the 2012/2013 academic year, 15,885 mainland China students applied to the abovementioned six tertiary educational institutions in Macao. Of the 3,190 registered students, 206 enrolled in doctorate degree courses, 1,049 in masters degree courses, 1,695 in bachelors degree courses and 240 in post-secondary courses and university foundation courses.
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tertiary students were also subsidised to participate in seminars and internships abroad. In 2012, the total amount of subsidy approved was some 2.3 million patacas.
Postgraduate Scholarships
The Government opens postgraduate scholarships to local students. The Postgraduate Scholarships Grants Committee is responsible for providing scholarships to Macao residents, while the Tertiary Education Services Office handles the application and disbursement procedures. In 2012, the committee adjusted the numbers and amounts of scholarships: there were 15 doctorate scholarships and one scholarship for an integrated master andPh.D. programme. The number of masters degree scholarships was increased to 80. The amounts of these scholarships were increased to 72,000 patacas, 61,800 patacas and 51,000 per year, respectively. In the 2012/2013 academic year, a total of 448 candidates applied to the scheme.
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Business; Public Administration; Physical Education and Sports; Arts; Health Sciences; and several research units. During the 2011/2012 academic year, the institute offered 43 bachelors degree programmes (including top-up programmes) and postgraduate diploma programmes. It had 327 teaching staff and 2,746 registered students. During the 2012/2013 academic year, the institute offered 40 bachelors degree programmes (including top-up programmes) and postgraduate diploma programmes. It had 351 teaching staff and 2,961 registered students.
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of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of International Tourism and Management, Faculty of Portuguese Programs, International Open Institute and School of Continuing Studies. It has also established the Research Centre for Macau Social and Economic Development, the Institute of Economic Research, the Macau Institute of Tourism and Gaming, the Centre for Research on Linguistic Studies, and the Institute of Macau Development. During the 2011/2012 academic year, the university offered 18 doctoral, masters and bachelors degree programmes, as well as postgraduate certificate programmes. It had 77 teaching staff, and 957 registered students. During the 2012/2013 academic year, the university offered 23 doctoral, masters and bachelors degree programmes, as well as postgraduate certificate programmes. It had 109 teaching staff, and 1,778 registered students.
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Health Sciences. It also includes the School of Graduate Studies, Department of General Education, School of Continuing Studies, the Institute for Sustainable Development, Macao Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Institute for Social and Cultural Research, the Space Science Institute, and the State Key Laboratory for Quality Research in Chinese Medicine. The University Hospital, a subsidiary of the Macau University of Science and Technology Foundation, provides facilities for clinical teaching, scientific research and clinical practice by the Faculty of Chinese Medicine. During the 2011/2012 academic year, the university offered 32 doctorate, masters and bachelors degree programmes. It had 410 teaching staff and 10,393 registered students. During the 2012/2013 academic year, the university offered 39 doctorate, masters and bachelors degree programmes. It had 466 teaching staff and 10,365 registered students.
Note: 1. The above statistics for teaching and administrative staff, students and curricula of Macao tertiary educational institutions were provided by the Tertiary Education Services Office. Statistics for the 2011/2012 academic year were collected in November 2011, while the statistics for the 2012/2013 academic year were based on data collected by 31 October 2012. 2. Since the 2011/2012 academic year, the registered students of tertiary education have not included overseas students registered in co-curricular programmes organised by Macao tertiary institutions and mainland China institutions.
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Festival participants included top performing troupes and artists from the United Kingdom, Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, the United States, mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, among which more than half were local. Among all the wonderful shows, a new historical Peking Opera Su Wu of the Han Dynasty was stagedby the China National Peking Opera Company at the opening ceremony, and broadcast live nationwide through the Chinese operachannel of China Central Television (CCTV). The many overseas troupes employed traditional and advanced techniques in their performances, including the experimental theatre When We Meet Again, Landscapes and the Planet of the Beetlebuns by the British troupes, and the unprecedented interactive recording device Congregation at Tap Seac Square. A variety of performances ranging from Cantonese opera, dance, drama, and music to environmental theatre were staged by local troupes including Macao Kaifong Cantonese Opera Childrens Troupe, Hiu Kok Drama Association, Theatre Farmers, Macao Youth Repertory Theatre, Dci PapiaamDiMacau, Theatre Horizon, Macao Little Mountain Arts Association, Black Sand Theatre, Macao Youth Dance Group of Macao Conservatory, Macanese musician Lei Vai Fan and Soda-City Experimental Workshop Arts Association, many of which made imaginative use of Macaos historical buildings in their shows.
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Macao Orchestra
During the year the Macao Orchestra presented 75 concerts, attended by 39,171 people.
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Affairs Bureau launched a website on the Macao Cultural and Creative Industry (www.macaucci. com) in August 2011. In 2012, the website received 152,912 visits.
Macao Conservatory
A subsidiary of the Governments Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Macao Conservatory is a public educational institution that provides lower secondary education, vocational education of higher secondary level in dance, music and drama. The Conservatory comprises a School of Dance, School of Music, and School of Drama. It is a local education institute that trains competent professionals in the performing arts, and strives to discover and nurture local performing arts talents. Additionally, the conservatory offers the public a range of training courses in various performing arts disciplines. It regularly organises various dance performances, concerts and drama performances, giving its students the opportunity to display their skills and gain stage experience. It currently has over 2,000 students and more than 120 teachers.
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In September 2009, Cantonese Opera was officially inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a result of a joint application by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. In May 2011, Cantonese Naamyam (Singing and Narrative Songs), Macao Taoist Ritual Music and Festival of the Drunken Dragon, applied for by Macao independently, were among the third batch inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In June 2012, Mazu (A Ma) Belief and Customs, Na Tcha Belief and Customs, Macanese Gastronomy, and Macanese Theatre (Theatre in Patu) were also added to the List of Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage. By the end of 2012, a total of 10 items from Macao had been included in the List of Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage, six in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and one in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Research Bursaries
Academic Research Grant Regulations aim to encourage forward-looking and innovative research projects conducive to the understanding of Macao, and of the relationship between Macao and other regions in the humanities field. The bursary for each project has been increased, varying from 110,000 patacas to 180,000 patacas. Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year. From 2006 to the end of 2012, a total of 46 people received the bursaries.
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Urban Park and in Taipa, Ho Yin Garden Library, S. Lourenco Library and Childrens Library in Areia Preta Urban Park. These libraries purchase books and periodicals according to the needs of the people living in their districts. They also regularly host storytelling, thematic lectures, film sessions, and reading camps. In 2012, the libraries managed by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau organised 745 reading promotion activities, attracting 19,072 participants. During the year, the seven community libraries under the bureau received 757,461 visitors. Macao has many other smaller libraries, including the well known octagonal Chinese Library. In addition, various Government departments and tertiary educational institutions have their own libraries. Each contributes to the ever-expanding supply of books and knowledge available to the people of Macao.
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Museums
Centuries of East-West cultural interaction have endowed Macao with many unique museums. They range from the Museum of Macau, Museum of Sacred Art and Maritime Museum, to the Grand Prix Museum, Wine Museum and Fire Service Museum.
Museum of Macau
The Museum of Macau is situated on the heritage site of Mount Fortress, which is a part of the Historic Centre of Macao, while to its immediate west is the Ruins of St Pauls. The Museum of Macau houses a rich display of Macaos history and diverse culture. With a collection of deep historical and cultural value, the museum highlights the changes to Macao over several hundred years, and tells the story of people from different countries and cultural backgrounds settling in Macao and living in harmony. The Museum of Macau was opened on 18 April 1998. In 2012, the Museum of Macau received 206,179 visitors, and provided over 1,761 guided tours to 19,118 people. It also held 45 activities, which attracted 2,312 participants.
Maritime Museum
One of the oldest museums in Macao, the Maritime Museum was founded in 1987. The museum reflects the vital role of the sea in Macaos history, as well as vividly portraying the remarkable achievements of China and Portugal in maritime history. Visitors to the Maritime Museum can gain a deeper appreciation of the relationship between cultural exchange and the sea.
Wine Museum
The Wine Museum was opened in 1995. It introduces the history of wine production from its origin in the Caucasus around 10,000 BC up to the present day, with a special focus on Portuguese winemaking.
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the years, including by the late celebrated Ayrton Senna and motor racing champion Michael Schumacher. Valuable pictures and trophies are also exhibited.
Pawnshop Museum
In partnership with a non-governmental organisation, the Government has established the first museum dedicated to the pawnshop industry. The opening of the Pawnshop Museum in March 2003 marked the success of a new mode of heritage protection. Built in 1917 as the Tak Seng On Pawnshop, the museum building consists of a pawnshop and a storage tower. The three-storey pawnshop and its relics offer visitors a clear picture of the pawnshops layout and operation in its heyday. In September 2004, the Tak Seng On restoration project was awarded an Honourable Mention in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation. The project was awarded the title of Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) of World Expo Shanghai 2010, demonstrating to the world Macaos fruitful efforts in conserving and recycling historic buildings. The museum received 14,572 visitors during 2012.
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Taipa Houses-Museum
The Taipa Houses-Museum is a collection of residential buildings that form one of Macaos eight most famous landmarks. Constructed in 1921, these five European-style buildings were the official residences of the islands officers and the homes of Macanese families. The former Portuguese administrations Tourist Department bought and redecorated them in the 1980s. In 1992, they were collectively classified as an architecturally important monument. The government thoroughly refurbished them and converted three of them into a museum. From east to west, they are known as the Macanese House, the House of the Islands and the House of Portuguese Regions. The other two buildings are the exhibition gallery and reception hall. The museum opened in December 1999, and it officially adopted the name Taipa Houses-Museum in 2002. In 2012, the Taipa Houses-Museum received 104,073 visitors. They included 1,995 visitors on 101 guided tours for overseas visitors, local students and community groups. The museum also participated in various major celebratory events organised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and other Government departments. Since March, it has also staged eight performances of
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the play New Tenant in an Old Mansion, which attracted 319 people to watch and learn about the history of Taipa and Coloane in a relaxed atmosphere.
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Mandarins House
The Mandarins House is the ancestral family residence of the modern Chinese master Zheng Guanying. Zhengs world-famous book Shengshi Weiyan (Words of Warning in Times of Prosperity) was completed here. The building of the Mandarins House was initiated by Zheng Wenrui, the father of Zheng Guanying, and the Zheng brothers expanded it. The house was probably built before 1869. In February 2010, the Mandarins House was opened to the public. During 2012, it attracted 97,842 visitors.
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complex theatre, while the other is a 389-seat mini-theatre. During 2012, the Macao Cultural Centre organised spectacular performances that included dance, music, drama and multimedia. There were 53 programmes with a total of 566 performances or activities. The centre also continued to offer cultural facilities and professional services to various local groups and organisations. During the year, 223 programmes and 884 performances or activities were organised by the centre and its tenants, receiving 180,520 visits.
Competitive Sport
In 2012, the Macao Sports Development Board supported the Macao Sports Association to organise and participate in 433 competitions, 134 training sessions and 51 international conferences through special funding. During 2012, a total of 88 athletes and coaches in nine sports were awarded cash prizes in 12 events for their outstanding performances, while 238 athletes and coaches from 22 sports associations were awarded certificates of merit.
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Sports Medicine
In 2012, the board and the China Institute of Sport Science of the General Administration of Sport of China co-organised the Conference for the Third Chinas National Physical Fitness Surveillance (CNPFS) and International Seminar of Physical Fitness Research. Over 300 professionals from Finland, Austria, Japan, the United States, Macao and mainland China participated in the conference, with more than 100 papers submitted. In 2012, the Sports Medical Centre served more than 8,451 people.
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Macao Forum
The Macao Forum is one of the most popular venues in Macao for entertainment and sporting events. Opened on 27 May 1985, Macao Forum is divided into two sections. Forum I has a seating capacity of 4,062 and an area of 7,280 square metres. It houses a lobby and an exhibition gallery, which can accommodate displays and exhibitions.
Trails
Topographically, Macao has a lower elevation in the north and a higher elevation in the south. Thirteen trails covering a total length of 33 kilometres are located on Taipa and Coloane islands. These provide access to replanted forest areas where saplings still require care, and serve as firebreaks and access routes for fire fighters. For the vast majority of Macaos residents and visitors, however, the primary function of the trails is to facilitate exploration and enjoyment of the natural attractions of the islands. The 13 trails are Ka Ho Reservoir Trail (1,550 metres), Coloane Fitness Trail (1,225 metres), Taipa Grande Trail (4,000 metres), Taipa Pequena Trail 2000 (2,300 metres), Coloane Trail (8,100 metres), Coloane Northeast Trail (4,290 metres), Hac Sa Reservoir Circuit (2,650 metres), Hac Sa Reservoir Fitness Circuit (1,505 metres), Hac Sa Long Chao Kok Circuit (2,150 metres), Ka Ho Height Circuit (1,490 metres), Seac Pai Van Park Trail (1,680 metres), Coloane Stone Washbasin Ancient Route (about 1,500 metres), and Long Chao Kok Coastal Trail in Hac Sa (about 1,120 metres).
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Ho Yin Garden
Ho Yin Garden is situated to the north of Amizade Avenue. It was built to commemorate the late Chinese community leader, Ho Yin, and was opened to the public in 1993.
Flora Garden
Flora Garden is located at the foot of Guia hill. At the end of the 19th century, it was bought by the former Portuguese administration to serve as the Governors summer residence. Sir Robert Ho Tung, a philanthropist, later bought it, but afterwards returned it as a gift to the former Portuguese administration. For this reason, the garden is still called Ho Tung Garden in Chinese. It is also known as I Long Hau Fa Yun, as it is at close proximity to a spring. A cable car was completed and went into service in 1997. It runs from the garden entrance to the top of Guia Hill Reservoir, conveniently linking the two locations.
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At the centre of the park is a 500-metre-long cloister, the longest of any in Macaos parks, linking most of the scenic spots of the park. Other facilities include an open-air theatre, a sport court, other sports facilities, a swimming pool, and a public library. There are many other gardens and parks in Macao, including Mong Ha Hill Municipal Park, Russa Hill Park, St Francis Garden, Victory Garden, Vasco da Gama Garden and Areia Preta Seaside Park, Iao Hon Market Garden, Art Garden, and Areia Preta Urban Park on the Macao peninsula; Lakeside Garden, Flower City Garden, Monument Garden, Laurinda Marques Esparteiro Garden and Pier Garden on Taipa island; and Hac Sa Sports and Recreation Park, Hac Sa Arboretum and Coloane Height Park on Coloane island.
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Public Health
Macaos standard of public health care is comparable to that of developed countries and regions. According to Health Bureau statistics for 2012, the ratio of doctors to residents was 1:388, that of nurses to residents was 1:347, and that of hospital beds (excluding outpatient beds) to residents was 1:457. The general mortality rate was 3.2 per thousand inhabitants, while the mortality rate for infants under one year old was 2.5 per thousand live births. The average life expectancy in Macao was 82.4 years (2009-2012), which is among the highest life expectancies for any country or territory. According to the ICD-10-CM classification system (International Classification of Disease, Tenth Edition, Clinical Modification), malignant tumours were the main cause of death in Macao, while circulatory diseases and respiratory diseases ranked second and third, respectively. In 2012, these three categories accounted for 30.9 percent, 27.1 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively, of all deaths during the year.
Health Bureau
The main functions of the Health Bureau are to coordinate the work of staff in public and private health institutions, to provide essential primary and specialist health care services for the benefit of Macao residents, and to undertake essential promotional work on hygiene and prevention of diseases.
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latter include medical entities subsidised by the Government and other institutions, such as Kiang Wu Hospital, the Workers Clinic and Tung Sin Tong Clinics, as well as various private clinics and laboratories. The medical services provided by Government Health Centres and Tung Sin Tong Clinics are basically free of charge.
Health Centres
To realise the objective of Health for All advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Health Bureau has established Health Centres throughout the territory. The completion of a primary health care network with health centres as its operational units offers all Macao residents easy access to primary health care services in their own neighbourhoods. There are six health centres and two health stations distributed throughout the various districts of Macao. They include the Fai Chi Kei Health Centre and Areia Preta Health Centre, which also offer traditional Chinese medicine outpatient services. As at 31 December 2012, there were 107 doctors (including general practitioners, practitioners of Chinese medicine and dentists) and 161 nurses providing primary health care services to 560,817 outpatients. Most outpatients attended the adult health care, child health care and family planning clinics, which accounted for 59.40 percent, 12.08 percent and 8.96 percent, respectively, of total outpatient visits.
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Centre. The centre collected 14,681 units of blood during the year; and prepared 39,412 units of blood components for 2,644 patients.
Kiang Wu Hospital
Kiang Wu Hospital is a non-governmental medical and health institution administered by the Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association of Macao. Established in 1871, it has a 141-year history. Kiang Wu Hospital has developed into a modern general hospital that integrates treatment, prevention, teaching and research; and it is currently implementing a modern information management system in phases. In 2012, the hospital had 1,773 staff: 323 doctors, 542 nurses, 288 technical professionals and 620 other employees. Kiang Wu Hospital has the following departments: Emergency, Outpatient, Inpatient, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU/CCU), as well as a number of medical centres. The hospitals clinical services also cover medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, Chinese medicine, oncology, stomatology, ophthalmology, rehabilitation, dermatology and otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery. In addition, the hospital has eight supporting departments dedicated to various areas including medical imaging, pharmacy, pathology and general examination. The Dr Henry Y. T. Fok Specialist Medical Centre was completed and commenced operation in August 2009 to
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offer various specialty outpatient services to the public. Kiang Wu Hospital has an emergency department and three outpatient departments. During 2012, its emergency and outpatient departments treated over 1.18 million patients, an average of 3,602 per day. Its emergency department is open around the clock, and during 2012 treated over 160,000 patients, an average of around 455 per day. A total of 28,000 patients were discharged from the hospital during the year. In 2012, the Taipa Medical Centre received patients seeking emergency and outpatient services on 126,000 occasions, an average of 383 patients per day.
University Hospital
The University Hospital, an institution under the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) Foundation, is an integrated, modern hospital. It also serves as the clinical and teaching base for the Faculty of Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences of the MUST. The hospital provides a wide range of services in various specialties of western and Chinese medicines, as well as other services in its clinics. The Inpatient Department has 60 beds; double rooms, single rooms and luxury rooms are available.
Environmental Hygiene
One of the major tasks of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau is to improve and protect the urban environment, as well as to maintain a clean and tidy city. The bureau handles complaints about environmental hygiene, inspects urban hygiene, monitors the waste-disposal franchise company, manages landfills, improves the facilities and distribution of refuse stations, organises city cleaning campaigns to promote awareness of environmental hygiene, maintains and manages public conveniences and prevents rat problems. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau handled 11,545 complaints in 2012, mainly concerning refuse at vacant construction sites and buildings, water dripping from air conditioners, refuse stations, rat problems, occupation of public space, smoke and exhaust fumes, overflowing sewage and noise pollution. In recent years, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau has begun constructing closed refuse tips, which will eventually replace street litterbins. These efforts are expected to greatly improve the hygiene of refuse collection facilities.
Cemeteries
Macao has six public cemeteries and 11 private cemeteries. The public cemeteries are Macao St Michaels Cemetery, Macao Our Lady of Piety Cemetery, Sa Kong Cemetery and Carmo Cemetery on Taipa, Municipal Cemetery and Va Ian (Chinese) Cemetery on Coloane. The private cemeteries are the Parsee Cemetery; the Old Protestant Cemetery; Mong Ha New Cemetery; Muslim Cemetery; Kai Fong (Neighbourhood) Cemetery, Pao Choc (Firecrackers) Cemetery, and Hao Si Cemetery on Taipa; and Kok Ip Cemetery, Ha Sac Cemetery, Ka Ho Cemetery and Son I Cemetery on Coloane. Public cemeteries are managed directly by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. They include 13,315 grave plots, 5,330 of which are available for lease, as well as 19,430 ossuaries and cremation
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urns. The bureau is also authorised to supervise the operations of private cemeteries.
Public Toilets
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau has implemented various measures to optimise the distribution and services of Macaos public toilets. At present, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau manages 66 fixed public toilets and six portable public toilets, distributed across various districts and open to citizens and tourists free of charge.
Green Roof
To promote education about environmental hygiene and reducing waste of resources, and to spread the message of caring for nature, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau set up the Green Roof at the rooftop of Macao wholesale market. This was opened on 24 April 2010, for the public to visit by appointment.
Oscars Farm
Oscars Farm opened during Green Week in 2005. It is the only organic farm in Macao, with an area of around 7,000 square metres. It provides accommodation in the form of villas and camp sites, as well as large huts for holding group activities, parties and handicraft workshops, as well as facilities including the chess game zone, teahouse, performance stage, Tyrolean traverse platform, BBQ zone, fitness zone and the childrens playground. It also has an organic farm and an orchard. The farm combines natural environment and farming education, and is a healthy place for residents.
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Green Week
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Environmental Protection Bureau hosted the 31st Green Week in Macao, with assistance from the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, the Macao General Neighbourhood Associations Union and other community associations in 2012. The event was held from 17-25 March, with the theme Green City, Dream Home. The 31st Green Week in Macao featured 88 activities, of 40 types. The event was attended by 80,000 people.
Food Hygiene
In accordance with relevant regulations, most imported foods (primarily animal and plant products) are subject to compulsory quarantine and inspection before being placed on the market. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureaus quarantine personnel conduct hygiene inspections of imported foodstuffs, such as livestock, meat, vegetables and fishery products, food products originating from animals, and fresh but perishable products. These inspections are conducted at the Border Gate quarantine station, fish quarantine stations, wholesale markets, Slaughter House, piers, Ka Ho Harbour, the airport, the COTAI quarantine station and other quarantine points. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau has strengthened its product quality inspection and control measures. It has also made sample inspection procedures for imported livestock and foodstuffs more stringent, in order to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases. All imported foodstuffs including vegetables, live poultry, fish, fresh and frozen meat, eggs, fruits and canned goods must now be inspected, quarantined and tested for residual pesticides, while poultry must be tested for avian flu. In addition, the bureau is responsible for food hygiene inspection of shops selling meat, vegetables and fish, and issuing licences to them. It carries out regular hygiene blitzes, and it has introduced a grading system to monitor the hygiene and safety of fresh live food. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau effectively carries out its food inspection and quarantine responsibilities through cooperation and the exchange of information with the Macao Customs Service, the Health Bureau, the Economic Services Bureau and counterparts of these organisations in neighbouring regions.
Veterinary Health
Monitoring animal hygiene is an important integral part of preventing animal epidemics and securing public health. The Inspection and Veterinary Control Division, under the supervision of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, is mainly responsible for supervising and managing animal hygiene in Macao. Its duties include prevention and control of epidemic animal diseases, quarantine of imported and exported animals, animal management, issuing and managing licences for poultry retailing and pet shops, education and publicity about animal hygiene and welfare, and animal licensing. To prevent avian flu, in 2012 the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau collected faeces samples of wild bird carcasses, migratory birds, poultry, birds of bird parks, and environmental samples from live poultry retail stalls. No avian flu virus was found through tests of all samples collected.
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Moreover, policies prohibiting the sale of live poultry at any retail sites and stipulating the compulsory slaughter of all live poultry before 7:00pm were strictly implemented. In addition, the bureau has made efforts to move poultry retail stalls from the streets into the public markets. There are only three poultry retail stalls outside the public markets. There are two dog pounds under the supervision of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, which are responsible for issuing pet dog licences, providing rabies vaccinations for pet dogs and cats, providing diagnoses and treatment for pets, sheltering abandoned and stray animals, providing animal quarantine, handling matters concerning pet adoptions, issuing animal health certificates and providing corpse handling and cremation services. To prevent rabies, in 2012 the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau gave rabies vaccines of threeyear efficacy to 2,918 pet dogs and cats. The bureau issued 10,688 pet dog licences, and pounded 624 stray dogs and 311 stray cats. From 2007, the bureau introduced the Stray Cat TNR Scheme, which reduces the number of stray cats by controlling the reproduction rate. In 2012, 284 stray cats were neutered, implanted with a microchip, marked on the ear, vaccinated against rabies and then returned home or moved to appropriate places. By the end of 2012, a total of 1,261 stray cats had been treated in the Stray Cat TNR Scheme.
Wet Markets
There are nine wet markets in Macao: seven on the Macao peninsula and one each on the islands of Taipa and Coloane. These house a total of 1,168 market stalls. In 2012, some 855 market stalls were rented, involving a total of 2,156 operators, of whom 928 were stall tenants and temporary mobile stall licensees, 487 were stall assistants and 741 were employees. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau is responsible for wet market management and tenant management.
Hawkers
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau licenses, manages and monitors hawkers. In addition, it manages various large temporary sales activities, such as sales of firecrackers and the Lunar New Years Eve Market, during major Chinese traditional festivals, as well as special markets like the Taipa Flea Market. During 2012, the bureau issued 1,169 hawkers licences, including 218 cooked food stall licences and 80 special permits to flower hawkers from Wanzai District of Zhuhai Municipality, 36 fewer licences or 2.9 percent less than in 2011.
Slaughterhouse
In accordance with relevant regulations, livestock such as pigs, cattle and sheep must be slaughtered at the Slaughter House. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau stations veterinarians and quarantine
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personnel in the slaughterhouse to supervise its operations and hygiene. All slaughtered products must be checked before and after killing, and certified fit for human consumption before they can be sold. The bureau is also responsible for protecting animal rights, preventing abuse, supervising the transportation of livestock and destroying sub-standard meat. In 2012, the slaughterhouse butchered 101,097 head of cattle and pigs.
Social Welfare
The Government designs its social welfare policies in conjunction with non-governmental agencies; so that governmental and non-governmental organisations both deliver practical social services that meet residents needs and help distressed individuals and families and disadvantaged communities to resume normal social functioning and improve their living standards. The Social Welfare Bureau spent over 1.4 billion patacas on social welfare services in 2012, an increase of 31.8 percent. In 2005, the Government started to offer the Old-age Allowance to elderly Macao permanent residents aged 65 or above. The allowance was delivered to the eligible elderly in a lump sum in October every year. In 2012, the Old-age Allowance was 6,000 patacas a year. A total of 52,439 applications were approved and, in all, about 315 million patacas were paid to the elderly.
Family Services
The Social Welfare Bureau has established five social services centres in Macao, providing individuals and families in need with general services. In addition, Macao has one public shelter, 12 not-for-profit family service centres, and one notfor-profit counselling agency, as well as four non-profit temporary shelters, to improve the quality of domestic life and prevent domestic problems. During 2012, a total of 39 people were admitted to the Ilha Verde shelter, and people used the cold/wind shelter service a total of 1,208 times.
Community Services
Fourteen not-for-profit community centres provide services to the public in Macao. Of these, 13 are subsidised by the Social Welfare Bureau.
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During 2012, 7,623 people received various types of assistance and services from the Social Welfare Bureau on 18,772 occasions. The assistance and services included financial aid; individual or family counselling; day-care, child-care and hostel services; and referrals for domestic help services. Moreover, the five social services centres conducted 12,355 face-to-face counselling sessions for 6,716 residents and 4,459 home visits for 3,243 residents to cater for the various needs of individual cases. The bureau disbursed over 373 million patacas in the form of regular financial assistance to 10,505 people in 5,930 families. In order to enhance welfare recipients incentives to work and encourage them to re-enter the labour market, the Social Welfare Bureau and four non-governmental organisations cooperated in implementing the Community Employment Assistance Scheme. By the end of 2012, the scheme had 474 participants. Additionally, by the end of 2012, the Positive Life Programme, which was launched to encourage employment, maintained 1,032 individual accounts for unemployed people, 386 of whom had already received employment counselling and accepted job referrals.
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Rehabilitation Services
Macao currently has six not-for-profit rehabilitation homes, and eight not-for-profit day care centres subsidised by the Government providing services such as training for independent living, group learning, physiotherapy, social activities and personal assistance to the deaf, the mentally disabled, people recovering from mental illness and the visually impaired. During 2012, the six homes provided residential services to 386 people, while the eight day-care centres provided rehabilitation services to 1,125 people. In addition, Macao has six subsidised sheltered workshops, vocational training centres and supported employment centres assisting the disabled, and two not-for-profit pre-school education centres and education centres. The rehabilitation bus service in Macao is provided by two not-for-profit agencies. The Government subsidises the cost of purchasing and operating rehabilitation buses. The service enables people with impaired mobility, the physically disabled and patients requiring renal dialysis to commute between their homes and hospitals or Health Centres. Rehabilitation buses provided transport services to 26,643 people during 2012. The non-emergency ambulance transport service conveys patients with physical disabilities in an ambulance between their homes and hospitals. In 2012, this service was used 6,197 times. A Government-funded comprehensive rehabilitation service centre designed for people with intellectual disabilities opened for service in January 2006. After By-law No. 3/2011 the System of Assessing and Classifying Disabilities for Registration of Disability Cards, became effective from 11 March 2011, the Assessment Centre for Rehabilitation began to accept applications for Disability Assessment Cards. As at 31 December 2012, it had received 11,250 applications and issued 8,596 Disability Assessment Cards. To demonstrate the Governments care for the disabled, the Social Welfare Bureau acted according to Law No. 9/2011, and the Disability Allowance and Free Healthcare Services System came into effect on 29 August 2011. The law stipulates that permanent residents who are issued temporary documents for the Disability Assessment Cards or hold the Disability Assessment Cards will be given Disability Allowance. The Disability Allowance is given once a year. It is in two categories: the Regular Disability Allowance is 6,000 patacas per year, while the Special Disability Allowance is 12,000 patacas per year. In 2012, there were 9,939 applications for Disability Allowances. As at 22 March 2013, allowances for 2012 had been paid to 7,826 recipients, of whom 6,415 were renewal cases.
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80,000 voluntary contributors (including in-service public servants registered in the retirement and pension system). The contributions totalled around 180 million patacas. According to the Rules on Enforcing the Law on Employment of Non-resident Workers, employers are required to pay a 200-pataca employment fee for every non-resident worker. Employers are responsible for paying the full amount. Employers of assembly and processing manufacturing enterprises, as stipulated in Decree-Law No. 11/99/M, can be exempted from 50 percent of the employment fee. Non-resident workers employed as domestic workers are exempted from the employment fee. In 2012, employment fees totalled around 190 million patacas. According to the current social security system, eligible beneficiaries are legally entitled to pensions, disability allowance, unemployment allowance, sickness allowance, funeral allowance, marriage allowance, birth allowance, allowance for costs arising from work-related debts and respiratorydiseases. In 2012, a total of 63,579 beneficiaries received pensions. Social securitypayments totalled around 1.3 billion patacas. Pensions (including additional payment) made up the majority of social security, accounting for 94.3 percent around 1.23 billion patacas.
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Mass Media
Electronic Media
Macao has one free-to-air TV station, two radio stations and one cable TV station, as well as four locally based satellite TV stations. Teledifusao de Macau (Macau Broadcasting Company, TDM) began provision of a public broadcasting service in February 1988. Digital broadcasting commenced in 2008. Currently, both analogue broadcasting and digital broadcasting are available. On top of the two round-the-clock channels (Chinese and Portuguese), there are digital channels including sports, information, high definition (HD), CCTV-13, CCTV news, CCTV documentaries, Fujian TV Station Haixia Satellite Channel and Hunan TV World. Radio Macau, a subsidiary of TDM, and the privately owned Radio Vila-Verde (Green Village) are Macaos two radio stations. Both broadcast 24 hours a day. Macau Cable TV has been broadcasting since July 2000, and offers 101 channels (including 20 test channels, and one dedicated hotel channel), all 24 hours. MSTV Satellite TV Company Limited originally known as the Cosmos Satellite Television Company, which was the first operator to be granted a licence to provide satellite television services in Macao now offers four channels: MSTVs News Channel (launched in January 2009) and Newsky Satellite TV (launched in August 2010) both on air 24 hours a day; and Kung-fu TV Channel (launched in February 2009) and Zhongbo Satellite TV, which officially began broadcasting in November 2011. The latter two channels broadcast 16 hours a day. China Satellite TV (Group) Company was licensed in 2000 to provide satellite television broadcasting services. China Satellite TV officially began its broadcasting services on 28 March 2008, via the CSTV-1 24-hour channel on health and lifestyle. The Chinese channel of the MASTV Company began operations in June 2001. It broadcasts 24 hours a day. On 2 December 2008, Macau Lotus Satellite TV Media Limited was granted a 15-year licence
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to provide satellite television services in Macao. It started its broadcasting service on 1 January 2009, on its Macao Lotus TV 24-hour channel.
Print Media
The history of Macaos newspaper industry can be traced back over 100 years. From 1839 to 1840, while enforcing the opium ban in Guangdong, Lin Zexu commissioned a selective translation of the English Macao Monthly and, for administrative purposes, published Journal News of Macao in Guangzhou. On 18 July 1893, Dr Sun Yat Sen and a Macanese named Francisco H. Fernandes worked together and founded Echo Macanese, which was published in Chinese and Portuguese. On 22 February 1897, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao founded The Reformer China. After the 1911 Revolution in China, Macaos Chinese newspapers began to flourish. Several newspapers, such as Ao Men Shi Bao (Macao Times), Hao Jing Wan Bao (Oyster Mirror Evening Post), Ao Men Tong Bao (Macao Bulletin), and Hao Jing Ri Bao (Oyster Mirror Daily), were founded at this time. Macao has 10 Chinese daily newspapers, which currently print a total of 100,000 copies each day. They are Ou Mun Iat Pou (Macao Daily News), Jornal Va Kio (Overseas Chinese Journal), Tai Chung Pou (The Public), Si Man Pou (The Citizen), Jornal Seng Pou (Star Journal), Cheng Pou (Righteousness), Today Macau Jornal, Jornal San Wa Ou (New Chinese Macau Journal), Hou Kong Daily and the free newspaper Exmoo News. The main Chinese weeklies published in Macao include: Jornal Informao (Information Journal), Pulso de Macau (Macau Pulse), Semanrio Recreativo de Macau (Macau Entertainment Weekly), Jornal Si Si (Current Affairs Journal), Semanrio de Desportivo de Macau (Macau Sports Weekly), Observatrio de Macau (Macau Observer), Agora Macau (Now Macau), Macao Commercial Post and the Macau Convention and Exhibition Economy Journal. Portuguese daily newspapers have an even longer history than the Chinese dailies. In 1822, Abelha da China, the first-ever daily in China, was founded and published in Portuguese. Other early-founded Portuguese papers founded in Macao include Gazeta de Macau (Macau Gazette), Imparcial (The Impartial), and Correio de Macau (Macau Post). Macao currently has three Portuguese dailies primarily intended for a local Portuguese readership. These are Ponto Final (Full Stop), Jornal Tribuna de Macau (Macau Tribune Journal) and Hoje Macau (Today Macau). O Clarim (The Bugle) is a Portuguese weekly. The English daily newspapers in Macao are the Macau Post Daily, the Macao Daily Times and the Macau Business Daily. Every day, dozens of Hong Kong newspaper and magazine titles are transported to Macao. Some daily newspapers published on the mainland are also available on local newsstands. In addition, Macao residents enjoy access to radio and TV programmes made in Hong Kong and mainland China.
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China Central Television (CCTV); China National Radio (CNR); China Radio International (CRI); the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television; Peoples Daily; Wen Hui Bao (Shanghai); South China Morning Post (SCMP); Hong Kong Economic Journal (HKEJ); Asia Television (ATV); Hong Kong Cable Television (HKCTV); Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK); Ta Kung Pao; Wen Wei Po; Hong Kong Daily News; China Economic Weekly; Hong Kong Commercial Daily; Oriental Press Group; EyePress News; and China Trade News.
Press Associations
The press associations in Macao include the Macao Chinese Media Workers Association, the Macao Journalists Club, the Macao Journalists Association, the Macao Media Club, the Macau Sports Press Association, the Macau Press Photographers Association, and the Portuguese and English Speaking Media Association and the Macao Media Workers Welfare Association.
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academic institutions to conduct a study on the direction for amendments to the Press Law and the Broadcasting Law of Macao. The tender for gathering public opinions on the revision was launched in the first quarter of 2011. Deliberative opinion polling was first introduced in Macao to conduct extensive, objective and scientific opinion gathering and analyses. In addition, the GCS actively liaised with the newspaper industry and professional organisations to listen to all opinions. After gathering and analysing the views of the press industry and the results of the deliberative opinion polling, the Government decided to defer any amendment of the Broadcasting Law while proceeding to amend the Press Law under the principle of limited to deletion only any clause to the law. The controversial provisions to be deleted included the one regulating the Press Council, and the other on the Code of Practice for Journalists. Some wording was also amended to align with relevant laws. Another round of public consultation will be launched upon completion of the draft.
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publishers and periodicals. Under the Media Registration Regulations, if a daily publication is registered but has not been published for 180 days, or if other registered periodicals have not been published for a period of one year or have been suspended for a period of one year, their registration will be cancelled. Registration of publications is free of charge. Forty-five new publications were registered with the GCS in 2012, including daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, bimonthly and quarterly publications. Six new publishers were also registered.
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Legislative Assembly election results, the appointment of members of the Legislative Assembly, the appointment and termination of members of the Executive Council, the appointment and termination of presidents and judges at all levels of the courts and of public prosecutors, as well as other announcements of appointments and terminations under the law and documents whose announcement is required by law. The following announcements must also be made in Section One of the Macao SAR Gazette: 1. Amendments to the Basic Law of the MSAR, proposals to amend the Basic Law, and interpretations of the Basic Law by the authorised entity; 2. National laws that apply to the MSAR, and interpretations of those laws by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC); 3. Documents adopted by the NPC and its Standing Committee regarding the MSAR; 4. Regulatory documents adopted by the NPCs Preparatory Committee for the Macao Special Administrative Region, regarding the establishment and operation of the MSAR; 5. Documents authorised by the NPC and its Standing Committee and the central government; and orders, instructions and documents issued by the Central Peoples Government in accordance with the Basic Law of the MSAR; 6. Documents regarding the appointment and termination of the Chief Executive, principal Government officials and the Public Prosecutor-General by the Central Peoples Government; and 7. The Chief Executives annual policy address. The following announcements must be made in Section Two of the Macao SAR Gazette: 1. International treaties applicable to the MSAR; 2. Agreements on judicial mutual assistance, and mutual exemption of visa requirements by the MSAR and other countries or regions with the assistance and authorisation of the central government; 3. Judicial mutual assistance agreements signed with judicial authorities in other areas or regions on the mainland; 4. Statements and announcements made by the Legislative Assembly; 5. Statements and announcements made by the Government; and 6. Other documents that are to be announced in this section by law. Since 2000, the Government Printing Bureau has posted the complete contents of Sections One and Two of the Macao SAR Gazette on its website (www.io.gov.mo) for public access and information. By the end of 2011, the Government Printing Bureau had established an online database containing the full text of 19,800 laws and regulations. This includes all the laws and regulations published since the establishment of the MSAR, as well as laws, decree-laws and other regulations gazetted between 1976 and 19 December 1999 that remain in effect. In 2012, the bureaus official website recorded an average of more than 268,000 hits per month.
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Information Technology
Science and Technology Committee
The Science and Technology Committee is a consultative body that advises the Government on the formulation of policies to promote technological development and modernisation. Chaired by the Chief Executive, the Science and Technology Committee was formed with committee members including the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, the Rector of the University of Macau, the Rector of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, the Rector of the Macau University of Science and Technology, the President of the Macao Foundation, the President of the Board of Directors of the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center (CPTTM), the Director of the United Nations University International Institute for Software Technology, and the President of INESC Macau (Macau Institute of System and Computer Engineering), plus 20 other members who have excelled in the fields of science, technology and innovation, and who are appointed by the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive has also appointed nine overseas scholars who are renowned in their areas of expertise as advisors to the council. They include Tsung Dao Lee, Lu Yongxiang, Zhu Lilan, Lu Zhonghe, Hui Yongzheng, Zhu Gaofeng, Charles K. Kao, Li Lianhe and Song Yonghua.
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High-priority technology-transfer projects that enhance socio-economic development; and Patent applications.
Groups eligible to receive subsidies include local universities and academies and their affiliated research and development centres; local non-profit private organisations, laboratories and entities; registered entrepreneurs and enterprises; and individuals involved in research and development projects in Macao. In 2012, the Science and Technology Development Fund spent more than 70.87 million patacas to subsidise 84 science research projects, of which 30 were concluded, yielding a total of 137 theses. The projects also trained 28 masters degree candidates and 18 doctoral candidates. In terms of science popularisation projects, in 2012 the Science and Technology Development Fund received 159 applications for total funding of over 14.12 million patacas. The projects involved 6,808 students.
Telecommunications Services
The objective of Macaos telecommunications policy is to liberalise the regulation of the public telecommunications infrastructure and service provision gradually, in order to maximise public benefits, create investment opportunities and enhance the competitiveness and long-term development of the economy and the community. This policy strives to ensure that quality and efficient telecommunications services are always available to the entire community and businesses at reasonable cost and in a non-discriminatory manner. A further goal is network interconnection and number portability.
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Telecomunicacoes de Macau (CTM) and SmarTone Mobile Communications (Macau) were granted licences to provide public networks for terrestrial third-generation (3G) mobile telecommunications and roaming 3G mobile telecommunications services. Citizens could enjoy 3G communication services since the second quarter of 2007. The 2G licence of China Unicom (Macau)1 was revoked at its own request in April 2010; the other three telecom carriers had their 2G licences renewed to 8 July 2012. In 2012, the Government decided to extend the use of 2G service to June 2015 and made corresponding amendments to the 3G licences of Comphania de Telecomunicacoes de Macau (CTM), Hutchison Telephone (Macau) and SmarTone Mobile Communications (Macau) so as to extend their provision of 2G service to that date. As at year-end 2012, the five mobile telecommunication providers had 1,613,457 registered users, and per capita cell phone ownership was 279.8 percent.
No. of mobile 198,696 228,296 259,336 301,512 356,117 395,943 420,098 459,330 525,209 564,576 phone users No. of rechargeable 165,335 204,154 273,422 334,835 438,206 536,653 617,282 662,931 827,985 1,048,881 mobile phone cards
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Macao SAR ended in 2010. Consequently, in March 2011, the Government launched the Macao Network Information Centre and awarded a service contract to HNET Asia Ltd to administer and operate Macao domain names. In 2012, the DSRT liaised with relevant service operators regarding necessary preparation and publicity work to introduce registration services for Chinese and Portuguese domain names.
Postal Services The Development of Macaos Postal Services over Three Centuries
Since it foundation on 1 March 1884, the Macao Post Office has operated as a provider of postal services, complying with international conventions. On the same day, the first Macao stamp, titled Crown, entered into circulation. In fact, Macao Posts history dates back a century earlier, in
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1798, when sea mail services began. Many new services have been introduced since the establishment of Macao Post. Alongside traditional postal services and the Macao Postal Savings, established in 1917, Macao Post took over the operation of telephone services in 1927. Then, as society developed, these services were conceded to other entities or public sector bodies. In 1981, the Companhia de Telecomunicacoes de Macau (CTM) took over the operation of telecommunications. In 2000, the Post Offices role as the supervisory body for telecommunications services was transferred to the DSRT.
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The electronic postal certification mark has many applications for services such as e-payroll advice, e-bidding and e-report filing. In the legal sphere, Macao Post is drafting the Electronic Registered Mail Postal Services bylaw and provisions to regulate public electronic registered mail services. Regarding international cooperation, the Council of Administration (CA) of the Universal Postal Union passed Macao Posts proposal to add new provisions on definitions of electronic registered mail postal services and electronic mailboxes to the Universal Postal Convention, which became effective on 1 January 2012. To promote electronic postal services, Macao Post participated in IT Week 2012 exhibitions, which showcased the electronic document filing system and electronic bidding system developed from electronic postal certification technology.
Philately
Thematic philatelic products issued in 2012 included two thematic packs of I ching, Pa Kua, an album of Literature and its Characters A Journey to the West, and a philatelic collection of Collect Stamps, Learning with Idioms jointly compiled by Macao Post, Guangdong Philatelic Corporation and Hongkong Post. Showcasing valuable Chinese culture, these three philatelic products are ideal for stamp collectors and Chinese culture lovers. Macao Post provides different channels for overseas collectors to purchase philatelic products. Collectors around the world can enter Macao Posts website (www.macaupost.gov.mo) to obtain the most recent philatelic information and enrol in the Collectors Plan Subscription. They can also purchase philatelic products directly from local postal organisations or through authorised dealers in Macao philatelic products.
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2012, more than 73,000 people had settled payments via the platform.
eSignTrust
As the only authentication entity approved by the Government, eSignTrust has been providing citizens, corporations and Government departments with online identity authentication services since it commenced operation in 2006. An electronic document signed by the user, and with qualified electronic certification provided by eSignTrust services, will have legal effect. In 2012, to achieve the objectives of the Eighth Supplementary Protocol to the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement on the development of pilot applications of mutual recognition of electronic signature certificates in Macao and Guangdong, Macao Post, the Department of Information Security Coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Economic and Information Commission of Guangdong Province and the Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation established a working group to provide suggestions on the framework for the mutual recognition of certificates issued by Guangdong and Macao to facilitate future planning and implementation.
In line with the reconstruction of mainland Chinas telecommunications industry, China Telecom has officially acquired the CDMA mobile telephone network and business of China Unicom. China Unicom (Macao) Limited was officially renamed China Telecom (Macau) Co Ltd on 27 November 2008, when the legal procedures involved in the changes were completed. According to the results of the 2011 population census, the number of households at year-end was 172,600 (excluding collective households in hotel and hostel services).
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Category Construction Contractors Companies (construction) Companies (fire) Companies (gas) Total
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Projects Seac Pai Van Public Housing Estate Edificio do Lago, Taipa Fai Chi Kei Public Housing Estate Rua Central De Toi San Public Housing Estate Bairro da Ilha Verde Public Housing Estate, Lot 1, 2 Bairro da Ilha Verde Public Housing Estate, Lot 3
Other facilities Car park, social facilities Car parking spaces, motorcycle parking spaces, public transport interchange, dry markets and social facilities Public car park with car and motorcycle parking spaces Public car park with a total of about 200 car and motorcycle parking spaces Public car park with 1,190 car and 1,600 motorcycle parking spaces, bus interchange, commercial and social facilities Public car park with about 400 parking spaces, commercial and social facilities
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Infrastructure Projects
Private Construction Projects
According to statistics from the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau, 30 building projects providing 2,443 private flats with a total floor area of 325,050 square metres, 98 commercial units with a total floor area of 10,536 square metres, and 2,218 parking spaces in car parks with a total area of 73,026 square metres were completed in 2012. Also during the year, construction commenced on 26 private projects providing 2,279 units with a total floor area of 267,093 square metres. Furthermore, by the end of 2012, 30,698 units were pending approval, of which 29,527 were residential units with a total floor area of 3,949,147 square metres, 1,163 were commercial units with a total floor area of 30,334 square metres, eight were office units with a total floor area of 8,340 square metres, and the remainder were industrial units with a total floor area of 57,195 square metres, and 32,644 parking spaces in car parks with a total area of 1,000,697 square metres. By 2012, a total of 7,636 units were still under construction, of which 7,254 were residential units with a total floor area of 991,112 square metres, 246 were commercial units with a total floor area of 566,441 square metres, 136 were office units with a total floor area of 26,255 square metres, and the remainder were industrial units with a total floor area of 38,250 square metres, and 8,786 parking spaces in car parks with a total area of 294,236 square metres.
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assets. The chairpersons of the Board of the General Assembly and Board of Directors are both appointed by the Government. The responsibilities of the Macao Civil Engineering Laboratory are to provide civil engineering and related technical support to the Government, public and private civil engineering firms, and any net value companies in related fields.
Housing
Housing Bureau
The main functions of the Housing Bureau are to ensure the execution of public housing policies, projects and work, as well as to assist with and support the management of the common areas of buildings.
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are not permitted. Moreover, applicants involved in cases in which the pre-sale contract of the Home-Ownership Scheme housing unit of a family member has been annulled or declared void over the past two years, or in which an application has been rejected due to false declarations or deception, were ineligible for re-application.
Housing Allocation
In 2012, 8,585 applications were processed, of which 5,431 were allocated Home-Ownership Scheme housing units. At present, there are 3,615 families on the waiting list.
Public Housing
Public housing refers to units built by the Government or by private developers on land granted to them by the Government. Upon completion, a stipulated number of units are handed over to the Government for leasing to low-income families and those in adverse circumstances. Methods for the allocation and management of public housing are governed by By-law No. 25/2009. Public housing is distributed to families of weak financial standing in the form of leasing. Families of weak financial standing are defined as those whose household incomes fall beneath the legally stipulated levels.
The Upper Limit of Monthly Household Income and Total Net Assets
Under Executive Order No. 297/2009, the monthly household income and the total net assets of households applying for renting public housing should not exceed the amounts in the following table:
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Temporary Subsidies for Families on the Waiting List for Public Housing
In the wake of economic inflation, in September 2012, the Government renewed the Subsidy Scheme for Families Awaiting Public Housing to relieve the housing burden of families on the waiting list for public housing. A family awaiting public housing with a total monthly income not more than the statutory cap is eligible for one of the following: a monthly subsidy of 1,350 patacas for a family of one or two people; or a monthly subsidy of 2,050 patacas for a family of three or more people. In 2012, 224 applications were approved. Together with the 4,536 applications approved from 2008 to 2011 that remained eligible for the subsidies, housing subsidies disbursed amounted to 89 million patacas.
Building Management
According to the laws and regulations of the Home-Ownership Scheme, the Housing Bureau is
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empowered to monitor and supervise the operation of Home-Ownership Scheme Housing, including building maintenance and property management. In accordance with relevant laws, the bureau can also impose penalties on tenants or management entities that violate its regulations. The Housing Bureau also assists owners of Home-Ownership Scheme Housing units with setting up management committees, for better housing management through direct participation by homeowners. At the end of 2012, there were 54 such management committees. The Housing Bureau also assists owners of Home-Ownership Scheme Housing units with resolving disputes about building management providing analyses and advice as a third party, in order to achieve settlement of disputes through reasoning and negotiations. In 2012, it assisted management committees with handling 1,258 disputes. The Housing Bureau also keeps abreast of all necessary renovation and improvement works for public housing. In addition to public facilities of housing estates, it strives to improve indoor facilities, so as to improve the quality of life of its tenants, particularly for elderly single people. During 2006, the Housing Bureau started to further strengthen the public-area management function of private buildings. By the end of 2012, the bureau had followed up on 1,304 cases.
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Land Management
Lands Committee
The Lands Committee is a consultative body whose work is supervised by the Secretary for Transport and Public Works. The committee is responsible for advising on land use by recipients of land grants, in terms of legal and contractual obligations. It also advises on: i) Fines or other penalties on land grant recipients who fail to comply with the laws and terms of their contracts; ii) Cases concerning the public use of granted land; and iii) Granting, renewing, renouncing or cancelling temporary land-occupation licences.
Land Concessions
According to the DSSOPTs statistics, a total of 223,272 square metres of land out of 6117,998 square metres of developed floor area was granted in 2012; the total premiums amounted to 3,435,807,279 patacas. In all, 48 land grant contracts were signed in 2012. They involved eight aspects of land grants: leases and grants, amendments to leases, amendments to long-term leases, grants of public housing, transferrals, return of land, land designation for public/private use, and unification of the legal system. Most of this land was granted for residential, commercial and industrial uses, offices, hotels, car parks and facilities; land was also granted for other uses. Income from land premiums in 2012 totalled 2,900,334,991 patacas. There were no overdue payments in 2012.
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126,955.53 179,659.82
The Drainage Division of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau is responsible for cleaning and dredging the drainage systems of Macao, inspecting and monitoring their operations, making improvements, and registering relevant information. During 2012, the Drainage Division received 15 complaints regarding street flooding caused by rainstorms. There were 151 complaints about silting of main drains. In 2012, there were 23 prosecutions concerning violation of the General Regulations Governing Public Places, and 226 subpoenas were issued to illegal polluters.
Slopes
According to the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau, at the end of 2012, Macao had 193 dangerous slopes. Number of slopes / risk Macao peninsula Taipa island Coloane island Total High 2 0 3 5 Medium 25 19 24 68 Low 52 34 34 120 Total 79 53 61 193
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The Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau are responsible for maintaining roadside slopes and slopes in public parks, respectively. In 2012, the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau carried out nine slope upgrading projects.
Cadastre Management
The Cadastre Division of the Cartography and Cadastre Bureau has operated a cadastral database since 1983. The bureau also produces cadastral maps in accordance with the provisions of the Cadastre Law (Decree-Law No. 3/94/M issued on 17 January 1994). The division continuously updates and organises related information and strives to improve its management. The Cartography and Cadastre Bureau launched the Cadastral Information Net in 2008 and an online shop for cadastral maps in 2011. The Cadastre Division also provides survey information from its database to land owners who need to re-measure land boundaries for valuation, transaction or development purposes.
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further enhancing land, cadastral and engineering surveys of Macao, as well as data collection for the Geographic Information System (GIS). In 2009, the Macao Satellite Positioning Reference Station Service (www.dscc.gov.mo/mosref) was launched, making satellite reference data officially available to the public, through registration. In addition, an NTRIP (Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol) service was launched in 2012. Real Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections were provided to professional users through 3G mobile communication and internet technologies, enabling them to use real-time GPS applications accurate to within a centimetre.
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Protection Bureau. The other two participating organisations are the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau and the Macao Water Supply Company. The system uploads environmental data and related processed information through the Internet. The Cadastral Information Net Intranet provides real-time land information for public works, housing, land planning and management, environment supervision and municipal administration. As well as information available on the Cadastral Information Net, the intranet provides Government departments with information such as forms of land use, aerial photos (1980, 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2009), land area and housing record codes.
Electric Power
According to the working plan of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, the first two 220 kV power cables between Avenida MarginalFlor deLotus, Cotai and Qinyun, Hengqin, went into operation in the middle of 2012, increasing the capacity of electricity transmissions between Guangdong and Macao by 50 percent. This was the second 220 kV electric transmission system installed since the power cable system between Canal Dos Patos, Macao and Gongbei, Zhuhai, came into operation in 2008, greatly improving the capacity and stability of power supplies in Macao. In 2012, the GDSE summarised and analysed the opinions collected during the first-phase public consultation on the Electricity Tariff System and the Setting of Electricity Prices. Revisions were made to the consultation paper to include the proposal for further reducing the electricity tariffs charged to residential users and small and medium sized enterprises, before the second-phase public consultation was launched. It was hoped that the new electricity tariff system would be implemented in 2013, to alleviate the burden of electricity costs on residential users and small and medium sized enterprises. Furthermore, to ease inflationary pressure and lower residents burdens, the Government continued to offer the electricity fee subsidy, the amount of which was increased from 180 patacas to 200 patacas per month per household.
Natural Gas
On 27 July 2012, the Government signed a 25-year natural gas supply contract with Nam Kwong
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Petroleum and Chemical Company Limited, confirming the gradual introduction of natural gas to residential, industrial and commercial units, we well as its application in the transport system. It was expected that natural gas could be supplied to residents of Seac Pai Van Public Housing Estate and the Hengqin campusof the University of Macau by early 2013; and to Taipa within two years at the earliest. It would take five years to complete major natural gas networks covering all Macao. To address the need to allocate and sell natural gas according to different types of users, the Government began studying the natural gas price structure and system during the year, in order to set a retail price in 2013 that could facilitate development of the natural gas market and promote market competition.
Energy Conservation
The Energy Management System under the Public Departments and Organisations Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme was implemented by 54 departments, to continuously promote energy conservation. Following preparatory work in 2013, the replacement of streetlights by LED lights would start in early 2013. It was expected that a total of 17,000 LED lights would be installed within five years. Moreover, the Safety Regulations on Solar Photovoltaic Gridconnected Systems were drafted, to regulate the installation and safety of solar photovoltaic grid-connected system. The Office for the Development of the Energy Sector (GDSE) continued to organise largescale publicity programmes, such as the fifth Macao Energy Saving Week, the Energy Efficiency Educational Programme, and the Campus Energy ConservationProgramme, in order to promote energy saving.
Drinking Water
Macao Water Supply Company (Macao Water)
The Macao Water Supply Company (Macao Water) was established in 1932, and is privately owned. Sino-French Holdings (Hong Kong) acquired 85 percent of the companys shares in 1985 and signed a 25-year water-supply concession contract with the former Portuguese administration. In 2009, the contract was extended for 20 years. Today, Sino-French Holdings (Hong Kong) is a joint venture between the French-based Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux Group (a new company formed after the merger of the French Lyonnaise des Eaux Group and Suez Group in 1997) and NWS Holdings (a subsidiary of New World Development).
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Zhu Yin reservoir Ping Gang pumping station Yue Keng reservoir
On the map, the red labels mark Macaos raw water intake. Some 95 percent of Macaos raw water comes from the Modaomen estuary of the Xijiang (West River) in adjacent Zhuhai. In the recent decades, to mitigate salinity effects, the raw water intake for Zhuhai and Macao has been moved upstream. At the moment, there are five major water intake locations of Macaos raw water. The blue labels identify reservoirs. Recently, to mitigate salinity effects, the Zhuyin Reservoir was built in Pinggang and trial operation began in autumn 2011. Zhuhai currently supplies about 234,000 cubic metres of water to Macao each day. In 2012, it supplied a total of 85.66 million cubic metres of raw water. Other than during occasional salt tides in winter and spring resulting in a higher degree of water chloride and a slightly higher degree of faecal coliforms in some seasons, the water quality was certified as Grade II, according to mainland Chinas Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002).
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and the Hac Sa Reservoir) was 2.98 million cubic metres, including 1.9 million cubic metres in the reservoir near the Outer Harbour. Macao has maintained a continuous 24-hour water supply since 1982. A total of 84.58 million cubic metres of water were supplied in 2012, nine percent more than in 2011. The daily average volume supplied in 2012 was around 231,000 cubic metres, with a maximum of 258,000 cubic metres recorded on 21 August. The increase was primarily due to the opening of the casino hotel Sands Cotai Central and the high temperature in summer. In 2012, the total capacity of water sales was 75.28 million cubic metres, with a daily average of 206,000 cubic metres.
Customer Services
Macao Water established a consolidated customer information system in 1999, to handle customer enquiries promptly and properly and support customer services. The company continues to enhance its services. As well as convenient payment and enquiry services, it also launched the building water supply pipe maintenance service, water-tank-cleaning and water-quality-testing services for buildings, and offers a waiver of fees for the first five cubic metres of water used by senior citizens and individuals who receive the Social Welfare Bureaus single-parent or medical subsidies or subsidies for the disabled. On 1 January 2011, a sliding scale of water charges was introduced. In 2012, Macao Water established a customer service unit, which gather customers opinions on the water supply services through personal conversations. By the end of 2012, Macao Water had 214,830 customers, including 187,380 households, 25,632 companies and 1,818 government institutions. Macao Water was awarded an ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System Accreditation Certificate in 2003, and OHSAS 18001:1999 Occupational Health and Safety Management System certification in 2005. In 2008, it was awarded the ISO 14000 certificate.
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Power Supply
Companhia de Electricidade de Macau
Companhia de Electricidade de Macau (CEM) is a public utility company with the sole concession to generate, transmit, distribute, sell, import and export electricity in Macao. From 1906 to 1972, the electricity supply service was managed by the Macau Electric Lighting Company, headquartered in Hong Kong. In 1972, the company was replaced by CEM. CEM was restructured with the former Portuguese administrations support in 1982. In 1984, CEM was linked to the primary networks of Macao and Guangdong Province through two 110 kV overhead lines. In 2006, a second network that also comprises two 110 kV overhead lines commenced operation, increasing Macaos standby electricity supply and directly improving the reliability and flexibility of electricity supply services. Comprising two 110 kV power cables, the third Macao-Zhuhai electricity power grid came into operation in July 2007, and was further upgraded with in June 2008, with 220 kV power capacities and 1050 MVA transmitting capacity. In June 2012, the second 220 kV power grid came into service. By that time, there were a total of five 220 kV power cables with a transmitting capacity of 1,750 MVA. In November 2010, the Government and the CEM signed a contract stipulating a 15-year extension to power supply services. The new contract terms came into effect on 1 December 2010. Since 1987, the Government, which was previously the largest shareholder in CEM, has reduced its holding to just eight percent. Currently, 84 percent of CEMs shares are owned by two major shareholders: the Sino-French Group which holds 42 percent, followed by EDP Asia which holds 21 percent. Moreover, Polytec Industrial Limited and Asiainvest (IP Holding) hold 11 percent and 10 percent respectively. China Power International Holding holds six percent of the shares, and local shareholders own the remaining two percent. Electricity consumption in Macao increased rapidly during the 1990s. In 1998, CEM decided to invest in developing Coloane B Power Station, which uses multi-cycle gas turbine technology. In 2012, CEMs capacity peaked at 757 MW on 28 August, 4.4 percent more than the peak capacity in 2011. The Macao electricity transmission network comprises 24 primary substations and 281 kilometres of 66 kV high-voltage cables, 110 kV cables and 220 kV cables. The Guangdong-Macao electricity network included two 110 kV cables and two 220 kV cables connecting Zhuhai and Nanping, and Gongbei and Zhuhai, respectively. The 11 kV medium-voltage electricity transmission network comprises 35 user substations and 1,245 user transformer rooms (11 kV / 400 V) connected by cables with a total length of 617 kilometres. The low-voltage transmission network is made up of 780 kilometres of cable, while the street lighting network comprises 524 kilometres of cable and 16,168 streetlights. Almost all of CEMs power network comprises underground cables.
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Customer Services
CEM established the CEM Customer Liaison Committee in 2000. With its 19 members coming from 17 different community organisations, the committee serves to reflect public views of CEMs services, and to receive and make suggestions for improvement. At the end of 2012, CEM was providing services to 229,449 households. The Macao peninsula accounted for 86.31 percent of the total customer base, Taipa island 12.99 percent, Coloane island 0.69 percent, and COTAI 0.01 percent.
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Public housing
The Government expedited public housing construction projects in 2012. A total of 19,260 public housing units were planned to be built; of these, 4,189 were completed and 15,071 units were under construction by year-end. All public housing projects have public facilities and car parks to satisfy the needs of the community.
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TRANSPORT
Transport
Transport
Roads and Bridges
Macao has 314.5 kilometres of roads and highways, including 183.1 kilometres on the Macao peninsula, 80.9 kilometres on Taipa island and its reclaimed areas, and 40.6 kilometres on Coloane island. Three bridges and a strip of reclaimed land link the Macao peninsula with Taipa and Coloane. Opened to traffic in October 1974, the Nobre de Carvalho Bridge (also known as the Macao-Taipa Bridge) is 2.5 kilometres long. The 4.4-kilometre Friendship Bridge was completed in April 1994. The 2.1-kilometre Sai Van (West Bay) Bridge was completed in December 2004 and opened to traffic in January 2005. In addition, the 900-metre Lotus Flower Bridge was completed in December 1999 and opened to traffic in March 2000. Linking the reclaimed area between Taipa and Coloane with Zhuhai Citys Hengqin island and connected to the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Expressway, this bridge is the second land route between Macao and its neighbouring cities. Macao has 417.4 kilometres of roads for motor vehicles. This figure includes 199.5 kilometres on the Macao peninsula, 135.4 kilometres on Taipa island and its reclaimed areas, 61.3 kilometres on Coloane island, five kilometres on Nobre de Carvalho Bridge, 10.2 kilometres on the Friendship Bridge, 4.2 kilometres on the Sai Van Bridge and 1.8 kilometres on the Lotus Flower Bridge.
Public Transport
Macao has a well-established public transport network connecting the Macao peninsula and the two islands. A variety of vehicles, including buses and taxis, are available for local residents and tourists.
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transportation services between Macao and the two islands. During the 1950s, it acquired several bus companies that served residents of Taipa and Coloane, and began to operate public buses. In 1986, Companhia de Transporte de Passageiros entre Macau e as Ilhas was restructured as TCM and became fully responsible for all public buses serving Macao and its islands. In August 2011, public bus services in Macao began operating under the new government-led model and TCM purchased 63 buses that met Euro IV standards. TCM now has a fleet of 145 buses and operates 13 bus routes on Macao peninsula connecting the Macao peninsula and the outlying islands. In 2012, it carried over 32.26 million passengers and covered 6.37 million kilometres.
Taxis
At the end of 2012, Macao had 954 licensed black taxis with cream roofs, plus 100 radio-dispatched yellow taxis. There were 10,911 licensed taxi drivers.
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Transport
promoting and implementing road transport policies of the Government; pursuing road improvements; regulation of vehicles; as well as installing, maintaining and improving transportation and pedestrian infrastructure.
Vehicle Statistics
At the end of 2012, there were 217,335 vehicles on Macaos roads, including 115,623 motorcycles, and 95,063 light vehicles. During the year, 17,621 new vehicles were registered, a slight decline of 0.45 percent over the 2011 figure. Of these, 6,833 were motorcycles and 9,068 were cars.
Traffic Monitoring
Traffic management and monitoring are essential for ensuring the safe and orderly operation of the transport system. The Government has installed closed circuit TV (CCTV) and radar speed monitoring systems to monitor traffic conditions on the Macao-Taipa Bridge and main roads. They include 30 video cameras and six two-way speed monitoring spots on the Friendship Bridge, 65 video cameras, two one-way and one two-way speed monitoring spots on the Sai Van Bridge, and 10 video cameras and two two-way speed monitoring spots on the Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho. Also, 157 video cameras, 15 speed monitoring radar units, and 25 sets of electronic systems with a total of 82 cameras for monitoring vehicles jumping red lights have been installed in various downtown locations. During 2012, the monitoring systems identified 9,752 cases of speeding and 1,114 cases of jumping red lights. A further 9,583 cases were identified under the illegal parking monitoring system.
Parking
As at 31 December 2012, Macao had 34 public car parks, which together provide 12,515 parking spaces for light vehicles, 730 spaces for heavy vehicles, and 8,498 spaces for motorcycles.
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Transport
(Cont.)
As at 31 December 2012, there were 9,309 parking meters for light vehicles, of which 4,630 were two-hour parking meters, 4,679 were five-hour parking meters. There were 3,051 non-metered parking spaces. There were also 40,071 motorcycle parking spaces, of which 222 were two-hour parking meters and 382 were five-hour parking meters.
Road Safety
The Road Traffic Law promotional campaign was held in 2012, jointly organised by the Public Security Police, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau, and several non-governmental organisations. It publicises the importance of obeying traffic regulations, to strengthen the understanding of laws and sense of road safety among local residents, and thus reduce the number of traffic accidents. The Traffic Department of the Public Security Police also teamed up with schools, transportation companies and non-governmental organisations to stage games and lectures related to road safety. Their objective was to reinforce residents understanding of road safety by means of long-term educational efforts. During 2012, a total of 5,951 people from 64 schools and 31 other organisations participated in the Traffic Departments road safety promotional activities.
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Cross-border Traffic
Cross-border Land Routes
Two land routes link Macao and mainland China: the Border Gate and Lotus Flower Bridge Checkpoint (Cotai checkpoint). The volume of cross-border traffic has grown rapidly, in line with increasing exchanges between Macao and the mainland. The Border Gate Checkpoint is open to passengers from 7.00am to midnight daily, and for cargo from 7.00am to 9.00pm (except for authorised vehicles). The Lotus Flower Bridge Checkpoint is open to passengers from 9.00am to 8.00pm, and for cargo from 8.00am to 8.00pm. The ZhuhaiMacao Crossborder Industrial Zone Border Checkpoint is open 24 hours per day. A total of 4,465,854 vehicles entered or left Macao by land during 2012. The gross weight of containers imported or exported by land was 30,681 tonnes, a decrease of 13 percent; re-exported containers totalled 10,986 tonnes. During 2012, there were 14,829,681 visitor arrivals by land, an increase of 3.1 percent over the previous years figure. Of these, 13,590,514 entered via the Border Gate; tourists from mainland China and Hong Kong represented 83.1 percent and 11.5 percent of the total, respectively. The number of visitors who arrived via the Cotai checkpoint was 1,217,618. During the year, there were 21,664,342 arrivals of Macao residents via the Border Gate, with 376,552 via the Cotai checkpoint.
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2013, through improving the overall layout to streamline passenger flow and luggage transfer, to provide quality and convenient services to residents and visitors.
Ports
Outer Harbour
Located on the east coast of the Macao peninsula, the Outer Harbour is designated for scheduled ferries between Macao and Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Its watercourse is 120 metres wide and 4.4 metres deep.
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To streamline the sea passageway to the east of Friendship Bridge, the Maritime Administration restructured a fairway off eastern Friendship Bridge leading to the Inner Harbour, making the fairway straight and setting up a more advanced system of synchronised flashing beacons.
Inner Harbour
Located on the west coast of the Macao peninsula, the Inner Harbour has many piers for loading and discharging cargo, plus Pier 11A, the ferry terminal, used by passenger ferries licensed by the Maritime Administration. The South Sampan Pier between Piers 8 and 9 is used by crewmembers of ships berthed in the Inner Harbour who hold Macao ID Cards, or who are authorised to land and depart by the relevant Government authority, with prior notice to the Macao Customs Service. The Inner Harbours approach channel is 45 metres wide, and its fairway is 55 metres wide and 3.5 metres deep.
Taipa
The Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal is situated on the north-eastern tip of Taipa island, and is exclusive for scheduled high-speed ferries shuttling between Macao and Hong Kong, and between Macao and the Pearl River Delta area. Its fairway is 120 metres wide and 4.4 metres deep.
Ka Ho Harbour
Located on the northeast shore of Coloane island, Ka Ho Harbour consists of the Fuel Oil Terminal, Cement Terminal, Ka Ho Container Port, and Power Plant Terminal. Its approach channel is 75 metres wide and 4.4 metres deep.
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affairs, and is responsible for exercising its power to promote and coordinate the development of maritime activities. To promote and assist economic development of the fishery sector, in 2007 the Government promulgated By-law No. 3/2007 to establish the Fisheries Development and Support Fund. The Marine and Water Bureau also provides port management and services including vessel inspections, pilot services, vessel traffic control, search and rescue operations, hydrographic survey, dredging and port cleaning.
Ships
Maritime Registration
By law, all vessels engaged in economic activities including freighters, passenger vessels, fishing boats and auxiliary boats must be registered with the Marine and Water Bureau and the Commercial and Movable Goods Registry. The registration procedures are designed to verify its conformity with official requirements concerning technology, safety and environmental protection. Maritime registration is a prerequisite for vessels seeking commercial registration. There were 300 registered vessels at the end of 2012, including six that were newly registered during the year. In addition, maritime and commercial registration is required for vessels over 2.5 metres in length that are used for non-profit-making purposes, such as water sports, fishing or recreational activities. These include ocean-going, coastal, inshore, channel and river pleasure boats. There were 107 registered vessels in this category at the end of 2012, including 14 new registrations.
Seafarer Registration
According to the law, Macao residents aged 18 or above may apply for seafarer registration with the Marine and Water Bureau. All Macao residents who wish to conduct professional maritime activities on commercial vessels, auxiliary boats or fishing boats are required to register with the bureau beforehand. At the end of 2012, a total of 251 people held seafarers books issued by the bureau.
The Shipyard
The Shipyard is a department under the Marine and Water Bureau. As well as shipbuilding and ship
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repairs, it is responsible for maintaining and repairing Government vehicles, verifying their status and inspecting them, handling newly purchased vehicles, as well as making and installing vehicle identification plates. At present, most of the vessels built and repaired at the Shipyard belong to the bureau and Macao Customs Service. In 2012, the Shipyard monitored the construction and delivery of an 11-metre hydrographic surveying ship and coordinated the building of a rescue ship for the bureau. The Shipyard also monitored the construction and delivery of a 30-metre patrol ship as well as provided technical support to Macao Customs Service. It has carried out 302 vessel maintenance projects, of which 229 projects were completed. In the examination, maintenance and repair of vehicles, the Shipyard carried out 2,151 projects involving 2,694 vehicles.
Civil Aviation
Civil Aviation Authority
The Civil Aviation Authority was founded on 4 February 1991, in accordance with Decree-Law No. 10/91/M dated 4 February 1991. It is constituted as a public institution under the Secretariat for Transport and Public Works, and it enjoys autonomy over administration, finances and property. It is responsible for directing, controlling and monitoring all civil aviation activities in Macao, and the operations of all aircraft registered in Macao.
Aviation Service
To implement its Open Skies policy, the Government has adopted a series of measures to enhance Macaos civil aviation infrastructure network. Every effort has been made to attract additional investment from domestic and foreign airlines, to promote the use of Macau International Airport, and to enhance the development of passenger and cargo transportation. To increase cooperation with the international aviation community, the Government will continue to forge new air services agreements with countries around the world. By 31 December 2012, Macao had initialled air services agreements with 47 nations and regions, among which 40 had been officially signed.
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(Cont.)
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(Cont.)
As at 31 December 2012, four airlines were registered in Macao and providing flight services: Air Macau, East Asia Airlines, JetAsia and Macau Jet International. Below are details of the fleets and routes that they operated:
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Destinations Shanghai (Pudong, Hongqiao), Beijing, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Nanjing, Chengdu, Nanning, Hefei, Chongqing, Taiyuan, Changsha, Ningbo, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka Hong Kong, Shenzhen
East Asia Airlines (Helicopter service) JetAsia (Commercial charter flight services) Macau Jet International (Commercial Charter Services)
3 x Agusta AW139
2 x Challenger CL600-2B16, Global destinations 2 x Hawker 900XP, 4 x Hawker 750 1 x Falcon 2000LX 1 x Falcon 2000 Global destinations
The numbers of pilots licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority, as at 31 December 2012, were: Airline Civil Aviation Authority Air Macau East Asia Airlines JetAsia Macau Jet International (Commercial Charter Services) Total Number of licensed pilots 2 157 28 6 7 200
Macau International Airport is located at the eastern end of Taipa island and neighbouring waters. The terminal building was constructed on a rock-cut platform at Ponta da Cabrita, while the apron was built on reclaimed land. East of the apron, the air-traffic control building, control tower and ancillary fire station are on Kia Kiong Islet. The runway is on an artificial island linked to the apron by two taxiway bridges.
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The main fire station is on the runway island, next to the oblique taxiway. The airport is within easy reach of the Macao peninsula, the Outer Harbour and Zhuhai via motorway, the Friendship Bridge and the Lotus Flower Bridge. Commuting time from each of these points is less than 20 minutes. The Macau International Airport handled 4,491,065 passengers during 2012, a rise of 11 percent on the 2011 figure. Its cargo volume was 27,794 tonnes, a decrease of 29.7 percent. A total of 41,997 flights took off or landed, an increase of 7.8 percent. Private and commercial air charters saw a steady rise in the number of flights, from 1,010 in 2011 to 1,209 flights in 2012, an increase of 19.7 percent.
Aircraft Noise
Macau International Airport was constructed offshore and far from residential communities, avoiding the need to install soundproofing. However, to protect Zhuhai from noise pollution caused by northbound flights taking off from the runway, aircraft are not allowed to pass the 230-degree radial line of Zhuhais Jiuzhou omni-directional beacon station.
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operations of aircraft, facilities and equipment. Responsibility for airport security is distributed among the Civil Aviation Authority, the Unitary Police Service, the Macao Customs Service, the Public Security Police, the Judiciary Police, the Fire Service, the Marine and Water Bureau, the airport itself, Companhia de Seguranca de Macau Lda (SEMAC), the private airport security company, aviation companies and other airport departments. The private airport security company is responsible for implementing the security measures and procedures formulated by the airport operator, and ensuring that the security measures and procedures comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommendations. Besides, the company provides professional training, certified technicians and advanced security equipment to perform security checks on passengers, baggage and cargo.
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Area
Due to reclamation along its coastline, Macaos total land area has grown from 11.6 square kilometres in 1912, when measurements were first taken, to 29.9 square kilometres in 2012. The Macao peninsula accounts for 9.3 square kilometres (31.1 percent) of the current area, Taipa island for 7.4 square kilometres (24.8 percent), Coloane island for 7.6 square kilometres (25.4 percent), and the COTAI Reclamation Area for 5.6 square kilometres (18.7 percent).
Coastline
Macao is a typical coastal area, with 50.4 kilometres of coastline, of which 15 kilometres is around the Macao peninsula and 35.4 kilometres is around the two islands.
Air
Population density, scarcity of land, narrow streets and busy traffic all affect Macaos air quality. However, this is offset to some extent by the low discharge of industrial pollutants. The air quality
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is therefore generally quite good. Every winter, a comparatively high level of airborne pollutants increases the air pollution index; while in summer the air quality improves, with lower pollution index readings, as the convective precipitation of the tropical climate dispels pollutants. During 2012, roadside monitoring stations recorded good air quality on 54.1 percent of days, acceptable air quality on 38.4 percent of days, and poor air quality on 7.5 percent (25 days). In the high-density residential area of the Macao peninsula, the air quality was good on 69.7 percent of days, acceptable on 28.1 percent of days, and poor air quality on 2.2 percent (eight days). Ambient monitoring stations on Taipa recorded good air quality on 69.4 percent of days, acceptable air quality on 28.7 percent of days, and poor air quality on 1.9 percent (seven days). Ambient monitoring stations on Coloane recorded good air quality on 90.2 percent of days, acceptable air quality on 9.6 percent of days, and poor air quality on 0.3 percent (one day). Other than increases in the ozone concentrations and carbon monoxide concentrations recorded at all the monitoring stations, concentrations of other pollutants were equal to or lower than those recorded in 2011. Starting from 2 July 2012, the air quality standard of Macao has been raised to the level of World Health Organization interim target-1, and the concentration of fine suspended particulates (PM2.5) was included in measurement. During 2012, all monitoring stations recorded more days with poor air quality than in 2011 except the ambient monitoring station in Coloane. Overall, Macaos air quality remained good. The annual average concentration of each pollutant was normal, meeting all the air quality standards.
--50.2 48.1#
--26.7 ---
--5.1 10.2
--20.7 36.1
--40.7 ---
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(i) The station suspends services due to maintenance works * Announcement of suspended particulates concentration starts from 2 July 2012 # Calculated with insufficient data
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Comparisons between Pollutant Concentrations and(Cont.) the Daily Air Pollution Index (until 2 July 2012)
Respirable suspended particulates 24-hour average (g/m3) 0 100 150 350 420 500 600 Sulphur dioxide 24-hour average (g/m3) 0 60 150 800 1,600 2,100 2,620 Nitrogen dioxide 24-hour average (g/m3) 0 80 150 280 565 750 940 Ozone 8-hour average (g/m3) 0 80 160 350 600 800 1,000 Carbon monoxide 8-hour average (mg/m3) 0 5 10 17 34 46 57
Comparisons between Pollutant Concentrations and the Daily Air Pollution Index (from 2 July 2012)
Air quality Index 0 50 100 200 300 400 500 Respirable suspended particulates 24-hour average (g/m3) 0 100 150 350 420 500 600 Fine suspended particulates (g/m3) 0 35 75 150 250 350 500 Sulphur dioxide 24-hour average (g/m3) 0 40 125 660 1,300 1,700 2,120 Nitrogen dioxide 24-hour average (g/m3) 0 100 200 750 1,500 2,000 2,500 Carbon Ozone 8-hour monoxide 8-hour average average 3 (g/m ) (mg/m3) 0 80 160 350 600 800 1,000 0 5 10 17 34 46 57
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Noise
There are many reasons for noise pollution in Macao. Urban characteristics, such as population density, busy traffic, narrow streets and the large number of high-rise buildings, create conditions for noise transmission. In 2012, the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Public Security Police received 5,085 complaints about ambient noise, 654 cases or 14.8 percent less than the 2011 figure. The Environmental Protection Bureau received 386 of these complaints, representing a decrease of 72 cases or 15.7 percent compared with 2011; whereas the Public Security Police received the remaining 4,699 cases, a figure that was 726 cases or 18.3 percent more than that of 2011. Complaints received by the Public Security Police primarily related to people talking, shouting and being otherwise boisterous (1,718 cases), indoor renovation projects (843 cases), music and TV noise from domestic premises (558 cases), playing mahjong (233 cases), industrial or civil construction projects (294 cases), hitting objects (212 cases), factory and machinery noise (178 cases), and commercial music and karaoke (138 cases). These accounted for 8.83 percent (4,174 cases) of total cases. The numbers of cases related to people talking, shouting and being otherwise boisterous, indoor renovation projects, outdoor music, and music and TV noise from domestic premises increased by 47, 131, 64, and 58 cases respectively from the figure in 2011. On the other hand, numbers of cases related to workshop and machinery noise, moving objects, and playing mahjong decreased by 47, 30, and 11 cases respectively from the figure in 2011. Of the complaints received by the Public Security Police, complaints about disturbances during the day-time (8.00am to 8.00pm) accounted for 22.28 percent of the total (1,047 cases), and mainly resulted from indoor renovation projects, industrial or civil construction projects, machinery noise, and music from domestic premises. Complaints about night-time (8.00pm to 8.00am) noise accounted for 77.72 percent (3,652 cases); and these primarily stemmed from people talking and shouting, music from domestic premises, playing mahjong, indoor renovation projects, hitting objects, machinery noise, barking of dogs, moving objects, commercial music, and outdoor music. The Environmental Protection Bureau has set up a public services unit and launched a designated hotline in June 2012 as a permanent platform for public communication.
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and one on Taipa island. They conduct round-the-clock monitoring of ambient noise; road traffic noise; and noise from the mixed industrial, commercial and residential zones, by means of an automated network. Data on their readings are published monthly on the Environmental Protection Bureaus website.
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Wastewater Management
The five sewage treatment facilities in Macao the Macao Peninsula Sewage Treatment Plant, Crossborder Industrial Zone Sewage Treatment Plant, Taipa Sewage Treatment Plant, Macau International Airport Sewage Treatment Plant and Coloane Sewage Treatment Plant can handle 356,000 cubic metres of sewage per day. In 2012, the Macao Peninsula Sewage Treatment Plant handled 58,525,248 cubic metres of sewage; Taipa Sewage Treatment Plant handled 7,738,189 cubic metres; Coloane Sewage Treatment Plant handled 7,444,416 cubic metres; the sewage treatment plant at Macau International Airport processed 44,939 cubic metres; and Crossborder Industrial Zone Sewage Treatment Plant handled 645,246 cubic metres. Reflecting its commitment to the policy of environmental protection, the Environmental Protection Bureau continued to improve its sewage equipment, upgraded equipment in current sewage treatment plants, gradually increased the capability to treat domestic sewage in Macao and enhanced the quality of treated effluent. During 2012, the expansion project of Macao Peninsula Sewage Treatment Plant commenced, and the addition of a temporary odour-eliminating installation, a hydrogen sulphide monitoring station and an exhaust fan was completed.
Waste Management
Social development and economic growth have led to an increase in waste. According to the Statistics and Census Service, the total amount rose by about 41 percent between 2001 and 2011. Most of it comes from households and commercial and industrial operations. At present, incineration is the major mode of waste management in Macao, supplemented by landfill dumping.
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Companhia de Sistemas de Residuos, Lda. (CSR) has been contracted to undertake Macaos waste collection, urban cleaning operations and the cleaning and maintenance of public waste containers, under the Governments supervision. According to CSR, it collected 290,009 tonnes of waste in Macao during 2012, an average of 794.5 tonnes a day.
Waste Classification
To step up the programme for sorting and recycling waste in Macao, the number of public collection points was increased to 262 in 2012; 318 bodies (including schools, Government departments, associations and organisations) participated in the reusable waste sorting and recycling programme. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau cooperated with residential buildings to promote the household waste sorting and recycling programme, and 3,321 buildings took part. During 2012, 488 tonnes of waste paper, 32 tonnes of metals and 64 tonnes of plastic were recycled under this programme.
Incineration Centre
Macao Incineration Centre is responsible for processing all Macaos household waste. It comprises two plants, with a total processing capacity of 1,728 tonnes of waste per day. During 2012, the centre received 365,680 tonnes of waste, an average of 1,002 tonnes a day. Some solid waste in Macao is collected from the sea by the Maritime Administration. The waste heat produced by the round-the-clock incineration centre can be recovered and used for power generation. The power generated by the centre can supply up to 21 MW per hour of electricity at full load to the public grid sufficient to meet the needs of over 33,000 households in Macao. During 2012, the incineration centre supplied 112,597 MW per hour of electricity to the public grid.
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International Treaties
Several international agreements and treaties to address global environmental problems have been made applicable to Macao. These include Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer; Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer; Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer; Copenhagen Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); the Convention on Biological Diversity; Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal and the amendment to the Basel Convention adopted by Decision III/1 in the Third Conference of the Contracting Parties in Geneva on 22 September 1995; the Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region (with amendments made in 1967, 1979 and 1983); the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs); Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain
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Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade; Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques; International Plant Protection Convention; Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty; and the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. International treaties on maritime safety related to marine environment protection applicable to Macao include: the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 1990; International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL); Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972) and its 1978 and 1980 amendments; International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001; and Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
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administration. The Fund consists of a managing committee and an accreditation committee. The Environmental Protection, Energy-saving Products and Equipment Subsidy Scheme was the first subsidy scheme since the establishment of the Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation Fund. It targets commercial enterprises and social groups. Once a funding application is approved, 80 percent of the total cost of purchasing and switching to green products and devices are subsidised, with an upper limit of 500,000 patacas. In 2012, The Environmental Protection Bureau received over 1,700 applications for subsidies, in which over 680 applications were approved, involving subsidies of more than 60 million patacas.
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by the Government, supported by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Environmental Protection Bureau, co-organised by provincial/regional governments in the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) area, and hosted by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and Macao Environmental Protection Bureau, and was held from 29-31 March 2012. The theme of 2012 MICEF was Sustainable Cities The Way Towards a Green Future. The event attracted over 8,500 representatives from 28 countries and regions, with a total of 35 contracts signed during the three-day forum. As for the green forum, experts from around the world actively participated in six official forums with 55 speakers and moderators from different countries and regions. There were about 1,200 participants for the six forums. These figures reflects the MIECF functional role as a green platform was strengthened that it promoted development of environmental protection industry and technology. As for the PPRD region, the bureau participated in the 2012 Coordinator Working Meeting and the 8th meeting of the Joint Conference on Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Environmental Protection Cooperation, the 7th Fujian Province Environmental Protection Projects Trade Fair and a seminar on automobile exhaust emission control. Appointed by the Environmental Protection Bureau, the South China Institute of Environmental Sciences of State Environmental Protection Administration completed a research on water quality of Macaos inshore waters, and has commenced a study of the recent implementation and performance of Macaos environmental protection planning, as well as the continued study of permanent organic pollutants. The bureau also implemented, together with the State Environmental Protection Administration, various projects related to transfer of waste, international conventions on environmental protection, nuclear safety information sharing, and emergency information sharing. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Macaos Environmental Protection Bureau jointly appointed Tsinghua University to continue two research projects, namely the Demonstration of Integrated Exhaust Emission Control for Motor Vehicles in Macao and the Demonstration of Electronic Waste Management and Pollution Control in Macao. In September 2012, the Social Development Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Environmental Protection Bureau and the Transport Bureau jointly organised a seminar on the development of electric vehicle technology. To implement the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020), the Department of Housing And Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province, the Environmental Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and Macaos Secretary for Transport and Public Works jointly announced the Regional Cooperation Plan on Building a Quality Living Areain June 2012. As for cooperation between Guangdong and Macao, the pollution treatment of the Canal dos Patos commenced in 2012. Macao has also joined the Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network, and participated in cooperation and exchanges on solid waste treatment, environmental protection industry and environmental education and promotion. The two regions continued to jointly organise the World Environment Day Carnival 2012 in Hong Kong, Macao and five cities in Guangdong Province. The mechanisms of regional pollution information sharing and collaborative prevention, and the Guangdong-Macao Environmental Protection Cooperation Task Force have been refined.
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Hong Kong and Macao also joined hands in environmental protection. During the year, Macao attended the 4th Meeting on Environmental Protection Cooperation between Hong Kong and Macao for sharing of environmental protection policies and technology information. The Environmental Protection Bureau led a delegation of government officials, representatives from organisations and the industry to participate in the Eco Expo Asia 2012, and set up the Macao Pavilion in cooperation with the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. The Zhuhai-Macao Environmental Protection Cooperation Task Force held a working meeting in 2012 to reach consensus between the two regions on thorough treatment of the pollution problem of Canal dos Patos, and promote environmental cooperation in view of the opportunity brought by the development of new connecting roads between the two regions. The Environmental Protection Bureau and the Zhuhai Environmental Protection Bureau continued to jointly organise the 2012 Macao-Zhuhai Cycling Tour for promotion of low-carbon concept.
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it participated in the inspection of two places for evaluation of nuisances and provided 54 technical recommendations in response to written queries. At the request of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, it provided 165 technical recommendations in response to written queries. At the request of the Public Security Police, it assisted in seven noise surveys. It also advised on 14 applications to import CFCs, which are controlled substances under Decree-Law No. 62/95/M.
Climate
Macao is situated in a subtropical zone, with the Asian continent to the north and a wide tropical sea to the south. In winter, Macao experiences a north wind, cold and dry weather and low rainfall, due to a cold continental high-pressure system at medium and high latitudes. In summer, Macao is mainly subject to southwesterly winds, hot and wet weather and heavy rainfall, due to the influence of oceanic tropical weather systems. The reverse of wind directions in winter and summer, together with minimal temperature variations during the day, give Macao a marine monsoon climate. According to the climate normals of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) calculated with 30 years of data, the average annual precipitation in Macao between 1981 and 2010 was more than 2,000 millimetres, with most rainfall occurring between April and September. May had the most precipitation an average of 363.8 millimetres while January had the least an average of 26.5 millimetres. Macao has an average annual temperature of 22.6C. The coolest month is January, when it averages 15.1C. Most years, Macao has a short, cold weather period when temperatures fall below 5C. The average monthly temperature exceeds 22C during seven months of the year, indicating that Macao has a short winter but a long summer. Macao is frequently hit by typhoons. The typhoon season starts in May and ends in September, with July and August as its peak period.
Weather Overview
General Situation
In 2012, Macaos average annual temperature and relative humidity were close to average, while the total rainfall, total evaporation level and total hours of sunshine were lower than average. Five tropical cyclones affected Macao in 2012. They were: Severe Tropical Storm Talim from 17-20 June, Tropical Storm Doksuri from 28-30 June, Typhoon Vincente from 21-24 July, Typhoon Kai-tak from 15-17 August, and Typhoon Tembin from 24-27 August. Typhoon Signal No. 8 was issued as a result of Doksuri and Kai-tak, while Typhoon Signal No. 9 was issued as a result of Vincente. During 2012, 17 strong monsoon warnings (Black Ball) were issued, 10 more than in 2011. Three rainstorm warnings were issued during 2012, one more than in 2011. In 2012, a total of 72 thunderstorm warnings were issued. The first thunderstorm warning was issued on 5 April, and the last one on 23 November.
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As for storm surge warning, three yellow storm surge warnings and two red storm surge warnings were issued during 2012.
Temperatures
Macao had an average annual temperature of 22.3C during 2012, which was close to normal. The highest and the lowest average temperature were 28.6C in August and 13.0C in January, respectively. The hottest day was 21 July, when the temperature rose to 36.1C; whereas the coldest day was 25 January, when the temperature fell to just 5.0C.
Relative Humidity
The average relative humidity during 2012 was 80 percent, which was close to the climate normal. April saw the highest monthly average relative humidity, at 88 percent; whereas the lowest was 70 percent in October.
Rainfall
Total rainfall during 2012 was 1,556.0 millimetres, which was 502.1 millimetres or 24 percent less than climate normal. The highest monthly rainfall was recorded in July at 394.4 millimetres, 97.0
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millimetres above normal. Also, total rainfall in March was only 18.8 millimetres, 70.5 millimetres less than the climate normal of that month.
Evaporation
The total evaporation level in 2012 was 734.4 millimetres, which was 210.7 millimetres less than climatological normal. The evaporation levels from January to December 2012 were both lower that climatological normal of the same period.
Sunshine
During 2012, Macao had 1,545.3 hours of sunshine, 228.6 hours less than normal. The most hours of sunshine were recorded in July, totalling 235.8 hours, 12.6 hours above normal. The least hours of sunshine were recorded in February, amounting to only 27.5 hours, which was 51.9 hours less than normal. Moreover, there were only 84.1 hours of sunshine in December, which was 75 hours less than normal.
Wind
During 2012, Macao was subject to predominantly easterly winds from May to June, and from September to October; northerly winds in January, and from November to December; northnortheasterly winds in February and March; southeasterly winds in April, southerly winds in July, and southwesterly winds in August. Wind speeds averaged 13.2 kilometres per hour.
Weather Services
Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) is supervised by the Secretary for Transport and Public Works. It provides weather reports, monitors air quality, and conducts research into climate, climate change and earthquakes. Apart from hourly real-time weather information, the SMG issues various types of daily weather forecasts for the public, Government departments and private institutions. These include five weather reports and forecasts and two marine and weather forecasts for the South China coastal area, all of which are broadcast daily. The SMG provided 1,830 weather reports and 732 marine and weather forecasts for the South China coastal area during 2012. Every day, SMG officers explain the days weather conditions and the forecast for the following day in telephone reports broadcast on the Macau Broadcasting Companys (TDM) morning TV programme. When Typhoon Signal No. 3 or above is hoisted, the local broadcaster TDM will provide streaming updates on the latest developments concerning the tropical cyclone. The SMG also cooperates with Sai Van Bridge Management Company and the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau, to display real-time weather information on electronic message boards at both ends of the bridge and some main street junctions. Severe weather warnings are also displayed on
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the electronic boards at Sai Van Bridge. The SMG also issues timely warnings of adverse weather conditions, including tropical cyclones, strong monsoons (black ball), rainstorms, thunderstorms and storm surges. The Rainstorm Floods Alert SMS Service and the Hot/Cold Weather Alert SMS Service are also introduced by the bureau. A round-the-clock, Automatic Air Quality Monitoring Network and Ultraviolet (UV) Monitoring System enable the SMG to summarise daily air quality and UV indices, and report them to the public together with an air quality forecast for the following day. The SMG has introduced the Mobile WebWeather Service, the Temperature Index and the Maximum UV Index. To cater for mainland China tourists in Macao, a Macao page was launched on the China Weather Website in 23 March 2011. Seven-day weather forecast information is uploaded three times a day to the China Meteorological Administration website. Real-time weather conditions, weather forecasts, and extreme weather warning information are available via SMS for registered customers of four mobile phone service providers. The SMG Aeronautic Meteorological Center at Macau International Airport provides half-hourly weather observations and special reports to aviation organisations and flight crews. The aeronautical meteorological documents include meteorological maps for every route, as well as high-altitude air temperatures, wind maps, and weather forecasts. The centre provided about 19,281 such documents to departing flights during 2012.
Monitoring Network
The SMG collects weather data 24 hours a day via its Automatic Weather Station Network of 11 weather-observation stations in key locations around Macao. Three of these automatically send information every 15 minutes to destinations worldwide, using the international SYNOP code and the Global Telecommunications System (GTS). This forms part of the Pearl River Delta Real-time Automatic Weather Monitoring Network, which was jointly established to exchange meteorological data by the Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Bureau, the Hong Kong Observatory and the Macao SMG. The SMG also teamed up with the Hong Kong Observatory to establish a substation of the Pearl River Delta Lightning Location Network in Macao. The system operates around the clock, and provides real-time lightning information for the Pearl River Delta. Regarding meteorological telemetry: the SMG boasts a VCS MTSAT ground meteorological reception and processing system to receive Japanese MTSAT satellite information, a Huayun geostationary meteorological satellite reception and processing system to receive Fengyun 2E satellite information, a low-level wind profiler, a cloud height meter and three transmissiometers. In 2012, SMG purchased a new CMACast geostationary meteorological satellite ground reception and processing system, which will operate soon, to replace the old FengYunCast system. A new X-band Doppler weather radar officially began operations in 2011, releasing information to the public through the internet. The SMG joined hands with the Zhuhai Meteorological Bureau on installing a S-band Doppler weather radar at Jiaoding Mountain in Sanzao Town, Zhuhai, to further enhance the meteorological monitoring ability and standard of whether forecast and warning of
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both Zhuhai and Macao. The procurement of radar was completed in 2012 and it is planned to be installed and tested by early 2014. Also, the SMG has a lightning sensor to monitor lightning in the skies over Macao and the vicinity. The SMG cooperated with related departments to establish the Water Level and Tide Monitoring Network, which includes nine land water level monitoring stations set up on the streets of various flooding black spots, two tide monitoring stations set up along the coast, and one wave monitoring station set up in the sea. The network operates 24 hours a day, to provide real time data on flooding and tides. The SMG established the Air Quality Monitoring Project in partnership with other Government departments. The SMG now employs a fully automated air monitoring network to measure major pollutants that jeopardise Macaos air quality. Macao now has six automatic air quality monitoring stations. In 2011, the SMG purchased and modified a vehicle to serve as a mobile air quality monitoring station. The SMG is gradually purchasing equipment to install in the vehicle. Moreover, the SMG has adopted a new air quality standard from 2 July 2012, raising the air quality standard to WHO interim target-1. The SMG has two seismological monitoring stations, one in Ka Ho Lighthouse on Coloane, and the other in its Taipa Grande headquarters on Taipa. An analogue seismograph is installed inside the Ka Ho Lighthouse, while a digital seismograph and a deep shaft (30 metres from ground level) digital seismograph are installed in the Taipa Grande headquarters. During 2012, the SMG did not record any felt earthquake. The SMGs headquarters is equipped with an environmental radiation monitoring station, mainly for detecting Gamma radiation dose rate in the atmosphere and announcing the results on website.
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and Geophysical Bureau. Through training up space application experts, the workshop aims at enhancing the ability of disaster management on space applications for urban flood risk.
Flora
Macao abounds in plant species. By 2004, researchers from the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and the South China Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences had identified 1,508 species of flora in Macao. These are mainly found in woodlands, parks and leisure grounds. Most of Macaos vegetation belongs to the evergreen broad-leaf woodland, tree, shrub and coastal bush groups, including such species as Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa), Blood-red Melastoma (Melastoma sanguineum), Oblong leaved Litsea (Litsea rotundifolia var. oblongifolia), Pop-gun Seed (Bridelia tomentosa), Hong Kong Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) and Linear Forked Fern (Dicranopteris pedata). The most common species of cultivated plants are the Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia blakeana), Sunshine Tree (Cassia surattensis) and False Groundnut (Desmodium heterocarpon). Also, according to research conducted until 2010 by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and researchers from the Shenzhen Fairylake Botanical Garden, Macao has 104 species of bryophytes which belong to 34 genera and 63 families. Rare species include Fissidens macaoensis, Kurzia sinensis, Phaeoceroa laevis, Notothylas japonica horik, Micromitrium and Vesicularia. Fissidens macaoensis is a new species. As it was discovered in Macao, its Latin name includes the word Macao. A total of 4,045,300 square metres of forest areas were replanted on Taipa and Coloane islands between 1982 and 1995. More than 55 tree species were introduced during the process. Of the 26 major tree species in Macao, Taiwan Acacia (Acacia confusa) accounts for the lions share, with more than 60 percent. It is followed by Chinese Gugertree (Schima superba), Schima wallichii, Sweet Gum (Liquidambar formosana), Big-leaved Acacia (Acacia mangium), Sunshine Tree, White Bauhinia (Bauhinia variegata var. candida), Camels Foot Tree (Bauhinia variegata), Lebbeck Tree (Albizia lebbeck) and Horsetail Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) are also major species. From the end of 2000, forest areas on Taipa and Coloane have undergone a compositional transformation. A firebreak was set up, and many indigenous tree species were introduced, including Melialeaved Evodia (Tetradium glabrifolium), Hong Kong Gordonia (Gordonia axillaris), Acronychia (Acronychia pedunculata), Morriss Persimmon (Diospyros morrisiana), India Carallia (Carallia brachiata), Yanmin (Dracontomelon duperreanum), Persimmon-leaved Litsea (Litsea monopetala), Michelia chapensis, Burmese Rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus), Heterophyllous Winged-seed Tree (Pterospermum heterophyllum), Silver-back Artocarpus (Artocarpushypargyreus), Pinus elliottiiPinus oaribaea, Common Fig (Ficus carica), Horse-tail Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), Chinese Holly (Ilex rotunda), Michelia macclurel and Chinese Guger Tree (Schima superba). There are 491,845 trees in the outlying islands replanted woodlands. By the end of 2008, Macao had 16,231 shade trees, an increase of 601 trees compared with 2007. The Macao peninsula is crowded, with many construction projects, especially involving road construction, greatly affecting the shade trees. The development of new green areas was also difficult, and consequently the growth in the number of shade trees was relatively small. In terms of green belts, the main species of plants in the green belt of Macao are the Dwarf Yellow (Duranta repens), Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa), Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-
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sinensis), Purple Knight (Alternanthera dentata), Royal Palm (Roystonea regia), Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla), Arachis duranensis, Camels Foot Tree (Bauhinia variegata),Canna lily (Canna indica),Duranta repens variegata, Tall Bottle-brush (Callistemon viminalis), East Indian Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), Sunshine Tree (Cassia surattensis), Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa), Bamboo Palm (Chrysalidocarpua lutescens), Painted Copper Leaf (Acalypha wilkesiana), Indian Azalea (Rhododendron simsii), Nerium Oleander (Nerium indicum Mill.), Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), and Cotton tree (Bombax ceiba). These are mainly admired for their leaves, rather than their flowers.
Fauna
Macao is small. The development of land and expansion of urbanisation create detrimental effects on the survival and scope of activities of wild animals. The numbers of species and populations of wild animals in Macao are decreasing. Through continued research on wild animals in Macao, in 2012, 12 new bird species, four new fish species and two new bat species were recorded. While development and building cities, we should strengthen protection of the last habitats of wild animals, so that man and nature can coexist in harmony. Amphibians in Macao are declining in numbers. As most of the amphibians need natural waters as their living and breeding space, the scarcity of unpolluted waters in Macao leads to the decrease in the species and numbers of amphibians. The five commonest species are Asian Common Toad (Bufo melanostictus), Gunthers Frog (Rana guentheri), Brown Tree Frog (Rhacophorus megacephalus), Paddy Frog (Fejervaryalimnocharis) and Asian Painted Frog (Kaloula pulchra). In the hilly forest area of Coloane, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau has constructed artificial freshwater wetlands as a better shelter for amphibians. The commonest wild mammals are bats, rats and red-bellied tree squirrels. Bats mainly inhabit Coloane and Taipa. In 2012, two species, Bent-Winged Bat (Miniopterus pusillus) and Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), were newly recorded, and four suspected cryptic species were discovered in Coloane by ultrasonic inspection. The Japanese House Bat (Pipistrellus abramus) and Short-nosed Indian Fruit Bat (Cynopterus sphinx) can be found on the Macao peninsula. The former frequents gaps between buildings and lives on mosquitoes and flies, helping to limit populations of harmful insects. The latter eat fruits in parks or woods, and may help spread their seeds, contributing to the city environment and natural environment of the woods. The Red-bellied Tree Squirrel is an exotic species, formerly imported as a pet. It is now wild in Macao. Its lack of natural enemies poses a threat to other animal species, especially birds, as the squirrels eat their eggs. Reptiles, especially snakes, play an important ecological role in controlling the number of rats. However, Macaos dense population poses an enormous threat to their dwelling and foraging areas. In addition, some peoples misunderstanding and fear about snakebites have caused the number of snakes to decrease most significantly among all wild animals in Macao. Previous studies recorded over 300 species of birds in Macao. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau has monitored birds since 2006. In 2012, 122 species from 14 orders and 41 families were recorded, of which dominant species were Chinese bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis, terrestrial) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta, waterbirds). There were nine common species, of which terrestrial
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birds more than water birds. Among these, five common species were terrestrial birds, including Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus), Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus), Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) and Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus); and four were water birds, including Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), and Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus). There were 12 species newly recorded in 2012, including Roseringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis), Richards Pipit (Anthus richardi), Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus), Whitecrowned Forktail (Enicurus leschenaulti), Blue-fronted Redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Rock Dove (Columba livia) and Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna). After six years of survey from 2006 to present, 208 species of birds from 14 orders and 50 families have been recorded. There are abundant stocks of fish in Macao, which can be categorised into saltwater fish, brackish fish and freshwater fish. Saltwater fish and brackish water fish mainly refer to the fish off the coast of Macao. There are approximately 200 species of these fish. Freshwater fish most need protection in the natural environment. Although the habitats of freshwater fish and amphibians are similar to each other, the former have a narrower sphere of activities. Whenever the environment is destroyed or altered by human activities, they are often affected most directly. In 2012, four new species were found, namely Channa striata, Metzia lineata, Pseudogobius javanicus and Mugilogobius chulae. There are over 500 species of insects, which are widely distributed in Macao.
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5. By-law No. 40/2004 on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Control enacted on 14 December 2004, which defined the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureaus role in the sanitary and phytosanitary control of merchandise. In addition, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the International Plant Protection Convention have been made applicable to Macao, thus ensuring that Macaos nature conservation policies conform to international practices.
Nature Reserve
The Taipa-Coloane Wetland Reserve managed by the Environmental Protection Bureau is situated adjacent to the Lotus Flower Bridge in Taipa and Coloane. It has a total area of 55 hectares, including a 40-hectare bird foraging area that is regarded as zone two of the reserve, on the west coast of reclaimed area between Taipa and Coloane. Next to this zone is a 15-hectare bird habitat, regarded as zone one of the reserve, which provides different bird species with suitable habitats. During 2012, 55 of the rare Black-faced Spoonbill were spotted in the nature reserve. To enhance the ecological function of the ecology conservation zone, the Environmental Protection Bureau carried out an optimisation project in 2012, which includes removing weeds to enlarge the birds foraging area in mudflats; building two bird-watching houses, which were opened in February 2012 for the public to watch birds from a closer distance; the paths towards the birdwatching houses were set up as nature trails to strengthen the education role of the ecology zone.
Country Parks
There are four country parks in Macao: Seac Pai Van Country Park, Taipa Grande Nature Park, Hac Sa Reservoir Country Park, and Ka Ho Reservoir Country Park.
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Population
Macaos resident population was estimated to be 582,000 as at 31 December 2012. This is 24,600 more than the revised 2011 figure of 557,400, an increase of 4.4 percent. On the same date, an estimated 48.2 percent of Macaos population were males, and 51.8 percent
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were females. Some 11.6 percent were aged 14 and under, 80.8 percent were between 15 and 64, and 7.7 percent were over 65. Natural factors form one reason for the increase in population. In 2012, there were 7,315 newborn babies, 25 percent more than in 2011, and 1,841 deaths, a slight decrease of 0.2 percent. The natural population growth rate was therefore 0.96 percent. Immigration was another factor. Regarding immigration, the number of immigrants was estimated to be 19,200, including immigrants from mainland China, foreign nationals with legal residency and non-resident workers, while there were an estimated 1,862 emigrants. Most residents lived in Our Lady of Fatima Parish, composing 39.7 percent of the total population.
Birth Rate
According to the revised population index from 2006 to 2012, the natural population growth rate rose from 0.5 percent in 2006 to 0.96 percent in 2012; while the gross birth rate increased from 0.81 percent of the population in 2006 to 1.29 percent in 2012.
Population Ageing
Although the birth rate has been rising since 2005, Macaos population is ageing because of the declining birth rate and increasing life expectancy. At the end of 2012, 11.6 percent of the entire population was aged between 0 and 14, compared to 11.8 percent in 2011 and 14.8 percent in 2006. Senior citizens aged over 65 made up 7.7 percent of the population, compared with 7.3 percent in 2011 and 7.0 percent in 2006. Compared with the 2011 figures, the population of young children dropped 0.2 percentage points, but the population of elderly residents increased slightly by 0.4 percentage points.
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but not a permanent resident of Macao and not eligible for other travel permits, may apply for an MSAR travel permit. By 31 December 2012, the Identification Services Bureau had issued 376,776 MSAR Passports and 22,043 travel permits. Under the Nationality Law of the Peoples Republic of China and the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress on Several Questions Relating to the Application of the Nationality Law of the Peoples Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, any permanent resident of Macao with Chinese nationality and a Portuguese travel document may travel to other countries or regions with the Portuguese travel document as before. Therefore, such people may hold both a Macao SAR Passport and a Portuguese travel document at the same time. The Identification Services Bureau is responsible for issuing Visit Permits for Residents of the Macao SAR to the Hong Kong SAR (also known as Visit Permits to the HKSAR). Residents of the MSAR who are either Chinese or Portuguese citizens and who hold the Macao Resident ID card or the MSAR Resident ID card may apply for Visit Permits to the HKSAR. The bureau had issued 393,896 of these up to 31 December 2012. The Identification Services Bureau is also responsible for issuing Macao SAR Resident ID cards. As at 31 December 2012, there were 636,364 Macao SAR Resident ID cardholders. Between 1 January and 31 December 2012, 20,785 residents received Macao SAR Resident ID cards for the first time.
Nationality
Under Law No. 7/1999, the Identification Services Bureau is responsible for handling nationality applications from MSAR residents, including applications by foreign nationals or stateless persons for naturalisation; applications by Chinese citizens to renounce Chinese nationality; applications by foreigners who previously had Chinese nationality to restore Chinese nationality; applications by MSAR residents of both Chinese and Portuguese descent to choose either Chinese or Portuguese nationality; and applications by original Macao residents who are Chinese citizens with other nationalities to adopt Chinese nationality. Between 20 December 1999 and 31 December 2012, 796 applications for naturalisation were approved; 500 people restored their Chinese nationality; 55 renounced their Chinese nationality; 1,109 successfully applied to adopt Chinese nationality; 45 opted for Portuguese nationality; and there were three applications for change of nationality.
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Such people include Chinese citizens who have ordinarily resided in Macao for seven consecutive years before or after the establishment of the Macao SAR; children of Chinese nationality born outside Macao whose parents are Chinese nationals and permanent residents of Macao; people of both Chinese and Portuguese descent who have ordinarily resided in Macao for seven consecutive years before or after the establishment of the MSAR; and children of Chinese nationality or children born outside Macao who have not selected a nationality but intend to reside in Macao permanently and whose parents are permanent Macao residents of either Chinese citizenship or Portuguese descent. The certificate of entitlement to right of abode indicates its date of effectiveness, prior to which holders of the certificate have no right to enter or reside in Macao. Between 20 December 1999 and 31 December 2012, the Identification Services Bureau issued 61,612 certificates of entitlement to right of abode.
Immigration Controls
According to the Basic Law, the Government may impose restrictions on people from other countries or regions entering, staying in, and leaving Macao. The Immigration Department of the Public Security Police is responsible for entry and exit in Macao. As at May 2013, citizens of 74 countries and regions enjoyed visa-free access to Macao. Tourists with a valid passport or travel document may normally stay in Macao from 14 days to a maximum of 90 days. In addition, British nationals are allowed to stay in Macao for a maximum of six months. Holders of a Hong Kong permanent resident ID card or a return permit to Hong Kong may stay for a maximum of one year. PRC passport holders who have right of abode in foreign countries may stay for a maximum of 30 days in Macao.
Legal Immigration
Statistics provided by the Public Security Police show that 4,060 legal immigrants arrived from the mainland during 2012, of whom 900 were aged between 0 and 18; 1,949 between 19 and 37; 1,179 between 38 and 75; and 32 over 75. Of these, 2,628 were females, representing 64.73 percent of
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the total. Some 68.28 percent and 9.48 percent of the immigrants came from Guangdong Province and Fujian Province, respectively.
Civil Registration
The Civil Registry is responsible for implementing regulations relating to the civil registration of births, parentage, adoption and child custody, marriage agreements, deaths, legal certification of the deaths of missing persons, and issuing relevant certified documents.
Birth Registration
The Birth Registry is responsible for the registration of births in Macao, as well as the re-registration of births of people aged 14 or over. The Civil Registry should be verbally notified of any birth in Macao by the parents or guardians within 30 days. The registry registered 7,223 births during 2012.
Marriage Registration
The Civil Registry is responsible for handling applications for marriages, approving marriage registrations, hosting ceremonies for the signing of marriage certificates and registering marriages. A total of 3,783 marriages were registered during 2012.
Death Registration
Family dependents or other relatives of a deceased person may register his or her death with the Civil Registry or its staff assigned to the registrys branches at Conde S. Januario Hospital and Kiang Wu Hospital. There were 1,904 death registrations during 2012.
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Buddhism
Buddhism plays a significant role in Chinese community life. But it is acknowledged that Buddhism is a very general concept in the minds of many Macao residents. It may be mixed with some other traditional beliefs and customs, such as Confucianism and Taoism. The ongoing construction of new temples and renovation of existing ones over the years such as the A-Ma Temple, Pou Chai Buddhist Monastery and Temple, and Lin Fong Temple as well as the constant crowds of worshippers, all bear testimony to the faiths importance. Most Macao residents are ethnic Chinese who are profoundly influenced by their own tradition and culture, of which Buddhism forms an integral part. Its roots extend deeply and widely into their daily lives and customs. There are many Buddhists and Buddhist communities in Macao. The most important of these is the Buddhist Association of Macau, which was established in 1997.
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There are more than 40 Buddhist temples in Macao, as well as scores of village temples and houses dedicated to Buddhist deities. The majority of the temples, both large and small, are dedicated to Kun Iam (the Goddess of Mercy), Tin Hau or Kwan Tai (the God of War and source of righteousness). Following the establishment of the Macao SAR Government, Buddhas Birthday, which falls on the eighth day of the Fourth Moon, was declared a public holiday.
Catholicism
The Macao Catholic Diocese was founded by decree of Pope Gregory XIII on 23 January 1576. As the first Catholic missionary centre in the Far East, it was originally responsible for many regions, including China, Japan, Vietnam and the Southeast Asian coastal islands. The first bishop appointed to the Macao Catholic Diocese was the Jesuit Melchior Carneiro. Members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) had established a mission and a college in Macao by 1565. In the late 16th century, the standards of the latters tertiary education were high enough to be recognised by European universities. Church of the Mother of God (commonly known as St Pauls Church), the Church of the Society of Jesus, was thrice destroyed by fire; the Ruins of St Pauls are the remnants of the blaze that occurred in 1835. Franciscans, Augustinians, Dominicans, and Sisters of St Clare (who vowed to lead a hermetic life) all established missions in Macao during the 16th and 17th centuries. Nowadays, the Macao Catholic Diocese is limited to the SAR itself. It has six parishes, three quasi-parishes and three cathedrals. There are also 18 freestanding churches of various sizes and 56 chapels within diocesan buildings. According to figures supplied by the Macao Catholic Diocese, Macao had 13,891 Catholic residents at the end of 2012. In addition, around 15,499 temporary residents of Macao were adherents, including Portuguese-speaking expatriates and their families, English-speaking people and their families from all over the world, Filipino domestic helpers and their families, and non resident workers from the mainland and other Asian countries. Altogether, there are around 29,390 Catholics in Macao. The clerics registered in the Macao Catholic Diocese include one diocesan bishop, 18 priests and eight contributing priests. In addition, four priests from the Macao Catholic Diocese currently work in other dioceses. There are also 58 priests and 28 brothers in male religious congregations that serve the community in Macao. In addition, there are 184 sisters and 110 dedicated voluntary workers. Macao Catholic Diocesan statistics show that, in the 2011-2012 school year, it managed and maintained 31 educational institutions with 29,510 students, 1,934 of whom were in tertiary education, 12,670 in secondary schools, 9,802 in primary schools and 5,104 in kindergartens. The Catholic Church also operates 23 social service agencies, including seven child-care centres, six convalescent homes for the elderly and sick, four rehabilitation homes for the physically and mentally handicapped, and six residential homes for students from single-parent families and/or
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who are experiencing personal problems. During the year, 1,602 people 632 residents and 970 non-residents benefited from the wide range of services provided by these institutions. The Catholic Church is also engaged in other activities. It operates a bookshop, libraries, cultural and media affairs centres, a conference centre, social service centres, social welfare organisations, summer camps and retreats. It also publishes a few religious periodicals.
Protestantism
Macao is considered an important base for the introduction of Christianity to China in modern Protestant history. The religion was introduced to China during the Tang Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, a total of four times. Macao was involved in the last two introductions. Robert Morrison was the first missionary from the London Missionary Society to arrive in Macao, in 1807. He then opened the fourth chapter in the history of pioneering Christianity in China. He baptised Choi Kou in 1814, and made him the first Chinese protestant. He led services in Macao and Guangzhou for 27 years, serving as a bridge for cultural exchanges between the West and China. In the 19th century, Protestant missionaries came mainly from Britain and America, and were engaged in local cultural and religious activities, becoming driving forces in modern Chinas healthcare, education, printing and publishing. In 1834, Robert Morrison died; his body lies in the Old Protestant Cemetery, beside the Luis de Camoes Garden. After the Opium War, the missionary base in Macao was moved to Hong Kong and Shanghai. But Macao still played an active role in the development of Protestant churches in the Pearl River Delta area. Entering the 20th century, a succession of Chinese Protestant churches were established, through the efforts of missionaries and returning Chinese believers. The Macau Baptist Church was established in 1904; the Chi Tou Church of the Church of Christ in China was established in 1906 at Hac Sa Beach; and Sheng Kung Hui (the Anglican Church) began their missionary activities in Macao in 1938. In the early 1950s, there were about five Protestant churches. By the 1980s, the number of Protestant churches had increased to 20. During the 1990s, missionary organisations from Hong Kong and overseas arrived to establish branches, and further increased the number of Protestant churches to over 50 throughout Macao. Today, major Protestant denominations in Macao include the Church of Christ in China, Baptist Church, Sheng Kung Hui (the Anglican Church), Sheun Tao Church, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Conservative Baptist Church, Assemblies of God, Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and the Evangelical Free Church. There are nearly 80 Protestant churches, with about 150 pastors and more than 8,000 believers. Some 4,400 believers currently attend Sunday worship each week. Of the schools established by Protestants, four are secondary schools with primary and kindergarten sections; three are primary schools with kindergarten sections; one is a special education school; and there is one biblical institute. There are also several training centres and two bookshops operated by Protestant groups. The Union of Evangelical Christian Churches and Associations in Macau was established in
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1990, and comprises the Protestant churches and organisations. Its objectives are to strengthen links between Protestant organisations and enhance their development; and promote and organise local evangelising activities. Around 60 Protestant organisations are involved in social services covering underprivileged groups, young people, families, workers, charity, counselling services and education. They also serve other people in need, including prisoners, patients, drug addicts and street sleepers.
Islam
The Islamic Association of Macau was established in 1935. It has long planned to build a mosque and Islamic centre; and a blueprint for the Islamic centre was approved by the former Portuguese administration. According to the plan, the mosque will have a total area of 1,250 square metres and will be able to accommodate a congregation of 600.
Bahai
The Bahai Faith was introduced to Macao in 1953. Its administrative body the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of Macao was established in 1958. Later, a local Bahai Centre was set up in Taipa in 1984, and another local centre was set up in Coloane in 1988. An administrative body covering the entire territory the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of Macao was established in 1989, which also oversees the three local bodies of the Bahais in Macao. Currently it has over 2,500 adherents. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of Macao established a school in Macao which includes a kindergarten, a primary school and a secondary school. It received a land grant from the Government in 2008 for campus expansion. Thus far, it has provided education to several thousand students, from many other countries.
Traditional Festivals
Macao is a city where Chinese and Western cultures coexist. Local Chinese, Portuguese and Macanese residents and other ethical minorities in Macao respect and usually celebrate each others festivals. Macaos festivals are so colourful and cheerful that some are designated statutory and general holidays. Traditional Chinese celebrations include the Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival), Qing Ming Festival, Buddhas Birthday, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Winter Solstice; while Easter, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas are important local festivals derived from Western traditions.
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three days of the New Year. The incessant, ear-splitting noise of firecrackers and the red shreds of their wrappers last a whole week, creating a vibrant, joyful scene. These are the sights and sounds of Macao during Lunar New Year. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular for Macao residents to take family vacations during the Lunar New Year public holidays.
Buddhas Birthday
Buddhas Birthday is a special local festival in Macao. During the festival, Buddhist organisations in Macao usually organise many celebrations, including sutra recitations and Bathing the Buddha ceremonies to celebrate the birth of the Buddha. Some non-religious organisations, such as fishmongers associations, also celebrate the festival. Drunken Dragon Dance performances and the distribution of Dragon Boat Rice are among the traditional activities staged at this time. The Drunken Dragon Dance is an ancient custom that originated in neighbouring Zhongshan Municipality in Guangdong province, and has become a tradition among Macaos fishmongers. Through the dance, they show their team spirit and commitment to society. After much modification through the years, the Drunken Dragon Dance nowadays features only the head and tail of the Dragon. The performers are expected to drink as they dance; and people believe they can only perform well if they are drunk. The Macao Drunken Dragon Dance was included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Macao in 2009 and successfully inscribed on the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Appreciating the moons beauty while enjoying delicious mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival is another Chinese tradition. Even before the day arrives, a joyous atmosphere builds up everywhere. Shops selling traditional mooncakes are packed with customers, as demand for them runs high. On the festival night, family members gather and enjoy reunions.
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Christmas
Christmas is the time when Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. Macao is filled with a vibrant festive atmosphere at Christmas with its unique, European-style streets festooning with colourful lights and decorations, and Christmas carols wafting out from its churches.
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HISTORY
History
History
Macao Has Been Part of China Since Ancient Times
Historical records show that Macao has been Chinese territory since long ago. When Qinshihuang (the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty) unified China in 221BC, Macao came under the jurisdiction of Panyu County, Nanhai Prefecture. Administratively, it was part of Dongguan Prefecture in the Jin Dynasty (AD265-420), then Nanhai County during the Sui Dynasty (AD581-618), and Dongguan County in the Tang Dynasty (AD618-907). In 1152, during the Southern Song Dynasty, the Guangdong administration joined the coastal areas of Nanhai, Panyu, Xinhui and Dongguan Counties to establish Xiangshan County, thus bringing Macao under its jurisdiction. Macao has been known variously. Besides Macao (Aomen in Chinese), it has also been called Haojing (Oyster Mirror), Jinghai (Mirror Sea), Haojiang, Haijing, Jinghu (Mirror Lake), Haojingao and Majiao. Haojing is the earliest name recorded in written documents. The name Aomen first appeared in 1564, in the following passage in Pang Shangpengs Memorandum to the Throne Concerning Long-Term Coastal Security, which was presented to the Ming Emperor: Xiangshan County in the south of Guangdong Province is a coastal area. It takes one day to travel from Yongmai to Haojingao. In Haojingao there are Nantai (South Tower) and Beitai (North Tower), two hills facing each other like two towers of a city gate. People call the place where the two hills stand Aomen (Gate to Ao). Aomen is surrounded by sea, and is only connected to the mainland at Zangge. It is a trading port where foreign ships and merchants anchor. Aomen Jilue (Chronicles of Macao) by Yin Guangren and Zhang Rulin the first and second Qing officials appointed to the place which was published during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, records: The name Haojingao can be found in the documents of the Ming Dynasty. To the south of Haojingao lies Shizimen (Cross-Gate), where the sea runs both north-south and east-west between four island hills. Combining ao from Haojingao and men from Shizimen, people call the place Aomen. The earliest known written record of the name Macau in a foreign language is in a letter dated 20 November 1555. In the 15th century, the Portuguese began to expand their trade to the Far East, taking control of several places in Africa and Asia. In 1553, claiming that they needed some land to air their soaked goods, the Portuguese gained permission from local Chinese officials to stay temporarily on the Macao peninsula to carry out commercial activities. Around 1573, the Portuguese began paying land rent to the Chinese government. From then till the Opium War, for nearly 300 years, the Ming and subsequent Qing governments exercised sovereignty over Macao, levying taxes and implementing various controls.
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and customs controls. While exercising sovereignty over Macao in all aspects, the Ming and Qing governments used the strategy let foreigners take charge of foreigners to control the Portuguese in Macao. They did not directly interfere with the internal affairs of the Portuguese community, but allowed the Portuguese to exercise self-administration to keep their social and economic affairs in order. In 1583, the Portuguese in Macao were permitted to form a Senate to handle various issues concerning their community, on the understanding that they recognised overall Chinese sovereignty and that this autonomous organ was not politically independent.
The Portuguese Occupation of Macao and the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce
After the Opium War, the Chinese and British signed the Treaty of Nanking, stipulating the cession of Hong Kong to Britain. The Portuguese seized the opportunity to put forward various requests including exemption from the annual land rent and gradually occupied Macao. In 1887, the Qing government was forced to sign the Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce, under which the Portuguese obtained the right to permanently settle in Macao as well as control over the region. In 1928, the foreign affairs ministry of the then Kuomintang government officially notified the Portuguese side that it was abrogating the treaty.
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History
and the Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic, Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, signed the Joint Declaration, which stated that China would resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macao from 20 December 1999 onwards. Deng Xiaoping attended the ceremony in person. The National Peoples Congress (NPC) of the Peoples Republic of China and the Portuguese parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, ratified the Joint Declaration in June and December, respectively. On 15 January 1988, the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration came into effect, and Macao thus entered a transition period leading to the Handover.
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Committee comprising 200 members, all of them permanent residents of Macao, to select the first Chief Executive of the Macao SAR. On 15 May 1999, in a secret ballot at the third plenary session of the Selection Committee for the First Government of the Macao SAR, Edmund Ho Hau Wah was elected the first Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. On 20 May 1999, Zhu Rongji, Premier of the State Council, issued State Council Decree No. 264, appointing Edmund Ho Hau Wah as the first Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China, to assume office on 20 December 1999.
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History
Mandarins House
The Mandarins House was the family residence of the modern Chinese master Zheng Guanying (18421921). Zhengs worldfamous book Shengshi Weiyan (Words of Warning in Times of Prosperity) was completed here. The house was probably built before 1869. The Government acquired the property rights to the house in 2001, and took eight years to repair and refurnish the building. In February 2010, the Mandarins House was opened to the public.
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First Prize - Playing Nazha - the Child Deity (CHAN MENG KAI), Second Prize - Morning Exercise (KONG IU LAM), Third Price - Fending Off (CHEONG KAM KA) and other winning entries.
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APPENDICES
Appendices
Appendix 1
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Appendix 2
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Appendices
Appendix 3
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Committee Members of the Third Session of the Fourth Term Legislative Assembly
(From 16 October 2011 to 15 October 2012)
Executive Board
President: Vice-President: First Secretary: Second Secretary: Mr Lau Cheok Va Mr Ho Iat Seng Mr Chui Sai Cheong Mr Kou Hoi In
Mr Au Kam San
Mr Tong Io Cheng
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Appendices
Secretary: Members:
Mr Leonel Alberto Alves Mr Tsui Wai Kwan Mr Au Kam San Mr Sio Chi Wai Mr Ho Ion Sang Ms Chan Mei Yi
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Mr Tsui Wai Kwan Mr Au Kam San Mr Ung Choi Kun Mr Ho Ion Sang Mr Sio Chi Wai Ms Chan Mei Yi
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Appendices
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Appendix 4
Mr Jose Maria Dias Azedo Mr Chan Kuong Seng Mr Joao Augusto Goncalves Gil de Oliveira Mr Fong Man Chong* Ms Tam Hio Wa Mr Ho Wai Neng Mr Jose Candido de Pinho
Presidents of the Collegiate Bench: Ms Alice Leonor das Neves Costa Ms Chao Im Peng Ms Teresa Leong Mr Mario Augusto Silvestre Mr Ip Son Sang Judges of the Sole-judge Bench: Mr Lam Peng Fai Ms Cheong Un Mei Ms Sam Keng Tan
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Appendices
Ms Ip Sio Fan Ms Kan Cheng Ha Ms Lou Ieng Ha Ms Leong Fong Meng Mr Jeronimo Alberto Goncalves Santos Mr Paulo Chan Mr Rui Carlos dos Santos Pereira Ribeiro Mr Carlos Armando da Cunha Rodrigues de Carvalho Mr Mario Pedro Martins da Assuncao Seixas Meireles Ms Ana Carla Goncalves Ferreira de Seixas Meireles
Ms Cheong Weng Tong Mr Chan Io Chao Ms Lou Lap Hong Silva Mr Chan Chi Weng
Examining Magistracy
Judges: Ms Chiang I Man Ms Io Weng San Ms Shen Li
Administrative Court
Judges: Ms Leong Sio Kun Mr Seng Ioi Man
Note: * Appointed as Commissioner Against Corruption by the State Council on 20 December 2009.
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Appendix 5
Assistant Public Prosecutors-General: Mr Ma Iek Public Prosecutors: Mr Wong Sio Chak (1) Mr Chan Tsz King Mr Vong Vai Va Ms Kuok Un Man Mr Mai Man Ieng Mr Paulo Martins Chan Ms Kok Sio Peng Mr Kong Chi Mr Vitor Manuel Carvalho Coelho Mr Choi Keng Fai Mr Cheng Lap Fok Mr Antonio Augusto Archer Leite de Queiros Mr Antonio Jose de Sousa Ferreira Vidigal Mr Joaquim Teixeira de Sousa Ms Mei Fan Chan da Costa Roque Mr Lai U Hou Ms Leong Man Ieng Mr Chan Seak Hou Ms Tou Wai Fong Ms Lao Ian Chi Mr Wu Hio Mr Kuok Kin Hong Ms Tam I Kuan
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Appendices
Ms Leong Vai Cheng Ms Chong Lao Sin Mr Chan U Fu Ms Ho Man Ms Leong Weng Si Mr Cheong Kuok Chi Ms Sio In Ha Ms Cheang Weng In Mr Sam Kim Kuong
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Appendix 6
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Appendices
Executive Council
Secretary General: Ms Wallis O Lam Address: Headquarters of the Macao SAR Government, Avenida da Praia Grande, Macao Tel: (853) 2872 6886 Fax: (853) 8989 5704
Legislative Assembly
President: Mr Lau Cheok Va Vice President: Mr Ho Iat Seng
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Courts
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Appendices
Examining Magistracy
Address: Alameda Dr Carlos dAssumpcao, Nos. 411-417, Edf. Dynasty Plaza, 4 andar, Macao Tel: (853) 8796 6527 / 8796 6530 Fax: (853) 2872 8275
Administrative Court
Address: Avenida da Praia Grande, No. 517, Edf. Commercial de Nam Tong, 22 andar B-C, Macao Tel: (853) 2835 6060 Fax: (853) 2835 5593
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Commission of Audit
Commissioner: Mr Ho Veng On Assistant Commissioner: Ms Ho Wai Heng Acting Chief-of-Cabinet: Ms Brenda Dulce da Cunha e Pires Address: Alameda Dr Carlos dAssumpcao, Nos. 336-342, Centro Comercial Cheng Fung, 1920 andares, Macao Tel: (853) 2871 1211 Fax: (853) 2871 1218 Website: http://www.ca.gov.mo E-mail: info@ca.gov.mo
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Appendices
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Appendices
Macao Foundation
President: Mr Wu Zhiliang Vice President: Mr Lam Kam Seng Address: Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Nos. 61-75, Edf. Circle Square, 7-9 andares, Macao Tel: (853) 2896 6777 Fax: (853) 2896 8658 Website: http://www.fmac.org.mo E-mail: info@fm.org.mo
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Appendices
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Civil Registry
Registrar: Mr Leong Tak Fu Address: Rua do Campo, No. 162, Edf. Administracao Publica, 2 andar, Macao Tel: (853) 2855 0110 Fax: (853) 2837 3097 Website: http://www.dsaj.gov.mo E-mail: crc@dsaj.gov.mo
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Appendices
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Appendices
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Pension Fund
President: Ms Ieong Kim I Vice President: Ms Ermelinda M. C. Xavier Address: Alameda Dr Carlos dAssumpcao, Nos. 181-187, Centro Comercial Brilhantismo, 20 andar, Macao Tel: (853) 2835 6556 Fax: (853) 2859 4391 Website: http://www.fp.gov.mo E-mail: fp@fp.gov.mo
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Appendices
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Consumer Council
President of the General Council: Mr Vong Kok Seng President of the Executive Committee: Mr Wong Hon Neng Head Office Address: Avenida de Horta e Costa, No. 26, Edf. Clementina A. L. Ho, 3-5 andares, Macao Tel: (853) 8988 9315 Fax: (853) 2830 7816 Website: http://www.consumer.gov.mo E-mail: info@consumer.gov.mo Public Service Centres Address: Avenida de Horta e Costa, No. 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, r/c, Macao Address: Rua Nova da Areia Preta, No. 52, Government Integrated Service Centre, 1 andar, Zone M, Macao Tel: (853) 8988 9315 Fax: (853) 2830 7816
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Appendices
Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries
Coordinator: Ms Rita Botelho dos Santos Address: Avenida Governador Jaime Silverio Marques, No. 415, Edf. Comercial Tai Fung, r/c-2 andares N, Macao Tel: (853) 8791 3333 / 8791 3368 Fax: (853) 2872 6366 Website: http://www.forumchinaplp.org.mo E-mail: rsantos@gfce.gov.mo
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Judiciary Police
Director: Mr Wong Sio Chak Deputy Director: Ms Cheong Ioc Ieng Deputy Director: Mr Chau Wai Kuong Address: Avenida da Amizade, No. 823, Edf. Polcia Judiciria, Macao (Sede) Tel: (853) 2855 7777 Fax: (853) 2831 2780 Website: http://www.pj.gov.mo E-mail: nar@pj.gov.mo
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Appendices
Macao Prison
Director: Mr Lee Kam Cheong Deputy Director: Ms Loi Kam Wan Address: Estrada de Cheoc Van, Rua de S. Francisco Xavier, s/n, Coloane, Macao Tel: (853) 2888 1211 Fax: (853) 2888 2431 Enquiry/Complaints Hotline: (853) 8896 1280 / 8896 1283 Website: http://www.epm.gov.mo E-mail: info@epm.gov.mo
Fire Service
Commander: Mr Ma Io Weng Deputy Commander: Mr Iu Chong Hin Acting Deputy Commander: Mr Leong Iok Sam Address: Avenida Doutor Stanley Ho, Macao Tel: (853) 8989 1300 Fax: (853) 2836 1128 Website: http://www.fsm.gov.mo/cb Emergency Hotline: (853) 2857 2222 / 119 / 120 Enquiry/Complaints Hotline: (853) 8989 1373 / 8989 1374
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Under the Supervision of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture
Health Bureau
Director: Mr Lei Chin Ion Deputy Director: Mr Chan Wai Sin Deputy Director: Mr Cheang Seng Ip Deputy Director: Ms Ho Ioc San Address: Estrada do Visconde de S. Januario, Macao Tel: (853) 2831 3731 Fax: (853) 2871 3105 Website: http://www.ssm.gov.mo E-mail: info@ssm.gov.mo
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Appendices
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Appendices
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University of Macau
Rector: Prof. Wei Zhao Vice Rector (Academic Affairs): Prof. Ho Shun Man Vice Rector (Research): Prof. Rui Paulo da Silva Martins Vice Rector (Student Affairs): Prof. Haydn Chen Vice Rector (Administration): Dr. Lai Iat Long Address: Avenida Padre Tomas Pereira, Taipa, Macao Tel: (853) 2883 1622 Fax: (853) 2883 1694 Website: http://www.umac.mo E-mail: info@umac.mo
Under the Supervision of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works
Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau
Director: Mr Jaime Roberto Carion Deputy Director: Ms Chan Pou Ha Deputy Director: Mr Shin Chung Low Kam Hong Address: Estrada de D. Maria II, No. 33, Edf. CEM, Macao Tel: (853) 2872 2488 Fax: (853) 2834 0019 Website: http://www.dssopt.gov.mo E-mail: info@dsopt.gov.mo
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Appendices
Macao Post
Director: Ms Derby Lau Wai Meng Deputy Director: Mr Chiu Chan Cheong Deputy Director: Ms Rosa Leong Address: Largo do Senado, Edf. Sede dos CTT, Macao Tel: (853) 2857 4491 Fax: (853) 2833 6603 Website: http://www.macaupost.gov.mo E-mail: macpost@macaupost.gov.mo
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Housing Bureau
Director: Mr Tam Kuong Man Deputy Director: Ms Kuoc Vai Han Address: Travessa Norte do Patane, No. 102, Ilha Verde, Macao Tel: (853) 2859 4875 Fax: (853) 2830 5909 Website: http://www.ihm.gov.mo E-mail: info@ihm.gov.mo
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Appendices
Transport Bureau
Director: Mr Wong Wan Deputy Director: Mr Chiang Ngoc Vai Address: Estrada de D. Maria II, No. 33, r/c, Macao Tel: (853) 8866 6666 Fax: (853) 2875 0626 Website: http://www.dsat.gov.mo E-mail: info@dsat.gov.mo
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Appendices
Appendix 7
Japan
Address: Hirakawacho KD Building 7F, 2-16-9 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0093, Japan Tel: (81) 3 5275 2537 Fax: (81) 3 5275 2535 Website: http://jp.macautourism.gov.mo E-mail: macau@milepost.co.jp
South Korea
Address: Suite 908, Baiknam Building, 188-3, Euljiro 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea Tel: (82) 2 778 4402 Fax: (82) 2 778 4404 Website: http://kr.macautourism.gov.mo E-mail: korea@macautourism.kr
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Malaysia
Address: Level 6, Office Tower, No. 1 Jalan Nagasari (Off Jalan Raja Chulan), 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: (60) 3 2144 2500 Fax: (60) 3 2143 5886 / 3 2148 1357 Website: http://my.macautourism.gov.mo E-mail: mgto@pacificworld.travel
Singapore
Address: 371 Beach Road, #12-06 KeyPoint, Singapore 199597, Singapore Tel: (65) 6292 5383 Fax: (65) 6292 5882 E-mail: mgto@pacleisure.com
Indonesia
Address: Jl. Dr Sahardjo, No. 96A, Jakarta 12960, Indonesia Tel: (62) 21 830 5664 / 21 9286 9560 Fax: (62) 21 8370 5913 Website: http://id.macautourism.gov.mo E-mail: mgto@intrareps.com
India
Office in Mumbai
Address: 504, Marine Chambers, 43, New Marine Lines, Opp SNDT College, Mumbai-400020, India Tel: (91) 22 2200 0262 Fax: (91) 22 2207 0131 E-mail: mumbai@mgtoindia.in
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Appendices
Australia
Address: Level 11, 99 Bathurst Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia Tel: (61) 2 9264 1488 Fax: (61) 2 9267 7717 E-mail: macau@worldtradetravel.com
New Zealand
Address: Level 10, BDO Tower - 120 Albert Street, P.O. Box 6247, Wellesley St, Auckland, New Zealand Tel: (64) 9 308 5206 Fax: (64) 9 308 5207 E-mail: macau@aviationandtourism.co.nz
America
USA
Office in California
Address: 1334 Parkview Ave., Suite 300, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, USA Tel: (1) 310 545 3464 Fax: (1) 310 545 4221 Toll free: 866 OK-MACAU E-mail: macau@myriadmarketing.com
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Europe
France
Address: 5 Bis, Rue du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France Tel: (33) 1 44778806 Fax: (33) 1 42600545 Website: http://www.macautourism.gov.mo/fr/ Email: macau@expressconseil.com
Russia
Address: 11 Bolshaya Tulskaya Street, Business Center Tulskij, 115191 Moscow, Russia Tel: (7) 495 9815188 Fax: (7) 495 9815188 E-mail: info@macau-tourism.ru
German-speaking Markets
Address: Schenkendorfstrasse 1, 65187 Wiesbaden, Germany Tel: (49) 611 267 6730 Fax: (49) 611 267 6760 Website: http://de.macautourism.gov.mo E-mail: macau@discover-fra.com
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Appendices
Appendix 8
2. Fifty-three consulates-general accredited to Hong Kong have also covered the Macao SAR, including several that may execute consular duties in the Macao SAR. In alphabetical order, they are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Columbia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United States of America, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
* China and Antigua and Barbuda have reached an agreement on the establishment of an Antigua and Barbuda Consulate-General in Hong Kong (which has not yet opened); the Consulates-General of Samoa, the Bahamas and Denmark are currently closed; however the relevant agreements on the establishments and expansion of consulates are still valid.
3. Ten countries have appointed honorary consuls to the Macao SAR. In alphabetical order, they are: Cape Verde, Estonia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Peru and United Kingdom.
* The positions of honorary consuls of Bhutan, France and Surinam are currently vacant.
4. Twenty countries with honorary consuls in Hong Kong cover or extend services to the Macao SAR. In alphabetical order, they are: Cyprus, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iceland, Kenya, Lithuania, Maldives, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, Rwanda, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania and Uruguay.
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Appendix 9
Visa-free Access for Holders of Macao SAR Passports and Travel Permits
The following countries/territories had granted visa-free access to Macao SAR passport and travel permit holders (listed by continental regions):
Asia
Country Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Israel Japan Jordan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Nepal Philippines Singapore South Korea Thailand Timor-Leste Turkey Macao SAR Passport Maximum Period of Stay 14 days 30 days c) 28 days 3 months 90 days
c)
30 days
e)
c)
30 days
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Appendices
Europe
Country Albania Andorra Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Monaco Montenegro Norway Poland Portugal Romania Macao SAR Passport Maximum Period of Stay 90 days 90 days 90 days a) 90 days a) 90 days 90 days Agreement* 90 days 3 months 90 days 90 days a) 90 days Agreement* 3 months 90 days a) 90 days a) 90 days a) --90 days a) 90 days Agreement* 90 days a) 90 days 90 days a) 90 days Agreement* 90 days Agreement* 90 days Agreement* 90 days a) 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days a) 90 days Agreement* 90 days a) 90 days Macao SAR Travel Permit Maximum Period of Stay -------------------------------------------------------------------
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Europe
Country Russia San Marino Serbia Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland The Netherlands United Kingdom Macao SAR Passport Maximum Period of Stay 30 days Agreement* 20 days 90 days Agreement* 90 days Agreement* 90 days 90 days a) 90 days a) 90 days Agreement* 90 days a) 6 months
Africa
Country Cape Verde Egypt Ethiopia Kenya La Reunion Madagascar Mali Mayotte Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Sao Tome and Principe Seychelles South Africa St. Helena Tanzania Uganda Macao SAR Passport Maximum Period of Stay 90 days 90 days
f)
Macao SAR Travel Permit Maximum Period of Stay 90 days ----------90 days Agreement* ------30 days Agreement* --30 days ---------
3 months c) 3 months b) 90 days c) 90 days Agreement* 3 months b) 90 days 30 days c) 30 days Agreement* 30 days d) 30 days 30 days 4-9 days 90 days
c)
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Appendices
America
Country Anguilla Aruba Brazil British Virgin Islands Chile Dominica Dominican Republic Greenland Grenada Mexico Netherlands Antilles French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique St. Vincent and the Grenadines Saint-Pierre and Miquelon Macao SAR Passport Maximum Period of Stay 3 months 3 months 90 days 6 months 30 days 90 days
Agreement*
Macao SAR Travel Permit Maximum Period of Stay ----------90 days Agreement* ----90 days
(Effective from 27/04/2013, Agreement*)
90 days
Agreement*
---------------
Oceania
Country Fiji French Polynesia Kiribati Micronesia Niue Palau Samoa Tonga Macao SAR Passport Maximum Period of Stay 4 months 3 months 30 days 30 days 30 days 30 days 30 days
c) Agreement* b)
Macao SAR Travel Permit Maximum Period of Stay ----30 days ------30 days Agreement* ---
31 days c)
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Oceania
Country Vanuatu Wallis and Futuna Macao SAR Passport Maximum Period of Stay 30 days 3 months
b)
Indian Ocean
Country French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Remark: * Visa-Waiver Program between Macau SAR Government and related countries or regions. a) According to the Regulation of the Council of the European Union no. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001, published in the Gazette of European Union of 21 March 2001, the above European countries have granted Visa-free access to Macao SAR passport holders. This privilege is only applicable within the local territories in Europe. b) Effective from 1 January 2002, holders of the Macao Special Administrative Region Passports would be granted visa-free access to the Overseas Departments of the French Republic (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, La Reunion), the Territory of Mayotte, the Territory of SaintPierre et Miquelon, French Polynesia, the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands as well as French Southern Hemisphere and Antarctic Land. c) Visa-on-arrival d) A visa may only be granted if prior arrangements have been made by the transporting carrier up to 24 hours prior to ight departure. To request a visa on arrival, contact carrier concerned directly. e) Visa granted upon arrival and two recent photos are required. f) Visa granted upon arrival or applied through the Embassy of Ethiopia in advance. Notes: 1. Some countries require passports or travel permits to be valid for six months beyond the date of entry into such a country. 2. The following countries do not issue visas to Macao SAR travel permit holders: South Africa Morocco For updated information about visa-free treatment for Macao SAR passport and travel permit holders, please visit the website of the Identication Department of the Macao SAR Government at http://www.dsi. gov.mo. Sources: Identication Services Bureau of the Macao SAR Government
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Appendix 10
Asia
Country Brunei India Indonesia Israel Japan Lebanon Malaysia Mongolia Philippines Singapore South Korea Thailand Turkey Maximum Period of Stay 14 days 30 days 30 days 3 months 90 days 90 days 30 days 90 days 30 days 30 days 90 days 30 days 30 days
Europe
Country Albania Andorra Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Maximum Period of Stay 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days
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Europe
Country Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Monaco Montenegro Norway Poland Portugal Romania San Marino Serbia Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Maximum Period of Stay 90 days 3 months 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 30 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 30 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 30 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days
(Cont.)
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Appendices
Europe
Country Sweden Switzerland The Netherlands United Kingdom Maximum Period of Stay 90 days 30 days 90 days 6 months
(Cont.)
America
Country Brazil Canada Chile Dominica Grenada Mexico The United States of America Uruguay Maximum Period of Stay 90 days 30 days 30 days 90 days 90 days (Effective from 27/04/2013) 30 days 30 days 30 days
Africa
Country Cape Verde Egypt Mali Mauritius Namibia Seychelles South Africa Tanzania Maximum Period of Stay 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 30 days 30 days 30 days 90 days
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Oceania
Country Australia Kiribati New Zealand Samoa Maximum Period of Stay 30 days 30 days 30 days 30 days
(Cont.)
Notes: Visa-free is applicable to the following visitors of Chinese nationality who hold legally valid travel documents for entry into/departure from Macao: a) Residents from Mainland China (for a period of up to 30 days) b) Hong Kong SAR residents holding: (i) Hong Kong Identity Card with symbols *, ***, or R, (ii) Hong Kong Permanent Resident Identity Card, or (iii) Return Permit (for a period of up to one year) c) Taiwan residents (for a period of up to 30 days) For more information, please visit the website of the Immigration Department of the Public Security Police of the Macao SAR Government at http://www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/eng/main.html Other related homepages: Macao SAR Government - http://portal.gov.mo/web/guest/welcomepage Macau Government Tourist Office - http://www.macautourism.gov.mo
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Appendix 11
Multilateral Treaties Applicable to the Macao SAR (by Subject last updated in 2012)
I Civil Aviation
1. Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to International Carriage by Air, signed at Warsaw on 12 October 1929 (Warsaw Convention), as amended by the 2. Protocol to Amend the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to International Carriage by Air, signed at The Hague on 28 September 1955 (Hague Protocol) 3. Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed at Chicago on 7 December 1944 (Chicago Convention), as amended by the: 4. Protocol relating to an Amendment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Article 45 Permanent Seat of the International Civil Aviation Organization), done at Montreal on 14 June 1954; and the 5. Protocol relating to certain Amendments to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Articles 48(a), 49(e) and 61), done at Montreal on 14 June 1954; and the 6. Protocol relating to an Amendment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Article 48(a)), concluded at Rome on 15 September 1962; and the 7. Protocol relating to an Amendment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Article 50(a)), concluded at New York on 12 March 1971; and the 8. Protocol on the Authentic Quadrilingual Text of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, done at Montreal on 30 September 1977; and the 9. Protocol relating to an Amendment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Article 83-bis), done at Montreal on 6 October 1980; and the 10. Protocol relating to an Amendment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (new Article 3-bis), done at Montreal on 10 May 1984; and the 11. Protocol relating to an Amendment to Article 56 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, done at Montreal on 6 October 1989; and the 12. Protocol relating to an Amendment to Article 50 (a) of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, done at Montreal on 26 October 1990 13. International Air Services Transit Agreement, signed at Chicago on 7 December 1944 14. Convention on the International Recognition of Rights in Aircraft, done at Geneva on 19 June 1948 15. Convention for the Unification of certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, done at Montreal on 28 May 1999
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II Customs
16. Convention relating to International Exhibitions, signed at Paris on 22 November 1928, amended and supplemented by the Protocols of 10 May 1948, 16 November 1966 and 30 November 1972 and by the amendments of 24 June 1982 and 31 May 1988 17. Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring, done at New York on 4 June 1954 18. Additional Protocol to the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring, relating to the Importation of Tourist Publicity Documents and Material, done at New York on 4 June 1954 19. Customs Convention concerning the Facilities for the importation of Goods for Display or Use at Exhibitions, Fairs, Meetings or Similar Events, done at Brussels on 8 June 1961 20. Customs Convention on the A.T.A. Carnet for the Temporary Admission of Goods, done at Brussels on 6 December 1961 21. Amendment to the Annex to the Convention on the A.T.A. Carnet for the Temporary Admission of Goods (New Model of A.T.A. Carnet), done at Brussels on 18 June 2002 22. Customs Convention concerning Welfare Material for Seafarers, done at Brussels on 1 December 1964 23. Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Scientific Equipment, done at Brussels on 11 June 1968 24. International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, done at Brussels on 14 June 1983 (4th Revision of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, approved by Resolution of the World Customs Organization of 26 June 2004 (2007 Amendments to the HS) 25. Protocol of Amendment to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, done at Brussels on 24 June 1986
III Drugs
26. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, done at New York on 30 March 1961 as amended by the 27. Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, concluded at Geneva on 25 March 1972 28. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, concluded at Vienna on 21 February 1971 29. United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, concluded at Vienna on 20 December 1988
482
Appendices
483
by Resolution 12/97 of the 29th Session of the FAO Conference, adopted at Rome on 17 November 1997 (New Revised Text of the International Plant Protection Convention) 45. Plant Protection Agreement for the Asia and Pacific Region, adopted at Rome on 27 February 1956 as amended in 1967, 1979 and 1983 46. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, done at Washington on 3 March 1973 (CITES) 47. Amendment to Article XI of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, adopted at Bonn by the Extraordinary Session of the Conference of States Parties on 22 June 1979 (Bonn Amendment) 48. Amendment to Article XXI of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, adopted at Gabarone by the Extraordinary Session of the Conference of States Parties on 30 April 1983 (Gabarone Amendment) (*1) 49. Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (with Annex), concluded at Canberra on 20 May 1980 50. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, concluded at Vienna on 22 March 1985, as amended by the: 51. Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, concluded at Montreal on 16 September 1987; and the 52. Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted at London on 29 June 1990 (London Amendment); and the 53. Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted at Copenhagen on 25 November 1992 (Copenhagen Amendment); and the 54. Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted at Montreal on 17 September 1997 (Montreal Amendment); and the 55. Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, adopted at Beijing on 3 December 1999 (Beijing Amendment) 56. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, concluded at Basel on 22 March 1989 (Basel Convention) as amended by: 57. Decision III/1, adopted by the Third Conference of the States Parties in Geneva, on 22 September 1995 (Basel Ban) 58. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, concluded at New York on 9 May 1992 59. Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, done at Kyoto on 11 December 1997 60. Convention on Biological Diversity, done at Nairobi on 22 May 1992 61. Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous
484
Appendices
Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, done at Rotterdam on 10 September 1998 (Rotterdam Convention) 62. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, adopted at Stockholm on 22 May 2001 (Stockholm Convention) 63. International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, done at London on 23 March 2001
485
78. Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (and Regulations for its Execution), done at The Hague on 14 May 1954 79. Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, done at The Hague on 14 May 1954 (First Protocol) 80. Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Atomic Energy Agency, done at Vienna on 1 July 1959 81. The Antarctic Treaty, done at Washington on 1 December 1959 82. Protocol on Environment Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (and its Annexes I, II, III and IV), done at Madrid on 4 October 1991 83. Annex V to the Protocol on Environment Protection to the Antarctic Treaty on Area Protection and Management, adopted at Bonn by the 16th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting on 17 October 1991 84. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, done at Vienna on 18 April 1961 85. Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna on 24 April 1963 86. Additional Protocol II to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and Caribbean, done at Mexico City on 14 February 1967 87. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, done in triplicate, at London, Moscow and Washington on 1 July 1968 88. Convention on the Law of Treaties, done at Vienna on 23 May 1969 89. Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof, done in triplicate, at London, Moscow and Washington on 11 February 1971 90. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, done in triplicate, at London, Moscow and Washington on 10 April 1972 91. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons, Including Diplomatic Agents, adopted at New York on 14 December 1973 92. Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (with Annex), adopted at New York on 10 December 1976 93. Protocol relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization Privileges, Exemptions and Immunities, done at Washington on 19 May 1978 94. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, done at Geneva on 10 October 1980 and as amended on 21 December 2001, and the 95. Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments, done at Geneva on 10 October 1980 (Protocol I) 96. Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices, done at Geneva on 10 October 1980 and as amended on 3 May 1996 (Protocol II)
486
Appendices
97. Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons, done at Geneva on 10 October 1980 (Protocol III) 98. Additional Protocol to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, done at Vienna on 13 October 1995 (Protocol IV on Blinding Laser Weapons) 99. Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War, done at Geneva on 28 November 2003 (Protocol V) 100. Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Maritime Satellite Organization, done at London on 1 December 1981 101. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, done at Montego Bay, Jamaica, on 10 December 1982 102. Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, adopted at New York on 28 July 1994 103. Additional Protocols II and III to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, done at Suva on 8 August 1986 104. Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology, done at Vienna, on 2 of February 1987 (1987-RCA) 105. Fourth Agreement to Extend the 1987 Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology, done at Vienna, on 22 of June 2006 (2006-RCA) 106. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, done at Paris on 13 January 1993 and as amended in 1999 107. Convention on the Safety of the United Nations and Associated Personnel, adopted at New York on 9 December 1994 108. Protocols I and II to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, opened for signature in Cairo on 11 April 1996 (Protocols I and II to the Pelindaba Treaty) 109. Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, adopted at Tashkent on 17 June 2004 110. Framework Agreement for International Collaboration on Research and Development of Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems, done at Washington on 28 February 2005 111. Treaty among the member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, signed at Bishkek on 16 August 2007 112. Agreement on the Host Country of the Secretariat between the Peoples Republic of China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (concluded at Tashkent on 17 June 2004)
487
113. Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project, done at Paris on 21 November 2006 114. Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Peoples Republic of China and the Typhoon Committee regarding the Typhoon Committee Secretariat, done at Manila on 7 December 2006
VIII Health
115. World Health Organization Regulations regarding Nomenclature (including the Compilation and Publication of Statistics) with Respect to Diseases and Causes of Death, done at Geneva on 22 May 1967 (and the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases of 17 May 1990 (ICD-10)) 116. International Health Regulations, adopted at Boston on 25 July 1969 as amended by the Twenty-Sixth World Health Assembly in 1973 and the Thirty-Fourth World Health Assembly in 1981 and as revised the Fifty-Eight World Health Assembly on 23 May 2005 (IHR (2005)) 117. World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, done at Geneva on 21 May 2003
IX Human Rights
118. Slavery Convention, signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926 119. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted at Paris on 9 December 1948 120. Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, adopted at Lake Success, New York on 2 December 1949 121. Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 122. Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, done at New York on 31 January 1967 123. Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, done at Geneva on 7 September 1956 124. Convention Against Discrimination in Education, adopted at Paris on 14 December 1960 125. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted at New York on 21 December 1965; as amended by the 126. Amendment to Article 8 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted at New York on 15 January 1992 127. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted at New York on 16 December 1966
488
Appendices
128. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted at New York on 16 December 1966 129. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted at New York on 18 December 1979; as amended by the 130. Amendment to Article 20(1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted at New York on 22 December 1995 131. Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted at New York on 10 December 1984; as amended by the 132. Amendments to articles 17(7) and 18(5) of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted at New York on 8 September 1992 133. Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted at New York on 20 November 1989; as amended by the 134. Amendment to Article 43, paragraph 2 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted at New York on 12 December 1995 135. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, adopted at New York on 25 May 2000 136. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts, adopted at New York on 25 May 2000 137. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted at New York on 13 December 2006
X Intellectual Property
138. Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, done at Paris on 20 March 1883 as last revised at Stockholm on 14 July 1967 and as amended on 2 October 1979 (Paris Convention) 139. Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, done at Berne on 9 September 1886, as last revised at Paris on 24 July 1971 and as amended on 28 September 1979 (Berne Convention) 140. Universal Copyright Convention, done at Geneva on 6 September 1952 and as revised at Paris on 24 July 1971 141. Agreement concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks, done at Nice on 15 June 1957, as revised at Stockholm on 14 July 1967 and at Geneva on 13 May 1977, and as amended on 28 September 1979 (Nice Agreement) (9th edition of the Nice Classification International Classification of Goods and Services, adopted by the Committee of Experts of the Nice Union at its 19th and 20th sessions held in 2-10 October 2003 and 10-14 October 2005)
489
XI International Crime
142. Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft, done at Tokyo on 14 September 1963 (Tokyo Convention) 143. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, done at The Hague on 16 December 1970 (Hague Convention) 144. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation, done at Montreal on 23 September 1971 (Montreal Convention) 145. Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation, Supplementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation, done at Montreal on 24 February 1988 146. International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages, adopted at New York on 17 December 1979 147. International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted at New York on 15 December 1997 148. International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, adopted at New York on 9 December 1999 149. United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted at New York on 15 November 2000 (Palermo Convention) 150. Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted at New York on 15 November 2000 151. Shanghai Convention on combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, done at Shanghai on 15 June 2001 152. Convention against Corruption, adopted at New York on 31 October 2003 153. Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, concluded at Tokyo on 11 November 2004
XIII Labour
156. Convention Limiting the Hours of Work in Industrial Undertakings to Eight in the Day and Forty-Eight in the Week, adopted at Washington on 29 October 1919, as modified by the Final
490
Appendices
Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919) (ILO C No. 1) 157. Convention concerning the Night Work of Young Persons Employed in Industry, adopted at Washington on 29 October 1919, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1919) (ILO C No. 6) 158. Convention concerning the Application of the Weekly Rest in Industrial Undertakings, adopted at Geneva on 25 October 1921, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921) (ILO C No. 14) 159. Convention concerning Workmens Compensation for Accidents, adopted at Geneva on 10 June 1925, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Workmens Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925) (ILO C No. 17) 160. Convention concerning Workmens Compensation for Occupational Diseases, adopted at Geneva on 10 June 1925, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Workmens Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention, 1925) (ILO C No. 18) 161. Convention concerning Equality of Treatment for National and Foreign Workers as regards Workmens Compensation for Accidents, adopted at Geneva on 5 June 1925, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925) (ILO C No. 19) 162. Convention concerning Seamens Articles of Agreement, adopted at Geneva on 24 June 1926, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Seamens Articles of Agreement Convention, 1926) (ILO C No. 22) 163. Convention concerning the Repatriation of Seamen, adopted at Geneva on 23 June 1926, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Repatriation of Seamen Convention, 1926) (ILO C No. 23) 164. Convention concerning the Creation of Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery, adopted at Geneva on 16 June 1928, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928) (ILO C No. 26) 165. Convention concerning the Marking of the Weight on Heavy Packages Transported by Vessels, adopted at Geneva on 21 June 1929, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) Convention, 1929) (ILO C No. 27) 166. Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, adopted at Geneva on 28 June 1930, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Forced Labour Convention, 1930) (ILO C No. 29) 167. Convention concerning Food and Catering for Crews on Board Ship, adopted at Seattle on 27 June 1946, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Food and Catering (Ships Crews) Convention, 1946) (ILO C No. 68) 168. Convention concerning the Certification of Ships Cooks, adopted at Seattle on 27 June 1946,
491
as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Certification of Ships Cooks Convention 1946) (ILO C No. 69) 169. Convention concerning the Medical Examination of Seafarers, adopted at Seattle on 29 June 1946, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946) (ILO C No. 73) 170. Convention concerning the Certification of Able Seamen, adopted at Seattle on 29 June 1946, as modified by the Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946 (Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946) (ILO C No. 74) 171. Convention for the Partial Revision of the Conventions, adopted at Montreal on 9 October 1946 (Final Articles Revision Convention, 1946) (ILO C No. 80) 172. Convention concerning Labour Inspection in Industry and Commerce, adopted at Geneva on 11 July 1947 (Labour Inspection Convention, 1947) (ILO C No. 81) 173. Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, adopted at San Francisco on 9 July 1948 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948) (ILO C No. 87) 174. Convention concerning the Organisation of the Employment Service, adopted at San Francisco on 9 July 1948 (Employment Service Convention, 1948) (ILO C No. 88) 175. Convention concerning Crew Accommodation on Board Ship (Revised 1949), adopted at Geneva on 18 June 1949 (Accommodation of Crews Convention (Revised), 1949) (ILO C No. 92) 176. Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, adopted at Geneva on 1 July 1949 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949) (ILO C No. 98) 177. Convention concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, adopted at Geneva on 29 June 1951 (Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951) (ILO C No. 100) 178. Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, adopted at Geneva on 25 June 1957 (Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957) (ILO C No. 105) 179. Convention concerning Weekly Rest in Commerce and Offices, adopted at Geneva on 26 June 1957 (Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957) (ILO C No. 106) 180. Convention concerning Seafarers National Identity Documents, adopted at Geneva on 13 May 1958 (Seafarers Identity Documents Convention, 1958) (ILO C No. 108) 181. Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, adopted at Geneva on 25 June 1958 (Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958) (ILO C No. 111) 182. Convention concerning the Protection of Workers against Ionising Radiations, adopted at Geneva on 22 June 1960 (Radiation Protection Convention, 1960) (ILO C No. 115)
492
Appendices
183. Convention concerning Hygiene in Commerce and Offices, adopted at Geneva on 8 July 1964 (Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964) (ILO C No. 120) 184. Convention concerning Employment Policy, adopted at Geneva on 9 July 1964 (Employment Policy Convention, 1964) (ILO C No. 122) 185. Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, adopted at Geneva on 26 June 1973 (Minimum Age Convention, 1973) (ILO C No. 138) 186. Convention concerning Tripartite Consultations to Promote the Implementation of International Labour Standards, adopted at Geneva on 21 June 1976 (ILO C No. 144) (Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976) 187. Convention concerning the Protection of Workers against Occupational Hazards in the Working Environment Due to Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration, adopted at Geneva on 20 June 1977 (Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977) (ILO C No. 148) 188. Convention concerning Labour Administration: Role, Functions and Organisation, adopted at Geneva on 26 June 1978 (Labour Administration Convention, 1978) (ILO C No. 150) 189. Convention concerning Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment, adopted at Geneva on 22 June 1981 (Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981) (ILO C No. 155) 190. Convention concerning Safety and Health in Construction, adopted at Geneva on 20 June 1988 (Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988) (ILO C No. 167) 191. Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, adopted at Geneva on 17 June 1999 (Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999) (ILO C No. 182)
XIV Maritime
192. International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law with respect to Collision between Vessels, done at Brussels on 23 September 1910 193. Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law relating to Assistance and Salvage at Sea, done at Brussels on 23 September 1910 194. International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law relating to Bills of Lading, done at Brussels on 25 August 1924 195. International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules concerning Civil Jurisdiction in Matters of Collision, done at Brussels on 10 May 1952 196. International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to Penal Jurisdiction in Matters of Collision or Other Incidents of Navigation, done at Brussels on 10 May 1952 197. International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to the Arrest of SeaGoing Ships, done at Brussels on 10 May 1952
493
198. International Convention relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Sea-Going Ships, done at Brussels on 10 October 1957 199. Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, done at London on 9 April 1965, as amended (FAL (amended) 1965) 200. International Convention on Load Lines, done at London on 5 April 1966 (LL 1966) 201. Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, done at London on 11 November 1988; as amended by its 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008 Amendments 202. International Convention on Tonnage measurements of Ships, done at London on 23 June 1969 (TONNAGE 1969) 203. International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, done at Brussels on 29 November 1969 (INTERVENTION 1969) 204. Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances other than Oil, done at London on 2 November 1973, as amended (INTERVENTION PROT 1973 amended) 205. Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, as amended, done at London on 20 October 1972 (COLREG 1972) 206. International Convention for Safe Containers, done at Geneva on 2 December 1972, as amended (CSC 1972) 207. Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, done at Athens on 13 December 1974 (PAL CONVENTION 1974) 208. Protocol (of 1976) to the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974, done at London on 19 November 1976 (PAL PROT 1976) 209. Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, done in quadruplicate at London, Mexico City, Moscow and Washington on 29 December 1972 (LDC 1972); as amended by the: 210. Amendments to the Annexes to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, adopted by Resolution LDC 5 (III) (concerning the prevention and control of pollution by incineration of wastes and other matter at sea) of the Third Consultative Meeting of the Contracting Parties on 12 October 1978 (1978 (Incineration) Amendments); and 211. Amendments to the Annexes to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, adopted by Resolution LDC 12 (V) (concerning the amendment of the lists of substances contained in Annexes I and II to the Convention) of the Fifth Consultative Meeting of the Contracting Parties on 24 September 1980 (1980 (List of substances) Amendments) 212. International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, done at London on 1 November 1974 (SOLAS 1974)
494
Appendices
213. Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, done at London on 17 February 1978 (SOLAS PROT (amended) 1978) 214. Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, done at London on 11 November 1988 (SOLAS PROT (HSSC) 1988), as amended 215. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, concluded at London on 2 November 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, done at London on 17 February 1978 (with Annexes I and II) (MARPOL 1973/1978), as amended 216. Annex III of the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances in Packaged Forms, or in Freight Containers, Portable Tanks or Road and Rail Tank Wagons, adopted at London on 17 February 1978 (Annex III of MARPOL 1973/1978); and the 217. Annex IV of the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships, adopted at London on 17 February 1978 (Annex IV of MARPOL 1973/1978) 218. Annex V of the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships, adopted at London on 17 February 1978 (Annex V of MARPOL 1973/1978) 219. Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, done at London on 26 September 1997 (MARPOL PROT 1997), as amended 220. Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, done at London on 17 February 1997 (MARPOL 1973/1978), as amended 221. International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, done at London on 7 July 1978 (STCW 1978), as amended 222. International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, done at Hamburg on 27 April 1979 (SAR 1979) 223. International Convention on Salvage, done at London on 28 April 1989 (SALVAGE 1989) 224. International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Co-operation (and Annex), done at London on 30 November 1990 (OPRC 1990) 225. Protocol of 1992 to Amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, done at London on 27 November 1992 (CLC PROT 1992)
495
228. Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of the Decisions Relating to Maintenance Obligations Towards Children, done at The Hague on 15 April 1958 229. Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York on 10 June 1958 230. Convention concerning the Powers of Authorities and the Law Applicable in Respect of the Protection of Minors, done at The Hague on 5 October 1961 231. Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, done at The Hague on 5 October 1961 232. Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, done at The Hague on 15 November 1965 233. Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, done at The Hague on 18 March 1970 234. Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, done at The Hague on 25 October 1980 235. Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, done at The Hague on 29 May 1993
496
Appendices
243. General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union, adopted respectively at Beijing on 15 September 1999 and at Bucharest on 5 October 2004 244. Universal Postal Convention and its Final Protocol, adopted respectively at Beijing on 15 September 1999 and at Bucharest on 5 October 2004 245. Postal Payment Services Agreement, adopted respectively at Beijing on 15 September 1999 and at Bucharest on 5 October 2004 246. Operating Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, done at Washington on 20 August 1971 as amended
497
258. (UPU) Constitution of the Universal Postal Union, signed at Vienna on 10 July 1964, as amended by the Additional Protocols of 1969, 1974, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004 259. (WIPO) Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, done at Stockholm on 14 July 1967 as amended 260. (WTO) Statutes of the World Tourism Organization (with Annex), done at Mexico City on 27 September 1970 as amended 261. (Former INTELSAT, at present ITSO) (*2) Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, done at Washington on 20 August 1971 as amended 262. (APT) Constitution of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, adopted at Bangkok on 27 March 1976 as amended 263. (Former INMARSAT at present IMSO) (*3) Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization, done at London on 3 September 1976 as amended 264. (AIBD) Agreement Establishing the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, adopted at Kuala Lumpur on 12 August 1977 as amended on 21 July 1999 265. (APDC) (*4) Charter of the Asian and Pacific Development Centre, adopted on 1 April 1982 and opened for signature at Bangkok from 1 September 1982 to 30 April 1983 as amended 266. (ICGEB) Statutes of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, done at Madrid on 13 September 1983 267. Protocol to the Statutes of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology on the Seat of the Centre, done at Trieste on 24 October 2007 268. (ITCB) Arrangement Establishing the International Textiles and Clothing Bureau, done at Geneva on 21 May 1984 269. (APPU) Constitution and Convention of the Asia-Pacific Postal Union and Final Protocol, done at Bangkok on 4 December 1985 as amended 270. (ITU) Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union, adopted at Geneva on 22 December 1992 as amended 271. (WTO) Marrakech Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization and Final Act, done at Marrakech on 15 April 1994 272. (SCO) Shanghai Cooperation Organization Charter, done at St. Petersburg on 7 June 2002 273. Protocol of Amendment to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Charter, done at Shanghai on 15 June 2006 274. (APSCO) Convention of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, done at Beijing on 28 October 2005 275. (ITER) Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project, done at Paris on 21 November 2006
498
Appendices
(*1) Not yet in force internationally. (*2) Due to the amendments to the Agreement relating to the Organization and to its respective Operating Agreement adopted by the 25th Assembly of parties of INTELSAT on 17/11/2000, which entered into force on 30/11/2004 (although they were provisionally applicable from 18/7/2001), one part of INTELSAT was privatized, and the Organization changed its acronym to ITSO. (*3) Due to the amendments to the Convention adopted by the 12th Assembly of parties of INMARSAT on 24/4/1998, which entered into force to all the contracting parties on 31/7/2001 (although they were provisionally applicable from 15/4/1999), one part of INMARSAT was privatized, and the Organization changed its acronym to IMSO. On 31/7/2001, the Operating Agreement of INMARSAT terminated. (*4) At the Eighteenth Session of APDC General Council, held from 5-6 November 2002, a Resolution on the Recommendation to the Dissolution of APDC was proposed (see Document GC/19/03-7). Under Article XV of the APDC Charter, dissolution requires a two-thirds majority.
499
Appendix 12
Decorations, Medals and Certificates of Merit Conferred by the Macao SAR in 2011
The Macao SAR Government held the 2011 Decorations, Medals and Certificates of Merit Awards Ceremony of the Macao SAR of the Peoples Republic of China on 28 January 2011. Chief Executive Chui Sai On conferred a number of decorations, medals and certificates of merit on 38 individuals and entities in recognition of their outstanding achievements, contributions and distinguished services rendered to the Macao SAR.
Medal of Merit
Medal of Merit Professions
Mr Lam Wai Hou Mr Antonio Jose Dias Azedo Ms Victoria Alexa Kuan Chan
500
Appendices
501
Certificate of Merit
Honorific Title Prestige
Mr Richard Stuart Moffatt
502
Appendix 13
Recurring revenue
01 - Direct tax
02 - Indirect tax
04 - Asset revenue
05 - Transfer
14,585,000.00 251,135,400.00 24,373,000.00 37,937,700.00 41,671,100.00 24,990,500.00 216,181,600.00 59,660,900.00 14,615,000.00 4,950,000.00 23,605,100.00 11,724,900.00 36,661,600.00 88,987,100.00 35,893,100.00
Capital revenue
10 - Transfer
11 - Financial assets
01-01 01-02 01-03 01-06 01-07 01-08 01-09 01-10 01-12 01-13 01-15 01-17 01-19 01-20 01-21 01-22 01-23 01-24 01-25 01-28 01-29 01-30 03-00 05-00 07-00 08-00 09-00 11-00 12-00 13-00 14-00 16-00 18-00 19-00 20-00 21-00 22-00 23-00 24-00 25-00 26-00 27-00 28-00 29-00 30-00 31-00 32-00 33-00 34-00 35-00 37-00 38-00 40-00 50-00 50-03
Macao SAR Government Office of the Chief Executive Executive Council Office of the Secretary for Administraiton and Justice Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance Office of the Secretary for Security Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon Macao Economic and Trade Office to the European Union in Brussels Representative Office of the Macao SAR in Beijing Macao Economic and Trade Office to the World Trade Organization Office for Personal Data Protection Infrastructure Development Office Office for Development of the Energy Sector The Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Financial Intelligence Office Human Resources Office Transportation Infrastructure Office The Macao SAR Government Policy Research Centre Macao Economic and Cultural Office Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office Public Adminstration and Civil Service Bureau Education and Youth Affairs Bureau Statistics and Census Service Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation Finance Services Bureau Pension and retirement compensation General expenses Tertiary Education Services Office Transport Bureau Law Reform and International Law Bureau Identification Services Bureau Economic Services Bureau Macao Prison Macao Customs Service Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau Government Tourist Office Government Information Bureau Unitary Police Service Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau Maritime Administration Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau Labour Affairs Bureau Judicial Council Cartography and Cadastre Bureau Judiciary Police Environmental Protection Bureau Legal Affairs Bureau Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau Macao Sports Development Board Cultural Affairs Bureau Investment Projects Designated accounting items: designated appropriations, shared allocations and transfer budget Student Welfare Fund
140,411,300.00 20,324,900.00 44,950,200.00 59,799,100.00 45,816,600.00 21,047,100.00 97,664,000.00 443,383,700.00 3,973,001,700.00 175,416,000.00 93,467,100.00 365,960,000.00 29,166,400.00 12,869,210,300.00 259,778,700.00 2,015,590,900.00 100,402,000.00 247,150,200.00 177,435,800.00 430,504,400.00 528,815,300.00 72,892,000.00 243,013,000.00 123,924,100.00 33,684,400.00 202,726,900.00 513,129,700.00 3,163,791,000.00 339,734,000.00 620,000.00 68,555,800.00 747,222,000.00 195,831,700.00 226,900,600.00 348,303,300.00 144,570,000.00 336,090,700.00 17,911,783,300.00 226,505,900.00 441,672,000.00
Appendices
503
P.T.O
48,367,218,100.00
504
Expenses items
48,367,218,100.00 48,154,400.00 1,048,226,000.00 937,554,400.00 2,061,067,100.00 6,551,300.00 32,520,000.00 198,000,000.00 72,615,000.00 11,312,687,000.00 8,514,900.00 448,834,100.00 61,980,000.00 369,969,000.00 262,000,000.00 4,702,820,000.00 1,672,070,200.00 606,061,100.00 557,725,200.00 460,183,600.00 39,477,000.00 249,891,600.00 25,007,100.00 7,152,000.00 105,680,000.00 326,994,000.00 399,920,000.00 127,129,300.00 2,138,373,200.00 3,794,800.00 176,969,500.00 2,808,200.00 90,000,000.00 206,460,000.00 695,039,000.00 7,100,000.00 149,200,000.00 77,985,747,100.00 272,049,000.00 46,725,100.00 1,038,257,400.00 1,454,456,800.00 4,268,400.00 2,078,394,400.00 2,630,000.00 4,896,781,100.00 306,522,700.00 82,576,005,500.00
Revenue items
134,807,982,100.00
Total
134,807,982,100.00
134,807,982,100.00
Appendices
Appendix 14
Note: Statistical data for Appendices 14-37 is provided by the Statistics and Census Service of the Macao SAR Government.
505
Appendix 15
Imports from Major Countries and Territories for Five Years to 2012
Total European Union of which: Germany United Kingdom France Italy Portugal Sweden The Netherlands Finland EFTA Other European countries Africa America of which: USA Canada Asia of which: The mainland Hong Kong Taiwan Japan Republic of Korea Singapore Australia, Oceania and other territories of which: Australia
MOP thousand
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 43,034,219 36,901,985 44,118,398 62,288,890 70,927,777 7,100,969 1,134,144 825,457 2,273,503 1,226,031 171,348 101,165 175,878 607,348 2,060,123 45,537 156,105 2,929,773 2,383,335 241,270 7,814,949 1,057,947 758,032 2,947,834 1,710,885 135,662 64,206 165,438 465,095 2,407,825 44,109 200,006 2,672,515 2,217,119 81,170 9,960,717 15,506,509 16,647,271 1,321,458 1,546,022 1,710,724 852,056 1,026,804 1,691,507 4,039,819 6,302,080 6,196,389 2,071,499 4,706,718 5,386,470 134,651 184,965 237,985 95,653 70,750 67,915 206,379 293,238 427,241 611,989 472,215 65,213 3,356,497 78,455 244,810 3,148,700 2,618,969 81,720 4,520,697 157,633 286,180 4,401,173 3,731,819 108,521 5,667,989 205,873 234,130 4,356,705 3,679,622 136,723
30,282,443 23,187,679 26,813,770 36,618,791 43,041,239 16,926,279 11,571,583 13,718,276 19,120,936 23,199,437 4,365,709 4,036,162 4,627,936 7,588,337 8,211,125 1,424,152 1,120,704 1,078,320 1,329,459 1,403,123 3,639,123 3,039,272 3,812,085 3,911,242 4,244,017 505,856 589,621 645,719 970,685 1,695,252 1,628,115 1,162,716 838,565 1,356,940 1,470,566 459,266 400,874 574,884 500,096 515,450 421,446 797,906 658,636 774,569 604,431
506
Appendices
Appendix 16
MOP thousand 2012 8,159,668 315,524 81,941 34,250 55,249 76,765 512 1,797 10,502 17,161 1,649 4,399 5,318 9,769 608,798 507,307 48,212 5,954,231 4,095,388 41,821 1,368,970 162,184 63,094 8,516 50,556 50,482
507
Appendix 17
Domestic Exports to Major Countries and Territories for Five Years to 2012
Total European Union of which: Germany United Kingdom France The Netherlands Denmark Sweden Spain Italy Portugal EFTA Other European countries Africa America of which: USA Canada Asia of which: Hong Kong Taiwan The mainland Japan Singapore Republic of Korea Australia, Oceania and other territories of which: Australia 2008 9,582,339 1,528,615 633,398 299,536 213,273 115,037 36,044 40,159 42,470 86,100 5,025 13,388 28,506 18,300 6,667,126 6,334,424 119,662 1,295,769 524,358 124,432 222,697 141,033 12,950 13,278 30,635 29,085 2009 2,971,100 609,512 288,733 101,172 84,601 64,066 1,278 17,864 9,009 14,583 151 2,274 10,851 6,805 1,419,061 1,265,325 42,746 897,978 347,955 46,754 189,624 87,257 5,706 4,851 24,619 23,068 2010 2,389,790 398,373 141,270 62,011 69,016 76,027 1,189 8,345 2,708 14,618 1 4,696 1,626 9,434 870,089 713,720 35,130 1,084,553 485,094 53,683 251,303 94,934 11,108 4,109 21,019 20,407 2011 2,390,241 370,945 120,532 45,653 84,547 83,849 5,130 540 1,763 12,038 30 6,442 891 10,481 620,987 498,169 30,623 1,361,404 705,534 54,042 294,740 128,428 21,185 5,543 19,091 18,227
MOP thousand 2012 2,284,965 302,465 80,396 33,947 49,711 75,492 436 1,782 9,457 16,215 3 4,183 5,282 9,643 543,330 461,539 28,546 1,400,997 750,756 24,511 302,339 123,457 30,721 4,285 19,066 18,991
508
Appendices
Appendix 18
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 22,933,185 21,752,751 24,965,411 28,002,279 28,082,292 9,173,206 1,665,227 7,932,962 1,757,161 1.1 4,902,029 229,188 74.27 73.96 79.21 76.12 61.95 54.18 17,533 6,537,661 1.44 .. 1,729 1,027 702 8,684,809 10,244,087 11,020,999 11,484,840 1,619,099 7,674,439 1,680,097 1.1 4,648,188 206,292 71.40 70.47 77.52 75.89 54.95 48.38 19,259 6,714,413 1.50 .. 1,616 983 633 1,634,062 8,909,583 1,728,632 0.9 5,745,222 252,493 79.83 79.16 83.78
r
12,094,752 11,448,843 13,087,262 15,299,600 14,829,681 1,681,680 9,345,890 1,766,671 1.0 7,536,529 251,944 r 84.12 83.46 89.18 85.97 78.79 60.96 22,356 8,612,127 1.53 45,328 1,619 817 801 1,767,771 9,335,882 1,916,184 1.0 9,122,332 430,065 83.07 83.86 86.03 79.85 75.56 61.45 26,069 9,541,397 1.40 52,345 1,864 950 914 22,876,324 21,701,499 24,877,998 27,912,917 27,977,281 13,186,201 12,346,963 14,239,783 16,800,356 16,725,215
Average length of stay of visitors b (day) Visitor Arrivals in package tours Outbound travel in package tour by Macao residents Hotel occupancy rate (%) 5-star hotels 4-star hotels 3-star hotels 2-star hotels Guesthouses Available guest rooms Total overnight guests Average length of stay (night) Total spending of visitors c (MOP million) Visitors expenditure survey per-capita spending cd (MOP) Non-shopping spending Shopping spending
a
82.47 76.68 56.56 20,091 7,755,214 1.54 37,892 1,518 745 773
c d ..
b
Starting from 2008, visitor arrivals and departures exclude non-resident workers and students. Starting from 2011, data are provided by the Public Security Police. Excluding gaming expenses. Starting from 2010, data are extrapolated from visitors spending information collected. Not applicable
509
Appendix 19
Starting from 2008, visitor arrivals exclude arrivals of non-resident workers and students.
510
Appendices
Appendix 20
Statistics on Restaurants, Hotels, Travel Agencies and Service Sector Establishments for Five Years to 2012
2008 Restaurants and similar establishments Restaurants Eating places Drinking places Hotels 5-star hotels 4-star hotels 3-star hotels 2-star hotels Guesthouses Travel agencies Advertising businesses Conference and exhibition organising services Real estate agencies Real estate management 1,599 186 1,225 188 55 17 13 13 12 30 166 395 58 1,334 196 2009 1,653 178 1,302 173 60 23 13 12 12 31 181 456 62 1,564 209 2010 1,640 177 1,294 169 60 23 13 12 12 31 184 458 62 1,605 215 2011 1,695 191 1,325 179 63 26 13 12 12 32 195 521 65 1,723 237 2012 1,713 181 1,362 170 67 28 14 12 13 33 217 580 90 1,882 269
511
Appendix 21
2009 101.40 102.57 109.08 104.07 97.80 101.44 102.08 96.87 95.64 100.55 107.21 104.22 101.45 101.37
2010 104.25 107.41 114.23 110.84 98.21 102.94 106.57 102.97 92.30 104.56 99.42 110.61 103.77 104.38
2011 110.30 116.16 115.59 118.30 101.58 107.60 113.04 111.97 82.45 109.95 100.93 120.63 109.49 110.63
2012 117.04 126.06 150.61 122.15 108.45 114.98 119.61 114.91 79.01 112.75 101.17 127.63 116.49 117.61
100.23 97.19 99.34 95.04 99.05 99.26 98.68 102.82 97.32 97.41 119.84 99.78 100.65 100.12
a b
The CPI (A) relates to about 50 percent of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of 6,000 to 18,999 patacas. The CPI (B) relates to about 30 percent of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of 19,000 to 34,999 patacas.
512
Appendices
Appendix 22
Monetary and Financial Statistics for Five Years to 2012 (at Year-end)
Money supply M1 MOP HKD Other currencies M2 MOP HKD Other currencies Resident deposits Total Time deposits MOP HKD Other currencies Non-resident deposits Credit by domestic companies and individuals Total Loans and advances MOP HKD Other currencies Distribution of domestic credit (MOP thousand) of which: Manufacturing industry Electricity, gas and water Construction and public works Trade (wholesale and retail) Hotels and restaurants Transport, warehousing and communications Personal housing loans 2008 24,729.6 13,010.9 10,354.1 1,364.6 189,790.3 54,098.4 99,240.9 36,451.1 185,389.8 105,489.8 20,522.1 59,437.2 25,530.4 77,932.1 2009 30,606.8 14,971.5 14,544.6 1,090.7 212,233.3 59,745.2 113,784.2 38,703.9 207,327.4 98,225.9 17,453.5 55,649.5 25,122.9 83,206.6 2010 34,729.7 15,884.4 17,335.6 1,509.7 243,053.8 68,039.8 132,806.2 42,207.9 237,639.4 117,673.8 22,448.6 66,568.6 28,656.6 79,427.7 2011
r
MOP million 2012 p 47,519.0 20,729.0 25,989.2 800.9 374,431.3 90,920.8 209,017.9 74,492.6 366,762.0 220,227.3 32,995.5 128,480.5 58,751.3 128,116.5
36,243.3 17,870.9 17,538.0 834.3 297,963.9 77,292.3 162,331.1 58,340.5 291,595.1 176,540.6 27,922.8 105,675.4 42,942.4 92,865.1
91,565,207 100,888,740 130,452,118 167,623,198 198,105,585 5,900,530 5,555,393 5,870,184 7,710,572 6,397,682 864,966 1,095,327 1,047,720 1,245,842 1,424,428 12,950,725 15,480,314 14,614,350 19,056,864 18,931,485 6,574,848 6,708,293 7,826,092 14,007,921 20,491,577 8,515,179 11,062,324 15,289,965 16,030,424 15,213,026 1,999,204 3,128,542 3,738,344 3,900,077 1,010,359 25,787,579 32,568,767 47,405,520 59,380,694 76,131,861
All figures are as at the end of relevant years. r Revised figures p Provisional figures
513
Appendix 23
Gross Domestic Product and Main Components of Expenditure for Five Years to 2012
At Current Prices - MOP Million Gross domestic product Growth rate (%) Private consumption expenditure Government final consumption expenditure Gross fixed capital formation Changes in inventories Exports of goods and services Imports of goods and services ( - ) 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 p 166,265.1 170,171.1 226,940.5 295,046.3 348,216.4 14.6 2.3 33.4 30.0 18.0
43,703.0 45,565.5 51,099.3 60,502.8 69,376.1 14,819.7 16,689.0 18,382.2 20,882.9 23,579.4 50,285.4 31,899.2 28,357.4 36,614.3 46,518.0 1,309.0 220.2 1,737.5 4,249.4 4,810.0
161,338.4 160,192.7 240,442.0 329,852.4 377,034.1 105,190.5 84,395.4 113,077.8 157,055.4 173,101.2
Chain volume measures of GDP at chained (2010) dollars - MOP Million 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 p Gross domestic product 174,997.9 177,994.4 226,940.5 276,448.9 303,950.7 Growth rate (%) Private consumption expenditure Government final consumption expenditure Gross fixed capital formation Changes in inventories Exports of goods and services Imports of goods and services ( - ) GDP per capita (MOP current prices) GDP per capita (USD current prices)
p
3.4
1.7
27.5
21.8
9.9
46,546.5 47,649.3 51,099.3 56,720.5 61,902.3 15,482.9 17,528.3 18,382.2 19,385.4 20,730.1 50,378.4 34,092.5 28,357.4 33,208.0 39,536.6 1,288.4 227.3 1,737.5 3,941.3 4,384.5
169,112.3 166,513.2 240,442.0 310,185.4 332,775.0 107,753.6 87,607.0 113,077.8 146,991.6 155,509.9 2008 307,917 38,391 2009 317,575 39,775 2010 422,656 52,817 2011 537,103 66,982 2012 p 611,930 76,588
Provisional figures
514
Appendices
Appendix 24
515
Appendix 25
Stock, Flows and Income of Inward Direct Investment by Industry for Five Years to 2011
2007 Total 2008 2009 2010 r 2011
MOP million
Stock 73,303 84,077 84,052 109,036 118,896 Flow 18,519 20,779 6,848 22,657 5,189 Income 11,163 21,668 19,657 28,350 46,706
Non-Financial Sector
Stock 60,199 67,303 64,935 85,877 93,392 Flow 15,682 14,760 Income 5,691 20,540 3,580 7,328 18,569 16,152 24,746 42,170 2,800 -9 537 3,452 2,587 2,259 3,175 3,332 1,444 444 51 954 695 1,483 3,169 122 381 2,336 642 2,081 2,913 407 897 388 -82 -48 -58 4 890 2,878 -221 531 2,917 837 1,406 3,992 1,637 2,695 248 138 -222 520 847 1,624 3,058 209 556 3,828 1,301 1,655 3,093 -85 440 3,639 228 1,101
Industrial manufacturing
Construction
7,563 10,553 3,056 3,596 265 212 236 606 142 708 3,206 6,703 697 411 653 784 217 1,002
Stock Income
Flow -1,036
516
Appendices
Stock, Flows and Income of Inward Direct Investment by Industry for Five Years to 2011
2007 Gaming 2008 2009 2010 r 2011
Stock 49,064 58,211 54,343 70,280 67,797 Flow 10,029 13,640 Income 2,612 15,613 -4,645 1,433 14,281 10,186 17,927 30,896 310 84 120 344 28 87 36 -158 -68 289 7 68 6,829 4,248 1,376
Financial Sector
Stock 13,104 16,774 19,117 23,159 25,503 Flow Income 2,837 3,835 6,019 3,099 1,156 3,505 2,117 3,604 1,609 4,537
Stock 11,511 14,667 16,770 20,229 22,828 Flow Income 2,569 3,477 1,592 268 358 5,473 2,950 2,107 545 149 944 3,094 2,348 212 411 1,536 3,304 2,930 581 299 1,870 4,369 2,675 -261 168
Insurance
Revised figures
517
Appendix 26
Stock, Flows and Income of Inward Direct Investment for Five Years to 2011, Classified by the Usual Residence of Direct Investors
MOP million
Usual residence of direct investors Total Stock Flow Income Stock Flow Income Stock Flow Income Stock Flow Income Stock Flow Income Stock Flow Income Stock Flow Income Stock Flow Income 2007 73,303 18,519 11,163 33,799 6,314 5,686 6,669 3,362 1,926 3,756 662 1,072 693 405 787 13,370 2,697 1,494 522 -71 303 14,494 5,150 -105 2008 84,077 20,779 21,668 28,141 4,077 12,478 9,384 5,624 1,940 4,095 725 1,059 783 484 884 17,426 5,715 3,782 6,206 1,098 1,174 18,042 3,056 351 2009 2010 r 2011 84,052 109,036 118,896 6,848 22,657 5,189 19,657 28,350 46,706 31,769 6,660 11,394 10,233 960 1,988 4,293 394 1,195 725 293 891 12,595 -2,201 5,256 5,676 -113 329 18,761 854 -1,397 40,853 9,418 13,928 13,506 1,310 2,404 4,554 297 914 1,076 494 507 17,660 5,480 7,721 6,392 -313 852 24,995 5,971 2,024 31,085 -9,265 16,094 16,206 2,290 4,424 4,999 162 923 1,068 -11 607 5,418 3,350 6,297 18,607 8,426 5,837 41,513 237 12,524
Hong Kong
The mainland
Portugal
United Kingdom
USA
Others
Revised figures
518
Appendices
Appendix 27
Totals are rounded up, and may therefore not correspond exactly to the sums of the individual figures for various segments.
519
Appendix 28
520
Appendices
Appendix 29
521
(Cont.) 2012 343.2 176.6 166.6 37.5 18.3 19.2 95.7 48.0 47.7 82.3 39.1 43.3 81.9 41.8 40.1 40.8 25.6 15.2 5.0 3.8 1.2 6.9 4.1 2.8 2.2 1.3 0.9 1.6 0.9 0.6
2009
2010
2011 327.6 165.9 161.7 38.8 18.7 20.1 85.6 41.7 43.9 80.6 36.9 43.7 80.8 41.8 39.0 36.8 23.1 13.7 5.1 3.7 1.3 8.7 5.2 3.5 2.5 1.5 1.0 1.6 1.0 0.6
317.1 167.8 149.3 42.5 20.5 22.0 78.3 39.0 39.3 84.2 40.7 43.5 79.6 45.8 33.9 28.5 18.7 9.8 4.0 3.1 0.9 9.9 5.6 4.3 2.8 1.7 1.0 1.3 0.7 0.7
311.9 159.2 152.7 38.6 18.2 20.4 76.8 37.0 39.8 81.6 37.8 43.8 80.9 43.9 37.0 30.1 19.3 10.8 3.9 3.0 0.9 11.4 7.0 4.4 3.2 1.9 1.2 1.6 0.9 0.7
314.8 159.5 155.3 36.9 17.9 19.0 76.7 36.8 39.9 80.0 36.1 43.9 82.3 43.4 38.9 34.3 21.8 12.6 4.5 3.4 1.0 9.2 5.9 3.3 2.2 1.5 0.7 1.4 0.8 0.6
522
Appendices
(Cont.) 2012 0.9 0.5 0.4 1.6 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.2 1.4 0.7 0.8 2.2 1.3 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.2 0# 0# -
2009
2010
2011
Revised figures Totals are rounded up, and may therefore not correspond exactly to the sums of the individual figures for various segments.
523
Appendix 30
Wholesale and retail; repair of motor vehicles, 12,677 motorcycles, personal and household goods Sales, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and 844 motorcycles; retail sales of automotive fuel Wholesale trade 5,735 Retail trade 6,098 Transport, warehousing and communications Transport and warehousing Land transport Sea transport Air transport Supporting and auxiliary transport activities Communications Financial activities Total number of banks * Number of branches Total number of insurance companies 2,324 2,263 1,763 16 13 471 61 27 160 24
Notes: Data on establishments derived from administrative records. Constuction - only includes establishments operating in licensed projects during the refernce period. Land Transport - including taxi, school bus and truck registered under sole proprietorship.
*
524
Appendices
Appendix 31
2009 311.9 16.4 0.9 31.8 40.8 43.2 16.2 7.3 25.3 19.7 11.8 7.5 73.7 16.0 1.2
2010 314.8 15.2 0.9 27.1 41.4 42.8 18.2 7.3 27.5 21.4 11.5 8.1 75.4 17.4 0.7
2011 327.6 12.8 1.3 28.2 43.4 46.1 16.0 8.1 28.0 23.0 12.3 8.5 82.0 16.8 1.0
(000) 2012 343.2 10.3 1.5 32.3 42.3 53.0 16.0 8.2 24.3 25.1 13.1 8.6 89.5 18.0 0.9
Hotels, restaurants and similar establishments Transport, warehousing and communications Financial activities Real estate, rental and business services Public administration, defence and compulsory social security Education Health and social work Recreational, cultural, gaming and other services Private households with employed persons (domestic servants) Others and unknown
r
Revised figures Totals are rounded up, and may therefore not correspond exactly to the sums of the individual figures for various segments.
525
Appendix 32
The cause of death is classified in accordance to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10th revision) since 2007.
526
Appendices
Appendix 33
Note: Excluded recurrent and pre-university education. a Actual figures b Schools/teachers providing different instruction levels at the same location are counted repeatedly r Revised figures .. Not applicable
527
Appendix 34
528
Appendices
Appendix 35
529
47,873 40,348
253,341 145,680 147,031 r 156,767 183,555 53,937 22,682 19,498 21,526 17,660
66,306 57,333
53,071 34,574
55,390 35,090
64,490 37,199
73,056 46,705
3,075 3,198
2,202 2,267
2,423 2,193
1,993 1,867
1,935 1,628
70,403 10,286
24,887 13,727
24,218 4,805
18,716 5,843
15,372 4,324
23,009 23,027
18,581 18,596
17,327 17,327
17,703 17,701
19,285 19,278
16,705 41,548
13,257 28,729
13,597 32,361
9,826 24,950
6,393 16,348
The total number of laden and empty container trips entering and exiting Macao. Revised figures
530
Appendices
Appendix 36
324
321
311
298
279
1,717
1,945
2,076
2,428
2,772
128,502 252,912
143,353 340,418
170,462 422,769
209,223 527,611
231,582 678,396
531
Appendix 37
Consumption of Energy and Construction Materials, and Liquid and Gaseous Fuel Statistics for Five Years to 2012
Annual Consumption of Energy and Construction Materials
2008 Water (000 m )
3
Electricity (million kwh) a Gas fuel (tonnes) Natural gas (000 m3) Liquid fuel (000 litres) * Cement (tonnes)
532
Appendices
148,425 161,364
40,022 40,128
39,542 39,740
39,987 40,744
42,478 42,908
43,477 43,615
82,558 82,314
93,371 93,157
154,514 154,688
73,544 73,610
The amount of aviation kerosene is not included. - Absolute value = 0 # Confidential data
533
Executive editors:
Contributing writers:
Translation/editing/proofreading: William Ip, Martin Turner, Brian Chan, Kitty Chan, Li Sze Man, Elaine Lui, Serena Ng, Dominic Tsang, Lorraine Yuen, Martin Williams, Eva Lei Sao Iok, Alex Che Weng Peng and Brigida Amante Gomes Photography: Lou Kam Lit, Vitor Alves, Choi Chak Lim, Cheong Ka Ian, Ho Kuok Wai, Chan Weng Chon, Pedro Kong Chan Wai and Yiu Yat Chung
All rights reserved ISBN 978-99937-56-28-6 Print run: 700 First edition: November 2013 Price: 120 patacas
HE ZHOU
GUANG XI
HE YUAN QING YUAN WU ZHOU
HUI ZHOU
SHAN WEI
SHEN ZHEN
ZHU HAI
Legend :
Expressway
National roadway
ISBN 978-99937-56-28-6
9 789993 756286