Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Balanço final

 NOv24

Macau’s outgoing Chief Executive, Ho Iat Seng, assured on Tuesday that there have been no changes in the interpretation of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, which has been in effect in the city since its administrative transfer and guarantees a certain degree of autonomy.

“We adhere to this principle and work in accordance with it,” Ho Iat Seng stated at a press conference on Tuesday after presenting a summary of his five years in office to the Legislative Assembly.

The concept of ‘one country, two systems,’ originally proposed by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) and first applied in 1997 and 1999 with the handover of Hong Kong and Macau to China, respectively, ensures a degree of autonomy for the two regions over a 50-year period, protecting citizens’ freedoms and rights.

International bodies, such as the European Union and the United Nations, have highlighted an “erosion of freedoms” in the SAR in recent years—criticisms that the local government has rejected.

“‘Macau governed by its people with a high degree of autonomy’ and ‘one country, two systems’ have not undergone any changes. Looking back, during this term and previous ones, there have been no changes,” Ho emphasised.

Freedom of the press was another topic discussed during the session with journalists, with Ho asserting that he had “done his best to safeguard” this legally protected right.

Earlier this month, the Macau Journalists Association, one of the city’s five main media workers associations, denounced earlier this month a “severe deterioration” of press freedom in the SAR and urged authorities to end “excessive restrictions” imposed on media workers, particularly regarding access to press conferences. In reaction to these remarks, the Government Information Bureau stressed it “has always safeguarded press freedom” in the SAR.

“During my tenure, I tried to do my best to ensure press freedom. As for the future, (…) I cannot answer for them, but I believe they will follow the same direction,” he concluded.

Ho Iat Seng took office in December 2019, with the first three years of his five-year term marked by the Covid-19 pandemic. Reflecting on this period, Ho pointed out that just “ten days” into his role, he had to confront the public health crisis.

“Yet we managed to overcome this challenge and also achieved recovery in our gross domestic product (GDP),” he said.

Since 2020, Macau has only managed to maintain a positive balance through transfers from its financial reserves, which reached MOP 10.5 billion in 2023. However, the SAR is expected to close next year with a surplus of MOP 7.7 billion, according to the budget proposal submitted last week to the Legislative Assembly and presented today by the Chief Executive.

Ho, who reiterated that he did not seek re-election due to health reasons, will step down on 19 December. His successor, Sam Hou Fai, is set to take office the following day, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Macau Special Administrative Region, marking the transfer of administration from Portugal to China.

https://www.macaubusiness.com/ho-denies-changes-in-interpretation-of-one-country-two-systems/

Cash handouts: Outgoing CE reiterates fiscal reserves’ strength

Outgoing Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has said that any decision to change the existing cash handouts policy would be up to the incoming administration.

The Wealth Partaking Scheme, which has been in place for 17 years, will again distribute MOP10,000 (US$1,248) to permanent residents and MOP6,000 to non-permanent residents.

“The current administration will pass the draft budget on to the next government,” said Ho. “As for any increase, that decision will be left to the next government.”

Macau’s economy has shown significant improvement in 2023, with the gross domestic product (GDP) up by 85 per cent compared to the previous year. This rebound has brought the GDP level close to 80 per cent of what it was in 2019.

In response to inquiries about the 2025 fiscal budget, Ho provided an update on Macau’s fiscal reserves. The public coffers have so far exceeded MOP600 billion, with foreign exchange reserves being over MOP230 billion.

Despite the allocation of MOP160 billion for pandemic relief over the past four years, investment returns, according to him, are expected to boost reserves by an additional MOP50 billion to MOP60 billion by the end of the year.

“By the end of September, an additional MOP40 billion had been generated,” Ho said.

https://www.macaubusiness.com/cash-handouts-outgoing-ce-reiterates-fiscal-reserves-strength/

‘Honoured to lead Macau out of the worst’: Ho Iat Seng

The departing chief executive, Ho Iat Seng, expressed his honour in serving Macau over the past five years and guiding the city through its most challenging times.

During his final appearance at the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the outgoing official presented a summary of the achievements of the fifth-term government during his tenure and outlined the fiscal budget for the upcoming year.

“It has been a great honour to hold the esteemed position of the fifth-term chief executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region,” Ho indicated. He will be succeeded by Sam Hou Fai on 20 December as the SAR commemorates its 25th anniversary.

“In these five years of governance, which included three years of confronting the Covid-19 pandemic, we have navigated through the most severe challenges since the handover in 1999,” he remarked.

“We have surmounted the formidable obstacles posed by the pandemic and external pressures. Together with the community, we have stood in unity, supporting one another, guiding the Macau SAR through its most challenging times,” he continued.

“We have vigorously driven various initiatives to greater heights, leading the Macau SAR into a new era of stable development,” he added.

Safeguarding national security

Expressing gratitude for the support received from the Chinese central government, the people of Macau, civil servants, and others over the past five years, Ho stated, “Macau has made remarkable progress in various sectors, including politics, the economy, and social affairs.”

“The success of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Macau has been demonstrated as viable, feasible, and popular, receiving unanimous backing from Macao residents and high praise from the international community,” he claimed, referring to the constitutional principle governing the Macau SAR.

Detailing the administration’s efforts over the past five years, Ho first emphasised the initiatives in national security. “The government has staunchly upheld the comprehensive authority of the central government [over Macau], steadfastly implementing the principle of ‘patriots governing Macau’,” he added.

Economic diversification and regulation of the gaming industry

The departing chief executive placed significant emphasis on Tuesday on the government’s efforts to stabilise and diversify the local economy over the past five years. “Even amidst the severe challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the government’s drive to promote moderate economic diversification has remained unwavering,” he asserted.

“At present, Macau’s economy is steadily recovering, with major economic indicators stabilising and demonstrating improvement, and some even surpassing 2019 levels,” he stated.

For example, the total value added of the four emerging non-gaming industries identified by Ho’s administration amounted to MOP39.05 billion (US$4.88 billion) in 2023, marking a 6.9 percent increase from 2019.

These sectors encompass healthcare, modern finance, high technology, as well as events and conventions, trade, commerce, culture, and sports.

Meanwhile, the gaming industry’s contribution to the city’s gross domestic product (GDP) only accounted for 37.2 percent last year, representing a 14 percentage point decrease from 2019, Ho said.

The chief executive also noted that the authorities have bolstered the relevant laws and regulations governing the gaming industry over the past five years to combat illegal online gambling, money laundering activities, illegal exchanges, and cross-border illicit fund flows.

“These measures have effectively regulated the development of the gaming industry,” he affirmed.

Housing issues and inflating public works budgets

Over the last five years, the Macau government has also endeavoured to improve the livelihoods of the Macau community, with the portion of expenditure allocated to education, healthcare, social security, housing, and community initiatives within the annual government budget rising from 39.2 percent in 2019 to 44.8 percent in 2024, Ho said.

He further indicated that the housing problems faced by residents have been “largely resolved,” with the government investing about MOP15.88 billion in public housing over the past five years.

Six public housing projects have been completed during his tenure, with over 14,000 units currently under construction.

The official also underscored the “accelerated pace” of public works in the city under his leadership. “In the last five years, close to MOP80 billion has been invested in infrastructure projects of various scales.

As of September 2024, there were 110 projects with expenditures exceeding MOP100 million each, out of which 62 have been completed,” he remarked.

These achievements demonstrate that the government has “effectively tackled issues of cost overruns and delays in public works,” he concluded.

Streamlining government structure

Furthermore, Ho highlighted the progress in public administration reform during his tenure on Tuesday. The authorities have successfully completed restructuring across 47 government departments over the past five years, resulting in a reduction in the total number of departments from 75 in 2019 to 71.

The number of civil servants has also been streamlined, decreasing from 32,540 in April 2020 to 31,712 by September 2024.

He also emphasised the city’s advancement in integrating into national development, particularly the establishment of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin in September 2022.

Presently, there are 6,461 Macau-backed firms in Hengqin, representing a 39.3 percent increase from September 2022. The number of Macau residents residing in the cooperation zone reached 16,539 in September, marking a 19.1 percent year-on-year rise, while the number of Macau workers in the zone increased by 4.9 percent year-on-year to 5,132, he added.

https://www.macaubusiness.com/honoured-to-lead-macau-out-of-the-worst-ho-iat-seng/

Monday, August 19, 2024

segunda pista do aeroporto suspensa

 ago24

A decisão do Governo de suspender a transformação de parte do terminal marítimo da Taipa no segundo terminal do Aeroporto Internacional de Macau foi alvo de várias críticas, num artigo publicado no jornal Ou Mun.

No texto, são citadas várias fontes ligadas ao sector do turismo, que pediram para permanecerem anónimas. Na visão destas, ao suspender o novo terminal, o Governo está a aceitar o “status quo” actual, o que significa que está a abdicar de utilizar o aeroporto como uma forma de promover Macau num destino internacional.

As fontes indicaram igualmente que a suspensão da expansão do terminal não significa apenas que Macau deixa de querer competir com outros aeroportos locais, mas principalmente que a cidade está a abdicar da imagem de cidade turística, ao nível da competição com Hong Kong e outras cidades mais populares. De resto, os trabalhos de Hong Kong e de Zhuhai ao nível de expansão dos aeroportos são apontados como exemplos que deveriam ser seguidos.

Outra das fontes explicou que o turismo actualmente depende muito dos visitantes individuais que viajam para onde há boas ligações. Na perspectiva desta fonte, ao abdicar do terminal, Macau arrisca-se a não conseguir atrair esses visitantes.

Ao mesmo tempo, é indicado que depois da pandemia, todos os aeroportos à volta de Macau estão a registar um crescimento assinalável ao nível dos passageiros. É expectável que em Macau aconteça o mesmo, porém, há o risco de não haver capacidade para fazer face à procura futura.

https://hojemacau.com.mo/2024/08/14/aeroporto-decisao-de-suspender-segundo-terminal-alvo-de-criticas/


A suspensão do segundo terminal do Aeroporto de Macau foi revelada aos deputados da Comissão de Acompanhamento para os Assuntos de Finanças Públicas. O terminal iria nascer numa parte do Terminal Marítimo de Passageiros da Taipa

 

O Governo decidiu suspender os planos para transformar parte do Terminal Marítimo de Passageiros da Taipa no segundo terminal do Aeroporto Internacional de Macau. A revelação foi feita à Comissão de Acompanhamento para os Assuntos de Finanças Públicas da Assembleia Legislativa, e justificada com a lenta recuperação do número de passageiros a usar as instalações aeroportuárias.

“Devido à recuperação lenta do tráfego de passageiros do aeroporto após a epidemia, o volume do tráfego de passageiros do aeroporto em 2023 foi apenas de cerca de 5,15 milhões”, consta no parecer assinado pelos deputados. “Embora o volume do tráfego de passageiros do aeroporto no 1.º trimestre deste ano tenha atingido 1,8 milhões de passageiros e recuperado para cerca de 77 por cento do pico do período homólogo de 2019, a actual capacidade do terminal de passageiros do aeroporto ainda é suficiente para dar resposta às necessidades do desenvolvimento actual do tráfego aéreo, já que a capacidade do terminal é de 10 milhões de passageiros por ano. Por isso, neste momento, a construção do segundo terminal do aeroporto encontra-se suspensa”, foi justificado.

A suspensão foi igualmente defendida com o facto de em 2022 ter entrado em funcionamento a “expansão do lado sul do terminal de passageiros do aeroporto”, o que leva os responsáveis governativos a considerar que “a capacidade actual do terminal de passageiros é suficiente para responder às necessidades do desenvolvimento actual”.

Quando o projecto foi apresentado, em 2020, durante a pandemia, esperava-se que o segundo terminal tivesse capacidade para servir mais 1,4 milhões de passageiros.

Obras no Heliporto da Taipa

O relatório indica também que, apesar de ser reconhecer a necessidade de operar o Heliporto do Terminal Marítimo de Passageiros da Taipa, que a infra-estrutura não tem os “requisitos necessários” para ser explorada.

“Para que o heliporto possa entrar em funcionamento em tempo oportuno, estão a ser preparados os documentos para o concurso público relativos às obras de modificação do heliporto, com vista a iniciar as obras o mais rápido possível”, é indicado no relatório elaborado pelos deputados, com base nas respostas do Governo.

O documento também indica que estão em preparação as obras de modificação do heliporto, que se espera serem iniciadas “com a maior brevidade possível” para que se tente que o funcionamento comece na segunda metade do próximo ano. No entanto, o documento admite que a entrada em funcionamento do heliporto na Taipa pode acontecer depois do próximo ano.

https://hojemacau.com.mo/2024/08/14/aeroporto-segundo-terminal-suspenso-devido-a-falta-de-passageiros/

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Sistema de novos salvo-condutos

 jul24

Sistema de novos salvo-condutos arranca com grande adesão

O primeiro dia de aplicações para o novo salvo-conduto destinado a residentes permanentes não-chineses registou uma grande afluência. Tirando alguns soluços e dificuldades iniciais, residentes estão satisfeitos com a eficiência dos procedimentos e esperam que o novo salvo-conduto lhes permita maior mobilidade pessoal e de negócios no Interior da China

2024-07-11 Nelson Moura

O primeiro dia de aplicações para o novo salvo-conduto destinado a residentes permanentes não-chineses começou com muito movimento na sede da China Travel Service, no Edifício Nam Kwong. Uma representante da empresa de viagens responsável pelo processo, disse que a empresa recebeu mais de 400 pedidos de marcações online para a emissão do salvo-conduto nos próximos 28 dias.

A maioria das marcações envolve residentes de nacionalidade portuguesa, representando 55% dos pedidos, seguida por residentes titulares de passaporte da Malásia, correspondente a 40% do total de pedidos. A agência disse ter tratado de cerca de 50 processos de residentes que entregaram a documentação, mas aceitou também pedidos de requerentes sem marcação online no local. “Para obter um passaporte não chinês, são necessários três coisas: bilhete de identidade, passaporte e certificado de dados pessoais. Com esses documentos, os interessados podem preencher o formulário online e marcar um horário para vir aqui”, indicou a vice-gerente geral do centro de emissão de documentos da China Travel Agency, Chan Kit Mei.

“Os números de espera são válidos por 28 dias e temos números suficientes, portanto os aplicantes podem reservar online a qualquer momento.”

Funcionários fluentes em vários idiomas, incluindo português e inglês, foram destacados para ajudar pessoas de diferentes nacionalidades com os procedimentos de emissão de documentos e serviços de consultoria. Yunji Katsube, secretário-geral da Câmara de Comércio Macau-Japão elogiou a rapidez do processo e espera que o novo documento lhe permita maior facilidade nas viagens de negócio a Hengqin. “Há muito interesse por parte de empresários japoneses em Hengqin e na Grande Baía. Atualmente, mesmo com visto para a China, tenho que esperar na fila de imigração e demora muito mais tempo. Com este salvo-conduto espero que a passagem fronteiriça seja mais fácil”, diz ao PLATAFORMA.

O residente permanente japonês descreve o processo de aplicação online como “muito fácil”, e só lamenta que a emissão do novo conduto cancele o anterior visto para o país e para o qual pagou cerca de 1.000 patacas.

O prazo de validade do salvo-conduto emitido pela autoridade de migração é de cinco anos, podendo o seu titular deslocar-se, múltiplas vezes, ao Interior da China dentro do prazo válido do documento, com uma estadia de até 90 dias por visita. Além do preenchimento de um formulário específico, os interessados têm que apresentar BIR de residente permanente, passaporte com validade superior a seis meses, e o certificado de dados pessoais – emitido pelos Serviços de Identificação de Macau (DSI). A primeira emissão do salvo-conduto tem um custo de 260 patacas

https://www.plataformamedia.com/2024/07/11/sistema-de-novos-salvo-condutos-arranca-com-grande-adesao-2/

Friday, July 12, 2024

ELEIÇÕES 24

agost 24 

Seaport: SJM’s Grand Lisboa Palace may never achieve positive value creation

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The slow pace of ramp of SJM’s Cotai integrated resort Grand Lisboa Palace (GLP) continues to worry analysts, with Seaport Research Partners claiming the property may never achieve “anything approaching positive value creation”.

The comments, from Senior Analyst Vitaly Umansky, come after SJM released its 2Q24 financial results overnight, which showed flat quarter-on-quarter GGR across the group of HK$6.90 billion (US$885 million).

Although GLP, opened in 2021, saw market share of 2.2% for the quarter grow by 22bps from Q1, Umansky noted that this was helped by high VIP hold of 3.7% and described the pace of ramp during the quarter as “weak”. He also noted that ramp had slowed compared with previous quarters.

“While the property will continue to ramp, the return on the investment remains abysmally low and unlikely to achieve anything approaching positive value creation (vs cost of investment) in the foreseeable future (if at all),” he said.

“The strategy around GLP is still being worked on, with the company hiring additional sales and marketing staff during the quarter. With mass table revenue below our expectations in Q2, we expect the build out of marketing and service capability for premium mass to continue to take some time.

“We expect the ramp up at GLP to remain slow and the long-term ROI on the GLP investment is likely to be suboptimal.”

On a more positive note, Umansky noted following the company’s 2Q24 earnings call that excess costs at the company’s satellite casinos – a result of the closure of five properties during the concession re-tender process of late 2022 – continue to come down, which finally saw the satellite segment achieve profitability in the satellite business.

SJM also continues to reduce debt via free cash flow, with leverage down to 8x for the quarter from 13.8x in 2023 and forecast to hit 6.3x by year-end.

https://www.macaubusiness.com/ce-candidate-sam-highlights-new-era-for-macaus-alignment-with-national-goals/

ago24


Esta eleição foi agendada para uma data posterior àquela em que foram realizadas as anteriores. A eleição de 2014 teve lugar a 31 de Agosto e a de 2019 a 25 desse mês. Não se sabe ao certo se este adiamento está relacionado com o prolongamento do período de licença do actual Chefe do Executivo, num total de 39 dias, devido à necessidade de ser submetido a exames médicos, mas é certo que o cumprimento dos deveres públicos requer boa forma física.

https://hojemacau.com.mo/2024/08/16/candidato-unico-2/

ago24

The election for the Chief Executive (CE) Election Committee happened yesterday with some 6,265 registered voters representing over 500 local associations and groups being called to vote.

The balloting occurred between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 11) with many voting in the first half of the nine-hour period.

Until 2 p.m. the Electoral Affairs Commission saw a turnout of 70.55% of voters (4,420) with this figure increasing to 83.64% (5,240 voters) by 4 p.m.

Over the whole day, the sub-sector of “Labor” saw a higher turnover, reaching about 84% by 2 p.m.

At closing time (6 p.m.) 88.12% (5,520) had voted, making it the highest turnout for this type of election.

Although there was a very high participation rate, these elections served mostly to endorse many of the candidates as the number of candidates equaled the number of seats in all the sectors and sub-sectors but two.

Only the sub-sectors of “Education” and “Labor” had a real election, as there were four candidates more than the number of seats available.

In total, 344 of 348 candidates were elected.

From these, as the CAECE had previously noted, almost 35% (120 candidates) were newcomers to this election, although they were not unknown.

Among those running for the first time were the former CE, Chui Sai On, the president of the Macau Institute of Management, Samuel Tong, as well as the president of the Macau Catering Industry Association, Lei Iam Leong, the lawyer Jorge Neto Valente, former public broadcaster TDM executive committee chairman Manuel Pires and emcee, presenter, and entertainer José Chan Rodrigues.

The president of the Confraria da Gastronomia Macaense [Macanese Cuisine Confraternity], Carlos Anok Cabral was another new name, as were architect André Ritchie and translator Manuela de Sousa Aguiar.

João Paes d´Assumpção, Eurico de Jesus, and Daniela de Souza Fão were also on the list of candidates for the first time.

Besides the members elected yesterday, the CE Election Committee also includes 12 local delegates to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and 14 representatives to the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, names that include the former CE, Edmund Ho, and businessmen Lawrence Ho and Lao Nga Wong.

The Election Committee also includes representatives from religious associations and municipal bodies as well as 22 of the 33 Legislative Assembly (AL) members who were chosen in an internal election.

Considering that the AL’s president, Kou Hoi In, is already a member via the NPC seat as are the lawmakers Chui Sai Peng, and Si Ka Lon, very few of AL lawmakers were left out.

Among those who will not be part of the CE Electoral Committee is lawmaker José Pereira Coutinho.


https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/more-an-endorsement-than-an-election.html


juk24

PWCC


Paralelamente à convocação da Terceira Sessão Plenária do 20.º Comité Central do Partido Comunista da China em Pequim, a eleição dos membros da Comissão Eleitoral do Chefe do Executivo da RAEM está marcada para 11 de Agosto, onde 344 dos 400 membros da Comissão Eleitoral do Chefe do Executivo serão eleitos. Os 348 candidatos inscritos foram avaliados pela Comissão de Defesa da Segurança do Estado da RAEM e todos cumpriam os requisitos de defesa da Lei Básica e de fidelidade à RAEM. Após verificação, o número de eleitores aptos excedeu os 6.200, mais do que os 5.700 das eleições anteriores. A Lei Básica da RAEM não prevê o sufrágio universal à semelhança da Lei Básica de Hong Kong. Seja qual for o método eleitoral usado, a escolha do Chefe do Executivo deverá resultar de uma ampla representação e de uma participação equilibrada, e um dos factores mais determinantes dessa decisão deverá ser a opinião pública. Embora a sociedade de Macau não tenha vivido grandes tumultos políticos desde o regresso à soberania chinesa, a prática do princípio “Um País, Dois Sistemas” evoluiu a par da situação de Hong Kong. Como Macau transitou do princípio “Macau governado pelas suas próprias gentes” para o princípio “Macau governado por patriotas”, a governação de Macau é actualmente caracterizada pela combinação de um “elevado grau de autonomia” com uma “governação abrangente do Governo Central”.

À primeira vista, a sociedade de Macau é estável, mas em termos de desenvolvimento, deve ainda envidar esforços para atingir o ritmo de recuperação económica de outras regiões, neste período pós-pandemia. Só quem enfrenta a tempestade tem capacidade para a acalmar!

https://hojemacau.com.mo/2024/07/20/tempestade-politica/

 jul24

Cjul24

“Se for uma questão de capacidade não vou perder para Ho Iat Seng”

O empresário Jorge Chiang, presidente da Associação de Institucionalismo de Macau, anuncia-se como candidato a Chefe do Executivo. E está convencido de que ganha a Ho Iat Seng. Porque “muitas coisas têm sido feitas de forma caótica; e isso está relacionado com o líder máximo”

https://www.plataformamedia.com/2024/07/19/se-for-uma-questao-de-capacidade-nao-vou-perder-para-ho-iat-seng/


hief Executive Ho Iat Seng has seen his bid for a second term in office challenged by an unfamiliar face in the city’s business community, with Jorge Chiang announcing he wants run for the city’s top job.

Chiang’s announcement on his Facebook account on Wednesday comes about a week after the government confirmed the candidacy of 348 people vying to be gain elector status for the city’s next leader.

Earlier this week, the Macau News Agency reported that the incumbent leader is set to formally announce his intention to stay in office for another five years.

Under existing laws, the chief executive is selected by a panel of 400 electors known as the Chief Executive Election Committee.

344 of them are picked from four sectors, which include seven sub-sectors.

According to his profile, Chiang is a member of the leadership of three groups — one dealing with the city’s system, one with business and one with martial arts.

In his announcement, he stressed that “Macau’s existing management methods are no longer suited to the development of the times and have even become obstacles to future development”.

However, his announced intention to run has so far received little support in the comments section, with many mocking him in their comments.

https://www.macaubusiness.com/city-leader-ho-iat-seng-faces-unlikely-challenger-in-bid-for-second-term-in-office/

Numa publicação de Facebook divulgada na quarta-feira, o empresário afirma que “o antigo sistema de gestão em Macau já não é adequado ao desenvolvimento” e que “até se tornou uma barreira para o futuro”. Chiang diz que Macau precisa de ter ousadia para “inovar” e “recomeçar do zero”, mantendo o “espírito original do socialismo com características chinesas”.

https://www.plataformamedia.com/2024/07/11/empresario-jorge-chiang-apresenta-candidatura-a-chefe-do-executivo-de-macau/