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The Octopus card, Hong Kong's electornic wallet, is expected to launch in Macau and Shenzhen by the end of this year.

Card holders may be able to conudct transcations using the card, with exchange rates of one to one. However, top-up services will not be available.

A convenience store told Macao Daily News that the operator had contacted them to seek for possibilities of collaboration, but it expected that card holders from Hong Kong would use the cards rather than holders from Macau, because of differences in currency.

Meanwhile, a local bakery chain spoke to the newspaper of the worries associated with the introduction of the new system.

Macau Pass had once contacted the bakery chain, but their offer was turned down because of “unclear operations” of the system.

The bakery told the newspaper that differences in existing financial management system also deterred them from introducing the electronic wallet.

Macau Pass is the only provider for electronic wallet in Macau so far. It can be used on buses operated by Transmac. A separate set of cards with the same system is also issued to students and staff of the Macau University of Science and Technology.

Transmac and the Macau University of Science and Technology are owned by the same local firm.

A summary of speeches made during the Legislative Assembly's plenary session yesterday (29 June):

Kwan Tsui Hang (Ãö»A§ö) expressed concerns on the re-emergence of “negative fees” – or customers getting paid – for mainland Chinese tourists visiting Macau, saying that fraud are likely to occur with this measure. She demanded the Government to enhance regulations over travel agents, guides and coaches.

Chui Sai Cheong (±Z¥@©÷) and Lau Pun Lap (¼B¥»¥ß) said in a joint speech that the tourism sector should be enhanced based on the healthy development of the gaming sector, and pointed out there are development potentials for sectors closely related to tourism in Macau.

Ieong Tou Hong (·¨¹D¦J) said that since the implementation of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Macau's economy has recovered.

Iong Veng Ian (®e¥Ã®¦) hoped the Government can implement measures to allow importation of non-resident domestic workers from mainland China.

Ng Choi Kun (§d¦bÅv) pointed out that the Government should be more efficient in formulating measures and planning concerning regeneration of old neighbourhoods.

Chan Meng Kam (³¯©úª÷) hoped that the Government can expand the scope of consultation, especially grassroot population and property owners within the old neighbourhood, to allow more participation.

Josˆm Chui (±Z¥@¥­) urged the Government to conduct overall city and transport planning for Macau, whilst reforming the legislations, so that city planning in Macau can meet the positioning of the society and the economy.

Leong On Kei (±ç¦wµX) urged the Government to enhance inspections over place where young people like to go to prevent juvenile crimes.

Leong Iok Va (±ç¥ÉµØ) hoped the Government can enhance dissemination over job-seeking safety, to remind young people of potential frauds assoicated with it, and channels for complaints should they be unfairly treated when working over the summer break.

Kou Hoi In (°ª¶}½å), Cheang Chi Keong (¾G§Ó±j) and Ho Teng Iat (¶P©w¤@) said in a joint speech that Government and private sector services should be improved, in order to allow Macau to reach the supposed image and service quality as an international city for tourism.

Ng Kuok Cheong (§d°ê©÷) pointed out that concessions of lands should be conducted openly to give opportunities to every investor and ensure maximum effectiveness in usage.

Au Kam San (°ÏÀA·s) made similar remarks, saying that the Government should strictly adhere the stipulation of the law on open bidding of lands, and any practices of irregular concessions of land, or changes in land use should be stopped.

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Blogmacau.info hereby clarifies this report, which has been quoted by users of a discussion website in Chinese.

This report has clearly indicated that the measure to allow
border-crossing 24 hours a day, is restricted to Macau-Zhuhai Cross-Border
Industrial Zone only, and only goods vehicles owned by factories within the
industrial zone are allowed to use it. This report has also clearly indicated
that special permits are required to use the checkpoint concerned.

The Administration so far has no plans to open other checkpoints
with mainland China,
namely Gongbei, Wanzi and Hengqin, for 24 hours.

Blogmacau.info expresses regret on visitors who have mistakenly
quoted this report, and claimed that Macau will open all of its border checkpoints with mainland China for 24
hours.

The checkpoint at the cross-border indsutrial zone between Macau and Zhuhai will operate round the clock, according to a State Council decision.

Macau's Chief Executive, Ho Hau Wah (¦ó«pôó), made the announcement during the opening ceremony of a forum on economic and trade cooperation between mainland China and Hong Kong and Macau in Hong Kong yesterday morning (29 June).

The decision was made by the State Council on 27 June, said Ho, and the checkpoint will be used as a port for goods vehicles owned by firms within the zone only.

The port is to be managed by the Zhuhai branch of the mainland Chinese authorities, and a special permit will be required in order to use this checkpoint.

Ho said that the decision has “fully demonstrated the state's support over the Zhuhai-Macau cross-border industrial zone, and the care and powerful support to the Macau Special Administrative Region”.

He also said in his speech that the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has helped creating a “large, accessible and gradually unified” market.

More concessions are given by the mainland Chinese government for goods and services from Macau when entering its market, according to a supplementary agreement of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Conditions to enter the mainland Chinese market for legal consultation, conference and exhibition, audio-visual sector, construction, sub-retailing, tourism and transportation and sole trading will be further relaxed from 1 January 2007, and 24 additional goods can enter into the mainland Chinese market tariff-free under the agreement.

The Ministry of Commerce has also sent a consultant to station at the Macau Business Promotion Centre to answer queries regarding investments to mainland China.

A summary of news on 28 June:

Meeting
The Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Jia Qinglin (¸ë¼yªL) met Macau's Chief Executive, Ho Hau Wau (¦ó«pôó), in Hong Kong. He encouraged Macau Government to elevate the level of governance and to focus on economic development and training of talents of all knds. A harmonious society should also be built,

Rental
Legislator Au Kam San (°ÏÀA·s) demanded publication of rentals by the Government to Casino Lisboa. He said that for five years after the previous concession contract with STDM ended, Casino Lisboa belongs to the Government, but it failed to published how the complex is leased to SJM for operation. “Collusive” practices were suspected.

Hotels
Macau will have an additional 42,000 hotel rooms in the next six to ten years, according to the Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, Manuel Antunes. He said that the tourism market also need tourist guides of different languages, namely Asian languages. Meanwhile, Wu Keng Kuong (­J´º¥ú), Chairman of the Tourism Sector Council (®È¹C·~ij·|), said that with the maximum receiving capacity standing at 30 million per year, 25,000 hotel rooms are sufficient for Macau's needs. Wu also said that “vicious competition” will be inevitable.

The Government published results of the employment survey for March to May 2006, and statistics for the environment in 2005.

The unemployment rate between March and May 2006 stood at 3.8%, a slight drop of 0.1% in comparison with February to April, and 0.3% in comparison with the same period last year.

The underemployment rate is 1.3%, a slight increase of 0.1% in comparison with the previous quarter.

Of the unemployed population, 800 are seeking for their first jobs, or 7.7% of the total.

Sectors where unemployment improves include “culture, entertainment, gaming and other service sectors”, “immoblities and commerce and industry”, as well as “hotel, beverage and food” sectors, but the situation in the manufacturing sector has got worse.

There is an estimated working population of 271,000, of which employed population 261,000, and unemployed 10,000.

The rate of labour participation stood at 65%, an increase of 2.7% in comparison with the same period last year.

For the environment survey results, the population density in 2005 was 17,310 people per square km, with total length of road at 368.2 km. The vehicle density was 414 per km.

There were 10,629 road trees planted, an increase of 11.5% comparing with 2004.

The overall air quality last year was good, but there were a total of 35 days when suspended particles can be inhaled with higher than standard values recorded in the north of the Macau Peninsula.

The Kˆh-Hˆu station recorded the minimum acidity of rain at 3.4 of pH value.

A total of 162,000 tonnes of living refuse was collected last year, and commercial refuse 55,000 tonnes, and increase of 4.9% and 7.7% respectively.

Meanwhile, the incinerator had processed a total of 279,000 tonnes of refuse, an increase of 8.9%.

The wastewater treatment works in Macau processed on average 152,000 cubic metres of wastewater daily, an increase of 0.9%.

Complaints received by the Environment Council on noise was up 25%, at 95; whilst the Public Security Police received 2,713 complaints of noise, an increase of 0.7%.

The total input of the Environment Concil and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau on education to protect the environment was MOP 4.49 million.

Macau will become the first venue of a Hong Kong-based beauty pageant to be held outside Hong Kong.

The final of the 2006 Miss Asia Peagent will be held in Macau Dome in October.

The organiser, Hong Kong's Asia Television (ATV) expected the contest can expand its influence not just within Hong Kong and mainland China, but also throughout Asia and as far afield as in other continents of the world.

Five contest regions are divided for the peagent, namely mainland China, Internet, Hong Kong and Macau, Taiwan and Asia.

A contract signing ceremony was held yesterday (28 June) with Macau's Rio Hotel, a sponsor to the event.

Seven shops were found sabotaged in a shopping centre in Macau's city centre.

Cash, hi-fis and even drinks were stolen in the Capitol Cinema Shopping Centre, at Rua do Pedro Nolasco da Silva.

Shop owners told TDM-TV that the computer games arcade that operates 24-hours at the basement has caused “security concerns” to shops upstairs.

The case is being investigated by the police.

The Macau Government will organise, with the Macau Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, a military summer camp for students on Saturday.

The camp will last for a week between 1 and 7 July, and will be held at the Garrison's barracks in the neighbouring mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai.

A total of 100 senior secondary school students, from 27 local schools, will join the camp.

According to the press release of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, the camp is aimed to allow the young people of Macau “to experience the life of the soldiers” of the Chinese army, and to “enhance their concept of a country and consciousness of national defence”.

Agreement
Macau signed the third supplement of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with mainland China yesterday. However, details of the supplement will only be announced on 29 June, the third anniversary of the first signing of the agreement.

Investigation
Pansy Ho, partner of the MGM Grand Macau project, told local media that the US gaming watchdog investigation is a “normal process”, and will not affect the project as a whole. She told reporters that the investigation is only for checks on whether she is an “appropriate” business partner for MGM, and that she suspected “a third party” is involved to leak this information to create “bias” on the project's image. A total of not less than US$300 million has been invested on the project.

Visit
The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Chui Sai On (±Z¥@¦w) visited Xinjiang (·sæ) last week, the Government Information Bureau revealed. The delegation visited education, tourism and health establishments there.