MACAU PASS TO JOIN UMAC STUDENTS PROTEST 50 CITIES IN SMART DURING UNION INAUGURATION GREAT FIGO CARD NETWORK 2 students held a sign calling on the IN THE RACE Macau Pass is expected union to take a tough stance and FOR FIFA’S to join the nationwide pressure uni leaders to come clean TOP POST integrated City Union card scheme this July on alleged political oppression P3 P7 P19 THU.29 Jan 2015 T. 16º/ 21º C H. 70/ 95% Blackberry email service powered by CTM MOP 5.00 2239 N.º HKD 7.50 FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Kowie Geldenhuys EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paulo Coutinho “ THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ ” WORLD BRIEFS Cosmetics, fast fashion to AP PHOTO gain from luxury decline P2 JLL FORECAST NORTH KOREAN leader Kim Jong Un will make his first foreign trip since coming to power three years ago to attend AP PHOTO celebrations for the 70th anniversary of Russia’s victory in World War II, the Interfax news agency reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to Interfax that the Korean leader would attend the event to be held on May 9. Chinese President Xi Jinping and about 20 foreign leaders are also expected to attend, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Jan. 21. CHINA A man admitted yesterday that he set a fire that spread through a bus in eastern China and injured 33, entering his plea from a hospital bed wheeled into a courtroom because of his own injuries in the blaze, a court said. Bao Laixu said he started the fire last July in the city of Hangzhou to take revenge against society and because he wanted to end his own life after a relapse of tuberculosis, the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court said on its microblog. The sentence is yet to be announced. THAILAND A top leader of Thailand’s “Red Shirt” political movement was sentenced Wednesday to two years in jail for insulting a former prime minister, the latest blow to the supporters of another ex-prime minister, billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra. Bangkok Criminal Court found Jatuporn Prompan guilty of japaneSe Hostage CRISIS defaming Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in two speeches in 2009. P13 More on backpage Mom to Abe: Please save Kenji 29.01.2015 thu th Anniversary 2 MACAU 澳聞 João Pedro Lau HE recent decline in the Tluxury retail market may benefit cosmetic and fast fashion stores in Macau, says Michael Klibaner, Jones Lang LaSalle’s (JLL) regional direc- tor and head of research for Greater China. He also belie- ves that, if the impact of the Chinese anti-graft measures starts to show its effects, it may be time for the govern- ment to look into rebranding Macau. Mr Klibaner says that the proliferation of watch and jewelry stores is a response to the types of tourists coming into Macau from mainland China, who are eyeing the pri- ce differentiation between the two. However, he reckons that this has changed following the launch of anti-corruption measures by Chinese Presi- dent Xi Jinping, which he says could hurt the whole retail in- JLL foReCASTS market retail, if Hengqin Is- dustry. land is able to achieve even “The luxury watch and jewel- half of the successes that they ry brands are definitely conso- have planned for, in terms of lidating. They’re closing sto- Cosmetics and fast developing the service sector res and they’re rationalizing and bringing in hundreds and their footprint. That’s a logi- thousands of workers from cal economic response to the mainland China and around market,” he said. fashion to benefit from the region; if Hengqin Island Moreover, Klibaner noted is successful in creating a vi- that there has been growth in brant new commercial district the cosmetics sector, as well in Macau, it certainly will be a as the food and beverage and decline in luxury retail positive for the retail sector,” fast fashion sector, which will he said. gain a foothold in Macau due city’s success in transforming on the sidelines of a business merce on China’s retail and Klibaner also commented to a weakening luxury retail itself into a tourist destination luncheon organized by the logistics properties. on the luxury retail market, sector. However, he obser- for the whole family, with the British Business Association During the Q&A session that noting that the creation and ved that many restaurants MICE (Meetings, Incentives, of Macao, in conjunction with followed, Klibaner explained maintenance of exclusivity is have been “priced out of the Conferencing, Exhibition) in- the American Chamber of that the future development one of the big challenges. He market” because of the cons- dustry driving a huge amount Commerce in Macau and the of Hengqin Island would play also said that the experience tant growth in rental prices, of visitors to the city. French Macau Business Asso- a huge role in the successes of buying a luxurious product “so I think there may be some The JLL regional director ciation. He gave a presenta- and risks of the retail sector is also an element that drives opportunities, maybe not on made the comments this week tion on the impact of e-com- in Macau. “In terms of mass people to luxury brands. the high streets but the secon- dary streets for restaurants to come back in.” Furthermore, the regional Logistics: ‘China’s best property investment opportunity’ director said that the Macau government should start re- N a presenta- e-commerce to grow in future, due to the will still spend time and money in sho- branding Macau if the impact Ition at BBAM’s internet’s relatively low penetration rate pping malls that can offer an engaging of the Chinese anti-corruption luncheon, Michael – with only 40 percent of internet users shopping experience. Therefore, he measures becomes apparent. Klibaner argued being online shoppers. argued that it is crucial for shopping He said that Macau still has that China’s e- He also suggested several other factors malls in mainland China to brand and not reached the stage of wor- commerce market behind the rapid growth of e-commerce, differentiate themselves from their rying about branding and re- will continue to including the fast-growing Chinese eco- competitors. branding at this moment, as Michael Klibaner grow and will nomy, the expansion of the middle class, He also said that the growth of e-com- businesses are still booming. have a significant and the immaturity of the retail sector in merce is going to drive up the demand for “But if the impact of the cur- impact on the physical retail sector. He Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities, as well as inno- warehouse space. The JLL regional di- rent anti-corruption campaign also pointed out that there is an under- vation and competition in payment and rector reckoned that the sector has been on the economy of Macau is supply of modern warehouses and belie- delivery services. “chronically under supply in China for a felt, with gaming revenue [in ves that logistics will be a great property With competition from online retail long time.” The demand will be further December] down by 30 per- investment opportunity. websites such as Taobao, Klibaner pre- driven by the rise of business-to-con- cent, this could be the mo- Klibaner said that China’s e-commer- dicts that some outsized retail centres, sumer sites, where businesses sell their ment when [government offi- ce market is predicted to reach USD1 with each small unit owned by different products directly to consumers online. cials] do need to think about trillion in 2020. While there are 40 to individuals, are uncompetitive. Howe- Therefore, he predicts that there will be the Macau brand,” he said. 50 million new internet users and 30 ver, he does not think that e-commer- a boom in the warehouse industry, whi- Klibaner used Las Vegas as to 40 million new online shoppers each ce will annihilate the traditional retail ch will continue until the consolidation an example, pointing out the year, he said that there is still room for market. In fact, he believes that people period arrives. 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Philips, João Pedro Lau, Joseph Cheung, Juliet Risdon, Keith Ip, Renato Marques (photographer), Richard Whitfield, Robert Carroll MACAU SAR Telephones: +853 287 160 81/2 Fax: +853 287 160 84 (Hong Kong correspondent), Rodrigo de Matos (cartoonist), Ruan Du Toit Bester, Sandra Norte (designer), Sum Choi, Viviana Seguí Advertisement [email protected] Thank You! | ASSociate CONTRIBUTORS_JML Property, MacauHR, MdME Lawyers, PokerStars | NEWS AGENCIES_ Associated Press, For subscription and general issues: Bloomberg, Lusa News Agency, MacauHub, MacauNews, Xinhua | SecretarY_Yang Dongxiao [email protected] [email protected] | Printed at Welfare Printing Ltd Like us? facebook.com/mdtimes SEND NEWSWORTHY INFORMATION AND PRESS RELEASES TO: [email protected] WEBSITE: WWW.MACAUDAILYTIMES.COM.MO thu 29.01.2015 th Anniversary 澳聞 MACAU 3 Industry calls for gov’t to take leading role in building ‘smart city’ Brook Yang Lau Si Io to join “smart city” has never see- Science and med closer, with more and more livelihood services Technology Fund being brought onto the di- Former Secretary for Transport and Public gitalA platform.