MONEY WONG SIO CHAK XI AIDE UNEXPECTEDLY EXCHANGE SCAM DEFENDS OFFICER SHOWS UP A man reported to the The Secretary for Security Vice Premier Liu He unexpectedly police a robbery of defended the police officer who attended the first day of talks HKD1.25 million following a fired a shot last week, saying aimed at resolving the trade money exchange scam that he was “very brave” dispute between China and the US P7 P2,7 P11 TUE.08 Jan 2019 T. 14º/ 19º C H. 65/ 98% facebook.com/mdtimes + 11,000 MOP 8.00 3204 N.º HKD 10.00 FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Kowie Geldenhuys EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paulo Coutinho www.macaudailytimes.com.mo “ THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ ” AD ECONOMY Trade war fears affect growth prospects P2,4 MACAU AP PHOTO WORLD BRIEFS MYANMAR Thirteen policemen were killed and nine injured in early morning attacks on police outposts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state by the insurgent Arakan Army, state media reported. AP PHOTO MALAYSIA’s royal families will meet on Jan. 24 to pick a new king after Sultan Muhammad V abdicated unexpectedly after just two years on the throne, an official said yesterday. More on p13 INDONESIA Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has urged Indonesia’s government to hold talks with the Papuan independence movement to help end a decades-long insurgency in the country’s easternmost region. More on p12 SYRIA U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton is set to press Turkey for assurances that it won’t attack the Kurdish fighters in Syria, which he said is Thai police say they won’t deport now a condition for the withdrawal of American troops. P12 More on backpage Saudi woman seeking asylum 08.01.2019 tue 2 MACAU 澳聞 WWW.MACAUDAILYTIMES.COM.MO HE University of Macau’s T(UM) Department of Eco- nomics and Centre for Macau Studies yesterday released its UM forecasts 2.7pct growth this Macroeconomic Forecast for Macau report for 2019. The re- port indicated that analysts ex- year on ‘economic uncertainty’ pect an aggregate annual growth of 2.7 percent in the special ad- ministrative region. In terms of the whole eco- nomy, analyst growth expecta- tions vary widely, with the most pessimistic pointing to a con- traction of 6.5 percent and the most optimistic suggesting that Macau’s gross domestic product could grow by nearly 12 percent. The cause of this discrepancy, according to the UM report, is the inherent nature of Macau’s export-led economy, which is highly sensitive to external eco- nomic conditions and govern- ment policies. “Economic un- certainty continues to affect Ma- cau’s economic growth in 2019,” it said, adding that forecasts “may adjust greatly throughout the year.” Largely dependent on its behe- moth casino sector, Macau’s 2.7 percent economic growth A panel of scholars presented the study yesterday rate pales in comparison to the 14 percent increase in gross ga- ming revenue seen across 2018, tober last year. That projection whose economy has the greatest same time, exports of goods are change in the composite consu- even as that growth slowed in had been revised downward influence on Macau’s growth expected to increase by 0.6 per- mer price index, is expected to the later quarters of the year. from one in April 2018, with the – will likely see a further slow- cent. Imports of goods are ex- hold steady in 2019 at around 3 Considering the entire eco- IMF highlighting “suppressed down in 2019, due to “the nega- pected to rise by 3.1 percent in percent. For the aggregate eco- nomy, Macau gross domestic activities in […] some major ad- tive effects of the trade friction 2019. Amid the slower rise in ex- nomy, the gross domestic pro- product grew by only 1.6 percent vanced economies” and the “ne- with the U.S.” and other struc- ports of services, the imports of duct price deflator is forecast to year-on-year in the third quar- gative effects of the trade mea- tural adjustments that are sur- services will expand modestly. increase by 4.1 percent. ter of 2018 to reach MOP100.9 sures” as two underlying causes. facing. The mainland’s economy The growth rates of imports of The UM report noted that billion, down from the 9.4 per- Macau’s projected growth is grew at 6.5 percent in the third services are expected to increase the labor market will likely re- cent and 5.9 percent year-on- then expected to keep up with quarter of last year, causing a by 4.2 percent in 2019. main tight this year, with the year growth in the first and se- other developed economies slowdown in Hong Kong – ano- For domestic demand, private unemployment rate holding at cond quarter of 2018 respecti- around the world. For example, ther major market of Macau’s consumption spending in 2018 2 percent and median monthly vely. gross domestic product in the service exports – to 2.9 percent continued to grow steadily. It is employment earnings rising The aggregate growth estimate United States is expected to ex- in the same quarter. expected to grow at 4 percent in slightly to MOP16,205. Exclu- of 2.7 percent falls 1 percentage pand by 2 percent this year, whi- Accordingly, Macau’s exports 2019, while total investment is ding non-resident workers, the point short of global growth pro- le that of the Euro area is projec- of services are expected to grow expected to decline by 7.9 per- unemployment rate of residents jections made by the Internatio- ted to see 1.9 percent growth. at a slower rate in 2019, falling cent in 2019. is expected to be 2.8 percent in nal Monetary Fund (IMF) in Oc- Meanwhile, mainland China – to a rate of 4.2 percent. At the Inflation, as measured by 2019. Lawmaker seeks safety measures BLOOMBERG for tobacco control officers AWMAKER Lam tacks and insults during ming operators, need to of prosecutions of illegal LLon Wai has asked their law enforcement set up additional support smoking behaviors, that the government to ensu- duties. in order to guarantee the approximately 70 per- re the safety of tobacco The Galaxy Macau in- safety of tobacco control cent of illegal smokers control officers, following cident reflects an increa- officers working on the are tourists. the incident last week in sed challenge for tobacco frontline. Lam believes that this which a police officer fi- control officers and police Lam asked the govern- data shows that tourists red a warning gunshot officers who are responsi- ment about the measures are the main target of to- when assaulted by unruly ble for enforcing the law. employed by the police bacco control promotio- smokers outside Galaxy In Lam’ opinion, the po- authority, SSM, and DICJ nal campaigns, therefore Macau. lice authority, the Health that ensure the officers’ he wants the government In his inquiry to the Bureau (SSM) and the safety. to reveal the details of the government, Lam noted Gaming Inspection and The lawmaker further new tobacco control law’s that tobacco control offi- Coordination Bureau noted, citing the SSM’s promotional campaign to cers have to deal with at- (DICJ), as well as the ga- statistics on the number tourists. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (DIRECTOR)_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBLICATIONS LTD PUBLICATION MANAGING EDITOR_Paulo Barbosa [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS_Eric Sautedé, Leanda Lee, Severo Portela ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER + 4 Million page views Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_Albano Martins, Annabel Jackson, Daniel Beitler, Emilie Tran, Irene Sam, SECRETARY Juliana Cheang [email protected] PER MONTH Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, Julie Zhu, ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. Comercial Rodrigues, 12 Floor C, Juliet Risdon, Lynzy Valles, Paulo Cordeiro de Sousa, Renato Marques, Richard Whitfield, Viviana Seguí MACAU SAR Telephones: +853 287 160 81/2 Fax: +853 287 160 84 DESIGNERS_Eva Bucho, Miguel Bandeira | ASSOCIATE CONTRIBUTORS_JML Property, MdME Lawyers, PokerStars, Advertisement [email protected] Thank You! Ruan Du Toit Bester | NEWS AGENCIES_ Associated Press, Bloomberg, Financial Times, MacauHub, MacauNews, For subscription and general issues: [email protected] | Printed at Welfare Printing Ltd +12,000 like us on facebook.com/mdtimes Xinhua | SECRETARY_Yang Dongxiao [email protected] SEND NEWSWORTHY INFORMATION AND PRESS RELEASES TO: [email protected] WEBSITE: WWW.MACAUDAILYTIMES.COM.MO tue 08.01.2019 th Anniversary MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER 澳聞 MACAU 3 Award recipients recall incidents of typhoons Hato and Mangkhut Lynzy Valles typhoon accident system, we im- proved our information releasing ECIPIENTS of the SAR’s Me- works and departments communi- Rdal for Distinguished Service – cation mechanism.” Medal for Bravery, expressed their “In the future, we will [use] the gratitude towards the government [recognition] to push forward our for honoring their public work, re- work, and hopefully, that we can calling the occurrences of the city’s try our best to ensure their safety two strong typhoons. during disasters,” she added. Tomorrow, the SAR government Kam also suggested that the de- will award three recipients in this partment was more prepared particular category: the Emergency during Typhoon Mangkhut, noting Department of the Conde S. Janua- that this year’s works were consi- rio Hospital, the Civil Protection dered satisfactory and that it is a Operations Centre, and Chao Ka “payback to our works for the im- Cheong who is second in command provement after Typhoon Hato.” of the Fire Services Bureau.