In view of the uncertainty in the city’s economy, the SAR government is set to continue cutting public spending next year. In a Chief Executive Office dispatch, the CE has called on government departments to be prudent in their budget expenditure proposals and warned that the budget should not exceed the budget for this year. Ho Iat Seng made the calls for budget cuts in view of the impact of Covid-19. The budget for 2022 will again be in deficit, with the government expecting to spend another 30.3 billion patacas from the financial reserves for general expenses.
Sheraton Grand listed as quarantine hotel for Hong Kong arrivals
In response to the rising demand of returnees from Hong Kong, Sheraton Grand Macao will be enlisted as one of the general optional medical observation hotels for individuals from Hong Kong starting from June 2, the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre. The hotel will accept reservation starting from 12 p.m. today. To ensure accuracy of reservation information received, the hotel will not provide phone booking service. The quarantine price is set in accord with the hotel’s room rate standard.
Exports reach MOP1.2b in April
Total merchandise export amounted to MOP1.19 billion in April, up by 13.0% year-on-year, according to the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). Value of re-exports (MOP963 million) grew by 6.6%, of which re-exports of Garments and Diamonds & Diamond Jewelry surged by 98.7% and 57.6% respectively, while those of Machines, Apparatus & Parts declined by 51.3%. The value of domestic exports (MOP231 million) expanded by 50.7%, with that of Garments and Copper & Articles thereof rising by 73.3% and 6.3% respectively. Meanwhile, total merchandise import fell by 3.1% year-on-year to MOP13.18 billion.