The total number of credit cards in circulation in Macao reached 332,556 in the fourth quarter of 2007, a two percent increase over the previous quarter, according to statistics released on Monday by the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM).

The statistics showed that the number of Pataca cards, Hong Kong Dollar cards and RMB cards in circulation were 260,279, 65, 015 and 7,259 respectively in the fourth quarter of last year.

Credit card credit limit granted by banks in Macao reached 5.9 billion patacas (740 million U.S. dollars), while credit card receivables amounted to 1 billion patacas (125 million U.S. dollars), representing a 10.5 percent increase over the previous quarter, according to the AMCM.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 18, 2008)