News

The 59th Macau Grand Prix will be held from November 15 – 18, 2012. This year's programme includes three headline races: the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix; the FIA World Touring Car Championship – Guia Race of Macau (FIA WTCC); the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix; and four support races.
This year, the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix - the FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup - celebrates its 30th anniversary. This isthe race every young driver wants to win,on thedemanding Guia street circuit, on their way to the world stage and Formula 1. Seventeen ofthis season's 24 Formula 1 drivers have raced at the Macau Grand Prix, including the youngest-ever two-time F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel. The new FIA WTCC season kicked off on March 11 at Italy's Monza circuit. There will be a total of 24 rounds this season, and for the eighth consecutive year, the two final rounds will be held on the famous Guia Circuit. On the grid, former-Formula One driversand up-and-coming talent doing battle for the title. The Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix - 46th Edition, has a long and fascinating history. Recognised as one of the world's most challenging two-wheel road races, each year it attracts an entry of elite riders from Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.This year, the entry system will be enhanced with the aim of creating an even more competitive race. Details will be announced in the regulations. The support race programme once again includes the Macau GT Cup, the Macau Touring Car Cup, the Macau Road Sport Challenge, and the MAC/HKG Interport Race. With a full grid which includes some of the world's top sportscar drivers, the Macau GT Cup is a favorite with fans, particularly those from Hong Kong, Macau and across the Asian region. Last year, the race attracted Edoardo Mortara, who made historyin 2010 by becoming the only driver ever to win the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix twice. Mortara took victory in the 2011 Macau GT Cup in his Audi R8 LMS, while Le Mans class winner Danny Watts of Great Britain gave the McLaren MP4 its Asian debut at Macau. Local and Hong Kong drivers look forward to competing in the Macau Touring Car Cup, the Macau Road Sport Challenge, and the MAC/HKG Interport Race. Qualification races for local drivers will be held viathe Macau Touring Car series, organized by the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC), in April and May. The races allow local competitors to gain experienceahead of the November GrandPrix showcase. Tickets for this year's 59th Macau Grand Prix are on sale now, with prices ranging from MOP50.00 for practice days to MOP900.00 for the Lisboa Stand on race days. Book your tickets now with the Macau Grand Prix Committee at (853) 87962210 / (853) 87962242 or email: macaugp@cgpm.gov.mo. For details, please visit the Official Website: http://www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/.
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15th March is 'World Consumer Rights Day'. Consumer Council, along with Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), will co-host a carnival at Iao Hon market Garden to promote the regulations and services of Consumer Arbitration Centre. The carnival will be held on 15th March, from 12PM to 2PM, booth games, legal counselling services on consumer arbitration, and on-site quiz games, etc. will be available. Residents are welcome to participate in this activity. Consumer Council pointed out that since the article on the meaning of 'consumer dispute' under the regulations of Consumer Arbitration Centre has been modified recently to define the scope of cases accepted by Consumer Arbitration Centre, the Council and DSAJ therefore co-host a series of events to celebrate 'World Consumer Rights Day' and to promote the regulations of Macao Consumer Arbitration Centre. Consumer Council indicated that 444 cases have been successfully mediated or arbitrated since the establishment of the Arbitration Centre on 15th March, 1998. The opening ceremony of the said carnival will be held on 15th March at 12PM by members of Consumer Council's General committee, and DSAJ. Aside from the carnival, an online quiz will also be held by both Consumer Council and DSAJ. Participants who have correct answers to 20 random questions will be entitled to a draw and 20 winners will be drawn and awarded with MOP1,000 each. Residents interested in the quiz are welcome to visit Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and DSAJ's website (www.dsaj.gov.mo) to participate in the online quiz from 9AM, 15th March, to 5PM, 14th April. Terms and conditions as well as how to enter the quiz will all be available on the two departments' websites. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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At present, a total of 95 countries and territories have agreed to grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the Macao SAR passport holders. Among them, the Republic of Serbia is the 94th country that has agreed to grant visa-free access to the Macao SAR passport holders and Brunei Darussalam is the 95th country that has agreed to grant visa-free access to the Macao SAR passport holders.
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(12 March 2012) The Government Information Bureau (GCS) today introduced an iPad App for Macao Yearbook after the successful launch of the Macao Yearbook iPhone App late last year. The App allows users to download the entire Macao Yearbook or parts of the publication for convenient browsing on the iPad. The new iPad App and the updated version of the Yearbook iPhone App offer free downloads of the latest edition of the Macao Yearbook as well as the full texts of the Macao Yearbook published in the previous five years. In addition, the App has individual sections on Macao Facts; Highlights of the Annual Policy Address; Major Events; and Principal Officials to give users a quick glance at Macao. The section on Macao Facts provides tables and charts for easy comparison of data in different years. The App is available for free download at the App Store in three languages, namely Chinese, Portuguese and English. Users can search the App with the key word "Macao Year Book" or "Macau – Livro do Ano"; alternatively it can be downloaded through a link on the Government Information Bureau's website www.gcs.gov.mo. The Macao Yearbook is a reference book published annually by the Government Information Bureau. It outlines major events and changes made in the course of Macao's political, economic, social and cultural development. It aims to promote Macao and provide detailed information and data for all who wish to study and understand Macao.
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Guangdong and Macao Consumer Council recently conducted a test on biscuits, pastries and extruded foods, result showed that 4 out of 50 samples collected in Guangdong province were tested unsatisfactory while all 20 samples collected in Macao complied with the testing standards. Macao Consumer Council, in collaboration with Guangdong Consumer Council, conducted a test on biscuits, pastries, and extruded foods in late 2011 to early 2012, taking 50 samples from Guangdong province and 20 samples from Macao. The two Councils tested the mentioned food products in 16 criteria, including their acid value, peroxide value, amount of bacteria contained, coliform bacteria, molds, sulfur dioxide, aluminum, saccharin sodium, cyclamate, acesulfame-K, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, protein, fat, vitamin C and product label, etc. All tests were conducted according to standards adopted nationally and within the industry. Since different regulations are being used in Guangdong and Macao regarding the labeling of pre-packed foods, the 20 samples collected locally were compared with the labeling regulation used in Macao instead of the one adopted in mainland China. To sum up, only 4 samples (all collected in Guangdong) out of the total 70 samples collected failed the test; all samples collected in Macao were satisfactory; overall passing rate was almost 95%. Manufacturers of the said failing products had been requested by Guangdong Consumer Council to improve the quality of foods, while Macao Consumer Council calls on businesses to ensure the safety and hygienic condition of all products, as well as to comply with the food labeling regulation.
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The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) is informed by the Consulate General of Brunei Darussalam in Hong Kong that, holders of the Macao SAR Passport have been exempted from visa requirements when entering Brunei Darussalam for a stay of maximum 14 days since 28 January 2012. At present, a total of 94 countries and territories have agreed to grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the Macao SAR passport holders, while 9 countries have agreed to grant the visa-free access to the Macao SAR Travel Permit holders.
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The 2012 Macao International Environment Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2012 MIECF) will be held from 29 to 31 March at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. The Green Business Co-operation Day and a series of activities including Green Business Forum, Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony will be held on the opening day (29 March). Over the years, the Green Business Co-operation Day (the Green Business Day) has invited distinguished guests from Mainland China (particularly the Pan-PRD region), Macao, Europe and Portuguese-speaking countries to take part in a series of events. Government officials, leaders of industry and professionals have also participated to discuss the development of the environmental industry. This year, professionals and senior management of world renowned enterprises have been invited to conduct in-depth discussion on the topics of energy-efficiency and e-mobility during the Green Forum. Green Business Day is co-organised by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), AICEP Portugal Global, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Macao Chamber of Commerce, European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the American Chamber of Commerce in Macau and the European Union Business Information Programme (EUBIP). It will be held from 2:30 to 6:30 pm on 29 March at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, to assist enterprises seize green economic opportunities and search for business partners through a series of activities such as the green forum, networking cocktail and contract-signing ceremony. Leading officials from the Macao SAR government have been invited to officiate over the opening ceremony. Thematic speeches will be made by Mr. Liu Fenghua, Deputy Secretary General of CCPIT, Mr. Ma Iao Lai, President of Macao Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Waldemar Coutts, Deputy Director of Environmental Policy Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile and Durban Round Negotiator. Highlights of the Green Business Day include: Focusing on the two current hot topics namely Energy Efficiency and E-Mobility and exploration of the latest market developments - The two topics will be the main subject of integrated discussion sessions followed by business networking and analysis of market trends. The deliberation on energy efficiency will be chaired by Mr. António Trindade, President of Macao Association of Environmental Protection Industry, with speakers including Mr. Ou Jun, Acting Secretary-General, Guangdong Association of Environmental Protection Industry, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Wallaert, Chair of PRD Environment Working Group, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Mr. Renato Roldão, Chief Representative Officer (CRO), Ecoprogresso in Beijing plus Mr. Wilfred Chan, Asia Pacific Sustainability Portfolio Manager, British Standards Institution (BSI). A panel discussion on E-Mobility will be held with Mr. Daniel M. Cheng, President of Hong Kong Environmental Industry Association as the moderator and speakers including Mr. Zhang Jingxin, Chairman of Shenzhen Wuzhoulong Motors Group, Mr. Bill Reinert, National Manager of Advanced Technology for Toyota motor Sales, USA, Dr. Stefan Ferber, Director for Communities & Partner Networks in the Internet of Things and Services at Bosch Software Innovations GmbH, Mr. Paul Lin, Senior Manager of Overseas Marketing Department, BYD and Prof. José Carlos Quadrado, President of ISEL –Lisbon Superior Engineering Institute, Portugal. The Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception will mark a new page in business co-operation. Exhibitors and professional visitors from the Pan-PRD region, the EU, Portuguese-speaking countries, SE Asia and various regions around the world will get together to conduct business networking and share market information. A number of senior government officials, leaders of business sectors and guests will also attend the event to witness the signing of contracts for a series of co-operation projects. For further information on 2012 MIECF Green Business Co-operation Day, please visit the official website: www.macaomiecf.com. The event is open to all local enterprises and the general public. Places are limited, interested parties please contact Ms. Kuok of Research and Information Division, IPIM on 853 87989127 or by email: winnievai@ipim.gov.mo.
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Consumer Council released March's specific price survey on rice. 16 rice brand samples were surveyed this time. In comparison with January's survey data, prices of Japanese and Australian rice brands surveyed this month were stable, and prices of 9 Thai rice brands recorded increase of less than 1% to over 17%. 'Golden Rabbit (10kg)' recorded an average price increase of over 8% in almost 20 retail outlets. Consumer Council conducted its latest specific price survey on rice on 5th March. Among the 16 surveyed rice brand samples, 7 rice brands, mainly Japanese and Australian brands, recorded the same prices as those surveyed in January, though the rest Thai rice brands recorded price increases ranged from 0.8% to 17.1%. Most of the 21 retail outlets which sold 'Golden Rabbit (10kg)' were selling it at a price higher than that recorded last time, and the highest and lowest prices differed for over 25%. Consumer Council stated that recent surveys revealed that prices of Japanese and Australian rice brands were stable. The Council also stated that price discrepancies exist for the same brand sold in different retail outlets, consumers are advised to check with the data conducted by the Council. The Council will continue to pay heed on the change in rice prices and provide timely information to consumers. The latest specific price survey on rice can be accessed at the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), consumers may also get access to individual pages of each rice brand on the 'Price Information Platform' to get full details of rice price. For inquiry, please call 89889315.
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Macau Government Tourist Office(MGTO) and the Macau travel trade participated at the ITB Berlin 2012 to strengthen ties with the international travel trade and to promote the positioning of Macau as a World Center of Tourism and Leisure. MGTO deputy director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes led the Macau delegation to the exhibition, held from March 7 to 9 in Berlin, capital of Germany. MGTO's 90 square meter booth at ITB this year showcased the latest updates and tourism products in Macau, so to uplift the destination awareness of Macau and to tap more overseas markets. During the exhibition, travel trade representatives from Macau, Germany and around the world met for business. This year, the exhibition booths of MGTO, China National Tourism Administration and Hong Kong Tourism Board located beside each other for better promotional impact. Besides taking part in various activities promoted by the organizer, MGTO and HKTB jointly invited key media and travel trade partners to a cocktail reception on March 8. This event helped benefit the long-term tourism development of both regions. During the three-day exhibition, deputy Director Fernandes took interviews with the media and appointments with tourism executives, in order to attract more visitors from Europe to experience Macau's unique blend of East and West cultures. As a world's leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin has a history of over 40 years. This year, the gigantic display area of 160,000 square meters welcomed about 11,000 exhibitors from 180 countries and regions in the exhibition, which is hailed as one of the largest travel fairs in the world. Over 170,000 visitors, among which 108,000 trade visitors and over 7,000 media representatives were present.
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Consumer Council, along with Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), will co-host a carnival at Iao Hon Market Garden on 15th March, an online quiz will also be launched. Residents are welcome to participate in both activities. Each year, Consumers International (CI) encourages its members to organize events to celebrate 'World Consumer Rights Day' to arouse public attention on consumer rights and Macao Consumer Council organizes different activities on 15th March to celebrate 'World Consumer Rights Day'. This year, the Council, along with DSAJ, will co-host a series of activities to promote the regulations and services of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre'. A carnival will be held on 15th March from 12PM to 2PM, at Iao Hon Market Garden; booth games, legal counselling services on consumer arbitration, and on-site quiz games, etc. will be available. The organizers hope to raise the usage rate of 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' and strengthen residents' knowledge about arbitration through various kinds of activities. Aside from the carnival, an online quiz will also be hosted by both Consumer Council and DSAJ. The quiz is available in both Chinese and Portuguese, participants who have correct answers to 20 random questions selected from a pool of 50 questions about 'Consumer Arbitration Centre' and other rights of consumers will be awarded. 20 winners will be drawn and awarded with MOP1,000 each. Consumers are welcome to visit Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and DSAJ's website (www.dsaj.gov.mo) to participate in the online quiz from 9AM, 15th March, to 5PM, 14th April. Terms and conditions as well as how to enter the quiz will all be available on the websites. Residents are welcome to participate. For inquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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