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Hosted by the Macao SAR Government, specially supported by the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China, co-organised by the provincial and regional governments in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, coordinated by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), the 2014 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2014MIECF) will be held at The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from 27th to 29th March 2014. The 7th Edition of MIECF has adopted the theme "Energizing Green Business Growth", advocating "Thinking Green, Going Clean, Living Cool". The event will feature green solutions in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Green Building, Green Mobility, Waste and Water Management Solutions and Environmental Services. As the annual green economic and trade platform for the environmental industry and to encourage more Macao SMEs to take part in the event, the Organizers will provide a maximum of 60% financial subsidies to eligible Macao SMEs, at MOP4,880 per standard booth only. It is hoped that by getting the active involvement of SMEs in various activities, the technology exchange and co-operation among local environmental industry, the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region and international markets will be enhanced through Macao, acting as a green business platform. Companies intending to apply for the SME exhibition subsidy should meet the following criteria: At least 50% of the company shareholders are Macao residents or wholly-owned Macao enterprises, the relevant companies should be registered with the Macao Finance Services Bureau (DSF) for at least 2 years and have fulfilled tax obligations. Booths will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and the Organizers reserve the right to select eligible exhibitors. The deadline for the application is 17th Jan 2014. Besides, the "Green Bazaar" section will be continually held at the exhibition on the "Green Public Day", the last day of MIECF, when exhibition and retail sale of environmental products will take place. Qualified Macao companies are welcome to apply as exhibitors in the Green Bazaar, to showcase and sell environmentally friendly and water conservation products such as electrical appliances, office supplies, cleaning products, household articles or other consumer products made of recycled or natural materials. The Green Bazaar differs from the ordinary exhibition in that it is a tabletop display. The Green Bazaar also welcomes applications from non-Macao companies. The exhibition fee is only MOP1,000 for local companies and MOP2,000 for non-Macao companies. The Organizers hope that this activity will enhance citizens' awareness in the purchasing of eco-friendly products and provide an avenue for companies to showcase their eco-friendly products to the general public. All applicants for the Green Bazaar must provide a description on all products to be displayed and sold during the exhibition. They must also provide relevant details to prove that such products meet the environmental criteria set by the Organizers. The application deadline is 31st Jan 2014. Due to the limited number of booths, the Organizers will review all applications, shortlist them and allocate booths to the successful candidates. Relevant application forms are available as from today to the above mentioned deadlines at MIECF's official website and at IPIM's Macao Business Support Center (Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpção, 263, China Civil Plaza Building, 19th Floor, Macao). Registration and enquiry hotline: 8798 9605, website: www.macaomiecf.com. In 2013, the event received the strong support of 51 government departments from different countries and regions, regional and international associations, institutions and trade associations, with over 6,800 professional visitors from 53 countries and regions. 439 entities and enterprises exhibited on a floor area exceeding 16,900 sqm. Meanwhile, 846 business matching sessions were arranged and 41 projects were signed on-site during the 3-day event.
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In view of the recent safety situation in Thailand, the Embassy of P.R.C. in Thailand reminds Chinese citizens in Bangkok to remain vigilant. Following is the translated version of the full text: "The leaders of anti-government protesters announced recently that they will shut down major streets in Bangkok from January 13, an action which will continue for several days. Such rallies will take place in the vicinity of Bangkok Democracy Monument Square, Prime Minister's Office, various locations of government departments, Thai cabinet officers' private residences, Chinatown, Sukhumvit Road and other major commercial districts. To ensure safety and to avoid any unexpected accidents, the Embassy of P.R.C. in Thailand urges Chinese citizens in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, to remain vigilant and keep abreast of local security developments, stay indoors during the "Shutdown" period, away from demonstration areas and avoid involvement in rallies. A longer than usual time provision should be allowed if necessary to depart to the airport, and as much as possible railway transportation should be utilized. In case of any security issue, please contact the Embassy of P.R.C. in Thailand, Tel: 0854833327." The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) will keep monitoring the latest situation development in Thailand and also reminds Macao residents who are currently in Bangkok or intend to travel to Thailand in the near future to pay close attention to the situation development, avoid gatherings and demonstrations, be aware of security precautions and ensure personal safety. GGCT to date has received 64 inquiries, but no requests for assistance. If necessary, Macao residents can call the tourism hotline (853) 2833 3000 or the Embassy of P.R.C. in Thailand for assistance.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is hosting the "Joyous Celebration to the Bountiful Year of the Horse", the mega outdoor Chinese New Year festivities on the third and ninth day of Lunar New Year (2 and 8 February) to celebrate the joy of Spring Festival with citizens and visitors. The program includes the Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse, a range of performances jointly presented by 1,000 performers, a fireworks show and float displays, etc. This year the Office has also invited various performing groups from Asia and Portugal to join the parade, promising a more diverse and colorful event. MGTO held a press conference today (9 January) unveiling highlights of the event. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Directors Manuel Pires and Cecilia Tse, Head of Department of Cultural Activities and Recreation of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), Choi Chi Hong, Head of the Special Projects Division of Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Boyce Lam Chon Keong, Vice-President of Macau Sport Development Board (MSDB), Pun Weng Kun, and Chairman of the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, Ma Kin Cheong were present along with the representatives of other entities which take part in the float parades. Director Senna Fernandes expressed that the "Joyous Celebration to the Bountiful Year of the Horse" will be more spectacular than last year's corresponding celebration event. This year the event not only features 13 floats in the parades and 23 local groups which will stage artistic performances along the way but also has invited eight performing groups from the Mainland; Hong Kong; Taiwan, China; Malaysia; Japan; Indonesia; Korea and Portugal for a more vibrant and fascinating program. There are 1,038 performers in total. The sponsors of the parade floats include China National Tourism Administration, Exmoo News, Macau Legend Development Ltd., Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A., Galaxy Entertainment Group, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, Suncity Group, City of Dreams, Wynn Macau and MGM MACAU. On the other hand, TurboJET and Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre are the performance sponsors. The float parade on the third day of Chinese New Year will wend along part of the walking tour route – a Tour of Arts and Culture, starting from Macau Science Center until Sai Van Lake Square. The chosen route is expected to create less traffic congestion on the main roads in the central district but greater convenience for spectators and participants to enjoy the nighttime scenery along the shore and the fireworks show in the evening. MGTO hosts the mega outdoor Chinese New Year celebrations together with IACM, IC and MSDB as co-organizers and The Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District as a supporting entity. The main program is held on the third and ninth night of Lunar New Year, including a launch ceremony, float parades, performances involving 1,000 performers, stage shows, fireworks and float displays. A launch ceremony will be held at the front square of Macau Science Center at 8 p.m. on the third day of Lunar New Year to kick off the Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse, which will lead its way through Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and reach its destination at Sai Van Lake Square before Macau Tower. MGTO will set up four points along the parade route for performing teams to stop for performance. The four points are located at the front areas of Macau Science Center, Kun Iam Statue and MGM Macau Hotel as well as Sai Van Lake Square. Stage performances will take place at Sai Van Lake Square at 8:45 p.m. Upon the parade's arrival at Sai Van Lake Square, part of the performing teams will continue their performance on stage. A fireworks show will then dazzle the night sky at 10 p.m. To encourage public involvement, MGTO will co-launch a mobile text message game with Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM), inviting citizens to choose their favorite performance team among the local teams on the third night of Lunar New Year. The most popular team will be invited to join the Popular Street Marching Parades in Lisbon, Portugal. On the third night of Lunar New Year, MGTO will live broadcast the parade through the LED screens at Macau Science Center, Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva, Iao Hon Market Garden, Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van, Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre as well as Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa so that spectators can enjoy the spectacular show of the whole parade. At the same time, TDM and Macau Cable TV will live broadcast the parade and record the show for subsequent broadcast; the show will also be broadcasted on TVB Jade channel in Hong Kong later. Around 280 staff and 250 volunteers will participate in the event on the third day of Lunar New Year. On the ninth day of Lunar New Year, the Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse will again feature 13 floats which will set off from Avenida do Conselheiro Borja and adjourn at Iao Hon Market Garden where stage performances are presented. The 13 floats in the Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse will be showcased at Sai Van Lake Square and Tap Seac Square respectively from 3 – 16 February. The illuminations of the floats will be on from 7 – 11 p.m. during the above period. MGTO has started promoting the parade among citizens and visitors through television/radio commercials, internet, printed materials, press, posters, flyers, advertising boards and light boxes, bus and street-lamp post advertising, etc. The Office will also join the Lantern Festival celebrations organized by IACM at Tap Seac Square on the 15th of the first lunar month, including float display and artistic performances.
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Consumer Council conducted its third 'Supermarket price survey' for January on 8th January for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included 8 supermarkets in Toi San, Ilha Verde and Fai Chi Kei areas in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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In order to promote the growth of Macao's fashion design sector, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB) launched the "Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making" in June 2013, which attracted 27 applications. The subsidy aims to help designers develop their fashion label and career, by funding them in producing samples and promotional catalogues, as well as participating in local and overseas fashion exhibitions and marketing events. The second review of the Programme was completed - in October 2013, where eight applying fashion works were selected, whose production will be subsidized by the CAB. The adjudicating panel concluded that the overall standard of the applying works is acceptable, selecting the following applicants: Tam Chi Kit, Chan Wai Chan, Cheang Chi Tat, Lei Weng Man & Lei Ho Sin Ieng (duo), Wai Chin Seong, Cheang Man Cheng & Tse Ka Wai (duo), Lee Ming San, Cheong Oi Leng. The CAB will provide the selected applicants a subsidy as budgeted in their proposals, which can be up to a maximum of Mop150,000. The CAB staff will notify the selected applicants by phone. The adjudicating panel was composed of fashion professionals with different backgrounds from Hong Kong and Macao like fashion design, retail, manufacture, academia and public sector. They included Dr. Raymond Au, Associate Academic Director at the Hong Kong Design Institute and former Associate Head and Professor at the Institute of Textiles & Clothing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Mr. Walter Ma, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association; Ms. Victoria Kuan, Senior Manager at the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM); Ms. Terry Sio, member of the Committee of Cultural Industries of Macao and President of the Rainbow Group; Mr. Fong Son Kin, Vice-President of the Macau Industries Association (was unable to take part in second review process due to his business needs); Mr. António Conceição Junior, a veteran fashion designer from Macao; and Mr. Chan Peng Fai, Chief of the CAB's Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries. The CAB wished to draw from the adjudicating panel's vast professional experiences in fashion, hoping that they could offer participants professional advices to help them optimize their design concept, marketing and development plans. The jury pointed out that applicants to the Programme in general showed inadequate attention to business plan; hence they advised them to devise a more complete and comprehensive business and budgeting strategies in the future, so as to embrace future competitions. To further promote the selected designers and their works, the CAB plans to invite them to show their finished fashion samples at the Macao Fashion Gallery this year. Any enquiries regarding the results of the Programme, please call (853) 28924040 Ms. Lam or Ms. Lau of the CAB during office hours.
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The Macao Orchestra (MO), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB), presents a concert titled Incomplete Cathedral, included in its Classics' series, to be held on 11 January, at 8pm at St. Dominic's Church, under the baton of its Principal Conductor, Lü Jia. In this concert, the MO presents Anton Bruckner's 9th Symphony in D Minor, the last and unfinished opus of a giant, which reflects a life of diligent work and an eternal ode to the glorification of God. When Bruckner completed the third movement of his Ninth Symphony in 1894, the composer was 72 years old. He would still live two more years but would not find the strength to finish the final movement of the work, of which he left several sketches. Therefore, the score became known as the "Unfinished" of the composer. Just like almost all his previous symphonies, the Ninth suffered cuts and adaptations before a trustworthy version was finally presented to the public, under Ferdinand Löwe in Vienna in 1903, after Bruckner's death. The symphony is a powerful work due to magnificence of its conception and the atmosphere of celestial peace of its moving closing Adagio. The tickets for this concert are free and will be distributed one hour before the performance at the concert venue. Distribution is limited to a maximum of 2 tickets per person. The concert will be broadcast live through a screen installed outside the church. May For more information, please check MO's website at www.icm.gov.mo/om, or www.icm.gov.mo.
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Consumer Council conducted its 'Supermarket price survey' for January on 6th January for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Iao Hon Market and the Border Gate area (Portas do Cerco ) in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), and the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. With reference to the local six parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today sent his condolences to the family of the late Portuguese football legend Eusebio. Mr Chui said in his condolence letter that the people of Macao and the Portuguese community in Macao felt sorry to the death of Eusebio, who passed away on 5 January of a heart attack, at the age of 71. The Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon, Mr Raimundo Arrais do Rosário, will personally hand the letter to the family of the late Eusebio da Silva Ferreira.
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The Information Technology Team of Institute for Tourism Studies has been audited for its IT Service Management System in October 2013 and successfully found to be in accordance with the requirements of ISO20000 by the renowned Bureau Veritas Certification. The certificate is valid from November 2013. IFT becomes the first higher education institute to receive this international certification. ISO20000 Certification in Information Technology Service Management Standard is inspired from the British Standard BS15000 model and aligned with the process approach defined by the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) of Office of Government Commerce (OGC). ISO20000 Certification helps companies to improve the sustainability of their IT services and infrastructure, streamline IT processes, boost effectiveness and ensure a controlled, consistent high quality delivery of services both internally and externally for extended networks and their end customers. The major management processes of the ISO20000 Standard comprise IT Service Level, Budgeting & Accounting, Supplier & Business Relationship, Information Security, Change & Release, Incident & Service Request, etc. to ensure the ultimate objective of effective information technology service management. Implementing the management of ISO20000 demonstrates the commitment of IFT to provide and maintain high quality IT services. Modernising the administration is the policy of Macao SAR Government, which IFT has been actively cooperating with. Besides, IFT focuses on quality management of teaching and administration. With the advanced development of the Institute, most of its internal administrative processes and external services have become electronic, and its effective operation depends on the related IT support to a certain extent. Therefore, IFT has attached high importance to IT management and decided to introduce ISO20000 Information Technology Service Management Standard at the end of 2011 to ensure its effective, quality and sustainable IT services. Before achieving the ISO20000 Certification, IT department of IFT spent almost two years on attending trainings, developing service management system, designing management processes, testing and revising work processes, launching and accepting the audit. During this period, IT department faces some challenges, such as lack of manpower due to the increased workload, change of working method, insufficient knowledge, etc. Yet, these problems have been solved thanks to the great support, active participation, collaboration and patience of all members of the IT department, and the Institute finally received the ISO20000 Certification in November 2013. ISO20000 Certification is not the end but a new beginning to strive for becoming better and gradually approaching perfection. One of the key requirements of ISO20000 Standard is actively seeking for improvement in alignment with business objectives, customers' needs and IT development, so as to satisfy users' needs on IT service quality. Attaining ISO20000 Certification is not only for the purpose of adopting the best practice of information service and improving the service quality, but also introducing into the principles of ISO management including transparent and standardised work process, measurable performance and accountability.
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A paper which is co-authored by University of Macau (UM) Rector Wei Zhao, his research team, and Prof. Li Ming from East China Normal University has been ranked among China's 100 Most Influential International Papers (2012) and the Latest Most Influential Papers in China (on Biology), according to a recent issue of Statistical Data of Chinese S&T Papers 2013 released by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (ISTIC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Another paper co-authored by Rector Wei Zhao and Prof. Fu Xinwen from the University of Massachusetts received the Best Paper Award at the Eighth International Conference on Wireless Algorithms, Systems, and Applications (WASA 2013). The first paper, entitled "Visiting Power Laws in Cyber-Physical Networking Systems", written under the National 973 Internet of Things Project, is internationally acclaimed for its theoretical model which helps expand our knowledge of the laws of network-transmitted data and greatly facilitates the analysis of the upper reaches of peer-to-peer data latency in heterogeneous network. This paper demonstrates UM's innovation in research and produces a significant impact on the development of the internet of things. According to Rector Wei Zhao, any large-scale cyber-physical system such as the internet of things is comprised of numerous sub-systems. These sub-systems in turn have their own structures and network protocols which are hard to be compatible with one another, and such an incompatibility is restricting the development of the internet of things. However, the need for real-time communication and system control requires close association of these sub-systems. Hence a uniformed network data model is of vital importance to the effective allocation and management of network resources; or else any large-scale data network would be made ineffective and weak. One of the challenges facing the development of the internet of things is building a uniformed and effective network model. Scientists have observed that the distribution of network data very often works in the same way as that under the power-law, but they have yet to formulate an underpinning theoretical model for that. This award-winning paper reveals for the first time that such a phenomenon is a result of a massive amount of data distributed statistically in conformity with the special fractional partial differential equations. The other paper, entitled "Effective RSS Sampling for Forensic Wireless Localization", which is co-authored by Rector Wei Zhao and Prof. Fu Xinwen, a former student of his and currently an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts, proposes a ground-breaking theory of signal control at a certain point by means of a particular pattern of sampling. The Nyquist theory is then used to apply to the result of the sampling to restore the original pattern of signal emissions so that interferences can be avoided. By applying the restored signal to compute the position, the problem of positioning is solved. This method does not rely on any system of signal feedback other than an RSS receiver. Empirical studies have shown that by using this method, positioning is by far more precise than using other techniques. The wireless positioning advocated in the paper has wide applications and very useful for wireless positioning in the complex indoor situations. One of the most important conferences on wireless network, the WASA focusses on the most advanced technologies of wireless network in the aspects of algorithms system, security and application. The conference proceedings are published in the international refereed journal Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS). The ISTIC is the most authoritative rating body in China on the quality and influence of the technology research papers. It draws its data and statistics from various influential databases including the Science Citation Index (SCI), the Engineering Index (EI), the Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science (CPCI-S), MEDLINE, the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and Scopus. When selecting the 100 most influential international papers in China, apart from using the authoritative indexes as a guide, the ISTIC also convened a special panel of experts to rate the papers in terms of whether the research is groundbreaking, whether the journal that carries the paper is of good academic standing, and whether the study is at the frontier in its field. It also considered the type of the study and the references used. Thus, the winning of these awards really testifies to UM's research strength.
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