News

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) announced the findings of the "Feasibility Study of Family Hostel" today (17 December). MGTO held a briefing session on the result findings for the "Feasibility Study of Family Hostel" today. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong attended the briefing session. During June and July in 2014, MGTO commissioned a research institute to carry out a feasibility study of family hostel. The study consists of an opinion poll (street and online survey) and case analysis. In addition, MGTO conducted an analysis on the regulations. Opinion poll
A total of 2,243 samples were collected through street survey and online questionnaire. 2,028 interviewees came from the street and 215 from the Internet. Among the supporters (62% of interviewees), over 50% think that room prices are relatively cheaper in family hostels while 30% think that visitors can be offered more choices. Other reasons for support include that family hostels can enable visitors to experience Macau's local culture, entice a greater variety of visitors and extend their length of stay, etc. Among those who oppose family hostels (33% of interviewees), 70% concern primarily about public security issues which may arise from family hostels while other reasons for opposition include regulatory issues, surge of flat prices, traffic problem, etc. Without any prerequisite, over half of the interviewees (62.5%) support the idea of family hostel. However, there is not a particular district in Macau considered as the most suitable district for family hostel establishment. Only the interviewees who live in Cathedral Parish and Coloane prefer having family hostels open in their own districts, while residents of other districts would rather no family hostel open in their districts. For those who support the establishment of family hostels, a greater percentage of them demand the fulfillment of the following preconditions: self-operation by practical user of premises (68.3%), limit set on total room number (75.1%), individual apartments with an independent access (71.8%), single-block buildings (80.5%) and amendments on current regulations about hotels and relevant business (69.2%). They also demand that before launching family hostels, the Government should make better planning including formulation of regulations and standards for family hostel establishment, as well as stipulation on location of family hostels; the Government should also carry out regulatory measures effectively, maintain public security and hygienic environment while sending inspectors on patrol. Case analysis
Based on the situation in Macau, the research institute selected a range of cases for analysis from Hong Kong; Xiamen; Sanya; Taiwan, China; and Japan. The institute compared and analyzed the cases with regard to the relevant laws, stipulated limit on room number, building standards and requirements as well as management style of operators in their respective destinations. As a result, the study summarizes the challenges encountered and accomplishments achieved by these destinations during their policy enforcement of family hostels, to serve as reference for Macau. Analysis points out that there is no single definition of family hostel. Family hostel is not equal to budget hostel; the existence of family hostel is based on a demand for complementary supplies to remedy room shortage of hotels or guest houses during peak travel season and in more remote regions; family hostels should be operated in single-block buildings, while their establishment should target visitors from different niche markets; relevant business guideline or regulations are required. Legal analysis MGTO conducted a study and analysis on the current legal framework of the Macau SAR and its regulations on establishment of family hostels. The Office also carried out a legal analysis on the feasibility of family hostel within the current regulations. Analysis points out that the types of accommodation stipulated in Article No. 5, Clause No. 1 of the Decree No. 16/96/M (New Regulation on permission for hotels and related business) do not include family hostel, as an accommodation type under study, within the current regulations of the Macau SAR; in other words, development of family hostels in Macau requires formulation of new regulations or amendments on the current Decree No. 16/96/M (New Regulation on permission for hotels and related business) as a prerequisite. Conclusion
In summary, although over 60% of interviewees in the opinion poll support the idea of family hostel, they demand the fulfillment of numerous preconditions including the development conditions of family hostels and the Government's overall planning and effective supervision. Nevertheless, not many interviewees prefer having family hostels open in their own communities, and in general they worry about issues of public security, hygiene, traffic, flat prices and so on. In other words, a thorough consensus of opinion has not been formed on this widely-concerned subject about the development of family hostels in Macau. In addition, the current regulations and relevant supporting facilities do not meet the preliminary requirements to kick start the development of family hostels. MGTO will pay close attention to the market demand and supply of accommodation establishments of all types in the future. The study findings will serve as reference for future amendments and formulation of policies. This press release is available at: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/index.php?page_id=172
…

From 16th to 18th December 2014 the Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) hosted the Third Macao International Forum. The Forums are held every two years. They have become part of an important Macao inter-disciplinary research initiative that began with the First Macao International Forum (MIF1) in December 2010. That first Forum dealt with English as an International Language and was co-hosted by Peking University. The Second Macao International Forum (MIF2) focused on international security and order in East and South East Asia, and was co-hosted by the Institute for Security and International Studies (ISIS), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. The Third Forum was again co-hosted by Peking University. It was graced by the presence of distinguished guests of honour: Mr. Pu Hailong, Deputy Director of the Culture and Education Dept. of the Liaison Office of the People's Central Government in Macao SAR; Ms. Ji Zhiyuan, Associate Director of Policy Research Dept. of the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC in Macao SAR; Mr. Sou Chio Fai', Director of the Tertiary Education Services Office of Macao SAR Government; Mr. Wong Kin Mou, Acting Deputy Director of the Education and Youth Affairs Office of Macao SAR Government; Prof. Gao Yihong, Representative of Peking University; and Prof. Yang Zaihuai, Acting Vice President of Macao Polytechnic Institute. The Forums bring together leading international experts to address key issues of global enquiry. The books resulting from the first two forums have been published: Andy Kirkpatrick and Roland Sussex (eds), English as an International Language in Asia: Implications for Language Education (Springer, 1912); Peter Shearman (ed.), Power transition and international order in Asia (Routledge, 2014). MIF3 was chaired by Prof. Mao Sihui, Executive Chairman of the MIF Organizing Committee, and convened by Professor Andy Curtis, Anaheim University, California, USA. The papers from the Forum will be published in an edited volume by a leading international publisher. MIF3 brought together prominent scholars in their fields from across the world, including Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, the People's Republic of China, Thailand, the United States of America, and Vietnam. Speakers included Professor Andy Curtis (Anaheim University, USA), Professor Gao Yihong (Peking University, PRC), Professor Juliane House (Hellenic American University, NH, USA), Professor Andrew Lian (Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand), Professor Oshima Kimie (Kanagawa University, Japan), Dr Pham Nhung (Hue University of Foreign Languages, Vietnam), Professor Joanna Radwańska-Williams (Macao Polytechnic Institute), Professor Mao Sihui (Macao Polytechnic Institute and Bell School of Languages), Professor Roland Sussex (The University of Queensland, Australia), Professor Don Snow (Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, PRC), and Professor Wu Doreen (Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong). Macao Polytechnic Institute has created a high-quality forum in which leading international scholars from around the world can work together on key issues relating to Macao and the rest of Asia. MIF3 has added to the reputation of MPI as a leading international focus for high-quality and contributions to knowledge in key areas under investigation.
…

Consumer Council conducted its fourth 'Supermarket price survey' in December on 15 December for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Horte e Costa, Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga and Rua da Emenda areas in Santo António 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.
…

The Center for Studies of Translation, Interpreting and Cognition (CSTIC), which is under the University of Macau's (UM) Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH), was inaugurated last month during the two-day International Workshop on Biological Foundations of Languages hosted by the CSTIC. The mission of the CSTIC is to probe into the underlying cognition of translation and interpreting. Reaffirming UM's aspiration to become a world-class university, leaders from the academic community who officiated at the opening ceremony pointed out that the multidisciplinary initiatives that bring the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences together has happened in the right place at the right time. UM Rector Wei Zhao addressed the inauguration ceremony for the CSTIC and the opening ceremony of the workshop. "The new campus became operational just two months ago and the event is the very first of its kind happening here,' noted Rector Zhao. "We've been determined to build a campus for a world-class university since we decided to build the new campus. One thing that all first-class universities have in common is that they always have first-class departments/centers in their own mother-tongue languages. We have three mother tongues here in Macao, namely Chinese, English and Portuguese. So we're determined to build up our Faculty of Arts and Humanities, especially the Departments of Chinese, English and Portuguese." "As for sciences, one of the major sciences for the 21st century is life sciences. So we have established the Faculty of Health Sciences dedicated to research and teaching of life sciences. This workshop is right at the intersection of languages and life sciences. We hope that such platforms would help us build a better university to serve Macao, and hopefully we will become a world-class university one day," the rector observed. Academic leaders who officiated at the ceremony included Prof Haydn Chen, vice rector of UM; Prof Xu Jie, associate dean of the FAH; Prof William Shi-Yuan Wang, director of the Joint Research Centre for Language and Human Complexity at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK); and Prof Li Defeng, director of the CSTIC. Prof Martin Montgomery, interim dean of the FAH, remarked that if language itself is complex, then how one encodes - not just from meaning to form - but also how one recodes between one form and another in real time - is possibly the most complex of all human activities. "To study this process will require skills and insights from more than one discipline and thus, in setting up the Centre for Studies of Translation, Interpreting and Cognition, we are creating a cross-disciplinary platform for these insights to come together. And it is especially apt, I believe, that we do so in the context of a meeting on Biological Foundations of Languages," said Prof Montgomery. Prof John Corbett, head of the Department of English, pointed out that Translation Studies has firmly established itself alongside Linguistics and Literary Studies as one of the three pillars of the Department of English at UM. "It is extremely satisfying to me and to the department to be able to celebrate the launch of this interdisciplinary research platform in the company of scholars participating in the workshop," said Prof Corbett. "Hosting international workshops of this kind is also a fantastic way of stimulating the research culture of UM." Introducing the aims and missions of the CSTIC, Prof Yuanjian He of the English Department, who initiated the establishment of the centre, stressed that it has been the very type of research that is directly relevant to the global effort of the 21st century trying to unveil the intriguing and mysterious workings of the brain, particularly those that have to do with language processing. Co-organised by the newly-established CSTIC, the University System of Taiwan, and CUHK's Joint Research Center for Language and Human Complexity, the workshop attracted 47 scholars from the United States, Spain, Israel, Finland, mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao. It highlights four themes: language and gene, language and reading, language and neuroscience, as well as language and language impairment.
…

Starting today (15 December), Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is staging a new series of 3D mapping shows around the themes "Past", "Present" and "Future" respectively at three different tourist spots in celebration of the 15th Anniversary of Macau SAR Establishment together with visitors and local citizens. Organized by MGTO and co-organized by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), the new series of 3D mapping shows will be staged at the Handover Gifts Museum of Macau, Our Lady of Carmel Church on Taipa and Chapel of St. Francis Xavier on Coloane from 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. during 15 – 31 December. Citizens and visitors can enjoy the shows for free. Every show spans about 10 minutes. The show on Taipa comprises an interactive session, and therefore its duration will depend on spectators' participation. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Director Cecilia Tse and Head of Tourism Product and Events Department Isabel Augusto officiated the kick-off ceremony. This series of 3D mapping shows revolves around the theme "Past • Present • Future". Themed as "Past", the show will manifest Macau's transformation through the history upon the exterior wall of the Handover Gifts Museum of Macau; during the interactive session about "Present", spectators can take part by designing the 3D mapping show to their own style with the installations in front of Our Lady of Carmel Church on Taipa; whereas the show about "future" will display local children's drawings at the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier on Coloane. 3D mapping shows are popular among locals and visitors in recent years. The Government has arranged such shows at historic monuments like Ruins of St. Paul's and Mandarin's House on the World Heritage site in the past. For a period of 15 days this April, MGTO also staged a 3D mapping show named "Icons • Macau" at Macau Fisherman's Wharf – one of the tourist attractions along the walking tour route "A Tour of Arts and Culture" under the theme "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities". A related poll was then conducted to collect public opinions for reference when launching similar tourism products in the future.
…

Hosted by the Macao SAR Government, coordinated by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), the 2015 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2015MIECF) will be held at The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from 26th to 28th March 2015.
The 8th Edition of MIECF has adopted the theme "Green Economy – Solutions for Clean Air", 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, Environmental Services, Air Quality and other environmental goods and services.
In 2014MIECF, the event received the strong support of 50 government departments from different countries and regions, regional and international associations, institutions and trade associations, with over 6,300 professional visitors from 43 countries and regions. 436 entities and enterprises exhibited on a floor area exceeding 16,900 sqm. Meanwhile, 787 business matching sessions were arranged and 26 projects were signed on-site during the 3-day event. 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. 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 19th December 2014.
Besides, the "Green Bazaar" section will be continually held at the exhibition on the "Green Public Day", the last day of 2015MIECF, 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. 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 30th January 2015. Due to the limited number of booths, the Organizers will also reserve the right to select eligible exhibitors.
Relevant application forms are available as from today 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.
…

Fifty outstanding individuals and entities were presented with honours today for their contribution to Macao and dedication to community service. Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On presented the honours at the annual presentation ceremony, held at the Cultural Centre. The awards are Decorations of Honour, including the Decoration of Honour - Grand Lotus, the Decoration of Honour - Golden Lotus and the Decoration of Honour - Silver Lotus, are awarded to individuals or entities that have made outstanding contributions to the image and reputation of the Macao Special Administration Region. This year's recipients are: Decoration of Honour - Golden Lotus Vitor Ng Decoration of Honour - Silver Lotus Chio Ngan Ieng Seven types of Medals of Merit are awarded for: 1. Professions; 2. Industry and Commerce; 3. Tourism; 4. Education; 5. Culture; 6. Philanthropy; and 7. Sport. Each of these categories is awarded to individuals or entities that have make major or excellent contributions in their respective fields. The recipients are: Medal of Merit – Professions Liu Chung Laung João Augusto da Rosa Mário Alberto de Brito Lima Évora Medal of Merit – Industry and Commerce Ung Choi Kun Ip Kai Ming Un Chong San Kevin Ho King Lun Medal of Merit – Tourism Air Macau Co, Ltd. Hoi Man Pak Lao Nga Wong Future Bright Holdings Limited Medal of Merit – Education Tse Chi Wai Vu Hon In Hoi Soi Kuai Tam Wai Chan Medal of Merit – Culture Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. (TDM) Lao Hua Ricardo Jorge Fonseca de Almeida Pinto Lio Kuok Man Medal of Merit – Philanthropy Medical team of General Medicine Division and Day Hospital of the Conde S. Januario Hospital of the Health Bureau Arlene Trant Maria Isabel Gomes dos Santos Marreiros Medal of Merit – Sport Pun Keng Man Sam Kei Medals for Distinguished Services are awarded to public entities, organisations or their staffs for outstanding performance of their duties or community service. The recipients are: Medal for Distinguished Service - Medal for Bravery Drug Criminal Cases Investigation Division of the Judiciary Police Rescuers of Operations and Ambulance Division of the Fire Services Bureau Medal for Distinguished Service - Medal for Dedication José Chu Chan Wai Pan Fong Iek Seng Au Ning Kin Leong Kok Kin Medal for Distinguished Service - Medal for Community Service Lam Sut Peng Chan Sun Tao Pau Soi Ieng Certificates of Merit including the Honorific Title - Prestige and the Honorific Title – Merit, commend Macao SAR residents or others who have made major contributions to the reputation, development or social progress of the Macao SAR. The recipients are: Honorific Title - Prestige Li Pak Ho Honorific Title - Merit Choi Sut Ian Chao Man Hou Macau Diving Team Li Yi Huang Junhua Cheung Pui Si Paula Cristina Pereira Carion Liu Qing Wang Junnan Chan Ian Weng Lo Kin Ian Cheong Wai Hang Chao Koi Wang
…

The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP127.9 billion (USD16.02 billion) at the end of November 2014. The reserves decreased by 0.7% from the revised value of MOP128.8 billion (USD16.12 billion) for the previous month. Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves at end-November 2014 represented 12 times the currency in circulation or 102.8% of Pataca M2 at end-October 2014. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency's exchange rates against the currencies of Macao's major trading partners, rose 1.17 points month-to-month and 3.71 points year-on-year to 100.64 in November 2014.
…

Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), the "Parade through Macau, Latin City", in celebration of the 15th Anniversary of Macao's Handover to China, took place on December 14, beginning at the Ruins of St. Paul with the opening ceremony "Launch into Space". The Parade gathered the best local and foreign artists, in a total of over two Thousand artists that performed in streets filled with Latin charm, cheerfully singing and dancing through St. Lazarus' Quarter up to Tap Seac Square for the grand joint performance "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration", allowing the whole city to participate and celebrate the occasion of the anniversary of Macao's handover to China. It attracted viewership of over eighty thousand including the audience present at the parade, those who watched the live televised broadcast and the simulcast on several outdoor screens at various locations.
The "Parade through Macau, Latin City" is themed around "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration", sharing the idea of "An Annual Celebration for the Whole City - VIVA". This edition featured more than 50 local and foreign performing groups, in a total of over two thousand people that joined VIVA in a fantastic journey of discovery and exploration of live. Officiating the opening ceremony were Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macau S.A.R. Government, Cheong U; Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Sun Da; Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Hu Zhengyue; Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Guangzhou, Félix Raúl Rojas Cruz; Consul General of the Republic of Ecuador in Guangzhou, Mariella Molina; Consul General of Spain in Hong Kong, Juan Manuel López-Nadal, and the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Ung Vai Meng. "Interstellar Journey" celebrates handover; city participates in collective joy The Parade began at 4pm with the opening ceremony "Interstellar Journey", featuring Spanish group Cal y Canto Teatro's kites, a symbol of aliens coming to Earth, and the rhythm of bell sounds by the Macao Handbells Association, sending energy and enthusiasm onto space, while the VIVAs celebrated the handover together with the artists and the crowd. Dressed-up groups arrived one by one, wearing cheerful clothes full of Latin charm and carrying extraordinary balloons that resembled sea creatures, revealing their skills at the Ruins of St. Paul, setting off this party in space. This edition told the tale of a party in space, describing the story of the birth of alien life in a faraway galaxy that spreads the ancient and unique Latin culture, but whose world, due to the impact of the quick technological development, has lost colour and shine. Luckily, on Earth, VIVA, the Parade's mascot, launches the power of "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration" onto space, helping the culture of alien life recovers its colours and prolonging joy, to the world's jubilation.
Along the Parade's route an array of performances took place, including colourful face painting offered to the audience, at Largo de Santo António, Rua de Sanches de Miranda and Calçada da Igreja de São Lázaro, by the hand of participants in the previously held "Face Painting Workshop", given by Hong Kong and Macao stage make-up artists, Sunny Chan Ming Long. Several groups gave excellent performances throughout the Parade's route, exciting and allowing the public to fully participate in this festive occasion and creating a joyful atmosphere in all streets and alleys. Closing Ceremony "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration"; extraordinary feast of joy Participating groups presented at Tap Seac Square, at 6pm, the closing joint performance "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration". One by one, the groups took to the stage, hypnotising the audience with seven successive performances and earning an enthusiastic response from the public. The closing ceremony features a stage fitted with a spaceship-shaped raising platform, highlighting the sense of space and strengthening the interactivity between dancers and multimedia. Song and dance under dazzling lights spread throughout the venue, allowing all present to feel up in the space. Also in this ceremony, multimedia images of the "Silk Maritime Road" took the audience through a time tunnel, taking as theme for several ballets the concepts of "light", "shadow dances" and "electrodes", with one hundred dancers dressed as aliens and, with the help of VIVA, collecting the whole city's power of "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration" and sending it onto space, helping the planet recover its colour and putting back a smile on the aliens' faces. Tap Seac Square also featured sea creatures' balloons as well as a two-headed twenty metres-long dragon, a spectacular sight that earned the audience's applause. In the evening, participating groups took part in a banquet offered by the Tourist Office, celebrating the success of the Parade. Remarkable local groups perform abroad; favourable reviews of promotional events Present at the Parade were groups from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Italy, Panama, Venezuela, France and Spain, among other countries and regions, the groups including Group Folklore Sun Argentina, Latin Group, French Les Monts Rieurs and Plasticiens Volants, Spanish Batucada Villa Pipol, from the Canary Islands, and Teatro Cal y Canto as well as Indonesian Red Batik Solo Community. Mainland China was represented by Maogusi dances of the Tujia ethnic group, from Hong Kong came Happy Clowns and Fantasy Puppet Theatre, with further performances by the Formosa Indigenous Song & Dance Troupe and over 40 groups from Macao. Local groups that stood out in this edition of the Parade will have to chance to perform abroad next year with the support of the organisation and promote Macao's cultural characteristics. The "Parade through Macao, Latin City" is the biggest outdoor event in celebration of Macao's handover to China. This year, the organisation prepared several promotion activities for the event, namely the "Press Conference on the Parade through Macao, Latin City – VIVA Launch into Space", a Parade Promotion Day and leaflets on the theme of alien life specially commissioned to local illustrators. It also invited local musicians to compose the event's music theme, mobilised VIVA Ambassadors to provide services to the event, organised a photography contest open to all, promoted the Parade in the areas included in the Parade route and raised tourists' enthusiastic support, received support of Air Macau in the promotion of the Facebook game "Find VIVA and win airplane tickets" , which attracted nearly 4,000 participants joining the game, and established cooperation with several television channels for the broadcast of special programmes to promote the event, among others, capturing the attention of the whole city. In order to spread and promote the festive atmosphere of the Parade, on the event day, CCTV-13 and CCTV-NEWS live broadcasted the Parade on their special programme, taking the joyous occasion to other parts of the world. Likewise, screens for live broadcast were set up outdoors at Senado Square, Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, Areia Preta Garden and Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro, among other places. A TDM – Teledifusão de Macau S.A. broadcast the Parade live on its Chinese and Portuguese channels on December 14, from 4 to 7pm, and on TDM HD from 4 to 7.30pm. Hong Kong's TVB channel transmitted, on December 12, at 7.30pm, on the programme "Scoop", a foretaste of the Parade, and, on December 20 at 3.30pm-4pm, it will broadcast a Parade Special Programme, taking even further the city's celebrations of Macao's handover to China. The "Parade through Macao, Latin City" was organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and co-organised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Macao Government Tourist Office, the Public Security Police Force, the Transport Bureau, the Fire Services Bureau, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of Macao and the Macao Association for the Promotion of Exchange between Asia-Pacific and Latin America. It was also supported by various organisations, including the Macao General Union of Neighbourhood Associations, the Macao Sam Pa Mun Residents Mutual Aid Association, the Macao Soi Ho Cheok Residents Mutual Aid Association, as well as VIVA Ambassadors supporters, namely the Recreation Club of the Bank of China – Macao Branch, the Macao Community Youth Volunteers Development Association, the General Volunteers Association of Macao and the Association of Social Service Volunteers Macao. This edition of the Parade also received full support of Companhia de Transportes Aéreos Air Macau, S.A.R.L. TDM – Teledifusão de Macau S.A. did the live broadcast.
…

Secretary General of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of Central Military Commission, Mr Xi Jinping, will make a two-day visit (19 and 20 December) to Macao to attend 15th anniversary celebrations of Macao's return to the motherland and inauguration ceremony of the fourth-term Macao Special Administrative Region Government.
…