News

Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the 29th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) takes place from 4 October to 1 November, including a total of 23 extraordinary performances. Tickets will be on sale from 10am this Sunday, 23 August, at Macau Ticketing Network; telephone and online bookings will be available from 12pm on the same day. On the first day of ticket sales, each person can purchase up to 10 tickets in maximum every time for each performance; while 2 tickets in maximum for free admission performances are only allowed for each person every time. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will distribute queuing vouchers at the Macau Ticketing Network starting from 9am on the first day of ticket sales. Purchasers can buy tickets according to the respective queuing vouchers. Themed as “Soundmazing” in the edition of MIMF this year, the Festival includes top-level musicians and ensembles that will offer music fans a great diversity of unique performances, such as the extraordinary Symphony No. 3 by Gustav Mahler that will kick-off the Festival and the closing performance Faust by Charles Gounod, an opera in five acts that explores human nature, as well as world renowned BBC Philharmonic, from the United Kingdom, internationally renowned violinist Gidon Kremer and the Kremerata Baltica, extraordinary jazz singers Patti Austin, Janis Siegel and Elisa Chan and also Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds, among many other top-rated musicians and ensembles that will render outstanding musical performances. Besides, two special concerts Bravo Macao will be held on 25 and 26 September, which allows local musicians to display their full potential. Early bird with 40% discounts are available for each ticket purchases of 4 different performances or same performances for 10 or more ticket purchases, or by presenting a valid full-time Student Card, Teacher Card, Macao Senior Citizen Card or Disability Assessment Registration Card (one discounted ticket per performance per card holder) between 23 August and 30 August. A 30% discount for ticket purchases based on the above-mentioned information will be available on or after 31 August. Holders of BOC Multi-Currency Credit Card or BOC Card may also enjoy 30% discounts on tickets for “Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 3”, “Faust - Opera in 5 Acts by Charles Gounod” or “Xian Xinghai and Liu Tianhua Commemorative Concert”. Besides, 20% discount will be offered in the purchase of any MIMF tickets for holders of BOC Multi-Currency Credit Card or BOC Card, as well as to holders of BCM Bank, Tai Fung Bank, BNU or OCBC Wing Hang Bank’s MasterCard, VISA or UnionPay cards. For more details on the MIMF’s programme, please visit the Festival website at www.icm.gov.mo/fimm. For more information, please call the number 8399 6699 (during office hours) or the 24-hour ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. Ticketing website: www.macauticket.com.
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IFT 2015/16 Degree Programme Student Orientation Ceremony was held on 20 August with the presence of IFT academic team, degree programme freshmen and exchange students. President of IFT, Dr. Fanny Vong presented her warmest welcome to the new comers during the ceremony. Dr. Vong expressed that the 374 new students should be well equipped in these 4 years of study and be ready for the tourism development of Macao and opportunities in the years ahead. As highlighted by Dr. Vong, the year 2015 is a milestone for the Institute as we are celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Looking back when IFT was established in 1995, it had only around 100 undergraduate students. Two decades since then, IFT has made significant progress and achievements in various areas, increasing student intake, enhancing quality and variety of programmes and courses, as well as pursuing excellence in teaching and research. Now IFT is an internationally recognised institution and the number of our degree programme students has increased by more than 13 times to around 1,600. Until now, over 6,000 degree and higher diploma students graduated, while an average of 20,000 people participated in its professional training courses every year. In order to cope with whole-person development education model, IFT has a balanced curriculum of both theories and practices. It emphasises on student quality nurturing and always supports students to organise real projects, among which some are charitable events. Through learning by action, students not only can help the needy and the community, but also put theory into practice. The experience of learning to work with people from different walks of life and cultures sharpens their interpersonal skill. Besides, IFT encourages students to participate in extra-curricular activities so that their 4-year university life could further flourish. Dr. Vong also hoped that students could develop vital professional abilities, including teamwork spirit, organisational skill, time management skill, communication skill, as well as positive attitude that can help overcome challenges and develop them into knowledgeable, competent and hirable elites. Freshmen on the day went through a competitive and rigorous admission examination and interview processes before selected by the Institute. Being one of the public tertiary institutes in Macao, IFT will continue to cultivate tourism professionals and offer more dynamic courses to cope with the development of Macao. During the ceremony, the Institute also presented Institute Scholarship, Dean’s List awards and Extra-curricular Activity awards to its students.
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Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário, said the Government considered to modify the construction plan of public housing in Tamagnini Barbosa area (Toi San) before resuming its construction. This modification involved changing its three-basement design into one only or into none, the Secretary told the press after attending a phone-in radio program on 19 August. The Government is closely monitoring the construction of public housing, there were several projects ongoing, while two in Toi San and Mong Ha were suspended, said Mr Raimundo Rosário. He also revealed that the project in Mong Ha would be carried out after reaching consensus with the contractor. The Secretary disclosed the Government would consider to revise the Home-Ownership Scheme, including more penalties for those who used the units for other purposes.
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The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released survey results of Manpower Needs and Wages of the Gaming Sector for the second quarter of 2015. Survey coverage excludes junket promoters and junket associates. At the end of the second quarter of 2015, the Gaming Sector had 57,422 full-time employees, up by 1.3% year-on-year; there were 25,072 dealers, down by 2.5%. In June 2015, average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) of full-time employees stood at MOP21,480, up by 6.5% year-on-year. Average earnings of dealers increased by 6.0% to MOP18,580. Job vacancies totalled 507 at the end of the second quarter of 2015, down by 1,022 year-on-year. Vacancies for dealers dropped by 396 to 107. In terms of recruitment prerequisites, 46.9% of the vacancies required working experience; 57.8% required senior secondary education or higher, and requirement for knowledge of Mandarin and English stood at 95.3% and 53.1% respectively. In the second quarter of 2015, a total of 1,972 new employees were hired, a decrease from 3,124 in the same quarter of 2014, bringing the employee recruitment rate down by 2.0 percentage points year-on-year to 3.5%; meanwhile, the employee turnover rate (1.5%) and job vacancy rate (0.9%) fell by 2.6 and 1.7 percentage points respectively, indicating a slowdown in demand for manpower. As regards vocational training, the Gaming sector had 44,769 participants attending training courses provided by the enterprise (including courses organized by the enterprise or in conjunction with other institutions, and those sponsored by the enterprise), up substantially by 158.4% year-on-year. The majority (53.4%) of the participants attended courses in Gaming & Entertainment Services, followed by Business & Administration (17.5%). About 97.5% of the participants attended courses organized by the gaming enterprise, and almost all participants were employer-sponsored.
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The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (full-time) programme, offered by the University of Macau’s (UM) Faculty of Science and Technology, gained official recognition by all the signatories to the Seoul Accord, at the Seoul Accord General Meeting, which was held in Turkey in June. In 2013 the programme was accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. The Seoul Accord is a mutual recognition agreement which pertains to computing and IT-related programmes accredited by its signatories within their jurisdictions since 2008. Currently there are eight signatories to the Seoul Accord, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Japan, and South Korea. The eight signatories have joined together for the primary purpose of contributing to the improvement of computing education worldwide through mutual recognition of accredited academic computing programmes. According to the Seoul Accord, completing baccalaureate-level computing programmes accredited by any signatory will be recognised as being equivalent in meeting the minimum standards of preparation for entry into an appropriate computing profession. In other words, the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (full-time) programme offered by UM’s Faculty of Science and Technology satisfies the academic requirements for entry to the Australian Computer Society, the Canadian Information Processing Society, and the British Computer Society. It also satisfies the academic requirements for registering as a professional engineer in Hong Kong and Japan.
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Consumer Council conducted its sixth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in August on 19 August for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets in São Lázaro and São Lourenço Parishes. The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. 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 Health Bureau has urged the public to exercise strict personal and environmental hygiene and to take protective measures against dengue fever. The announcement by the Bureau was made following the second imported case in Macao this year, which was found on 18 August. The case involved a 33-year-old Filipino worker, who developed fever, joint pain and rash on 6 August after returning from the Philippines on 2 August. She sought medical treatment in clinics and later was admitted to Kiang Wu Hospital on 13 August for further treatment. The patient is in stable condition and her roommates showed no signs of Dengue fever. Since the patient travelled outside Macao during the incubation period, the case was classified as an imported one. The Bureau has again appealed the public to take adequate preventive measures against mosquito bites, such as wearing light-coloured and long-sleeved clothes and trousers when travelling, especially in Southeast Asian countries where the disease spreads all year round. It is also suggested to stay in air-conditioned or well-screened places, and to use mosquito repellent when in outdoors. If symptoms such as fever and rash developed, seek medical help immediately.
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Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) officially launched a WeChat account to provide local and overseas enterprises with the latest news on trade, conventions and exhibitions as well as business promotions. All are welcome to subscribe on any smart phone and mobile device. By browsing IPIM’s WeChat account, you will not only receive information about our work, but also the most up-to-date news about the local conventions and exhibitions, to keep track of the development of IPIM and the local MICE industry. By following IPIM’s WeChat account, you will receive the following information right away:  Updates on IPIM’s work;  Procedures for setting up a company in Macao;  Supporting measures for SMEs provided by IPIM, such as the financial incentives for participation in exhibitions and e-commerce activities;  Information on workshops and promotion activities organised by IPIM;  Latest information on Macao and overseas exhibitions ; You can search "IPIM-Macau" on WeChat, or scan the following WeChat QR code to subscribe to our official WeChat account.
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) is paying close attention to the situation and maintaining close contact with the travel industry and the Macau Government Tourist Office representative in Thailand for further developments. With the assistance of the telecommunication providers in Macao, GGCT today sent via SMS emergency contact information to 942 roaming mobile devices currently in Thailand. After receiving the casualty list from the local hospitals of the victims hit by the explosion, and through the assistance provided by both the Macau Identification Bureau and the Public Security Police Forces of Macau, until the present moment, no Macao residents have been identified in the list. From the information gathered through the Macao travel industry, around 10 Macao tour groups to Thailand will be cancelled until the 23rd of August, affecting around 250 people. Until the present moment, GGCT has received 91 requests for information and 2 requests for assistance, requesting the possibility to anticipate their return from Thailand to Macau. The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) will continue to monitor closely the latest developments of the situation maintaining close contact with the travel industry and the MGTO representative in Thailand. GGCT reminds Macao residents who intends to travel to Thailand to follow closely the situation, critically assess the security risks and cautiously consider their travel plans. Macao residents already in Thailand should strengthen security precautions to protect their personal safety. If necessary, Macao residents can call: 24-hour Tourism Hotline (853) 2833 3000; The Embassy of China in Thailand for Consular Protection 24 hour hotline: 0066-854833327; Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hour hotline: +86 10 12308 for assistance.
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A delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) visited the University of Macau (UM) today (18 August). During its stay at UM, the delegation visited the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (QRCM Lab). WHO experts were impressed with UM’s research facilities, the internationalised research team, and the clear plans for translational research and product development. The delegation was warmly received by UM Rector Wei Zhao, Vice Rector (Research) Rui Martins, ICMS Director and QRCM Lab Director Wang Yitao, and other UM representatives. The delegation visited four research centres at UM, namely Centre for Quality Evaluation, Centre for Pharmaceutical Engineering, Centre for Drug Targets and Screening, and Centre for Pharmacology and Safety. Prof Wang Yitao, Dr Wang Chunming, Prof Richard Ye, and Prof Duncan Leung shared the ICMS’s plans for future development, noting that the QRCM Lab is China’s only state key laboratory in the field of traditional medicine. The delegation was particularly impressed by the ICMS’s high productivity and distinctive characteristics in both fundamental and translational research, and encouraged UM researchers to strengthen collaboration with international organisations in the field of complementary medicine, in order to establish a Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine in Macao, as is stated in the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023. Earlier this morning the delegation attended the opening ceremony for an international forum on traditional medicine, which was co-organised by the WHO and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as an inauguration ceremony for the Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine. Members of the delegation included Dr Fouad Mohadji, vice president of the Union of Comoros; H E Ph Chou Yin Sim, secretary of state of the Ministry of Health, Cambodia; Hon Jone Usamate, minister of health and medical services, Fiji; Dr Bence Rètvàri, deputy minister of human capacities, Hungary; Dr Amangeldy Murzaliev, deputy minister of health, Kyrgyz Republic; Dr Ganchimeg Gombosuren, state secretary of the Ministry of Health and Sports, Mongolia; H E Dr Win Myint, deputy minister of health, Myanmar; Dr Edward Kelley, director of the Department of Service Delivery and Safety, WHO; and Cheang Seng Ip, deputy director of the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR.
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