News

The tickets for the 28^th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will be available from 12 March. This edition’s Outreach Programme features over 40 activities, including talks, master classes, workshops, meet-the-artists sessions, school performances, art critique, accessibility services and movie screenings. Applications will be accepted from 9am on 13 March (Monday).
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) attaches great importance to the investigation report announced by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) regarding the recruitment of workers under the system of acquisition of labour service, and will immediately tackle the issue, including:

1. Studying and analysing the investigation report circumspectly;
2. Complying with CCAC’s suggestions and take measures in accordance with the laws stipulations to rectify the inappropriateness mentioned in the report as soon as possible;
3. After clarification and in-depth investigation, promptly tackle the relevant problems about staff recruitment and other administrative matters involved;
4. Sum up the lesson, listen humbly, review carefully and seek for any deficiencies;

In the process of this investigation, the Cultural Affairs Bureau has cooperated closely with the Commission Against Corruption and agrees with the needs for improvement mentioned in the report. The Cultural Affairs Bureau expresses heartfelt gratitude to CCAC for perceiving the inadequacies.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on diapers, over-the-counter drugs, and milk powderon 10 March for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council’s ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page.For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
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The 28^thMacao Arts Festival (MAF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and themed “Heterotopia”, will be held from 28 April to 31 May, establishing through texts, stories, images, music and imagery, a diversified space away from reality yet closely connected to it, bringing new possibilities to existence. Tickets will be available through the Macau Ticketing Network from 10am on 12 March (Sunday). For the convenience of the public, queuing vouchers will be distributed from 9am on the same day. Telephone and online bookings are available from 12pm on 12 March.This edition of the MAF offers a variety of exceptional performances. The Festival kicks off with Play and Play: An Evening of Movement and Music, a reinterpretation of Schubert and Ravel’s classics by internationally acclaimed North-American modern dance company Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane, and closes with The Seagull, performed by the Reykjavik City Theatre. On the occasion of the 110^th anniversary of Chinese theatre, the Shaanxi People’s Art Theatre takes to the stage the classic Westland Feuds. Several local performances are also fascinating: the soundscape theatre play Back to the Catastrophic Typhoon of 1874, which original novel was awarded at the Macao Literature Competition; The Nether, which portrays the seemingly limitless dividing line between the real and virtual worlds; and numerous family programmes such as Rusty Nails & Other Heroes, Metamorphosis under Starry Night, A Mano, cater for people all ages to take part in the Festival.Various types of discounts are offered in this edition of the MAF. Tickets for the 28^thMAF will be available at the Macau Ticketing Network from 10am on 12 March (Sunday). Reservations can be made by phone or online from 12pm onwards on the same day. On the first day of ticket sales, each person can purchase a maximum of ten tickets per performance, except for the performances Rusty Nails & Other Heroes, Metamorphosis under a Starry Night and A Mano, which are limited to four tickets per person. Early bird discounts of 30%, subject to certain criteria, are available from 12 to 19 March and a 20% discount will be offered from 20 March onwards. Members of the public who purchase their tickets with a BOC Credit Card or BOC card will receive a 30% discount on tickets for the opening and closing performances, Play and Play: An Evening of Movement and Music and The Seagull, as well as a 20% discount on all other shows. A 20% discount on tickets for all shows is also available for purchases with MasterCard, Visa Card or UnionPay Card from ICBC (Macau), BCM Bank, or OCBC Wing Hang Bank. A 50% discount will also be offered to holders of Macao Senior Citizen Card or Disability Assessment Registration Card, limited to one ticket per person. For each purchase over MOP800 (net price after discount), purchasers will receive one discount voucher to enjoy exclusive offers at MGM’s selected restaurants and spa (available while stocks last). Air Macau customers can enjoy a 20% discount on ticket purchases at the ticketing outlets by presenting the respective boarding pass (flight code NX) within 7 days upon their arrival in Macao. There is also a special ticket arrangement for the show Remote Macao.For more information about the programmes, ticket purchase and other discounts, please check the 28^thMacao Arts Festival Booklet; the booklet PDF version can be downloaded at www.icm.gov.mo/fam, follow the MAF’s page on Facebook or subscribe to IC’s WeChat account. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. Online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.
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The Brazilian Government’s efforts in managing its water resources and its strategy for developing such resources, are reference points for Macao’s management of its 85-square-kilometres of waters.On Wednesday (8 March) a delegation – from the “9+2” provinces and special administrative regions (SARs) that make up the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Region – was on a visit to Manaus, Brazil, in order to gain a better understanding regarding the management of the Amazon River area and environmental protection projects relating to the area.The tour was part of an eight-day trip to Brazil and Portugal – from 5 to 12 March – which has been organised by the Macao SAR Government. It is an additional step in the efforts to diversify trade and economic cooperation between mainland China, Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao. It also aims to enhance Macao’s strategic positioning as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.On Wednesday in Manaus, the Chinese delegation was briefed on, respectively: the progress of improvement work for the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon River; legislation for the protection of water resources; and the geological resources and forests in the area and how to harness those resources.The head of the delegation, the President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Cheong Chou Weng, spoke highly of the efforts of the authorities in Manaus to maintain the pace of economic activity while also protecting the ecological resources of Brazil.The Chinese Government paid great attention to environmental protection and the development of green business sectors, while at the same time maintaining stable economic growth, he said.The delegation also visited the Manaus Free Trade Zone to gain a better understanding of its development and its tax policies. The Deputy Director of the Planning and Development Office of the Zone, Mr Marcelo Souza Pereira, said he hoped a greater number of environmental companies, particularly from the PPRD Region, could establish business in the zone, making use of its low- or zero-tax policies in order to drive the development of green industries.After the stop in Manaus, the delegation left for Portugal. While in that country, the delegation will meet representatives of environmental-sector companies from Portugal and China, in order to gain a better understanding of the latest sectorial developments.The Chinese delegation has more than 50 members, The group includes: representatives from the National Development and Reform Commission; members of an environmental science association based in Sichuan Province; representatives from the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao; representatives from the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission; and members of governmental environment departments, and other related public departments from the provinces and SARs of the PPRD Region.The PPRD Region comprises: the mainland provinces of Fujian; Jiangxi; Hunan; Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan; Sichuan; Guizhou; Yunnan; along with the Hong Kong SAR; and the Macao SAR.
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The Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election has urged local media to ensure a fair and objective coverage of each campaign team in the upcoming election for the Legislative Assembly.The updated Legislative Assembly Election Law clearly specifies the definition of campaigning; the Electoral Affairs Commission expects media outlets – based on their own professionalism – to be able to make a distinction between a news report and election propaganda, said the Chairman of the Commission, Mr Tong Hio Fong.Mr Tong made the remarks on Wednesday (8 March) during a meeting with more than 30 representatives from local media outlets reporting, respectively, in Chinese-, Portuguese- and English-language.The revised Legislative Assembly Election Law states that election propaganda aims to draw public attention to a particular candidate or candidates; it also aims to encourage voters – in an explicit or implicit way – to vote or not vote for a particular candidate or candidates.Mr Tong recalled that – according to the law – no election propaganda is allowed between the date of publishing of the official list of accepted candidates and the official date for the start of the campaigning period.Mr Tong said that media organisations should consider formulating internal guidelines to serve as reference for staff covering the election.In addition, Mr Tong said media outlets should delete comments from their online social platforms and websites that contain unlawful messages related to the election process.The Commission respects the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech – both protected by the Basic Law and the Legislative Assembly Election Law. The exercise of those freedoms, however, should not contravene the Legislative Assembly Election Law, added Mr Tong.The Commission is to launch a telephone hotline and a dedicated email account for media enquiries relating to the 2017 Legislative Assembly Election.
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A delegation from the “9+2” provinces and special administrative regions (SARs) that make up the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Region, is visiting Brazil to exchange ideas on the development and application of green energy and on new resources.The Macao SAR and the other PPRD economies pay great attention to environmental protection and the development of green business sectors, while at the same time maintaining stable economic growth, said the head of the visiting delegation, the President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Cheong Chou Weng.His remarks were made on Tuesday (7 March) in Brasilia, the Brazilian capital. The comments were made during a tour of the headquarters at the Operations and Management Center of the Amazonian Protection System.The delegation’s two-country tour – from 5 to 12 March – covers Brazil and Portugal. It was organised by the Macao SAR Government, and is an additional step in the ongoing effort to diversify trade and economic cooperation between mainland China, Portuguese-speaking countries and Macao.The PPRD Region comprises: the mainland provinces of Fujian; Jiangxi; Hunan; Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan; Sichuan; Guizhou; Yunnan; along with the Hong Kong SAR; and the Macao SAR.During the visit to the Operations and Management Center of the Amazonian Protection System, Mr Cheong mentioned that the Brazilian Government had increased its use of the latest technological tools such as data analysis, in order to maintain the sustainability of the Amazon River area.The Director of the Management Center, Mr Rogério Guedes Soares, said the Brazilian government was keen to use the latest technology as a way to ensure effective management of the Amazon River and environmental protection projects relating to the area.While on the site visit, the delegation was briefed regarding the facilities and equipment used to manage water resources. PPRD delegation members also shared insights with their hosts concerning the processes and challenges faced when conducting improvement projects in the Pearl River Delta area.Following the tour, the delegation held a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with the head of the international affairs department of the Ministry of Environment, Mr Fernando Coimbra; and the head of environmental projects for the Ministry of the Planning, Budget and Management, Ms Tânia Delfino Ribeiro.The deputy head of the visiting delegation – the president of an environmental science association from Sichuan Province – Ms Jiang Xiaoting, said the visit helped the PPRD delegation members gain a better understanding of Brazil’s successful experience in environmental management.The visit also aimed to make better use of Macao’s close ties with Portuguese-speaking countries as a route to boosting further exchanges and cooperation between provinces and regions of the mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries, added Ms Jiang.On Wednesday morning the PPRD delegation paid a visit to the Chinese Embassy in Brazil.The delegation has now arrived in Manaus, in the north of Brazil, to gain a better understanding of environmental protection projects in the Amazon River area.The delegation’s first official stop on its eight-day, two-country tour had been a meeting on Monday (6 March) in Brasilia, with the President of the Executive Board of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, Mr Roberto Jaguaribe.Monday’s schedule also included an exchange session to discuss issues relating to environmental protection and the development of green sector. Those present included representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Brazil. Also attending were officials from, respectively: Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment; the country’s Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management; the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency; and the Operations and Management Center of the Amazonian Protection System; together with representatives from seven Brazilian environmental companies.
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The “Anschlag Berlin──Poster Design from Berlin” exhibition, organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will open at the Tap Seac Gallery, featuring a total of 70 posters by 35 designers from several Berlin-based design studios. The opening ceremony of the exhibition will be held on 14 March (Tuesday) at 6:30pm, at the Tap Seac Gallery. To complement the exhibition, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will organize a seminar entitled “From Berlin to Macau: Designer’s stage ”, to which all are welcome.Berlin, with its rich historical background and cultural uniqueness, provides an open environment for designers, enhancing their creativity and allowing the coexistence of multiple ideas regarding design. The posters featured in this exhibition are works inspired by the Zeitgeist Movement and contemporary Berlin, created by exceptional contemporary designers from renowned Berlin-based design studios, including Cyan, LSD, HeSign, EPS51, Ruddigkeit, Ariane Spanier, Fons Hickmann m23, Surface, among others. The exhibition includes posters relating to art exhibitions, festivals, concerts, performances and social issues. By sharing works that blend art and design, the Cultural Affairs Bureau hopes to provide a source of inspiration and an exchange opportunity for Macao design professionals.In order to allow for a more in-depth understanding of this exhibition and Berlin’s graphic design world, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will also organize a seminar entitled “From Berlin to Macau: Designer’s stage”, which will be held on 15 March (Wednesday) from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, at the Tap Seac Gallery. The three curators of the exhibition - Professor Fons Hickmann, Dr. Jianping He and Sven Lindhorst-Emme - and designer Laucke Siebein will present the works on display and share their creative experiences as guest speakers. The seminar will be conducted in English, with simultaneous translation into Cantonese. Admission to the seminar is free and all are welcome to enrol through the Bureau’s Activities Registration System (www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event) before 13 March. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first served basis.The “Anschlag Berlin──Poster Design from Berlin” exhibition will be held from 15 March to 14 May, at Tap Seac Gallery. Admission is free. The Gallery is located at No. 95, Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, and is open daily from 10am to 9pm. For more information about the exhibition and the seminar, please contact IC through tel. no. 8988 4017 during office hours.
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Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and co-organised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, this year’s “Tap Siac Craft Market” will be held from 21 to 23 April, and from 28 to 30 April 2017 at Tap Siac Square. The Craft Market stall registration is open from 9 March (Thursday) and all cultural and creative entities and individuals are invited to register, in order to showcase and sell their original brands and products. The registration deadline is 5:45pm, 27 March 2017 (Monday).This year’s “Tap Siac Craft Market” features a total of 200 stalls. In addition to local cultural and creative practitioners, IC will also invite participants from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia, amongst others. Concurrently, music performances and handicraft workshops will be held for the public to enjoy diversified activities.The “Tap Siac Craft Market” aims to promote original products, gathering cultural and creative practitioners who showcase their products and share their experience and creative ideas. Inaugurated in 2008, the “Tap Siac Craft Market” is Macao’s first large-scale integrated platform for display and sale of cultural and creative products. Every year the event attracts participants from Macao, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Korea and has been highly appreciated by both residents and tourists since its inception.Applicants must be Macao residents; registration is free and can be made on behalf of a group or individually. IC will select stall operators considering the originality and peculiarity of their products. Application forms are now available at the Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (Cultural Affairs Bureau Building) or can be downloaded at IC’s website (www.icm.gov.mo) and at the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com).Applicants must submit all required documents together with the completed application form to the Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries in person or by email to knwong@icm.gov.mo or kkho@icm.gov.mo during the specific period of time stated in the Application Form. For details, please visit the Tap Siac Craft Market page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MacaoCraftMarket). For enquiries, please contact Ms. Wong, staff member of the Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries of IC, through tel. no. (853) 8399 6288 or 8399 6255 during office hours.
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The Institute for Tourism Studies(IFT)’s Bachelor Degree Programme emphasises on the balance between theory and practice. Students are required to complete certain hours of practical tasks related to their specialisations every year. One of the tasks given to the Tourism Business Management students is to provide free guided tour to tourists and local residents.The activity, with the theme of “Tour around Macao with IFT Students”, is organised by year two students of Tourism Business Management Degree Programme. With the assistance from the instructors, four different itineraries have been designed and each lasts about one hour and thirty minutes. This free guided tour service will be provided to all tourists and local residents on Saturday and Sunday, in March. By coordinating the activity, their communication skills can also be enhanced and could also promote Macao to the tourists by offering the free guiding service at the city centre and tourist attractions. Residents will also be made aware of the importance of tourism to Macao.Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 101 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has the most bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
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