News

In 2016, a total of 305 applications for temporary residency for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders were received by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) (a decrease of 177 compared with last year), 24 applications for major investment and major investment plans (a decrease of 55compared with last year), representing 92.71% and 7.29% of the total of 329 new applications in 2016. Approved cases for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders amounted to 99 (an increase of 18 compared with last year), approved applications for major investment and major investment plans totalled 4 (a decrease of 3 compared with last year).
Statistics of Temporary Residency Applications and the Cases and Number of People Approved in 2016

For further enquiries on the residency application guidelines, please contact IPIM by visiting the website: www.ipim.gov.mo, email: gjfr@ipim.gov.mo, tel: 28712055 or fax: 28713950. Applicants may also visit the website and enquire about the progress of their residency application status.
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The tourism authorities of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao met in Macao today （2 March） for the 2016 Conclusion Meeting for Regional Tourism Cooperation between Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao and the 2017 Work Meeting. The meeting was held to continuously foster regional tourism cooperation and jointly expand their visitor source markets.Zhongshan Tourism Bureau Director Wu Jiamin and Deputy Director Deng Shuling, Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau Director Wang Lingping, Zhuhai Tourism Development Centre Director Zhong Guohuai, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and Deputy Director Cecilia Tse as well as other officials discussed the collaborative plans of the three destinations on regional tourism in the meeting. The Rotating Chairman of 2016, Zhongshan Tourism Bureau, first presented a summary of the joint tourism projects rolled out by the three destinations last year. Following that, a chairman rotation ceremony was held where MGTO was designated as the Rotating Chairman of 2017.During the meeting, MGTO Director Senna Fernandes introduced the joint marketing scheme of 2017. As part of the scheme, MGTO will invite the tourism authorities of Zhongshan and Zhuhai to participate in the tourism presentation seminars of Macao, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Hong Kong to be held in Indonesia and Malaysia in April; the three destinations also plan to roll out tourism promotions in Eastern China region and Guilin, which is situated along the high-speed rail route, to tap further into Mainland and overseas markets together. This year, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao will present a brand-new promotional video to promote their tourism resources and multi-destination travel style among visitors.
Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao have formed a tourism alliance to carry out joint marketing initiatives under their image as the “Fragrant Hill in the past; Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao today” since 2006. They conduct regular meetings each year to discuss annual collaborative plans. The three tourism authorities also take turns to assume the role as the tourism alliance chairman.The tourism authorities of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao successfully organized and engaged in a range of activities last year, including their tourism presentation seminars jointly held in Nanning and Guilin to promote multi-destination travel and expand their visitor markets along the high-speed rail routes; in addition, they together participated in the cultural tourism event coordinated by Zhongshan Tourism Bureau in commemoration of the 150thAnniversary of the Birth of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. In the latter half of 2016, the three tourism authorities jointly produced a brand-new promotional video under the tourism alliance of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao. The video production was completed in February.Within various regional cooperative frameworks, MGTO will make persistent endeavors to develop multi-destination tourism resources in close partnership with various tourism authorities; through the work of its overseas representatives to collaborate with their local travel agencies, MGTO will actively promote sales of multi-destination tourism products in different visitor source markets.

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The tourism authorities of Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao met in Macao today （2 March） for the 2016 Conclusion Meeting for Regional Tourism Cooperation between Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macao and the 2017 Work Meeting. The meeting was held to continuously foster regional tourism cooperation and jointly expand their visitor source markets.
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According to Law 4/2010, beneficiaries who receive old-age pension or disability pension from the Social Security Fund (abbreviated to FSS in Macao) are required to provide the proof of life in January each year. The number of people involved in this year is nearly 100,000, of which 95,700 people have already provided the proof of life. The FSS calls on the remaining 3.5% of the beneficiaries, who have not yet provided the proof of life, to complete the procedure in this month without delay. Otherwise, the relevant payment will be suspended from April.In accordance with the law, beneficiaries of old-age pension and disability pension are required to provide the proof of life every year; otherwise, it may result in the suspension of payment. Therefore, beneficiaries who have not yet provided the proof of life for this year should bring along their Macao SAR Resident ID Cards to visit the St. Lazarus Parish Field Office of the FSS or Areia Preta Service Centre of the Macao SAR (Area of Social Security and Employment), or to provide the proof of life through self-service machines located at many locations in Macao by the end of March.If a beneficiary is residing in Macao but cannot come in person to provide the proof of life due to his/her illness, he/she can ask someone to submit the proof of life for him/her. His/her agent is required to bring along the Macao SAR Resident ID Cards (original and photocopy) of his/her own and of the beneficiary and a certificate duly completed by the medical practitioner.Members of the public who want to learn more about the proof of life for 2017, they can call 2853 2850 during office hours or visit the thematic web page of the FSS’ website at www.fss.gov.mo.
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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) jointly held the 77^th Work Meeting of the Tourism Marketing Organization of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in Hong Kong today (1 March), to exchange news and trends, deepen regional cooperation and discuss their joint promotional plan in 2017. MGTO assumes the Rotating Chairman of the Tourism Marketing Organization of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao this year.MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Director General of Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Mei Qijie, and HKTB Executive Director Anthony Lau attended the Meeting together with others. During the Meeting, they concluded the work progress since the 76^th work meeting and discussed their cooperative plan on joint tourism promotion in 2017. The three parties reached a consensus to keep strengthening collaboration in tourism promotion under the current tourism cooperative framework. The tasks include setting up joint booths in major travel fairs, placing strategic advertisements as well as organizing trade familiarization trips and joint promotional activities for multi-destination travel in domestic cities and overseas, etc., with the aim to fully utilize the unique resources possessed by the three destinations and tap into a greater diversity of market segments.Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, HKTB and MGTO established the Tourism Marketing Organization of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in 1993 and activated the system of chairmanship rotation in 2008. The three parties have established a long-term and stable cooperative framework to make continuous progress in executing their work plans and enhancing communication and cooperation to complement each other by sharing their competitive strengths and forge the Pearl River Delta Region into one high-value destination brand.Over the last few years, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have continued to put more efforts in joint destination marketing. In 2015, they co-launched five new multi-destination travel routes. Last year, the three authorities set up joint booths in international travel fairs held in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao; organized familiarization trips for Indian travel trade to Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao; in addition, they placed advertisements in travel exhibitions held in Germany and the United States to promote the three places as one destination, besides other cooperative measures.
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The Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election and the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) are jointly to launch a telephone hotline to handle any complaints that might be received relating to the 2017 Legislative Assembly Election.The two authorities would initiate immediately an investigation in the event of a complaint being filed, the Chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, Mr Tong Hio Fong, told reporters after attending a meeting this morning with the CCAC.This joint initiative was in order to consolidate public sector resources and to offer convenience to the general public, added Mr Tong.During the meeting, the two authorities agreed to enhance communication with the public regarding the topic of civic rights and civic duties; and the importance to the community of ensuring a clean election.The Commissioner Against Corruption, Mr Cheong Weng Chon, who was present at the meeting, said the CCAC and other public departments concerned with maintenance of the rule of law would cooperate – in line with their respective areas of competency – to ensure the fairness and probity of the forthcoming election.In another meeting – with the Director of the Judiciary Police, Mr Chau Wai Kuong, and the Commissioner of the Public Security Police Force, Mr Leong Man Cheong – Mr Tong said the Electoral Affairs Commission and the police authorities would enhance their efforts on exchange of information regarding any report of suspected electoral irregularity.That meeting also discussed road traffic arrangements for the opening day of the electoral campaign; as well as a mechanism for handling any complaints from the public that might be received on election day itself.Mr Chau said the Judiciary Police would fully support the work of the Electoral Affairs Commission, and would act promptly should any suspected acts of defamation come to the notice of the Judiciary Police in the context of the electoral campaign.
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From 11 March 2017, the Mobile Library of the Macao Public Library, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will stop parking in Rua de Coimbra in Taipa due to the current road adjustment. The public is welcome to use the library services of Taipa Library. The three parking points of the Mobile Library located at Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Avenida de Artur Tamagnini Barbosa and Avenida do Vale das Borboletas in Coloane, will remain unchanged. For enquiries, please contact the Taipa Library at 2884 3105 or 2884 3172 during office hours.
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A paper by UM scholars was recently published in Lab on a Chip, a publication under the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom. The paper proposes a new technique that can quickly identify the DNA of multiple potential pathogens causing septicemia from a single droplet (1uL). This new technique will allow medical workers to promptly identify pathogens and administer treatment in remote mountainous regions. This is yet another breakthrough in UM’s microchip research. The related system is expected to be put into production within the next two years.Titled ‘3D Microblade Structure for Precise and Parallel Droplet Splitting on Digital Microfluidic Chips’, the paper was co-written by PhD student Dong Cheng, Prof Jia Yanwei, Dr Gao Jie, Dr Chen Tianlan, Prof Mak Pui-In, Prof Vai Mang-I, and Vice Rector (Research) Prof Rui Martins.In the study, 3D microblades were innovatively fabricated on the pathway of droplet transportation on DMF chips, providing precise, reversible, volume controllable and parallel droplet splitting. With multiple blades implemented, only two electrodes were needed to simultaneously generate up to four daughter droplets in one step splitting. Using this technique, the DNA of multiple potential pathogens causing septicemia were successfully identified from a single droplet (1uL).According to Prof Jia Yanwei, analysis of parallel DNA is not difficult; the real challenge lies in the volume of the sample. Traditional PCR machines normally require samples of 25uL, and the analysis can only be done in a laboratory. The new technique developed by UM using digital microfluidics only requires a sample of 1uL to achieve the same results. Moreover, this new technique can be applied to make portable outdoor DNA testing devices.The main advantage of this system is that it can realise portable DNA testing and diagnose hidden or contagious diseases, which will allow medical workers to promptly identify pathogens and administer treatment in remote mountainous regions.
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Opinions of members of the Legislative Assembly are an important reference point regarding an update to guidelines for election campaigning that the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election might seek to issue.The Chairman of the Commission, Mr Tong Hio Fong, said some Assembly members had experience of running a campaign; their opinions would help enhance the fairness and probity of the 2017 Legislative Assembly Election.Mr Tong made the remarks on Tuesday (28 February) during a meeting with current members of the Legislative Assembly, including its President, Mr Ho Iat Seng.The Commission was pressing ahead with all the preparatory work for the forthcoming election, including formulation of binding guidelines for campaigning. Mr Tong said the Commission would analyse thoroughly the opinions of Assembly members.During the meeting, Assembly members expressed views regarding their understanding of the campaigning process; electoral spending; use of online media for campaigning; and the issue of defamation in an electoral campaign context.
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Consumer Council met with representatives of Zhuhai Hengqin New Area Consumers’ Association and Consumers Association of Singapore earlier respectively. The Council and the two consumers organizations discussed on topics like case transfer, and information exchange, etc. Details of the meetings are featured in the latest issue no. 281 Consumer Report.The Council shared experiences and suggestions regarding its ‘Certified Shops’ mechanism, and the development of Certified Shops in Henqin with Zhuhai Hengqin New Area Consumers’ Association. It also exchanged ideas and experiences with Consumers Association of Singapore regarding ‘Case Trust’ mechanism.The latest Consumer Report includes a comparison report on the monthly plans of fiber broadband service, and a detailed report on the number of cases received by the Council in 2016. The Council gave an analysis on the complaint cases received last year, and issued a ‘Consumer alert’ to enhance consumers’ self-protection and self-awareness.Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 26, Edf. Clementina Ho), and the service counter of the Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries, and bookstores. Consumers may also access the magazine online on the Council’s official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo) and WeChat official account.For enquiry, please call 8988-9315.
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