News

The deadline for applications for the “2016 Support Programme for the Production of Feature Films”, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), is 30 December, at 5pm. All interested parties are welcome to take this chance to apply for the Programme. The “2016 Support Programme for the Production of Feature Films” aims to continuously promote the development of the Macao film industry, cultivate local filmmaking talents, enhance the professional production capacity of the local film industry, and encourage filmmakers to get involved in feature film productions, thus spawning more local creative cinematic works. A maximum number of four beneficiaries will be selected and each eligible beneficiary will receive a financial support up to 70% of the total estimated costs of the project (up to a maximum of MOP 1,500,000), to be used for the production, promotion and marketing of the feature film. The Programme’s information, regulations and application forms can be downloaded at the IC’s website (www.icm.gov.mo/cn/CCI-Subsidy) and at the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com). Applicants should submit all required documents to the Division for Planning and Developing Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau located at No. 567, Av. da Praia Grande, Edif. BNU, 12th floor A-D, Macao, in the designated period of time. For enquiries, please contact Mr. Leong or Mr. Chong, staff members of IC, through tel. no. (853) 2892 4040, during office hours.
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The Government is working closely with relevant ministries and departments of the Central Government in order to establish a Guangdong-Macao nuclear safety reporting mechanism. The Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, said on Sunday (11 December) that four separate bodies linked to the Central Government had already given their approval to the establishment of such a reporting mechanism. Currently, the Guangdong Government is going through the necessary procedures in order to set up the reporting mechanism. The Government pays great attention to the public’s interest in safety issues regarding the nuclear facility in Taishan Prefecture, Guangdong Province. Macao is 67 kilometres away from Taishan, which means no evacuation measures would be necessary even if an incident categorised as of the most serious type were to occur, according to information provided by mainland authorities to the Government. Mr Wong also commented on recent news reports regarding a suspected incident at the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, located in Shenzhen, Guangdong. The Secretary said that on Saturday (10 December) he contacted the Central Government’s agency responsible for regulating nuclear safety and learnt that no incidents had happened recently at the power plant.
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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, new approvals of residential mortgage loans (RMLs) and commercial real estate loans (CRELs) both decreased in October 2016. With regard to the outstanding balance, RMLs stayed virtually unchanged whereas CRELs increased mildly. New lending approved In October 2016, new RMLs approved by Macao banks decreased by 46.5% month-to-month to MOP2.9 billion. Of which, new RMLs to residents, accounting for 97.9% of the total, fell by 47.0% from a higher comparison base in the previous month to MOP2.8 billion. The non-resident component also dropped by 5.2%. When compared with the same period of 2015, new approvals of RMLs increased by 16.3%. New RMLs collateralised by uncompleted units (i.e. equitable mortgage) increased by 6.6% from the preceding month to MOP269.5 million. The equitable mortgage extended to residents, which accounted for 97.5% of the total, increased by 3.9% from the previous month. On an annual basis, new equitable mortgage approved dropped by 14.4%. New CRELs dropped by 31.3% from a higher comparison base in the previous month to MOP6.2 billion. New approvals of CRELs declined by 32.6% when compared with last year. Outstanding balances As at end-October 2016, the outstanding value of RMLs was MOP178.6 billion, virtually unchanged from the previous month but increased by 4.9% from a year ago. The resident component made up 93.7% of the total. When compared with the previous month, outstanding RMLs to residents slightly increased by 0.2% whereas those to non-residents dropped by 2.1%. The outstanding value of CRELs was MOP171.5 billion, up by 1.0% month-to-month or 7.3% when compared with a year ago. Residents accounted for 89.1% of the loans. Compared with a month earlier, outstanding CRELs to residents increased by 1.2% whereas those to non-residents fell by 0.4%. Delinquency ratios At the end of October 2016, the delinquency ratio for RMLs was 0.15%, virtually unchanged from a month ago but up 0.07 percentage points from a year ago. The ratio for CRELs was 0.09%, down 0.02 percentage points from one month earlier but up by 0.08 percentage points from end-October 2015.
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The 2017 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2017MIECF) will be held in Macao from 30 March to 1 April 2017 under the theme “Innovative Green Development for Sustainable Future”. Representatives of IPIM and the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), the Host Co-ordinators of the event, visited Portugal and Beijing in early December and organised a series of activities to promote MIECF to the Mainland and overseas environmental protection industries to further enhance the effectiveness of the event. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2017, MIECF has gradually become a highly effective international exhibition for the environmental protection industry. The event helps to promote Macao as a co-operation and networking platform for the PPRD, particularly between the EU, China and PSCs. Various networking activities were organised to strengthen the publicity of MIECF in Portugal. The activities were participated in by the Secretary for Economy and Finance Leong Vai Tac, as well as representatives from various trade, economic and environmental protection associations in Portugal such as Portugal Global - Trade & Investment Agency (AICEP), Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), European Recycling Platform (ERP), Portuguese-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILC), Portuguese Water Partnership (PPA) and the Portugal-China Association of Young Entrepreneurs (AJEPC). The activities received positive responses and the participants expressed interest in MIECF. During the visit in Portugal, a 2017 MIECF promotional seminar, co-organised by IPIM, DSPA, Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon (DECM), AICEP and AJEPC, was held at DECM. IPIM’s Executive Director Irene V. K. Lau and DSPA’s Deputy Director Vong Man Hung gave a detailed presentation on the event to further promote MIECF to overseas environmental protection sectors as well as fostering networking and co-operation of the environmental protection industry between the PPRD and Europe. It also aimed to promote business matching between the PPRD and European enterprises, as well as assisting trade visitors/buyers participating in MIECF to promote their environmentally-friendly commodities and technology transfer, so as to enhance the effectiveness of the event. During the visit, IPIM also attended a contract signing ceremony of the co-operation project between CESL Asia of Macao and MAGPOWER of Portugal. The project is the outcome of the connection between the two enterprises established during 2010MIECF. The Portugal section of the project commenced this year and the next objective is the collaboration in tapping the Mainland market and investing in environmental technology transfer. IPIM also organised the MIECF roadshow activities in Matosinhos and visited various renowned environmental protection enterprises and invited them to participate in the event. The activities received a favourable response and a number of Portuguese environmental protection enterprises expressed interest in participating in the event, aiming to learn more about the latest information and development of the Mainland’s environmental protection industry so as to serve as a reference and guidelines for the direction of future development. After the publicity activities in Portugal, the IPIM and DSPA delegation travelled to Beijing and plan to visit the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China Association of Environmental Protection Industry and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality. The delegation will provide information on the preparation of 2017MIECF and exchange views and discuss supporting and organising delegations wishing to participate in the event in Macao.
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A report on testing the hygienic condition and sugar contents of beverages with short shelf life is published in Consumer Council’s latest issue no. 279 Consumer Report. The sixty tested beverage samples all pass the hygienic standard of IACM’s guideline, however, about sixty percent of them contain high amount of sugar. The Council suggests consumers to choose beverages marked less sweet, or those without sugar, to avoid over intake of sugar that may affect human’s health. Hygienic condition of sixty samples are good Pre-packed or freshly made beverages both contain short shelf life and do not require re-heating, Consumer Council and IACM tested the effects of this kind of beverages on consumers’ health. The sixty samples tested include herbal tea, fresh juice, and Taiwanese style drinks, etc., national standards were quoted in the test. All samples tested pass the hygienic standard of IACM’s guideline, salmonella and Staphylococcus Aureus are not found in any of them. High sugar contents in most samples Although sugar is a necessary kind of energy to human’s body, too much sugar costs diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the World Health Organization strongly suggests an intake of less than 50g of sugar, which equals to ten cubes of sugar, for adults with a 2000-calorie daily intake. In 2015, the WHO further suggested to reduce the intake of sugar to 25g if possible. The test result shows that over sixty percent of the beverage samples contain more than the two suggested amount of sugar, consumers will be taking more than the suggested amount when consuming one whole bottle or cup of this kind of drinks. Pay attention to too much intake of sugar The Council suggests consumers to consume less drinks with sugar, or choose those with less sugar or no sugar to avoid too much intake of sugar that may affect human’s health. Meanwhile, consumers are advised to purchase beverages with short shelf life from renowned businesses that pay attention to the hygienic condition of their food containers. The test results can be found in the latest issue of Consumer Report. Other contents include enhancing consumers’ safety knowledge The current issue of Consumer Report also includes a consumer alert of China Food and Drug Administration regarding the produce of fruit jam and beer, as well as an article introducing worldwide different safety standards of car seats. 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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The Macaology Translation Series, edited by Hao Yufan, dean of the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Social Sciences; and Prof Tang Kaijian from the Department of History, has added the Chinese version of Fidalgos in the Far East, 1550-1770: Fact and Fancy in the History of Macao, authored by Charles Ralph Boxer, to its list. The book was translated by Dr Li Qing from the Department of History and is published by the UM Publications Centre. This book on the early history of Macao was first published by Martinus Nijoff from The Hague in 1948. The second version was published by the Oxford University Press in 1968, and its Portuguese version was published by the Fundação Oriente in 1990.
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The 2016 UNCITRAL Emergence Conference on ‘Regional Perspectives on Contemporary and Future Harmonization Agenda in International Trade Law’, co-organised by the University of Macau (UM) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law – Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (UNCITRAL-RCAP), will be held on 13 December and 14 December in the Lotus Room of the World Trade Center Macau. This year’s event is supported by the World Trade Center Macau, the International Chamber of Commerce - International Court of Arbitration Asia, and the Asian Business Law Institute. During the two-day conference, nearly 40 experts and scholars from Australia, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Japan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, the United States, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao will discuss various contemporary and emerging issues in the areas of international trade law and commercial law, including ‘Development of the Digital Economy: New Ways of Doing Business Domestically and Cross-Border’, ‘Enhancing Global Supply Chains by Reducing Legal Obstacles’, ‘Contemporary and Emerging Issues Related to Finance and Investment’, ‘Emerging Legal Issues in the Commercial Exploitation of Deep Seabed, Space and Artificial Intelligence’, and ‘Rule of Law and Access to Justice in the context of Climate Change, Finance and Investment’. The conference will be a unique event leading up to the UNCITRAL Congress on ‘Modernizing International Trade Law to Support Innovation and Sustainable Development’ to be held in July 2017 in Vienna. All are welcome. For registrations and enquiries, please contact the Faculty of Law of UM, at 8822 4191 or visit the following website www.umac.mo/fll/umuncitral.
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Please be informed that starting from 31st December 2016, the sale of the Label Stamp with face value at MOP 1.00 and MOP1.50 will be terminated at all the Stamp Vending Machines. Therefore, starting from 12th December 2016 to 30th December 2016, the sale of the mentioned Label Stamp will be gradually terminated at the Stamp Vending Machines in Macao.
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The Patane Library, under the auspices of the Department of Public Library Management of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, was inaugurated on Friday, 9 December, at 11am. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Alexis Tam Chon Weng; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Chairman of the Macau Library and Information Management Association, Wong Kwok Keung; the President of the Patane Mutual Aid Association, Lok Nam Tak and the Head of Department of Public Management, Tang Mei Lin. Curators of several high school libraries, the Principals and representatives of several schools in the Patane district attended the opening ceremony. After the opening ceremony, the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng exchanged views with the first batch of readers in the library. Some of the readers are old residents in the Patane district. They recalled the appearance of the original buildings of the library and their living conditions. They were happy that the buildings were transformed into a library. The Patane Library is comprised of a group of seven old buildings with a history of over 80 years. Built in the 1930s, the buildings of the Patane Library are typical arcade buildings along the coast of the Inner Harbour. Arcade buildings feature an architectural form combining the architectural features of both Europe and Southeast Asia, and only a few arcade buildings are left in Macao at present. The Cultural Affairs Bureau has renovated the buildings and transformed them into the Patane Library. It aims not only to provide more reading space to local residents, but also to preserve and safeguard the buildings with special value and significance in the urban development, thus allowing the next generations to know more about precious historic buildings in Macao. Aside from enhancing the environment of the Inner Harbour, the renovation project has transformed the buildings into a place for the transmission of culture and knowledge. The three-storey Patane Library covers an area of around 1,130 square meters, and provides approximate 150 seats for readers. In addition to the reading service of newspapers and magazines, the library also provides other basic services such as access to the general collection and children’s collection. The library, dedicated to film and music, features a multimedia zone for holding regular film screenings, concerts and other activities. The library holds about 20,000 volumes, 7,000 audiovisual materials, 80 types of newspapers and 600 types of magazines, in order to satisfy the reading demands of readers in the Patane and nearby districts, hoping to create an environment with a reading atmosphere for residents. The Patane Library, located at No. 69-81, Rua da Ribeira do Patane, Macao, opens from 11am to 8:30pm on the day of the opening ceremony. The Library opens from 9:30am to 8:30pm from Tuesdays to Sundays, and from 2pm to 8:30pm on Mondays, except on public holidays. For enquiries, please contact Mr. Lam, staff member of IC, through tel. no. 2825 9220 or 2825 9221 during office hours or visit the Macao Public Library website at www.library.gov.mo.
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