News

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will attend a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly tomorrow (22 April) and answer legislators’ questions on Government policy and social issues. The session will start at 3pm and will be broadcast live on television and radio channels of public broadcaster Teledifusão de Macau (TDM). Members of the public also have the option of watching the proceedings online via: the website of the Legislative Assembly (http://www.al.gov.mo); the Macao SAR Government Portal (http://www.gov.mo); the website of the Office of the Chief Executive (http://www.gce.gov.mo); the website of the Government Information Bureau (http://www.gcs.gov.mo); the official channel for Macao Government news on YouTube (www.youtube.com/macaogcs); and Government apps for mobile devices. The Chief Executive pays great attention to communication with the Legislative Assembly. Besides attending plenary sessions of the Assembly in November every year in order to deliver the Policy Address relating to the following fiscal year, the Chief Executive also attends similar sessions in April and August each year. This is in order to update the public with the progress of Government work; to enhance communication with legislators; and to optimise administrative transparency.
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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 27 May 2016 for two consecutive weekends (Friday to Sunday) at Tap Seac Square. In conjunction with the Macao International Dragon Boat Races, the Craft Market will be held on 4, 5 and 9 June at Nam Van Lake Square. Craft Market stall registration is now open 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 1pm, 30 April 2016. This year’s “Tap Siac Craft Market” will be held from 27 to 29 May and from 3 to 5 June (Friday to Sunday), from 5pm to 10pm at Tap Seac Square, featuring a total of 200 stalls and 30 performances. In addition to local cultural and creative practitioners, IC will also invite participants from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia, amongst others. Furthermore, to capture the synergy of the “2016 Macao International Dragon Boat Races” and promote festivals with local features, the Craft Market will be extended to the Nam Van Lake Square from 4 to 5 June and on 9 June (Dragon Boat Festival), from 12pm to 7pm, coinciding with the Dragon Boat Races, featuring a total of 30 stalls and 18 shows. Inaugurated in 2008, the “Tap Siac Craft Market” is Macao’s first large-scale integrated platform for the display and sale of cultural and creative products, while also featuring original music performances. Every year the event attracts participators from Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia and has been highly appreciated by both residents and tourists since its inception. For details, please visit the Tap Siac Craft Market page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TapSeac.Artfair). 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 the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (No. 567, Avenida da Praia Grande, BNU Building, 12th floor A-D, Macao) or can be downloaded from IC’s website (www.icm.gov.mo) and 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 the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries during the specific period of time stated in the Application Form. For enquiries, please contact Ms. Wong, staff of IC, through tel. no. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in April on 20 April for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 12 supermarkets in Taipa and Coloane area. 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. With reference to the local seven parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided over 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI for March 2016 increased by 3.31% year-on-year to 108.00, down from the 3.88% growth in February. The increment was attributable to higher rentals for dwellings and parking spaces, dearer charges for eating out, as well as rising prices of tobacco, motor cars and vegetables. In comparison with March 2015, increases in tobacco tax, tuition fees, rentals for parking spaces and prices of motor cars drove up the price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco, Education and Transport by 37.36%, 8.97% and 7.70% respectively. Meanwhile, price index of Clothing & Footwear and Communication decreased by 2.88% and 1.20%. The CPI-A (108.15) and CPI-B (106.70) rose by 3.29% and 3.52% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for March 2016 decreased by 0.36% month-to-month. Price index of Recreation & Culture and Clothing & Footwear fell by 7.97% and 1.96% upon lower charges for package tours after the Lunar New Year and seasonal sale of winter clothing. Meanwhile, receding prices of vegetables, fruits, fresh fish and seafood pushed down the price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages by 0.33%. On the other hand, price index of Transport increased by 2.66% due to higher rentals for parking spaces and dearer prices of motor cars, yet declining airfares tapered off the increase. The CPI-A dropped by 0.44% month-to-month while the CPI-B rose by 0.32%. For the 12 months ended March 2016, the average Composite CPI increased by 4.21% from the previous period. Price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+26.85%), Education (+6.43%) and Housing & Fuels (+6.09%) showed marked increase. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 4.45% and 3.35% respectively over the previous period. The average Composite CPI for the first quarter of 2016 (107.91) increased by 3.67% year-on-year, with the price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco, Education and Transport rising by 38.56%, 8.93% and 6.72% respectively. The average CPI-A and CPI-B went up by 3.73% and 3.18% respectively. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP29,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP30,000 to MOP54,999.
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A delegation led by Joana Marques Vidal, the attorney-general of Portugal, today (20 April) visited the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Law (FLL) in the company of Wu Kit I, deputy chief of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Macao SAR. The delegation met with FLL representatives, and highly praised the faculty for combining theory and practice in its teaching. Members of the Portuguese delegation included Amadeu Francisco Ribeiro Guerra, director of the Central Department of Investigation and Prosecution and deputy prosecutor-general; Jorge Manuel Alves de Oliveira, permanent member of the Public Prosecution Council and deputy prosecutor; Helena de Jesus Fernandes Gonçalves, head of the Office of the Attorney General's Office and a public prosecutor; and Rui Manuel de Jesus Batista, advisor to the Office of the Attorney General's Office and a public prosecutor; The delegation was warmly received by Prof Rui Martins, vice rector (research) of UM; Prof Shijian Mo, dean of the FLL; Prof Tong Io Cheng and Prof Augusto Garcia, associate deans of the FLL; Manuel Marcelino Escovar Trigo, director of the Centre for Law Studies; and Prof Iau Teng Pio, Prof Candida Pires, Dr Paula Correia, and Dr Wang Morbey Wei from the FLL. Prof Martins told the guests about the background against which the FLL was founded, noting that it was the first faculty of law in Macao established during the transitional period leading up to Macao’s handover, with the collaboration between the law faculties at the University of Lisbon and the University of Coimbra, and since its founding, the FLL has made a significant contribution to the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy. Prof Shijian Mo, Prof Tong Io Cheng, and Prof Augusto Garcia told the guests about the faculty’s model of education and curriculum structure, stressing that over the years the bachelor’s law programmes have evolved from monolingual programmes to Chinese/Portuguese bilingual ones, and have trained a large number of legal professionals for the Macao society. The delegation highly praised the FLL for combining theory and practice in its teaching. After the meeting, the delegation visited the FLL’s Moot Court and the UM Wu Yee Sun Library.
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The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, said the prospects were bright for Macao and the Republic of Korea to cooperate in promoting further ties regarding culture and tourism. The Government pays great attention to cooperation with the Republic of Korea. The country last year contributed the highest number of international visitors in the Macao tourism market, said Mr Tam. Macao and the Republic of Korea have a number of similar characteristics, such as cultural diversity, friendly people and vigorous tourism markets, he added. Mr Tam’s comments were made on Tuesday (19 April) during a meeting in Seoul with the Republic of Korea’s 2nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kim Chong. Mr Tam was in Seoul to officiate at a Government promotional event called “Experience Macao – Korea”. The Secretary stated the Government would step up efforts to organise a greater number of international events relating to tourism, culture, sports and food, in a bid to diversify visitors’ experience in Macao. These would help Macao on the path to its development goal of becoming a world centre of tourism and leisure, he added. The Republic of Korea’s successful experience in promoting cultural and creative industries was an important reference point for Macao. Mr Tam also said he hoped to see more exchanges between the two places regarding cultural and creative industries. Mr Kim Chong said he was impressed by Macao’s cultural variety, the coexistence of Eastern and Western traditions, and the Government’s efforts to promote the tourism industry. He said he looked forward to further cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Macao on tourism, and that this would be effected via the country’s tourism office in Hong Kong. Macao officials attending Tuesday’s meeting in Seoul included: the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Ip Peng Kin; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; and MGTO’s Republic of Korea representative, Mr Lew Hwan Kyu. “Experience Macao – Korea” is a month-long promotional event aiming to appeal to the travel trade and designed to launch new Macao tourism products tailored to fit different market segments in the Republic of Korea.
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Three University of Macau (UM) students recently won a Best Individual Award and a Best Team Award at the Asia Pacific Model European Union (APMEU) 2016. The winner of the Best Individual Award is José Miguel Nuño de la Rosa Ortiz from the Faculty of Business Administration. The recipients of the Best Team Award are Nick Wauben and Han Xiangzhi from the Faculty of Social Sciences. Co-organised by the European Union Academic Programme Macau (EUAP-M) and its sister organisation in Hong Kong, the APMEU 2016 was held at the Hong Kong Baptist University. The two-day event brought together 22 undergraduate and postgraduate students from mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Macao. Participants discussed the current refugee crisis in Europe. Six students in three teams, including five students from UM and one from the Macau University of Science and Technology, participated in this year’s APMEU. Dr Sten Verhoeven from the Faculty of Law was a co-chair of the event. Established in 2012, the EUAP-M is a partnership between UM and the Institute of European Studies of Macau, and is co-funded by the EU. It aims to increase understanding of the EU on the part of the general public in Macao, especially students at all levels.
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The Health Bureau has urged the public to maintain high standards of personal hygiene and of environmental cleanliness, as well as taking protective measures against mosquitoes. The announcement was made following two confirmed cases of dengue fever respectively involving two non-resident workers, both of them living in Zhuhai Prefecture, in Guangdong Province. So far this year, there has been a total of four imported cases of dengue fever recorded in Macao. The new cases involve a 35-year-old woman who works in a restaurant near Avenida do Almirante Lacerda close to the Inner Harbour district on Macau peninsula; and a 32-year-old man who works at the Grand Lisboa Palace construction site on Cotai. They respectively reported having developed symptoms such as fever, joint pain and headache, with those symptoms starting last week. The patients said they had not travelled outside Zhuhai and Macao in the two weeks prior to developing the symptoms. On being informed of the cases, the Health Bureau immediately conducted anti-mosquito measures near the patients’ respective workplaces. Those people living or working near the areas where the patients work are urged to contact the Bureau on +853 2870 0800 if they develop similar symptoms. The Government has again appealed to the public to take adequate preventive measures against mosquito bites. These include wearing light-coloured and long-sleeved clothes and trousers when travelling overseas, especially in Southeast Asian countries where outbreaks of dengue infection can occur all year round. It is also recommended that the public use air-conditioning in homes and workplaces or fit windows with mosquito screens. They should also use mosquito repellent when outdoors. If members of the public develop symptoms such as fever and rash, they should seek medical help immediately.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in April on 19 April for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets at Lam Mau, Patane and San Kio areas in Santo António Parish. 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. With reference to the local seven 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 month-long “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion and “Macao．Korea Travel Mart” began today (19 April) as two of the major highlights in the mega promotional event “Experience Macao – Korea” currently held in Korea. Through innovative and multidimensional promotion strategies, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) hopes to inspire travel trade to launch brand new tourism products tailored to different market segments in Korea. The “Experience Macao” Gala Dinner was held tonight and attended by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Dr. Alexis Tam. Following the opening of the “Experience Macao Your Own Style” Road Show yesterday, which attracted many locals in Korea already, the month-long “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion also commenced today. At night, MGTO hosted an “Experience Macao” Gala Dinner and invited nearly 200 representatives of governmental entities, travel trade and media from both Korea and Macao to embark upon a culinary journey combined with Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage, advanced technology and magical performance. With the Gala Dinner held, the “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion was officially unveiled. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Dr. Alexis Tam; President of Korea Tourism Organization, Jung Chang Soo; Minister, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Korea, Hao Xiao Fei; Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin; MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; Chairman of Korea Association of Travel Agents, Yang Moo Seung, and MGTO Korea representative, Lew Hwan Kyu, joined the wine toasting at the “Experience Macao” Gala Dinner. Forge ahead to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure During the Gala Dinner, Secretary Tam stated that having successfully developed tourism over the past decade, Macao is at the right time to pursue the goal of becoming a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The hard work, energy and investments that have taken place must now be leveraged to take full advantage of the positive prospect of the global tourism trend. He remarked that the global tourism market is very competitive, but what truly makes Macao stand out is its story, its character and its people. The UNESCO heritage site, food, signature festivals and events as well as integrated resort complexes are all there to best reflect Macao’s unique city narrative. On the other hand, Macao is strategically located at the Pearl River Delta. Key infrastructures including the upcoming completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will open a new window of opportunities for Macao to collaborate with its counterparts from Mainland China and Hong Kong to offer multi-destination tourism to visitors from Korea and other international tourists from the region and beyond. Visitors will enjoy more choices and better connections. In addition, Macao is striving to increase its year-round appeal as a high quality, leisure and business tourism destination, thus increasing visitor satisfaction, length of stay and expenditure. He added that Macao has the vision to become a regional leader in dynamic tourism and this vision is supported by the SAR Government’s endeavor to give all the visitors a unique Macao experience. The SAR Government has been working together with its local and overseas trade partners who have specific market and segment expertise. Through close partnership with the trade, the SAR Government strives to deliver the full growth potential of tourism. President of Korea Tourism Organization, Jung Chang Soo, stated that Macao is well known as “Little Europe in Asia”, with its abundant tourism resources and infrastructures in an atmosphere inspired by East and West cultures. The city is fantastic with a good balance between sense of homogeneity and difference. All these attract over half a million Korean visitors every year to Macao. Young generations nowadays enjoy travel as a part of daily life with fluent foreign language skills and high technology devices. If Macao can keep providing distinguishable content and service, more Koreans will visit Macao. Minister, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Korea, Hao Xiao Fei, stated that in recent years, Macao has achieved new progress in its development into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The booming tourism and MICE industries have fostered social and economic progress in Macao, while the prosperity of the industries plays an active role in advancing the city’s long-term development and helping it to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure with adequate diversification of the economy. Macao is a dynamic city with a thriving economic momentum and an abundant mix of local cultures and communities, which fully meets the demand of the Korean visitor market. She believes that as Macao makes a greater effort to promote its destination to Korea, the interchanges between Korea and Macao will become more in depth with more Koreans choosing Macao as their leisure destination. MGTO Director Senna Fernandes expressed her hope that the Macao food promotion can reach a great range of people and as a result, to attract more Koreans to visit Macao in person. Recognizing the enormous potential in the Korean market, MGTO will march ahead with more effective promotional strategies. She conveyed her appreciation to the travel trade partners, media of both Macao and Korea for their support in tapping into the great potential for further growth in Macao’s Korean tourism market. During the Gala Dinner, Macao chefs prepared an exquisite menu of Macanese dishes from Macao for the guests. The dinner also marked MGTO’s newest gimmick to present the food with holographic projection. The guests could enjoy the entire virtual journey without putting on 3D glasses. The captivating performance presented by the House of Magic also tinged the Gala Dinner with a mysterious ambience. Promote Macao with culinary delights Another highlight of the “Experience Macao – Korea” mega promotional event is the month-long “Taste of Macao: East meets West” food promotion. To promote “Macanese Gastronomy”, a listed Macao Intangible Cultural Heritage, MGTO has invited three Macao chefs to prepare signature Macanese dishes for locals and visitors in Korea. Starting from 19 April until 18 May, patrons can enjoy Macanese delicacies during lunch or dinner hours at the buffet restaurant Tavolo 24 in JW Marriot Dongdaemun Square. Located at the hotel rooftop, The Griffin Bar also features a menu of Macao’s signature snacks and special drinks. Both catering outlets are decorated after the theme of the World Heritage monuments and new attractions in Macao, for patrons to experience the city’s aroma to the full. Encourage trade to launch new products MGTO is holding “Macao．Korea Travel Mart” in Seoul and Busan on 19 and 21 April respectively for members of travel trade from Korea and Macao to build connections and discuss business opportunities with each other. The Office again invites travel trade to participate in its “Macao Tourism Product Promotion Scheme” and forge new partnerships. Korean trade attendees may get sponsored by launching new tourism products in the market. This year, the Travel Mart is attended by over 40 trade delegates from airport company, as well as airlines, ferry operators, hotels, travel agencies and related sectors from Macao. Around 110 members of travel trade of Seoul joined the travel mart on the first day, proving the great potential in the Korean Market. Following the visit to Seoul, the MGTO delegation will hold a travel mart and networking dinner in Busan to create more exchange and cooperation opportunities for Macao trade delegates and their Korean counterparts. The team will also ride on the occasion to encourage trade partners to launch new tourism products tailor made for the Korean market.
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