News

The Chief Executive is highly concerned about the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) report on the investigation of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory land swap case. After considering the views of the Public Prosecutions Office, it is determined that the “Letter of Commitment” signed on 10 January 2011 between the Sociedade de Desenvolvimento Predial Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança, S.A. and the Macao SAR Government does not comply with the law, and is invalid and defective. Therefore, the Government shall not be legally bound by the “Letter of Commitment”; that is, it shall not fulfil any liability stated therein. The Chief Executive has issued an Executive Order, instructing the departments with authority over the case to follow up regarding the issues raised by the CCAC report, according to the law. The Executive Order firstly instructs the Secretary for Transport and Public Works to follow up regarding the invalidation of the “Letter of Commitment”, and the subsequent issues related to the Iec Long Firecracker Factory land swap case cited in the CCAC report. Secondly, if any indication of corruption or fraud is found, the CCAC shall conduct a criminal investigation of this land swap case. Thirdly, if any civil servant is found to have been involved in misconduct, the entity empowered to initiate disciplinary process shall commence the proceedings according to the law. The Government reiterates that all land use issues will be handled in accordance with the Land Law. Of the 350 hectares of land of the new urban reclamation areas, none have yet been granted for the purpose of land debt redemption. In the past, based on favourable policies or in consideration of the public interest – including for cases involving planning revision, construction of infrastructure or public housing – the Government has published in the Macao SAR Gazette its commitment to pay for land in the form of land swaps: a system which is fair, open, lawful and rational. However, if the Government suspects any improper procedures or violation of regulations, the case will be transferred to the CCAC for investigation. The Government was fully aware of society’s concerns during last year, and examined the details of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory land swap case. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works proactively transferred the case to the CCAC for investigation. The case is now clarified, demonstrating that the Government always respects the rule of law. The Government reiterates its zero tolerance to corruption, illegal actions and disciplinary offences, which it will strictly handle according to the law. The Government wishes to join hands with the public to consolidate the foundation of rule of law, and maintain a peaceful and stable Macao.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on diapers, over-the-counter drugs, and milk powder on 13 July 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 CCAC has recently completed the investigation on the legality of a land exchange related to the Iec Long Firecracker Factory. It has also presented the investigation report to the Chief Executive according to the provisions of Organic Law of the CCAC. The CCAC released the said investigation report today and received a Notice from the Chief Executive about this matter. The CCAC attaches great importance to the information obtained from investigations, reports and other channels. Whenever signs of corruption or fraud related to corruption are found, the CCAC will carry out criminal investigation according to the law. Regarding whether or not there were criminal offences involved and whether or not formal criminal investigation has been carried out, the CCAC will adhere to the usual practice and will not make any comment on the case at this stage.
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2016 Macao Franchise Expo (2016 MFE) will be held at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel Hall A from July 29 to July 31 this year. Several internationally renowned brands are attracted to participate in this year’s MFE, in which they will be assisted to reach a successful “Going Global” and “Bringing in Investment” through modes of franchise. By utilizing the development trends of “Internet +”, MFE will also hold themed forums to show the enterprises how to seize the new opportunities in the Internet Era. Besides that, it is also held at the same time and location with the 2016 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair, aiming at a synergy effect to create golden new opportunities for enterprises. Multiple international brands involved and all kinds of industries 2016 MFE is jointly organized by IPIM, Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan, Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association, Macao Chain Stores & Franchise Association and Licensing & Franchising Association of HK. Being successfully held for 7 times, MFE is a premier commercial event integrating exhibitions, forums, business matching and promotion seminars. Every year it attracts many exhibitors and professional visitors to participate. Last year, it attracted 168 chain, franchise and brand agents and others from 11 countries and regions. Number of business matching reached to 1,000, and there were around 14,500 visitors, achieving an ideal effect. With the forthcoming MFE this year, we will again uphold the concept of “Brand Expansion Continues, Business Opportunities To Be Seized” so as to help create a “path” to a broader market for those participating exhibitors, capitalizing on the unique advantages of Macao. The countries (or regions) involved this year include: Mainland China, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and so on. The event has attracted to those enterprises that are doing business among industries of food and beverages, retail, education, entertainment, finance, real estate, accessories, consulting service as well as brand agency. Some local renowned brands include Waffle Waffle shop, Sheng Mian, Sheng Cha, Alua e Comidas Portuguesa KAM IN, Ramen Kouji, Loksun and Lei’s Cuisine. There are also Tim Ho Wan, the Dim-Sum Specialist, A La Bakery, Chicken Pot Hut and Water Laundry from Hong Kong; Smoothie House from Taiwan and so on. Business opportunities emerging from diversified activities Besides exhibitions, this year’s “Forum on International Franchise Business Opportunities” will be held on July 29, the first day of the expo. Themed as “New Horizon for Chain and Franchise in the Internet Era”, it has invited experts and senior managers of international franchising associations in Asia, Europe, Mainland and Macao to share their experience and insights on how to operate a franchise business under the latest internet development. There are multiple activities to be held during the expo, including Promotion Seminar of South Korean and Taiwan Products; Mr. Robert Chua, the general agent of Tim Ho Wan Dim-Sum, Hong Kong and the famous TV producer is specially invited to be a guest speaker on the seminar of the second day. The “VIP Buyer Lounge”, which is newly added this year, provides a meeting opportunity for VC fund investors and MFE exhibitors to discuss the possibilities of co-operation projects. Additionally, business matching services are also provided by the organizer of the expo, with a view to assisting MFE exhibitors to find business cooperation partners. Based on the positive impact last year, the Consultancy Service in the Brand Re-packaging Pavilion will continue this year. The on-site Professional Promotion Seminar is also a good chance for franchise exhibitors to promote their brands or chain business. Adding “Competition on franchise business for youth startups”, making youth business dreams a reality What’s more, with the aim of helping youth startups and utilizing chain business mode, 2016 MFE will hold “Competition on chain business for youth startups” and invite energetic youngsters dedicated to start business to prepare investment plans for the brands involved in MFE this year and make on-site presentation to representatives from the VC fund sponsors, who will be the judges to select the outstanding investment plans. The deadline for the competition entry will be July 21. Golden opportunities created by concurrent events One special highlight this year would be 2016 MFE held at the same time and location as 2016 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair. The Fair last year attracted nearly 130,000 people and was greatly welcomed by the residents and visitors as an annual brand expo. Basing on that, the two expos in conjunction will have a synergy effect and create golden new opportunities. For any further information regarding MFE this year, please visit the official website at www.mfe.mo or contact us by tel: 853-82946777, fax: 853-82946701, e-mail: expo@mfe.com, or add the Wechat account of MFE: MFEMacau.
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The registration period for the Year of the Rooster commemorative coins 2017 launched by the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) will end at 6:00pm on 15th July 2016 (Friday). Hence, the Monetary Authority of Macao would like to remind those citizens who are interested in subscribing for the said coins to complete the online registration before the mentioned deadline. Since all 3 types of the said coins were oversubscribed, the allotment for each type of commemorative coins will be determined by computer balloting. The ballot results will be communicated via SMS messages on 22th July 2016. From that day onwards, subscribers can also browse the ballot results on the webpage of the Monetary Authority of Macao (www.amcm.gov.mo). For further details relating to the coins’ selling price and online registration and subscription procedures, please refer to our webpage (www.amcm.gov.mo) or telephone 28565072.
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Partnership between Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) offers IFT alumna Ms. Mandy Ho Pui Ian opportunity for 1-year internship at the international body’s headquarters in Madrid, Spain. The IFT graduate was selected from a group of candidates for a 1-year internship at the headquarters of the UNWTO in Spain. The opportunity was made available in partnership with IFT. Ms. Ho was assigned to UNWTO’s Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific for the internship. She will assist in collecting and producing tourism-related information and in preparing high-level meetings, among other administrative tasks. IFT is providing Ms. Ho with a MOP40,000 scholarship to support her expenses while in the Spanish capital. The unpaid internship – for which only 1 vacancy was available – will last until the end of May 2017. Macao-born Ms. Ho graduated from IFT in 2012 with a Bachelor Degree in Tourism Event Management. She worked in customer services at the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Centre for about a year. After that, she joined the 12-month Cultural Representative Programme for Walt Disney World in Florida, in the United States. She also learned of this opportunity via IFT. After returning from the US, Ms. Ho became part of the human resources department of Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central. She resigned from her job there to attend the UNWTO internship in Spain. Ms. Ho advises all IFT alumni to maintain close ties with the Institute after graduating. IFT regularly provides its alumni with useful information, including on new courses, promotional offers and other activities. “It was in one of the IFT emails that I read about the UNWTO internship opportunity.” she says. “The connection between IFT and alumni is really helpful. In the Macao hospitality industry, I really see a lot of people who graduated from IFT. In a small place like Macao, networking is quite important.” Ms. Ho also praises the education she received from the Institute, saying it has been very useful so far in her career. “IFT provides very practical knowledge to students. During the 4 years of the bachelor degree programme, we are not just studying; we have practicum, internship and several hands-on projects,” she says. “We also learn how to work with different people, from different backgrounds. Those skills are really important in the service industry.” IFT has been maintaining a long-term partnership with UNWTO. Earlier in 2015, Macao SAR Government and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Macao. The objective was to enhance cooperation between the two parties in improving the quality of human capital and increasing the competitiveness of tourism destinations (particularly in the Asia Pacific Region) in order to achieve sustainable tourism development. The Global Centre for Tourism Education and Training, soon to be set up with the involvement of IFT is tasked with the responsibility to organise training and education programmes, and other projects in collaboration with UNWTO, to achieve the objectives set out in the Memorandum. In May this year, Dr. Alexis Tam, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Government and Mr. Tith Chantha, Secretary of State of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to cooperate in promoting sustainable tourism development through enhancing human capital and establishing collaborations in tourism education and training between Macao and Cambodia. After that, a group of 20 Cambodian heritage tour guides and 4 officials from Cambodia tourism body came to IFT to attend a 7-day training programme in June, offered in collaboration with UNWTO, on the topic of capacity building of tour guides for international visitors at Angkor World Heritage site, Cambodia. 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 97 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 now 7 bachelor degree programmes with the Certification. Currently, the Institute has the most number of 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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The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) has released “Investigation report on the land exchange case related to the site of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory”. According to the report, the CCAC considers that the Commitment concerning the land exchange signed between the Macao SAR Government and the Baía de Nossa Senhora da Esperança Development Company (Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança Company) in 2001 does not accord with the relevant provisions under the old Land Law. Moreover, the Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança Company does not have any rights on the most part of the site of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory. Therefore, the agreement of land exchange is null and the Macao SAR Government does not owe the Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança Company or any other companies any land grant deals or promises. In other words, there have been no so-called “land debts”. On 10th August 2015, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works sent a letter to the CCAC and handed the file concerning the land exchange case of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory to the CCAC for investigation. Upon receipt of the above-mentioned documents, the Commissioner Against Corruption conducted a preliminary analysis and made an order to commence investigation of the incident in order to clarify the procedures involved and the legality and reasonableness of the decisions made. The CCAC found during the investigation that the Iec Long Firecracker Factory covering an area of 28,340 m2, of which 21,668 m2 was granted by way of lease to the two operators of the then Iec Long Firecracker Factory by the Portuguese Macao Government in 1950s, so that the two operators could utilise the land together with the 1,655 m2 private land they owned and other land for the operation of the firecracker business. In 1980s, the Iec Long Firecracker Factory was basically in a state of shutdown. Thus, in 1986, the Portuguese Macao Government declared the rescission of the aforementioned concession contract and the termination of validity of the concession. Later, the ownership of the private land within the site was transferred to other people and the Portuguese Macao Government received several applications from the right holders of the Iec Long site for construction of commercial and residential buildings or exchange for another plot of land. However, no agreement was reached. In addition, there was a dispute between the relevant right holders and the Government over the premium of the BT27 parcel in Taipa. In mid-2000, the Prosecutor General suggested solving the problem concerning the premium together with the land exchange case involving the Iec Long site, which was being processed at that time. In the same year, the DSSOPT reached an agreement regarding the land exchange with the right holders of the Iec Long site after several negotiations. On 10th January 2001, the Macao SAR Government, represented by the Director of the DSSOPT, and the Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança Company signed a Commitment of land exchange, under which the Government promised to grant a plot of land measuring 152,073 m2 located at Baía de Nossa Senhora da Esperança in Taipa to the company. Moreover, the Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança Company promised that all the parcels would be transferred to the Macao SAR Government free of burden. In March 2002, the Macao SAR Government gave approval to the Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança Company on dividing the land of Baía de Nossa Senhora da Esperança into two parcels with respective areas of 99,000 m2 and 53,073 m2 and the company transferred the first parcel to the Shun Tak Recreational Service Limited (Shun Tak Limited) under the price of HKD500,000,000 for the construction of a hotel. In 2006, the Shun Tak Limited declared to abandon a portion of land covering an area of 18,344 m2 in the above parcel in order to exchange with the Macao SAR Government for a concession by lease, and with exemption from public bidding, of a parcel of land covering an equivalent area, located at Outer Harbour New Land Reclamation Area for construction of a hotel and residence apartments. Based on the analysis of the CCAC, the above Commitment is the most important and core document concerning the land exchange of the Iec Long site. However, the form of signing and the content of the Commitment obviously violated the “principle of legality”. According to the old Land Law, the Director of the DSSOPT did not have the competence or was not vested with the statutory power to grant the land by lease. Thus, the Commitment did not comply with the stipulation concerning the competence for disposition of land of the Macao SAR. Since the Commitment was signed in 2001, it has never been published in the Official Gazette of Macao SAR and therefore does not comply with the stipulation concerning necessary forms for disposition of land of the Macao SAR contained in the old Land Law. The Commitment and the relevant files were not sent to the Land Commission for discussion and giving opinions. Thus, the Commitment does not comply with the stipulation concerning the necessary procedure for disposition of land of the Macao SAR. According to the cadastral map enclosed with the Commitment, a 21,668-square-metre area of the site, granted by lease by the Portuguese Macao Government for running the Iec Long Firecracker Factory, was the major and core parcel component. However, the concession was declared invalid in 1986 according to an order. In reply to the enquiries from the CCAC, the Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança Company said the Government did not start the land resumption procedure after the concession became invalid. Nevertheless, the CCAC found that the cadastral map in Appendix 2 of the Commitment does clearly indicate the nature of each parcel component of the Iec Long site. Furthermore, the ownership of the parcels would not change no matter whether the Government started the land resumption procedure or not. The CCAC believes that when the Commitment was signed, except for the 1655 m2 privately owned parcels, the Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança Company did not have the right to deal with the other parcels (totalling 26,685 m2) within the Iec Long site, let alone the right to promise to transfer all the parcels within the site to the Macao SAR Government free of burden. Therefore, the content of the Commitment is unable to be implemented and never was. It is not necessary and not possible that the Macao SAR Government has to obtain from the company the other parcels within the Iec Long site that are State property in the first place. And, from a legal point view, the Commitment is with a “subject impossible”. The CCAC discovered in the investigation that the value of the Iec Long site confirmed in the Commitment included not only that of the private land and the land on long-term leasehold but also that of the land on leasehold which has already been returned to the Government and the land without registered ownership. Moreover, the value of the relevant State-owned land was deducted from the amount of the premium. Such clause in the Commitment obviously contradicted the principle of “equal benefits” provided by the old Land Law, which jeopardises public interest. The CCAC pointed out that the “principle of legality” is the most fundamental rule that the public works department shall observe when managing the land resources of the Macao SAR. In other words, to act in accordance with the law is the most basic requirement. Therefore, the public works department cannot shirk its responsibility for the land exchange case. The Code of Administrative Procedure stipulates that the Public Administration has the “duty to state reasons” for the administrative acts it carries out. Administrative acts shall not only be “lawful” but also “substantiated”. However, in the process of the land exchange deal involving the Iec Long site, the public works department stated neither the criteria nor the reasons for making the important decisions, including adjusting the amount of the premium to be returned to the concessionaire of the BT27 parcel, modifying the method of calculating the value of the Iec Long site and increasing the usable plot ratio of the residence to be built at Baía de Nossa Senhora da Esperança. Therefore, it is inevitable that the public will have doubts about the fairness and justice of the administrative acts, thus resulting in negative effect on the prestige and public reliance of the administration of the Macao SAR Government. The CCAC also pointed out in the investigation that the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) borne more than MOP5,000,000 restoration and remediation costs in the conservation works of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory. However, there is not any basis for the IC to pay on the owners’ behalf and to be reimbursed later, rather than the expenses being paid by the “owner”. The CCAC also did not see the IC’s attempt to recover the expenses from the “owners”. Although the IC expressed to the CCAC that the Iec Long Firecracker Factory is not qualified to be prioritised and listed in the list of initiating evaluation process, judging from the practice of the IC funding the conservation costs, the initiation of the cultural relics evaluation process of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory is not only necessary but also pressing to a certain extent. The ownership disputes of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory should not become a hindrance to start the evaluation process since the current Cultural Heritage Protection Law has already set institutional norms on the solving of the ownership of the real estates that are under evaluation or to be evaluated. If the conservation and evaluation of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law strictly, it is believed that the result would be much more effective. The CCAC suggests that the relevant departments of the Macao SAR Government should seriously study and properly handle the subsequent questions arising from the nullity of the agreement of the land exchange of the Iec Long site, the dispute on premium payment for the BT27 parcel in Taipa and the issues concerning the land concession to the Shun Tak Limited. The CCAC has submitted the report to the Chief Executive and the full report can be downloaded from the CCAC’s website.
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Following Prof Tu Youyou’s discovery of the antimalarial efficacy of artemisinin, which earned her the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015, a research team led by Prof Zheng Wenhua from the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the University of Macau (UM) recently made important new progress in the study of this Chinese medicine. The UM team found that artemisinin can effectively protect cells from damages induced by oxidative stress and identified the mechanism of action of artemisinin. The study shows that artemisinin has a significant neuroprotective effect, which makes it a potential compound for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. This is the world’s first report on the neuroprotective effect of artemisinin, which has huge potential in clinical applications. The findings have been published, in late June, in Free Radical Biology and Medicine and Redox Biology, respectively. Both journals are among the most prestigious journals in the fields of free radical research and endocrinology and metabolism research. Because of a rapidly ageing global population, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases has increased dramatically. Developing drugs to treat these diseases, therefore, has become a key research area. However, most projects eventually failed because the compounds developed either could not cross the blood-brain barrier or caused unbearable side effects. Artemisinin is an anti-malaria medicine approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, which can get past the blood-brain barrier and only causes minor side effects. The UM team’s findings show that artemisinin has neuroprotective properties, which makes it a promising potential drug for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. Artemisinin can also protect against injuries that occur in other cells such as pigment epithelial cells in the eyes, so it can be a potential drug for other related disorders. The discovery of artemisinin’s neuroprotective effect opened a new chapter in research on the pharmacological effects of this compound. But Prof Zheng points out that a lot of work still needs to be done before artemisinin can be translated into clinical applications.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council collects prices of fresh pork and vegetables from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. The mentioned data collected during 6 July to 12 July are used for comparing the selling prices of the same products from Zhuhai and Hong Kong. The relevant data has been uploaded to the Council’s website for consumers’ reference. The specific price surveys on fresh pork and vegetables are now available on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), iPhone & Android ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ app, and the Council’s WeChat Account page. The relevant surveys include selling prices of local fresh pork and vegetables, and comparison on the respective selling prices rom Zhuhai, HK, and Macao. The Council also uploads the prices of refrigerated and frozen pork collected on 12 July to the Council’s website. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), a launching ceremony of the book titled “A Bibliography of Macao Literature 1600-2014” was held on Saturday, 9 July, at 4pm, in the “19th Macao Book Carnival”, at the Macao Polytechnic Institute Sports Pavilion. The launching ceremony was officiated by the Head of the Division of Research and Publications of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Wong Man Fai; the book’s author, Dr. Wong Kwok Keung; the President of the Macao Library and Information Management Association, Choi Chi Long; the General-Director of the Pen of Macau, Tong Mui Siu; the Principal of Macao Lingnan Middle School, Ao Kam Iong; the President of the Macao Association of Literacy Promotion, Chan In Wa; and the veteran Macao educator, Lao Sin Peng. “A Bibliography of Macao Literature 1600-2014” is the second book of the “Macao Museum of Literature Collection – History Series”. The planning and publication of this collection aims to offer original materials to academic studies through the collection of historical materials and works, thereby hoping to lead to the publication of even broader and more in-depth works on Macao’s literature. The author, Wong Kwok Keung, has years of experience in historical collection and investigation, having selected a bibliography of over 6000 book related to Macao’s literature. Through an analysis of the characteristics and trends in the aspects of the content, language, publishers, and among others, of Macao-related literary works, he seeks to introduce the current development of Macao’s literature in the Chinese, Portuguese and English literature sector, in order to offer valuable reference materials to the development of Macao’s literature. Wong Kwok Keung has been working at the University of Macau Library since 1987, he also worked as the Head of the Publications Centre in 2005. Now he is the assistant librarian of University of Macau Library. From 1990 onwards, he became an active participant of social activities and begun compiling a list of Macao-related studies and publications, offering an important foundation to studies on the city. In recent years, he published close to 100 articles related to Macao’s publications and research studies, mainly focusing on Macao’s publishing history, document bibliography, library and archives history, reading history and Macao and Southeast Asia history. “A Bibliography of Macao Literature 1600-2014” is available for sale at MOP150 at the Plaza Cultural Macau, Seng Kwong Bookstore, Livraria Portuguesa, Macao Historical Archives, Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza and Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre. For more information, please contact Mr. Ao of IC through tel. no. 8399 6449, during office hours.
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