News

To celebrate the World Forest Day, Macao Post announced that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at Senado Square, at 10:00 to 18:00 on 21st March 2015 providing the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “World Forest Day”. A commemorative envelope will be distributed to public, and various philatelic products will also be available for sale during the above activity. Besides, Macao Post will distribute the above-mentioned envelope on 16th to 20th March at Macao Post Headquarters and all post offices. Welcome to visit us and collect Macao Stamps.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in March on 10 March for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 13 supermarkets in Toi San, Ilha Verde and Fai Chi Kei areas in N. Sra. de Fátima 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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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is promoting the city as a tourism destination at the 50th ITB Berlin, running since March 9 until 13 at the German capital, to reinforce links with international travel trade and attract more visitors from long-haul markets at the world’s largest travel show. During ITB, MGTO also collected the award for Best Destination – Leisure 2015, conferred to Macao by the International Council of Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), in another endorsement to the attributes of Macao as a tourism city. Macao promoted as a city of events and festivals at world’s largest travel show MGTO Deputy Director Cecilia Tse, joined by the Head of Destination Marketing Department, Betty Fok, is in the German capital to head the Macao promotion at ITB Berlin, considered the world’s largest travel show. Macao is showcased at the mega-travel show with a 63 square meters booth displaying Macao as a city of events and festivals, and cultural heritage. The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is one of the highlights of the booth this year, with the Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, Pansy Ho, and the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre also joining the Macao booth to promote the event. On the opening day of ITB, March 9, Cecilia Tse welcomed at the Macao booth key travel trade partners for a cocktail, to create another opportunity to reinforce links and give updates on Macao's tourism industry. Before the opening of ITB, Cecilia Tse attended a Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Chapters Meeting held on March 8 at the Hotel Berlin, followed by a networking reception that also included guests from other tourism partner associations. Macao awarded Best Destination – Leisure 2015 by PATWA During ITB Berlin, Macao received the award for Best Destination - Leisure 2015 conferred by the International Council of Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), in another prestigious accolade for the city’s tourism. Cecilia Tse collected the award during PATWA International Travel Awards Ceremony, held today (March 10). The PATWA International Travel Awards are given to recognise individuals and organisations involved in the promotion of tourism from different sectors of the travel trade such as aviation, hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, destinations, government bodies, tourism ministries and other service providers related directly or indirectly to the industry. PATWA International Travel Awards are announced and handed over annually at ITB Berlin. ITB Berlin attracts more than 180 countries and territories With over 10,000 exhibitors from more than 180 countries and territories joining the event every year, and having attracted last year more than 175,000 trade visitors and consumers, along with 6,000 plus media, ITB is the foremost business platform for global touristic offers. Joining ITB every year, MGTO aims to reinforce the image of Macao as a travel destination at this large-scale international travel fair to tap into overseas markets and foster connections with international travel trade partners. Celebrating 50 years this year, the world’s largest travel trade show will host a series of special events to mark the occasion. This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
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The 27th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will be held from 30 April to 29 May. This edition of the MAF is themed “Time” and has “Reshape your Imagination. Appreciate the Spirit of the Times” as slogan, presenting several excellent performances. Tickets will be available through the Macau Ticketing Network from 10am on 13 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 13 March. This edition of the MAF offers a variety of exceptional performances. The Festival kicks off with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a show about Shakespeare’s romantic comedy; and closes with Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s most renowned tragedies; the Yue opera Lu You and Tang Wan, a performance featuring the aesthetics of the opera from the region to the south of the Yangtze river, classified Intangible Cultural Heritage. Several local performances are also fascinating: the play Someone in “Outlaws of the Marsh” featuring elements of Cantonese Opera, which transcends the eastern and western boundaries; Shelf Life, a combination of visual arts and installation; and numerous family programmes such as The Assembly of Animals, Glide and In Chants, allowing children and adults to appreciate the arts together. Various types of discounts are offered in this edition of the MAF. An early bird 30% discount is offered, subject to certain criteria, from 13 to 20 March and a 20% discount is offered from 21 March onwards; a 30% discount for purchasing tickets in a designated period of time by presenting valid full-time Student Card (in designated seating area) or Teacher’s Card. Holders of BOC Multi-currency Credit Card or BOC card will receive a 30% discount on tickets for the opening and closing performances, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, as well as a 20% discount on all other shows. A 20% discount for all shows is also available for those who purchase their tickets with ICBC Macao, BCM Bank, OCBC Wing Hang Bank or Tai Fung Bank MasterCard, Visa or Unionpay cards. A 50% discount will also be offered to holders of Macao Senior Citizen Card or the Disability Assessment Registration Card, with purchases limited to one ticket per person per performance. For each purchase over MOP800 (net amount after discount), purchasers are entitled to receive a discount voucher and exclusive offers at MGM Macau’s selected restaurants and SPA (available while stocks last). On the first day of ticket sales, ticket purchases are limited to a maximum of 10 tickets per performance per person, except for the shows The Assembly of Animals and Circles (purchase limited to a maximum of 4 tickets per performance per person) and In Chants (purchase limited to a maximum of 2 Children Packages and 2 Observer tickets per performance per person). In addition, the show In Chants offers special packages. For more information, please refer to the MAF’s booklet. For more information about the performances, ticket purchase and other discounts, please visit the “Arts Festival Guidebook”, download the PDF version at (www.icm.gov.mo/fam), follow the MAF’s page on Facebook or subscribe to IC’s WeChat account. Ticket reservation is available at: 2855 5555. Online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com.
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Cooperation with Hong Kong and mainland on judicial matters had to be in line with principles of Macao’s legislation, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, said today. Her comments were made to reporters after discussions with Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, held this morning at the Government Headquarters. Ms Chan said the discussion had made good progress. The dialogue mainly covers detail on the principle of mutual legal cooperation, and some technical issues of the agreement between the two Special Administrative Regions, she said. When asked by reporters about arrangements regarding the surrender of fugitives from justice, the Secretary said any such requests would be handled on a case by case basis once a cooperation agreement was in force. She noted such requests might be made retrospectively in relation to court sentences already handed down, still valid but not yet imposed. The Government would work diligently regarding Macao domestic legislation that was designed to be a framework for regional judicial cooperation, including judicial cooperation with Hong Kong and with the mainland. A draft proposal on regional judicial cooperation was submitted in December to the Legislative Assembly. Regarding legal cooperation with the mainland, the Secretary said a consensus had been reached, but more detailed discussions were required on particular issues. An agreement on judicial cooperation with Hong Kong was being discussed separately from such cooperation with the mainland, Ms Chan said. In both cases, implementation depended on the progress of discussions, she added.
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The Macao Orchestra, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, holds the chamber music concert “Cheers for Youth” at Dom Pedro V Theatre on Friday, 18 March, at 8pm. The concert features three pieces representing “youth” in various senses. The highlight of the programme of the concert “Cheers for Youth” is Czech composer Leoš Janáček’s Suite for Wind Sextet Mladi (Youth), regarded as one of the most representative works of the nationalist surge in the 20th century. Janáček composed this piece when he was in his 70s, recalling his childhood and enriching it by adding a bass clarinet to the standard woodwind quintet. The concert also features the Little Suite for Strings (Nonet), Op. 1 a highly original and popular piece by Carl Nielsen, the most influential Danish composer of the early 20th century, as well as Russian composer Victor Ewald’s Brass Quintet No. 3 in D-flat Major, Op. 7. Music lovers cannot miss this inspirational evening! Tickets for the Macao Orchestra chamber music concert “Cheers for Youth” are priced at MOP120 and MOP100 and are now available through the Macau Ticketing Network. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For details of the programme, please visit the Macao Orchestra website: www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the third “Art Fair@5 Outubro Street” of this year will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 March, from 3pm to 8pm, at the Hong Kung Temple Square (Largo do Pagode do Bazar). Cultural and creative entities from Macao and Hong Kong will be selling handicrafts and accessories at the Fair, while music bands from the two regions will present varied performances. All residents and tourists are welcome to visit the Fair and buy their favourite products. The initiative counts with 36 booths, 28 of local cultural and creative entities and 8 from Hong Kong. More than 100 distinctive and creative products, including silver accessories, clothing accessories, porcelain, graphic design, paintings, textiles, leather goods, handbags, household furnishings, mini bonsai, handmade soap, eco-friendly utensils and creative food products, will be on display and on sale. Some booth owners will promote demonstrations of the art of calligraphy and painting and interact with the visitors. Music bands from Hong Kong and Macao, namely Voicoholics, Crossline, Ferdinand, Bomber, Omnibus, 21g, What the AppLoi!? and New Youth Barbarshop, will be performing in a mini-concert to enrich the ambience. The “Art Fair@5 Outubro Street” is held at Hong Kung Temple Square (Largo do Pagode da Barra) in the second weekend of every month, excluding in May and November. It aims to provide a display platform for interested parties to develop the cultural and creative industries, thus encouraging and motivating the growth of these industries. The “Art Fair@5 Outubro Street” in April will be held on 9 and 10 April, at the mentioned venue and time as per usual. For more information, please visit the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com) or the Tap Seac Art Fair page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TapSeac.Artfair). For enquiries, please contact Ms. Wong, staff member of IC, through tel. 2892 4040, during office hours.
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Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in March on 9 March for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Iao Hon Market and the Border Gate area (Portas do Cerco ) in N. Sra. de Fátima 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 Government has compiled a report outlining how Macao can achieve its goal of adequate economic diversification, and how Macao can make further contributions to the nation’s development. The “Report on the Promotion of Moderate Economic Diversification in the Macao Special Administrative Region” was submitted to the Central Government on 1 March. It includes some proposals to support the city in other policy objectives. The report also summarises Macao’s roles in the wider development of the whole country. The report additionally discusses some of the advantages available to Macao in cooperating in the nation’s 13th Five-Year Plan, and some of the obligations imposed on Macao by the Five-Year Plan. The latter is a master plan for national development that covers the period from 2016 to 2020. The report also takes into consideration development strategies, such as the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”, (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative). The Government’s report includes analysis on the opportunities arising from nationwide initiatives, such as the boosting of economic integration across China’s regions; the development of free trade zones; and policies for liberalisation of trade in services. The report indicates the Government would step up efforts in maintaining social and economic stability, and in developing Macao’s strategic roles as a world centre of tourism and leisure; and as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies). The Government would in addition develop policies to support the growth of emerging industries, in order to help diversify Macao’s economy. The report also mentions the creation of more opportunities for local small- and medium-sized enterprises, local professionals, and young local people, as a way to enhance the creativity of the community and the city’s ability to compete internationally in the provision of goods and services. Macao’s people are also encouraged to take increasingly active roles in the country’s development. This will in turn help Macao to even greater social and economic success. Pressing ahead on policies for Macao’s economic diversification is indispensable to the city’s long-term prosperity. The Government would work closely with Macao residents and different sectors within the community on the economic diversification issue. In doing so Macao would be strongly supported by the Central Government and by partner cities across the country. The report, coordinated by the Chief Executive’s Office, not only contains suggestions on optimising public policy regarding the economic diversification goal, but also reports on opinions from within the community in how that might be achieved.
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An agreement between mainland’s General Administration of Customs and Macao to strengthen cooperation on the management of maritime waters and law enforcement was likely to be signed in May, said the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak. Mr Wong made the comments on Tuesday (8 March), after attending a graduation event and swearing-in ceremony for senior police officers and fire officers. Mr Wong said, on the sidelines of the event, that preliminary agreement between Macao and the mainland had been reached on maritime cooperation, and the specifics of law enforcement duties regarding the city’s 85 square kilometres of waters. He added this was the result of a recent visit to Beijing and a meeting with officials there. It included a meeting with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou. In response to questions from reporters, the Secretary said the Macao authorities were highly concerned that a member of the Public Security Police Force facing a disciplinary investigation had gone missing. The authorities continued to pursue an investigation into the case, he said. Mr Wong confirmed that the police officer under investigation had left Macao after providing assistance to a separate police investigation. No further information could be disclosed at this stage as the officer’s departure from Macao was itself still under investigation, he added. Mr Wong said any disciplinary investigation against a member of the Public Security Police Force could last up to 45 days under existing rules. An extension could be requested if it were deemed necessary. Neither a member of the police forces nor a public servant facing a disciplinary investigation could be dismissed prior to adjudication on such a matter, he stressed.
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