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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, said the Government would optimise gaming regulations and strengthen supervision for the gaming promoter sector, in an effort to improve the competiveness of Macao’s gaming industry. Mr Leong made his comments during a meeting with representatives of a local association of gaming promoters (known in Portuguese as Associação de Mediadores de Jogos e Entretenimento de Macau) on Thursday (7 January). He added that the Government saw a need to develop regulations that would further ensure the protection of the rights of consumers while also safeguarding the development of the gaming promoter sector. A healthy development of that sector would help advance a more robust gaming industry for Macao, Mr Leong added. Mr Leong stressed the Government was working to promote the development of non-gaming elements in the city’s integrated resorts, in an effort to establish a gaming industry with distinctive local characteristics and to help diversify the city’s economy. The Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, Mr Paulo Martins Chan, was also at the meeting. He told the association’s representatives that enhancing gaming regulations and improving the means by which his staff could enforce gaming laws and regulations was the Bureau’s key task in the short term. Mr Chan said the Bureau acknowledged the efforts already made by gaming promoters to promote the sustainable development of Macao’s gaming industry. He added the Government would continue to keep in close touch with the sector in order to assist the healthy development of the industry. A member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Zheng Anting, who accompanied gaming promoters to the meeting, said some previously overlooked issues might emerge during the ongoing adjustment period of the gaming industry. He agreed with the idea of strengthening communications between the Government and the sector, as a way to alert the Government – in a timely manner – to any challenges and issues in the industry’s development. Representatives of gaming promoters that were present at the meeting expressed some opinions on how to bolster communication with the Government; how to safeguard the development of the sector; and how to strength its supervision via the development of regulation.
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Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the “Art Fair @5 Outubro Street” will be held this Saturday and Sunday (9-10 January), from 3pm to 8pm, at the Hong Kung Temple Square. Admission is free. Residents and tourists are welcome to participate and explore the charm of original works and creative handicraft. There are 36 booths in the Art Fair, with the theme of original handicrafts and creative food & beverage. Cultural and creative practitioners from Hong Kong and Macao will introduce and sell distinctive and creative products, including leather goods, porcelains, silver accessories, textiles, eco-friendly utensils, and natural beauty products, etc. Some booth owners will also make their creative works on the spot, sharing their passion and talent with the audience. In addition, local singers and bands will hold a mini-concert at the Fair, enhancing the festive atmosphere. Performers include 21g, Eva Lam, Willy, Voicoolics, Ferdinand Feat.Ko Ian, What the AL!?, Ar B, Cheng Un and The Rolling Cat. The 2-day event of “Art Fair @5 Outubro Street” will be held at Hong Kung Temple Square on the second weekend of every month, excluding May and November. It aims to provide a display platform for those interested parties to develop in the cultural and creative industries, thus encouraging and motivating the growth of the industries. The “Art Fair @5 Outubro Street” in February will be held on 13th and 14th, from 3pm to 8pm, at the Hong Kung Temple Square as usual. For details, please visit the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com) or Tap Seac Art Fair Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TapSeac.Artfair). For enquiries, please contact Ms. Wong, staff of IC, through tel. 2892 4040 during office hours.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council conducted its specific price surveys on fresh, refrigerated, and frozen pork on 7 January. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
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The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) has organised the “Promoting Honesty” video contest targeting secondary students and the submission deadline will be on 15th January. Students who intend to take part in the contest should submit the completed application form, copy of student card and the video, on or before the deadline, to the CCAC’s Headquarters at Avenida Xian Xing Hai n.o 105, Centro Golden Dragon, 17.o Andar, Macau, or its Branch Offices in Areia Preta and Taipa at Rua 1.o de Maio, n.os 68-72, Edf. U Wa, r/c, Macau and Rua de Nam Keng, Edf. Nova City, Bloco 4, r/c, Loja C, Taipa respectively. Through organising this video contest, the CCAC aims to encourage students to reflect on the importance of honesty and integrity to individuals and society, as well as to promote these values conveyed in the creative works. Themes of videos could be “fair competition”, “values about money”, “honesty and loyalty”, “incorruptibility” or “trustworthiness”. The contest features two categories of participants, namely Junior Secondary Group and Senior Secondary Group. Not more than 15 entries will be selected from each of the two groups, and those shortlisted will go on to compete for the Champion, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up, Merit Awards and a Most Popular Video Award in their respective group. The list of awards will be uploaded to the CCAC’s website in March 2016 and winning students will be notified about prize collection. For details please browse the CCAC’s website www.ccac.org.mo or refer to the contest rules. Enquiry hotline: 2832 6300.
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Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in January on 6 January 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 six 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 selection of the 2015 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making held by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) was completed and a total of eight entrants were selected as eligible candidates of the Programme. IC will grant each eligible candidate (individual or team) with a subsidy of up to MOP160,000 for the sample making and production of promotional materials. In order to promote the sustainable development of the fashion design industry in Macao, IC launched the 2015 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making last year. Among the 22 applicants, the adjudicating panel selected eight finalists after the initial and second reviews, six of whom are individuals and two are teams. The eligible candidates are: Cheang Chi Tat, Peng Yun, Tam Chi Kit, Cheong Kuan Peng & Wong Ha (team), Cheang Man Cheng, Leong Iok Pui, Lo Ka Heng & Choi Wai Leng (team) and Siu David. The adjudicating panel comprised of relevant professionals from Macao and Hong Kong covering various fields such as fashion design, retail, production and training. Members include Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, Walter Ma; member of the Committee of Cultural Industries of Macao and the President of Rainbow Group, Terry Sio; Senior Manager at the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre (CPTTM), Victoria Kuan; and Vice President of the Industrial Association of Macau, José Tang Kuan Meng. The Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making was first launched in 2013. Some 50% of the applicants for the Programme in 2015 are new applicants, revealing that the programme has continued to attract the participation of new applicants. In addition, over 60% of applicants have registered trademarks for their brands, a growth of 10% compared with 2014, showing that local fashion designers are aware of brand protection and pay close attention to intellectual property rights. One of the adjudicators remarked that the business planning of 2015’s entries is more mature than that of the past and the applicants have gradually found their market positioning. In terms of design, adjudicators said some applicants focus too much on design details whilst neglecting the practicality of the clothes. They suggested applicants consider the product design and consumers’ needs from the perspectives of their own self of use. For enquiries about the results of the Programme, please call Ms. Lam through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said the updated boundaries for Macao’s waters and land areas would further assist Macao’s long-term progress, especially economic diversification and sustainable development. Mr Chui made the remarks in a meeting with the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Feng Wei, at the Government Headquarters on Tuesday (5 January). Mr Feng led a delegation of representatives from the mainland authorities for an inspection tour of the city’s newly demarcated waters and land boundaries. Mr Chui stated the Government would make all efforts to ensure a smooth transfer of such boundary management responsibilities from the neighbouring authorities that previously held such responsibilities. The Government would also draw up a long-term plan for the newly demarcated 85-square-kilometres of waters and a land area where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located, he said. In the meeting, the Chief Executive said Macao people were delighted to learn of the new boundary demarcations, which had been announced in Decree No. 665 of the State Council on 20 December 2015. He expressed his sincere thanks for the support of the Central Government and the mainland authorities – especially the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR – as well as the Guangdong provincial and Zhuhai municipal governments. The Government would further explore opportunities with regard to the mutually beneficial development of Macao and Guangdong Province. Mr Chui said this would be based on the successful existing structure provided by the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao. Mr Feng said the relevant mainland authorities had been working closely with the Macao Government since the issuance of Decree No. 665 by the State Council. This was in an effort to support Macao’s economic diversification, to promote closer Guangdong-Macao cooperation, and to ensure smooth and effective operation of the Pearl River Delta. The discussions at the joint working meeting between the Government and the delegation – as well as three cooperation agreements signed on Tuesday related to the management of waters administered by the Macao SAR – were indicators of the direction for further development, Mr Feng said. Officials at the meeting included: the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Yao Jian; the Secretary for Security and interim Director General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Marine and Water Bureau, Ms Wong Soi Man; the Director of the Cartography and Cadastre Bureau, Mr Cheong Sio Kei; and Consultants of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Kou Chin Hung and Mr U Man Fong. Representatives of the mainland authorities that were present at the meeting included: the Vice-Minister of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Mr Gong Puguang; the Chief Security Officer of the Ministry of Transport, Mr Wang Jinfu; the Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Wang Hong; the Deputy Director of the State Oceanic Administration, Mr Zhang Hongsheng; and the Deputy Director General of the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, Mr Li Weisen.
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Consumer Council conducted its first ‘Supermarket price survey’ in January on 5 January for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Horte e Costa, Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga and Rua da Emenda 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 six 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 today signed with the mainland authorities three cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening management of those waters administered by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR); and at furthering development of the maritime economy within waters administered by the Macao SAR. The three agreements are: the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Macao SAR Government on Marine Traffic and Fairway Management for Waters Administered by the Macao SAR; the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Macao SAR Government on Water Resources adjacent to Waters Administered by the Macao SAR; and the Cooperation Agreement between the State Oceanic Administration and the Macao SAR Government on Maritime Development within Waters Administered by the Macao SAR. The signing ceremony for the agreements was held at the Government Headquarters this morning and was witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. The ceremony was attended by: the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Li Gang; the Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Mr Ye Dabo; the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Feng Wei; the Vice-Minister of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Mr Gong Puguang; the Secretary for Security and interim Director General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Deputy Director General of the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, Mr Li Weisen; and representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources and the State Oceanic Administration. The Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Macao SAR Government on Marine Traffic and Fairway Management for Waters Administered by the Macao SAR is to foster mechanisms for dealing with emergencies and to develop information sharing methods between Macao and the mainland. The Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Macao SAR Government on Water Resources adjacent to Waters Administered by the Macao SAR, seeks to ensure there is adequate capability to maintain flood prevention systems for the land adjacent to the waters and waterways of Macao and the land adjacent to the Pearl River Estuary. It also aims to protect the marine environment, local water ecology and to further the sustainable development of Macao and the areas of the Pearl River Delta. The Cooperation Agreement between the State Oceanic Administration and the Macao SAR Government on Maritime Development within Waters Administered by the Macao SAR, aims better to coordinate maritime development so that Macao is able to play a more active role in promoting the nation’s strategy for the maritime economy. The third agreement also states that any proposal for land reclamation has to be reported to the State Council; and that no commercial gaming element is permitted in any new land reclamation project. The signing of the three agreements signifies the support of the Central Government, and of Guangdong Province and its prefecture level city Zhuhai, for Macao’s adequate economic diversification, sustainable development and long-term stability. It also helps in advancing cooperation between Macao and the mainland authorities, as well as taking Macao-Guangdong ties to a new level of cooperation. After the signing ceremony, a meeting was held in the Government Headquarters between the Government and a delegation led by the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Feng Wei. Discussions at the meeting included the transfer of management responsibilities regarding Macao’s newly demarcated 85-square-kilometres of waters and a land area where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located. That administrative arrangement was announced in Decree No. 665 of the State Council on 20 December 2015. The Government is committed to realising full implementation of the three new agreements announced today. Major tasks for the next phase of such cooperation include: follow-up work on the formation of a cross-departmental task force for the development and management of waters administered by the Macao SAR. This task force is to be led by the Chief Executive. The Government will also perform its duties in maintaining security within the waters administered by the Macao SAR and in managing transportation arrangements in the coastal area for which it has administrative responsibilities. The agreements signed today are vital for Macao in its efforts to maintain close contact with neighbouring areas regarding: further cooperation opportunities; projects relating to environmental improvement, especially at Canal dos Patos; and for bettering the livelihoods of the residents of all the communities. The 30-member delegation present at today’s meeting also made an inspection tour of Macao’s waters and land boundaries. The delegation included representatives of respectively: the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; the Ministry of Public Security; the Ministry of Civil Affairs; the Ministry of Transport; the Ministry of Water Resources; the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council; the General Administration of Customs; the State Oceanic Administration; the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation; and the Guangdong Provincial Government.
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The Macao Orchestra under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau will stage the chamber music concert All About Beethoven at Dom Pedro V Theatre on 16 January 2016 (Saturday), at 8:00pm, presenting two iconic ensemble works from the maestro Ludwig van Beethoven. Tickets are now available, music aficionados are welcome to purchase tickets through Macao Ticketing Network. Macao Orchestra will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, which is highly esteemed in the history of chamber music and is an immense, remarkable and profound work. These quartets are much more difficult technically to perform, and it is an extremely valuable experience for audience to enjoy the music. In addition, another outstanding piece of work from Beethoven Serenade for flute, violin and viola in D Major will be performed in the concert. With the combination of three music instruments, this piece, which has brisk and delicate rhythm, brings audience to feel the music in the clear, soft and elegant way. Tickets for the chamber music concert All About Beethoven are priced at MOP120 and MOP100. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For details of programme, please visit Macao Orchestra website: www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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