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The Government would press ahead with efforts to integrate gaming and non-gaming elements in the city’s tourism sector, as a way of furthering economic diversification and as a way of boosting – particularly in relation to the maritime economy – regional cooperation. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, made these comments today at the sidelines of a reception to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). Mr Chui outlined to reporters the key aspects of work the Government is doing to sustain development of the gaming industry. They included: a close examination – making use of the mid-term review of Macao’s gaming concessions – of how to promote effectively a healthy development of the industry; and a continuous optimisation of gaming regulation. It was also the Government’s policy to look at how Macao’s integrated resorts were going about their role of advancing opportunities for local employees, including their upward or horizontal career development. Looking ahead, the Government is confident of achieving a balanced budget and in managing a modest public surplus in the coming year, stressed the Chief Executive. The public finances are stable, with 570 billion patacas of accumulated reserves and no public debt, Mr Chui said. He added that Macao had a well-established system for managing Macao’s fiscal reserve. The Government expected gross gaming revenue in 2016 would amount to 200 billion patacas, equivalent to an average of 16.6 billion patacas per month, he said. Mr Chui said there had been a significant growth in areas not related to gaming in 2013 and 2014, such as construction, financial services, hotel, wholesale, and food and beverage. Non-gaming features now accounted for 90 percent of offerings in newly open gaming resort projects, he added. The Government would continue to promote development of non-gaming attractions in gaming resorts, in order to meet the aspirations of the Central Government – as outlined by President Xi Jinping during his visit last December – for an adequate economic diversification of Macao and the city’s sustainable development, said Mr Chui. In addition, Mr Chui said the Government was prepared for its additional administrative roles arising from Macao’s new administrative map, namely in terms of regulations, trained professionals, and necessary equipment and facilities. The State Council has today promulgated a new administrative division map for the Macao SAR. According to the regulation, an area of 85 square kilometres of waters surrounding the SAR – and also the land area where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located – comes under Macao’s management.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said the Government would continue to make good use of the Central Government’s supportive policies, in order to sustain the stable and successful development of Macao. Mr Chui gave a speech this morning at a reception, held at the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre, to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). Mr Chui said a new map of administrative divisions of the Macao SAR, recently approved by the Central Government, was an example of the Central Government’s strong support to Macao. It also related to the principles of Macao being governed according to the rule of law; the promotion of adequate economic diversification; the promotion of enhanced regional cooperation; and the improvement of people’s livelihoods. The a new map of administrative divisions, recently approved by the State Council, demarcates an area of 85 square kilometres of waters surrounding Macao as being under Macao’s jurisdiction. It also gives Macao administrative responsibility for an area of land where the Border Gate checkpoint with Zhuhai is located. The Chief Executive said the Government was studying economic development strategies relating to its newly demarcated waters. He added the Government would work to strengthen regional cooperation regarding administration of inshore waters, for Macao’s benefit and that respectively of its neighbouring cities. During his speech, the Chief Executive expressed heartfelt thanks to the Central Government, the Guangdong Government and the Zhuhai Municipal Government for their continuous support regarding this matter. Mr Chui said the Government would spare no effort in order to maintain Macao’s stability and economic vitality during the ongoing adjustment period for the city’s gaming industry. He stated that the Government would work to ensure that Macao’s overall economy would continue to be healthy, with stable public finances and a relatively low unemployment rate, despite the global economic environment being complicated and ever changing. The Chief Executive additionally noted that the Government is determined to continuing the implementation of the “Centre and Platform” policies. They refer to the transformation of Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure, and to Macao becoming a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. He said the Government would apply itself diligently to the organisation of the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, an event to be held in Macao next year. Mr Chui stated the Government was preparing, for the first time, a top-level policy initiative involving the planning, over a five-year period, of Macao’s development. It would be based on the concept of developing Macao as a world centre of tourism and leisure. This planning would help Macao better to realise its economic growth and to integrate that process in the nation’s overall development. The Chief Executive said that Macao’s role in national development – outlined in the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan – would be achieved by making use of Macao’s unique advantages. The result would be to elevate Macao’s position and function in national economic development and in the nation’s opening-up policy, while ensuring growth at local level in Macao. The Government would also actively contribute to the policies relating to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (also known as the “Belt and Road” initiative), by maximising Macao’s cooperation with the nation’s free trade zones. At local level, improving livelihood of the people remained a core element of Government policy, stressed Mr Chui. The Government would continue to consolidate and improve several long-term mechanisms for such improvement, namely in education, social security, healthcare, housing, and cultivation of local talent. The Government would also press ahead with projects focusing on promoting respect for the elderly, support for young people, and care for the underprivileged, he said. Approximately 980 guests attended today’s reception. They included: the Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mr Ho Hau Wah; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Chen Sixi; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in Macao SAR, Mr Ye Dabo; the Commander of the Macao Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army, Mr Wang Wen; the President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Ho Iat Seng; and the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai. In the morning, more than 250 guests had attended the flag raising ceremony in Golden Lotus Square in celebration of the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) and the Tou Tei Mio Patane Mercy and Charity Association co-organized the establishment of the “Patane Night Watch House” located at No. 52-54, Rua da Palmeira. The “Patane Night Watch House” opened to the public on 18 December, Friday, at 3:30pm. The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Director of the Macao Government Tourist Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Representative and Assistant of the Chief of the Department of Education and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R., Shao Bin; the Vice-President of the General Union of Associations of Macao Residents, Ho Ion Sang; the Chairman of the Tou Tei Mio Patane Mercy and Charity Association, Vong Su Sam; and the Chairman of the Patane Mutual Aid Association, Wong Wa Keong. The night watchers in ancient China served to report time and remind people to take precautions against fire and theft. However, this community service gradually vanished following the modernisation of the city. The Patane Night Watch House, the only one existing in Macao, reflects the night watch practice (night watchmen) of the city in the past. In order to revitalize the Patane Night Watch House, IC undertook a construction survey and mapping, structural recovery and façade renovation along other works. Thus the original layout of the night watch house was reinstated along with the reproduction of unique features like a large retaining stone and a fresco inside the house. In addition, IC commissioned a complete historical research on Macao’s night watch house and night watch system as the basis of the exhibition theme and space planning of the Patane Night Watch House. The exhibition space of the renovated Patane Night Watch House is divided into two thematic exhibition halls, namely “Macao’s Night Watch Houses” and “Image of Night Watchmen”. In the exhibition hall “Macao’s Night Watch Houses”, there are pictures and documents which tell the story of the night watch house and introduce the regulations of the night watchman’s duties and the reporting time methods, etc. It also includes tools and objects related to the job of the night watchman, such as gongs, wooden beaters, fire hose nozzles, silver whistles and service receipts, among others. The exhibition hall “Image of Night Watchmen” features graphic images of night watchmen created by Macao artists and tells the story of night watchmen in the past such as time reporting, public safety, precautions against fire and their warning duties and contribution, through interviews with former watchmen. The exhibition is therefore lively in description and rich in information. The establishment of the “Patane Night Watch House” reveals the close relationship between night watchmen and the community in the past, allowing the citizens to understand the urban development, the promotion of traditional values of mutual assistance and the provision of community services. The Patane Night Watch House opens to the public today. The House opening hours are from 10:00am to 6:00pm, including public holidays (no admission allowed after 5:30pm) and it is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. For enquiries, please call IC though tel. no. (853) 8399 6699 during office hours.
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The Photography Contest “Parade through Macau, Latin City”, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) and the Easy Photography Association, provide a learning platform for photography aficionados to have mutual exchange. In order to encourage the citizens to actively participate in the local cultural events, the organizer held a photography contest during the Parade, inviting all citizens to participate and capture the event’s highlights. Under the theme “Parade through Macau, Latin City”, in celebration of the 16th anniversary of Macao’s handover to China, the Contest accepts works that feature scenes from the Parade, such as performances, artists and activities. The Contest includes two categories, Youth (citizens aged between 13 and 24) and Public (citizens aged 25 or above). Works must be uploaded on the webpage photoblog.ecpz.net/latincity, and each participant is allowed to upload 10 works in maximum. Applications are accepted until 26 December. Each category includes prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places as well for 10 merit awards. More information on the Contest and the respective regulations are available at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building, the Easy Photography Association, the digital photos output stores Digital Chi Pak, Foto Digital Fantastic and Foto Digital Tin In, and can also be downloaded from the Easy Photography Association’s website (www.ecpz.net). For details of the Photography Contest “Parade through Macau, Latin City”, please browse the webpage photoblog.ecpz.net/latincity. For enquiries, please contact Ms. Lei at (853) 6644 2644 from the Easy Photography Association during office hours. In addition, through the platform of IC on WeChat, users can participate in the Contest “Find the Treasure and be Eligible to Win Plane Tickets” by subscribing on WeChat and completing the required tasks, which is open from today until 31 December. Participants will have a chance to win a round trip Air Macau plane ticket for one person to a destination of their choice; only two tickets will be awarded. For more information on the Parade’s activities, please visit the event’s web page and page on Facebook at www.icm.gov.mo/macaoparade and www.facebook.com/macaoparade.
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Macao Post announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philatelic Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters at 9:00 to 17:30 on 20th December 2015 providing the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “Definition of waters leads to prosperity”. A commemorative envelope will be distributed to public. Welcome to visit us and collect Macao Stamps!
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Macao is to hold a series of events to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). Highlights of the celebrations on Sunday (20 December), the actual day of the anniversary, will include a flag raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square at 8am. It will be broadcast live by the television service TDM. There will also be a reception hosted by the Government, at Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre at 9.30am. At 2pm the Macao Sport Development Board will hold a concert by Hong Kong Cantopop star Sammi Cheng Sau Man at Macao Stadium, Taipa. At 9pm on Sunday, the Macau Government Tourist Office will stage a fireworks display on the waterfront near Macau Tower and near Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre in NAPE. In addition, Macao Post is offering to the public a commemorative postmarking service for Macao postage stamps at a temporary postal counter at its Senado Square headquarters in the city centre. The service is available from 9am to 5.30pm on Sunday. Another event coinciding with the 16th anniversary is a special flower show called “Winter Christmas Village - Christmas Flower Show”, organised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. It features more than 50,000 winter blooms. The show runs until 3 January, 2016 at the Taipa Houses-Museum on Taipa. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will organise a Taoist Ritual Music performance at 2.30pm on Saturday (19 December). The performance, held at the Mandarin’s House, aims to promote the intangible cultural heritage of Macao – Taoist Ritual Music – as well as to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the SAR.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will be on his annual duty visit in Beijing from 21 to 24 December 2015. During his duty visit in the capital, the Chief Executive will report to the state leaders on the latest developments of Macao and the work of the new term Government during the year, as well as the Government’s policy blueprint for 2016. Delegates accompanying the Chief Executive on duty visit include: the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Director of the Representative Office of the Macao Special Administrative Region in Beijing, Ms Hong Wai; and the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng. While the Chief Executive is away, the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan; and the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosário; respectively, will be the Acting Chief Executive.
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The updating of Macao’s boundaries would help create more favourable conditions for developing the local maritime economy and assist the city in its efforts to enhance regional cooperation. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, made the comments today on the sidelines of a committee meeting of the Legislative Assembly. The State Council approved on Wednesday (16 December) a draft version of a new administrative division map for the Macao SAR. According to the draft, 85 square kilometres of waters surrounding Macao, and an area of land where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located, will be placed under Macao’s management. Mr Leong said that following the boundary demarcations, Macao could further develop maritime activities, including: maritime-related tourism, such as a proposed scheme to enable pleasure craft to travel between Macao and Zhongshan in Guangdong Province; and maritime-related trade, such as that via the “Dawan area” – a coastal hub for logistics that serves Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao. These initiatives were in line with the “Centre and Platform” approach applied to the development of Macao’s economy he added. The “Centre and Platform” approach is one of the Government’s strategies for achieving an adequate diversification of the local economy. It refers to the transformation of Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure, and to Macao becoming a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. The Secretary said the Government would spare no effort in ensuring effective management of the newly demarcated boundaries. He added that the Government would work closely with all sectors regarding the necessary planning for the administration of those areas. In addition, Mr Leong commented on the news that the U.S. Federal Reserve had raised its interest rates. He said the Monetary Authority of Macao would adjust Macao’s base lending rate accordingly, given that Macao’s currency – the pataca – is indirectly pegged to the U.S. dollar via an association with the Hong Kong dollar. With regard the U.S. rate rise, the Government would closely monitor the local housing market and the reaction of the local banking and property development sectors. He advised property buyers to pay close attention to their ability to afford such transactions.
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Consumer Council conducted its ‘Supermarket price survey’ in December from 15 to 17 December for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets 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. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. 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 Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) is to take on responsibility for administering 85 square kilometres of waters surrounding the SAR, and also for administering the land area where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located, according to an executive meeting today of the State Council. During the meeting, the State Council approved the draft version of a new administrative division map for the Macao SAR. It adjusts Macao’s land boundaries and defines maritime areas to be placed under Macao’s management. The Government is confident of managing the waters capably and effectively, stated the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, in a written statement issued today. Mr Chui expressed sincere gratitude to the Central Government, to the Guangdong Government and to the Zhuhai Government for their strong support on the issue. Receiving approval to manage the newly demarcated 85-square-kilometres of waters has profound significance, said Mr Chui. It signifies the full implementation of the principle of “One country, two systems”, and clearly defines the application of the rule of law of Macao in those areas, the statement added. The demarcation of such maritime waters could also assist in accelerating the diversification of the city’s economy; could foster further regional economic integration; and could maximise Macao’s contribution in the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (also known as the “Belt and Road” initiative), Mr Chui wrote. The Chief Executive said the Government would diligently and effectively perform its administrative role in the new areas placed under the administration of Macao, and apply scientific principles to its management. The Government would additionally step up its efforts in playing an active role in national policy and in boosting the nation’s maritime economy, Mr Chui said. Any fresh proposal for land reclamation involving Macao’s newly demarcated waters would be reported to the Central Government; and there would be no gaming venues or commercial gaming activities in such areas, Mr Chui added. The Government would strictly respect the Central Government’s jurisdiction on defence and foreign affairs matters in relation to the newly demarcated boundaries, he stated. Following the announcement made by the Central Government, the Government Spokesperson’s Office held a press conference this evening at the Government Headquarters. Officials attending the press conference included: the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Government Spokesperson, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Secretary for Security and interim Director General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the head of a joint task group on this topic and Director of the Marine and Water Bureau, Ms Wong Soi Man; the head of a functional group for defining land boundaries and Director of the Cartography and Cadastre Bureau, Mr Cheong Sio Kei; the Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau, Mr Liu Dexue; and the Consultant of the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Kou Chin Hung. Ms O told reporters that the Decree of the State Council outlining the new administrative division map of Macao was expected to be issued on 20 December. She said that the Government would soon issue three administrative regulations in support of the administration of the maritime boundary. They are: a regulation specifying immigration clearance procedures for crew members of vessels; a regulation on marine dumping of waste; and amendments to the articles of the Marine and Water Bureau. The Government would also initiate procedures to make any required amendments to relevant legislation; to train professionals for administration of the demarcated waters; and to acquire the necessary equipment for such administrative work, Ms O added. The demarcation of Macao’s waters would give the Government the opportunity to engage in environmental management initiatives near Canal dos Patos, a waterway between Macao and Zhuhai, Ms O stated. The Government has reached agreements with, respectively, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the State Oceanic Administration in relation to demarcation of Macao’s waters, Ms O said. The agreements would help align the administration of Macao’s waters with the nation’s overall development plans, and would also facilitate access for mainland vessels wishing to use Macao’s waters, Ms O said. The Government would soon set up an interdepartmental group, led by the Chief Executive, to plan further Guangdong-Macao cooperation in this area; to develop the maritime economy; and to manage the waters as demarcated, she added. The Secretary for Security and interim Director General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Wong Sio Chak, disclosed the Government would adopt a policy whereby the authorities would be able to send officials to any point around Macao’s waters within half an hour of being called. It would additionally introduce a system of maritime inspection with 24-hour-per-day capability. To cope with the new duties of the Macao Customs Service in relation to the demarcated waters, the team for enforcing maritime control would be expanded to 190 people, Mr Wong said. President Xi Jinping announced during a visit to Macao last December, the initiation of working procedures to specify Macao’s management role of its customary waters. Today’s announcement by the State Council said the policy is a way for the Central Government to show its support in helping the Government further to maintain the prosperity and stability of Macao and the sustainability of its economy. Following President Xi’s announcement last December, the Government set up a cross departmental task group led by the Chief Executive and coordinated by the Chief Executive’s Office to follow up the matter. The task group has representatives from 14 departments and aims to cooperate with the Central Government in ensuring there is clarity regarding Macao’s boundary demarcations and those of its waters.
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