News

The University of Macau’s (UM) Class of 2016 today (28 May) planted a jacaranda tree on the Alumni Avenue on the campus, to express their gratitude to the alma mater. On the same day, the UM (Hong Kong) Alumni Association presented an inscribed stone tablet to the university, in an effort to encourage students to read. UM University Council Chair Lam Kam Seng; UM Rector Wei Zhao; Vice Rectors Lionel Ni, Rui Martins, and Haydn Chen; as well as other distinguished guests attended the tree-planting ceremony together with the students. Mathew Lam Chun Yat, president of the Graduation Committee, gave a speech at the tree-planting ceremony. ‘UM has produced a large number of outstanding graduates over the years,’ he said. ‘Today marks the end of our journey in college, but our journey into another stage of life is just beginning. No matter where we go in life, we will always use our knowledge and experience learned from UM to give back to society.’ The UM (Hong Kong) Alumni Association presented an inscribed stone tablet to the alma mater, in an effort to encourage students to read extensively to expand their knowledge. Rector Wei Zhao gave a speech at the unveiling ceremony, in which he thanked the UM (Hong Kong) Alumni Association for its support for the alma mater over the years, which he said has made it possible for UM to make a contribution to the development of the Macao society. Guests attending the unveiling ceremony for the inscribed stone tablet included Rector Wei Zhao, Vice Rector Haydn Chen, and members of the UM (Hong Kong) Alumni Association.
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The award ceremony of “Promoting Honesty” video contest for secondary school students was held today (28th May) by the CCAC at the hall of the Luso-Chinese Technical and Vocational School. The Commissioner Against Corruption, Cheong Weng Chon, stated in his opening speech that the CCAC attaches great importance to youth education on honesty, integrity and compliance with the law, and hoped that the secondary school students, when producing their video clips, could reflect and establish in their minds a proper understanding of the importance of these values. The contest featured two categories of participants, namely Junior Secondary Group and Senior Secondary Group, and the creative videos were subordinated to the themes of “Fair Competition”, “Values of Money”, “Honesty and Loyalty”, “Incorruptibility” or “Trustworthiness”. As the contest received overwhelming response, a total of 89 entries from 18 schools were collected. The jury was composed of Professor of Department of English at the University of Macau, Tan See Kam, the Chairman of the supervisory board of the Audiovisual CUT Association, Ho Ka Cheng, art and culture professional, Joe Tang,local young director, Ao Ieong Weng Fong, and the Head of Education and Awareness Division of the CCAC, Ao Man Wa. The jury selected 15 videos from each group based on the theme expression, creativity and inspiration, as well as filming techniques, and subsequently awarded the winner, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up and the works of merit of each group. All of the award-winning videos have already been uploaded to the dedicated page of the CCAC’s website (www.ccac.org.mo) for free viewing.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in May on 27 May for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets in São Lázaro and São Lourenço Parishes. 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 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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In order to provide diversified training opportunities for industry professionals and enhance management quality of the local service industry, Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration co-orgainsed an Executive Development Programme on “Leadership and Motivation” on 26 and 27 May. The course addressed the real-world complexities faced by front-line leaders and their teams. During the course, participants gained insights about their personal leadership style and developed skills that promoted effective teamwork that had a lasting effect in their workplaces. The programme attracted 21 professionals of local hotels and mega resorts. IFT had the honour of inviting Prof. J. Bruce Tracey from faculty of the School of Hotel Administration to give the lecture. Prof. Tracey acquired his Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Albany. In addition to Cornell, he has taught in a variety of degree programmes in Finland, Singapore, France and Switzerland. He has also facilitated numerous executive education courses throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Focusing on human resources strategy and management, Prof. Tracey’s research has examined a wide range of strategic and operational-level HR topics including the impact of training initiatives on individual and firm performance, employee turnover, employment law and leadership. Through the programme, participants gain insights and skills to effectively leverage talent and organisational resources that are necessary for achieving long-term success. Topics include:  Gain key insights about their personal leadership style and the most effective means for enhancing performance;  Identify obstacles to team performance and methods for overcoming them;  Acquire skills for optimising team creativity and innovation;  Create opportunities for facilitating a positive and supportive team culture. IFT is always striving to enhance its teaching and research so as to contribute to the industry and the society. By organising seminars and workshops, IFT constantly shares with the industry the most updated information and research findings about the future development of Macao’s tourism industry and ways to enhance it.
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The 1st International Film Festival & Awards‧Macao (IFFAM) will be held in December. The organizers held a press conference today (27 May) to introduce the IFFAM Organizing Committee and the International Professional Team as well as the current preparation work. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Alexis Tam attended the press conference and witnessed the signing of a cooperative agreement between Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association (MFTPA). Witnessed by Secretary Tam, MGTO and MFTPA signed the cooperative agreement during the press conference, confirming their joint initiative to organize IFFAM. Cultural Affairs Bureau and Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau are co-organizers of the event. The Organizing Committee also gave out certificates of acknowledgement to the sponsors and entities concerned. The inaugural edition of IFFAM is scheduled to take place at Macao Cultural Centre and Macao Science Center from 8 to 13 December. The organizers have formed an IFFAM Organizing Committee and an International Professional Team to carry out the preparation work. Close to 100 local and international members of the press, international buyers, film directors, film stars, film producers, distributors, investors as well as key persons from major film festivals around the world will be invited to attend the 1st edition of IFFAM. The volume of participants is expected to reach 500. During her speech, MGTO Director and President of the IFFAM Organizing Committee, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, remarked that IFFAM will introduce world-class exchange opportunities and raise Macao’s international profile to a new level. Not only that, the event will unleash the synergistic effect between culture and tourism and enrich the cultural appeal of the destination, thus producing long-term benefit for the sustainable development of the tourism industry and the creative and cultural industry in Macao. President of MFTPA and Executive Vice President of the IFFAM Organizing Committee, Alvin Chau, stated that the 1st IFFAM will mainly invite original film works that are relatively more popular in the market, with the aim to forge IFFAM into one of the major international events and marketplaces in the Asian film industry. Festival Director of IFFAM, Marco Müller, expressed that owing to Macao’s economic, cultural, historical and geographic factors, IFFAM has the potential to become a major film-hub. Many key film-operators agreed that there is still space in East Asia for a new hub for exchanges in the film industry, and Macao certainly holds a potential and chance to occupy a key position in the global arena. Organizing Committee The IFFAM Organizing Committee comprises governmental representatives, film professionals and scholars, etc. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes takes up the role of President, while President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng, President of Management Committee of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, José Tavares, and President of MFTPA, Alvin Chau, are the Executive Vice Presidents of the IFFAM Organizing Committee. MGTO Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong, Vice President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chan Peng Fai, Member of the Committee of Cultural Industries, Melina Leong, Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology, Tong Ka Lok, and Vice President of MFTPA, Chen Ji Min, act as vice presidents of the IFFAM Organizing Committee. Council Chairlady of MFTPA, Alice Azedo Augusto is the Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, whereas Executive Vice Council Chairlady of MFTPA, Lei Sou Ian, is the Deputy Secretary General. Internationally-renowned film producer Marco Müller is the Festival Director, whereas famous producer in Asian film industry, Lorna Tee, acts as the Head of Festival Management. International Professional Team The International Professional Team for IFFAM includes Festival Director, Head of Festival Management, Ambassadors, International Advisory Board as well as International Consultants. The members include Festival Director Marco Müller and Head of Festival Management Lorna Tee, while celebrated Hong Kong directors Johnnie To and Ann Hui, Korean director Choi Dong-hoon, as well as famous director and cinematographer from Europe, Clemens Klopfenstein, act as the Ambassadors. The four Ambassadors all boast a background or profile related to Macao. Three of them have shot film scenes in Macao before, while Director Ann Hui once studied in Macao. The International Advisory Board consists of 7 film experts from the East and the West, including Chinese film director and producer Huang Jianxin, veteran American film producer based in Asia-Pacific, Michael J. Werner, Korean producer Oh Jung-wan, veteran producer and distribution expert from Hong Kong, Nansun Shi, famous American screenwriter James Schamus, French art director for film festivals, Olivier Père, and famous Portuguese producer Luís Urbano. In charge of film selection, the Team of International Consultants includes Alëna Shumakova for Russia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, Deepti Dcunha for India, Diego Lerer for Latin America, Marie-Pierre Duhamel for Western Europe, Sandra Hebron for the United States and the United Kingdom, Shan Dongbing for China and Tomita Mikiko for Japan. The Team of Honorary Advisors includes President of Galaxy Entertainment Group, Michael Mecca, President of Sands China Limited, Wilfred Wong, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Wynn Macau Limited, Linda Chen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Ltd., Grant Bowie, famous Hong Kong film star Eric Tsang, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Entertainment Culture Ltd., Alex Dong, acclaimed Hong Kong celebrity agent Paco Wong and President of China Great Wall Art & Culture Center, Junguo Shi. The Media Partners for the 1st IFFAM are Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. (TDM) and FOX Networks Group. The official Internet Marketing and Media Partner for the event is MOME Ltd. In addition, the three-time Oscar winner of Best Achievement in Art Direction, Dante Ferretti, has been invited to design the trophy for the IFFAM awards. Diverse and fascinating program highlights The program of IFFAM features various highlights including Competition, Gala, “Hidden Dragons” Genre Cinema Panorama, Best of Fest Panorama and a retrospective called “Crossfire”. The Film Market/Industry Office and Masterclasses will also be held during the event. Competition – the competition will present 12 feature films. A jury composed of five film-personalities will appraise and award the best film works; Gala – 5 of the most important new movies of the year will be presented out of competition, in a series of red-carpet presentations; “Hidden Dragons” – 6 films representing the latest current and style of contemporary Asian genre cinema will be presented; Best of Fest Panorama – screening 8 award-winning feature films from major international film festivals in 2016; “Crossfire” – featuring 12 genre films from South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and so on, selected by 12 East Asian genre film masters; Film Market/Industry Office – film industry entities will be invited to set up film market booths; Masterclasses – international film professionals will be invited to share their experience with local audience and members of the film industry. Competitions and exchange project foster creativity Other sidebars include: IFFAM – “Macao Audience Choice Award” Trophy Design Competition welcomes entries from Macao residents and designers, and will select the best design for the trophy of “Macao Audience Choice Award” in IFFAM. Chinese Language Short Content Competition – targeting young creators, the competition welcomes Chinese language short content works which feature elements of Macao. By inspiring young talents to develop their own film works, the competition aims to extend the impact of IFFAM across Chinese-speaking territories. Young Talents Project – International Short Screenplay Competition encourages young people to write screenplay and fosters their creativity; the competition also welcomes participants from Portuguese-speaking countries. After the first round of selection, assistance will be provided to translate Portuguese screenplay entries into English version. In the British Film Academy Project, professional lecturers from the British Film Institute will conduct a one-week training program on film production targeting local residents and students. Promotional activities The organizers not only will carry out an array of promotional activities in Macao and overseas, but also will promote the event in various major film festivals including Shanghai International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival, as well as through the help of MGTO’s representatives overseas. The film and television industry creates a strong momentum for local tourism development and effectively builds up a destination’s colorful image. Not only that, the industry also fosters tourism growths and raises the destination profile. Last year, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam proposed hosting an international film festival, hoping that the event can gather outstanding film works as well as prominent actors and film stars from around the world, thus bringing in world-class exchange opportunities and unleashing a synergistic effect through advancing local cultural and creative industry development and Macao’s destination glamour. Through the film festival, the SAR Government also aims to broaden the diversity of tourism and cultural products as well as signature events, enriching the cultural elements offered by the destination, in order to produce long-term benefit for the sustainable development of the tourism industry and the creative and cultural industry, which will promote Macao’s endeavor to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The press release and photos are available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/index.php
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The Cinematheque．Passion, under the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), hosts a talk entitled “Cinematography: creativity behind the viewfinder”, conducted by renowned Hong Kong director of photography, O Sing-Pui, to be held on Saturday, 18 June, from 3pm to 5pm. Online applications are now accepted. Admission is free. In this talk, O Sing-Pui will explore the cinematographers’ role and capabilities, analyse the relationship between photographer and film, and share his personal experiences and vision of cinematography. Recommended by the famous Hong Kong director Tsui Hark, O Sing-Pui has an impressive filmography: in 1986, he completed his first directorial work The Story behind the Concert; in 1997, he was the director of photography of the film Made in Hong Kong and later he worked as photographer and director of photography of several Hong Kong film productions like You Shoot, I Shoot, Heros in Love and The Pye-dog, among others. In 2008, O was nominated for the Best Cinematography award at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards with Ip Man. There are sixty seats available. All interested parties are welcome to enroll through IC’s Activity Registration System (www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event). For enquiries regarding the talks or the Cinematheque, please contact Mr. Leong, staff member of IC, through tel. no. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours. For details, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau website (www.icm.gov.mo) or Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com) .
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The Government will not change its policy of banning non-resident workers from being employed in Macao as drivers of heavy vehicles. The reiteration of the policy follows news reports in the Hong Kong media suggesting Macao’s regulations might be changed to allow non-residents to take such work. The Government pays great attention to the fact that demand is high in Macao for local professional drivers. The Government is committed to resolving the issue by adopting policies that enable a greater number of residents – that already have a heavy vehicle licence – to work as drivers for local bus companies. The Government is also providing additional training opportunities for those residents interested in working as drivers of heavy vehicles but that do not currently have the necessary licence.
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The CCAC has detected two cases of document forgery involving fraud over the “Income Subsidy” of the Government of the Macao SAR. The persons involved have allegedly committed the offences of document forgery and fraud under the Penal Code and the amounts of money involved were higher than MOP700,000 and MOP200,000. The relevant investigation has been completed and the cases have been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office. The Macao SAR Government implemented the “Temporary Measures for the Income Subsidy” in January 2008, aiming to subsidise permanent residents with low income to ease their life pressure. According to these measures, employees with monthly working hours not lower than the stipulated hours and a quarterly income not exceeding the stipulated amount are eligible for application of the subsidy. It was discovered that between 2009 and 2014, the owner of a property management and cleaning company, when applying for the “Income Subsidy” on behalf of his employees, submitted false information to the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) by understating the wages and overstating the working hours of the employees and even faked their personal data in an attempt to fraudulently obtain the supplementary allowance amounting over MOP700,000. In another case, when applying for the “Income Subsidy” to the DSF, between 2012 and 2015, on behalf of the property administrators, the president of a property administration committee intentionally understated their wages and named part of the wages as “allowance and bonus”, which was paid separately on a different date in order to conceal the actual amounts of their incomes, having thus received, by fraudulent means, more than MOP200,000 from the Macao SAR Government.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that both the unemployment rate (1.9%) and the underemployment rate (0.5%) for February-April 2016 remained stable as in January-March 2016. Total labour force was 397,300 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.2%. Total employment increased by 600 from January-March, at 389,600. Analysed by industry, employment in Gaming & Junket Activities and Real Estate & Business Activities registered increase, while that in Hotels & Similar Activities saw decrease. Number of the unemployed was 7,700, similar to that in January-March; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 5.0% of the total unemployed, down by 1.3 percentage points. In comparison with February-April 2015, the labour force participation rate dropped by 1.8 percentage points, while both the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in May on 26 May for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included 12 supermarkets in Sé 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 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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