News

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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In order to promote the art of Cantonese Opera, the exhibition “The Enchanting Red Boat – An Episode of the Cantonese Opera Culture”, organised by the Macao Museum under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, was inaugurated on Thursday, 26th May, at 6pm, in the lobby of the Macao Museum. The opening ceremony was officiated by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao S.A.R., Zhao Chuan Dong; the Deputy Director of Foshan Museum, Wang Haina; the President of the Macao General Association of Cantonese Opera, Lam Fong Ngo and the member of the Cultural Consultative Committee, Tong Mui Siu. As part of the programme of the 27th Macao Arts Festival, the exhibition is open to the public until 9th October. Cantonese Opera, also known as “Guangdong Drama”, is a distinctive local culture and art. Many repertoires were inherited from “zaju”, a variety show of the Yuan dynasty. Originating in Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces in the Ming and Qing dynasties, Cantonese Opera became popular in the Pearl River Delta and burgeoned in the late Qing dynasty. Cantonese Opera was inscribed on the Tentative List of the Macao SAR Intangible Cultural Heritage and on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2006, and it was also recognized by UNESCO and was officially inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, testifying to its artistic value and significance. In order to promote the art of Cantonese Opera and introduce its “beauty”, the Macao Museum organises the exhibition “The Enchanting Red Boat - An Episode of the Cantonese Opera Culture”. Its title, “Red Boat”, highlights the origin of Cantonese Opera. “Red Boat” refers to the boats painted in red in which the Cantonese Opera troupes were taken through the dense river network of Guangdong Province, as well as the costumes and sets of the performances. These troupes were known as “red boat troupes”. These red boats basically vanished due to the civil war occurred in the 1950s. The exhibition features nearly 100 artefacts, including the most representative artefacts of the Macao Museum related to Cantonese Opera, and other materials, photos and collections provided by Cantonese Opera associations and organizations. These artefacts include the costumes of renowned Cantonese Opera artist Chun Siu Lay, and traditional bamboo Chinese instruments made by Cantonese Opera musician Li Yui-cho, among others, illustrating the history, development and presentation of Cantonese Opera in Macao. Biographies of celebrated Cantonese Opera conductors will also be presented, allowing visitors to contemplate the beauty of this traditional art and the enchanting nostalgia it brings. The exhibition “The Enchanting Red Boat” features an educational area themed on Emperor Hua Guang, who is respected as a patron saint by Cantonese Opera artists, allowing visitors to have a better understanding of the customs of Cantonese Opera. In addition to the exhibition catalogue published by the Macao Museum as usual, three exquisite postcards specially designed by members of the Macao Animation & Comic Creators Association are available, adding the exhibition’s publications creative innovation. For more information on the exhibition and activities, please visit the Macao Museum website www.macaumuseum.gov.mo or call the Museum through tel. no. 2835 7911, during office hours.
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Organised by the Macao Museum under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the exhibition “The Enchanting Red Boat – An Episode of the Cantonese Opera Culture” features a series of activities in order to promote the art of Cantonese Opera and allow the public to have a better understanding about the customs of Cantonese Opera. Admission is free. A thematic talk entitled “The Enchanting Red Boat” will be held on Saturday, 4th June, from 3pm to 5pm, conducted by experienced Cantonese Opera artists and performers, Tang Yick Sang and Tang Va Chio, introducing the history of Cantonese Opera from the origin of the red boat, ‘Opera in the Bamboo Theatre’ and ‘Opera for Deities’, traditional stage facilities, to the transformation of Cantonese Opera performance and costumes; a workshop by the Macao Lai Chon Chinese Opera Association will be held on Saturday, 11th June, from 10am to 1pm, presenting the costumes and helmets of modern Cantonese Opera. In this workshop, specialists will demonstrate how to make hairpieces using human hair, and teach participants the basic skills of Cantonese Opera. The abovementioned activities, conducted in Cantonese, will be held at the Macao Museum Auditorium. Admission is free. Seats are limited and subject to availability. For registration and enquiries, please call Ms. Wu through tel. no. 8394 1210 during office hours. In addition, a “Balloon Modelling Family Workshop” will be held on 17th and 31st July and 14th August (Sundays), at 2:45pm and 4pm, at the Auditorium of the Macao Museum. Instructors will teach participants to twist balloons into creative shapes based on hats and weapons used in Cantonese Opera. Admission is free and registration can be made on-site. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first served basis. There will also be Crosswords Prizes. All interested patrons can obtain a registration form on site or download it at the Macao Museum website (www.macaumuseum.gov.mo), and return it to the “Crosswords Collection Box” on the third floor of the Macao Museum during the exhibition period. The Macao Museum will announce the list of winners and prize redemption procedures on 25th October on its website. For enquiries about the “Balloon Modelling Family Workshop” and the “Crosswords Prizes”, please call Ms. Shi through tel. no. 8394 1234. As part of the programme of the 27th Macao Arts Festival, the exhibition “The Enchanting Red Boat – An Episode of the Cantonese Opera Culture” is open until 9th October. For more information on the exhibition and relevant activities, please visit the Macao Museum website www.macaumuseum.gov.mo or call 2835 7911 during office hours.
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The 27th Macao Arts Festival (MAF) Outreach Programme, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, features several activities targeted at the community, including an art critique online platform aimed at encouraging the public’s immediate comments, the initiative “Secondary Students’ Writings on the Macao Arts Festival” aimed to train budding art critics, as well as the accessibility service which reflects the Festival’s social care. The diverse activities allow audience from different sectors to experience the artistic experiences, and come closer to the arts. For the first time, this edition of MAF offers an online platform - “Simple Critique” - offering the public the opportunity to express thoughts directly as well as to interact with other audience members, and at the same time allowing creators to receive immediate feedback. The initiative “Secondary Students’ Writings on Macao Arts Festival” envolves five schools, namely Pui Ching Middle School, Tong Sin Tong School, the Workers’ Children High School, the School of Dance of the Macao Conservatory and the Kwong Tai Middle School, counting with the participation of over 100 students. This initiative allows students to write critiques after the performances, thereby enhancing their appreciation skills of performing arts shows, analysis, judgement and writing abilities and, consequently, nurturing young art critics. After three years of trainings through workshops and the promotion of the accessibility services, this edition of the MAF offers audio description and accessible captions services in the screening of the movie “Touch of the Light” as well as audio description and theatrical interpretation of the children’s play Circles provided by local students. In addition, movies related to the programme and theme of this year’s MAF were also screened. After screening, movie aficionados shared their opinions with the audience, thereby enriching their MAF experience. The movies were screened in several locations around the city, allowing the public to take part in the Festival in public open spaces and bring their daily lives closer to the arts. The various screening sessions gathered over 200 viewers. Additionally, the talk “From Ditties to Arias: Music on a Shakespearean Stage” will be held on 29 May, at the Auditorium of the Macao Museum of Art. Members of the public who have made registration are advised to arrive at the venue on time. For more information on the 27th Macao Arts Festival programme, tickets and discounts, please refer to the Festival Guidebook, which can be downloaded at www.icm.gov.mo/fam, or follow the MAF’s page on Facebook or subscribe to IC’s WeChat account. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555; online ticket reservation: www.macauticket.com.
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The 27th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, carries on this week with excellent theatre and music performances produced by local and foreign groups. The Festival will soon draw to a grand close with Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most renowned tragedies. This version of the play is produced by South African company Third World Bunfight, is a radical take on Verdi’s opera Macbeth. The play explores a vision of the world through a post-colonial African scenery and the historical and current relations between Africa and the West. Verdi’s score has been rewritten and adapted by Belgium composer, Fabrizio Cassol, and is performed by renowned trans-Balkan “No Borders Orchestra” at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium on 28 and 29 May. This is a performance not to be missed. On the other hand, the staged concert Coppia is the result of a partnership between Manuela Azevedo, the vocalist of renowned Portuguese pop music group Clã, Hélder Gonçalves, the musical director of the concert, and Victor Hugo Pontes, who is responsible for the direction and set design, presenting an amazing journey in which dance and music play in a tennis court. The concert will be held on 27 and 28 May at the Sands Theatre, Sands® Macao and the concert venue is sponsored by SandsMacao. The play Someone in “Outlaws of the Marsh” to be held on 27 and 28 May at the Macao Cultural Centre Small Auditorium, features elements of Cantonese Opera and the blending of Chinese and Western styles. This modern comedy tells a story omitted by the original version of Outlaws of the Marsh and is a sequel about two officials ranked as the 109th and 110th heroes. Only a few tickets are available for the abovementioned performances and those interested should purchase their tickets as soon as possible. For more information on the 27th Macao Arts Festival, please visit the respective webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/fam, or follow MAF’s page on Facebook or subscribe to IC’s WeChat account. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555.
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Local doctors are likely to have the opportunity to develop their medical skills in Singapore, under a memorandum of cooperation signed by Singapore and Macao. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, signed the memorandum of cooperation with Singapore’s Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong, in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr Tam was in Geneva to attend the 69th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO). Other items in the memorandum of cooperation included: joint training for medical staff from Singapore and Macao; the establishment of a response mechanism for health emergencies; and the creation of a platform for information sharing and exchanges. In a meeting on 24 May (Tuesday), Mr Tam told Mr Gan that Singapore and Macao maintained a close exchange mechanism on medical affairs. That included Macao medical staff regularly attending seminars held in Singapore, and Singapore doctors providing a number of medical services in Macao. Strengthening cooperation between Singapore and Macao would not only benefit the two places, but also would contribute to the regional development of medical services, Mr Tam said. Mr Gan said the Singapore Government was pleased to provide more training opportunities to Macao doctors. Singapore doctors could also come to Macao – if needed – to provide technical support and deepen exchanges, he added. Earlier on Tuesday in Geneva, Mr Tam met with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Ms Margaret Chan, to exchange views about the development of medical services in Macao. The Secretary briefed Ms Chan about the Government’s proposal to build a centre for treatment of infectious diseases and about the strategies to strengthen prevention and control of communicable diseases. Ms Chan spoke highly of the Government’s efforts in maintaining and improving the city’s public health infrastructure and services over the years. She advised the Government nonetheless to remain vigilant regarding any potential outbreak in Macao of disease. Those diseases already reported in other parts of the world would be a particular focus for attention given that Macao is a popular tourism destination for travellers from all over the globe. Regarding the centre the Government intends to build for treatment of infectious diseases, Ms Chan said she fully understood the plan and expressed her support for the project. Other topics discussed during the meeting included: the development of Macao’s traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry; and the organisation of a seminar on TCM to be held in Macao later this year. The Government delegation concluded on Wednesday its three-day visit to Geneva. During the trip, the delegation attended the 69th World Health Assembly. Mr Tam also had meetings in Geneva with the mainland’s Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Ms Li Bin; and the Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ko Wing-man. Members of the Macao Government delegation included: the Director of the Health Bureau, Mr Lei Chin Ion; the Deputy Director of the Health Bureau and Director of the Conde S. Januário Hospital, Mr Kuok Cheong U; and consultants to the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture. The 69th World Health Assembly, with the theme “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, is being held from 23 to 28 May in Geneva. The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization. Its main functions are to stipulate WHO policies, supervise its finances, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) completed the selection for the 2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums and a total of eight entrants were selected as beneficiaries of the Programme. IC will grant each beneficiary a subsidy of up to MOP210,000 for the production, cover design, marketing and promotion as well as the printing of the song album. In order to cultivate more local music composers and producers and accumulate outstanding music pieces for the groundwork of market development, IC launched the Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums in 2014. A total of 25 valid applications were received this year. The professional adjudicating panel has selected eight eligible applicants as follows (ranked by the order of strokes of the Chinese surname): Ho Ka Wai, Ung Kuoc Iang, Lam Wai Hong, Chan Wing Chon, Chang Heng Ian, Wong Eunice, Tang Chi Fong and Sou Io Kuong. The adjudicating panel invited by IC, was composed by professionals from the music sector from Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Hong Kong music supervisor Schumann, Hong Kong music producer Edward Chan, Kelvin Ngai and Victor Tse as well as founder of Taiwan Colors Music 43 Chang and Taiwan music critic and radio DJ Ma Shih-fang. The Subsidy Programme Series for Macao’s Cultural and Creative Industries was first introduced by IC in 2013, and so far the bureau launched the Support Programme for the Production of Feature Films, Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making and the Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums. It is hoped that these targeted subsidy programmes and supporting initiatives will help to cultivate local talents in the cultural and creative industries, incubate potential cultural and creative products, promote and advertise Macao’s cultural and creative brands and to ultimately promote the growth of the sector. For enquiries about the result of the 2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums, please call Ms. Lao, staff member of IC, through tel. no. 2892 4040, during office hours.
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In order to meet readers’ demands and enrich the Library’s collections, the Macao Public Library of the Cultural Affairs Bureau launches the “Annual Collection of Recommendations for Newspapers / Periodicals 2017”. Residents are welcome to recommend the subscription of their favourite newspapers or periodicals from today until 30 June. They may complete the “2017 Newspaper / Periodical Recommendation Form” and submit it to any branch of the Macao Public Library or email it to inf.bc@icm.gov.mo. The submission of the desired newspapers and periodicals can also be made through the online recommendation form which can be downloaded at Macao Public Libraryes webpage (on Service Guide – Book Purchase Recommendation). The Library will analyse the recommended materials collected, and include the newspapers and periodicals which are in line with the policy for the development of the library collection and therefore which will be inscribed on the 2017 Possible Acquisitions List. Currently the Macao Public Library holds a total collection of over one million volumes and nearly sixty thousand audio and video materials. It offers around 90 newspapers issued in different regions and about 900 assorted magazines available to the public in its branch libraries . The “2017 Newspaper / Periodical Recommendation Form” can be obtained at any library service desk of the Macao Public Library or downloaded from the Macao Public Library website at www.library.gov.mo. For enquiries, please call through tel. no. 2856 7576 or 2837 7117, during office hours.
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