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The Government would allocate more resources to the teaching of the Portuguese language in the city, in an effort to turn Macao into a training hub for such education and a centre of cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, made the comments on Saturday (19 March), on the sidelines of an event celebrating the 35th anniversary of the University of Macau. The Government is committed to increasing – via training – the number of people with the talent to be bilingual in Chinese and Portuguese, as a way to support also Macao’s development as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, he said. Mr Tam stated Macao had a favourable environment for learning Portuguese: the language is one of the city’s two official languages. He also noted that the city had media outlets reporting in Portuguese; and that there were a large number of Portuguese citizens living and working in Macao. Also on the sidelines of Saturday’s event, the Secretary was asked by reporters about a decision by the Cultural Heritage Committee not to classify the former Estoril Hotel as part of the city’s architectural heritage. Mr Tam said he respected the decision of the Committee. He added the Government would soon proceed with its redevelopment plan for the Estoril Hotel site. It would turn the building and the adjacent swimming pool into a youth recreation and sports facility; a proposal supported by a majority of members of the public. Committees and consultative bodies under his portfolio worked and operated in a transparent way, stressed the Secretary. In the case of the former Estoril Hotel, the Government had held more than 20 sessions inviting the public to share comments regarding the Government’s redevelopment plan, he said. The Government always paid great attention to local people’s opinions and sought to introduce policies that were in the best interests of local residents, Mr Tam added.
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In order to conform with the urban planning and development of Macao, we would like to announce that the UM Post Office located at Avenida da Universidade, Ground floor of University Mall, Room G004, Taipa, Macao, will commence service with effect from 24th March, 2016. The office hours and the services are as follows: Postal Services (Posta Restante) and PO Box Services : Monday to Friday 12:00 ~ 19:00 Money Transfer Services - Western Union : Monday to Friday 12:00 ~ 18:00 That post office will also use the New Label with Franking Impression and Publicity Slogan Impression of Postal Label Printer as below. This label is applicable only to mail correspondences, small packets and printed matters at postal counters, and it is not for individual sale. * Please find attached file
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The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the Easter Concert on Thursday and Friday, 24 and 25 March, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church. OM invited specially for these concerts renowned conductor Peter Tiboris, who performs frequently at Carnegie Hall, the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus, internationally renowned soprano Eilana Lappalainen, and three Korean soloists, mezzo Yang Songmi, tenor Shin Dongwon and bass Yoo Ji Hoon, to perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Mass in C Major and sacred works by Franz Schubert. Admission is free. The Mass in C Major performed in these two concerts is Beethoven’s first mass. The work is appreciated by music critics for its sweet and captivating melodies conveying a sense of tranquillity, devotion and purity. The concerts’ programme also features two sacred works by Franz Schubert, the Stabat Mater, D. 175 and Tantum ergo, D. 962, ritual traditional pieces written for the ceremony of the mass. In these concerts, OM, the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus and several international singers propose an unforgettable evening of stunning sacred music. Admission to the two Easter concerts of the Macao Orchestra is free. Tickets will be distributed at the venue one hour before the performance. Distribution is on a first come, first served basis and is limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. For details and programme enquiries, please visit the OM website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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On the occasion of Easter, many Macao residents will make use of their holiday to travel abroad. In order to ensure a safe and relaxing trip, citizens are advised to visit the special website of fundamental rights and duties of residents, consular protection and consular services of the Identification Services Bureau (www.dsi.gov.mo/frdcp) before going abroad to acquire more information about travel tips and advices, methods for Chinese citizens to request assistance from embassy or consulate of China in case of emergency in other countries, as well as other emergency hotlines, so that Macao citizens will have a secure trip and return home safely. In addition, for the purpose of deepening the knowledge of Macao citizens on consular protection and consular services, the Identification Services Bureau launches prize-winning online quizzes on consular protection and consular services. From now on until 30 April 2016, Macao residents aged 8 or above can take the quizzes by visiting the special website of fundamental rights and duties of residents, consular protection and consular services. Participants who have answered all questions correctly will enter the lucky draw by providing their personal information. A total of 50 winners will be drawn to receive a fabulous gift. Citizens are very welcomed to participate in the quizzes. The name list of prize-winners will be announced on the above-mentioned special website on 11 May 2016. For enquiries, please contact the Identification Services Bureau at 28370777.
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Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) has always been promoting the cultural and education industry of Macao, and to cope with Macao government policy of developing cultural and creativity industry, IFT offers diversified courses in this area in recent years. IFT is going to collaborate with Cultrual Affairs Bureau in offering Certificate in Performing Arts Events Management Programme in April 2016, hoping to cultivate more local talents for the cultural and creativity industry. This programme is designed with both theoretical and practical considerations to meet the demands of the fast-growing performing arts sector in Macao. The theoretical aspect of this programme provides the contextual understanding on the different types, aesthetics and issues of the performing arts, as well as its key management theories. The practical aspect, on the other hand, equips students with the necessary know-how and practice in production/ stage management, production design. Professionals from Macao, Hong Kong and Singapore are invited to be the instructors of the programme. It is a 189 hours programme and covers 6 main areas: Introduction to Performing Arts, Performing Arts Administration, Performing Arts Marketing, Events and Production Management, Stage Management and Techniques, Concepts of Stage, and Lighting and Sound Design. Through this programme, students are trained to take on a number of different roles in the performing arts context. Such roles include administration, programming, production and technical. The programme is now opened for application until 24 March. Applicants can submit application documents to Technical and Academic Support Division of IFT, for enquiry, please browse IFT – Tourism and Hotel School website (http://www.ift.edu.mo/EN/THS/Home/Index/73) or contact: 2856-1252.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI for February 2016 increased by 3.88% year-on-year to 108.39, slightly higher than the 3.81% growth in January. The increment was attributable to higher charges for eating out, rising rentals for parking spaces and dwellings, and dearer prices of vegetables. In comparison with February 2015, notable increase (+39.20%) was observed in the price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco on account of tobacco tax hike. Higher tuition fees and rising rentals for parking spaces drove up the price index of Education and Transport by 8.92% and 6.50%. Meanwhile, price index of Clothing & Footwear (-3.44%) and Communication (-1.39%) registered decrease. The CPI-A (108.63) and CPI-B (106.36) rose by 3.97% and 3.14% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for February 2016 increased by 0.96% month-to-month. Soaring charges for package tours during the Lunar New Year period drove up the price index of Recreation & Culture by 8.47%. Meanwhile, price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose by 1.86% on account of rising charges for eating out, as well as general increase in prices of vegetables, seafood and fruits due to the extreme cold weather and pre-festive season effect. Moreover, price index of Transport increased by 1.13% owing to higher prices of motor cars and airfare; yet, declining gasoline prices tapered off the increase. On the other hand, seasonal sale of winter clothing and footwear pushed down the price index of Clothing & Footwear by 2.43%. The CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 0.96% and 1.00% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended February 2016, the average Composite CPI increased by 4.36% from the previous period. Price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+23.77%) and Housing & Fuels (+6.76%) showed marked increase. The average CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 4.63% and 3.42% respectively over the previous period. The average Composite CPI for the first two months of 2016 increased by 3.85% year-on-year, with the price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco and Education rising by 39.16% and 8.91% respectively. The average CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 3.95% and 3.01% respectively. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP29,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP30,000 to MOP54,999.
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The University of Macau (UM) today (19 March) held the UM VIP Day, the first major event to celebrate the university’s 35th anniversary. Many local residents, including middle school students, visited the UM campus to participate in the activities of the UM Open Day and watch the events of the First UM Sports Day. Visitors praised the university’s campus and its teaching and learning facilities. ‘I’m so proud to see my alma mater making good progress and gaining increasing recognition from the international academic community,’ said Mr Lo, who was among the first cohort of graduates from UM’s Honours College. ‘I never had the chance to study on the new campus. I think the new campus provides an excellent environment in which students can live, study, and enjoy extracurricular activities, which was impossible on the old campus. I believe that with the joint effort of UM faculty and students, the university will achieve greater success in the future.’ The various fun activities were very popular with the visitors. A student surnamed Lai from Hou Kong Middle School particularly liked the workshop on renewable energy. ‘The experiment was great fun and taught me a simple and practical way to reduce environmental pollution by creating renewable energy with just hydrogen and oxygen,’ he said. ‘I hope to study at UM and become an engineer in the future.’ Mr Javad, who works in the International School of Macao to help promote positive character development in the students, said he enjoyed the English stand-up comedy show held in the Black Box Theatre. ‘The performance was wonderful and showcased the excellent English language skills of UM students,’ he said. He believes the residential college system will play a positive role in the students’ personal development because each college serves as a small community in which students can live and study together. Some of the interesting activities held by the faculties and residential colleges on the Open Day include ‘The Search for Wisdom: A Philosophical Treasure-Hunt’, ‘Travelling in the Portuguese Language World’, ‘Exploring the Music World’, ‘Roadshow—Innovative Robotics Basics & Design’, the lecture on ‘Stem Cell Therapy for Possible Diabetes Cure’, and ‘Mooting (Criminal Case on Fraud)’. There were also exhibitions, booth games, and student performances. The university designed several routes for campus tours guided by the PR Student Ambassadors, so that the visitors can learn more about the university and appreciate the beautiful campus from different angles.
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The University of Macau (UM) today (19 March) held an opening ceremony in its Lotus Square to kick off celebrations of its 35th anniversary. Many guests, students, faculty, staff, and alumni attended the ceremony to celebrate the important milestone in the university’s history. 35 local secondary schools donated trees to UM to celebrate the anniversary. Officiating guests at the ceremony included Edmund Ho Hau Wah, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee; Tam Chon Weng, secretary for social affairs and culture and representative of the chief executive of the Macao SAR; Sun Da, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR; Cai Si Ping, deputy commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in Macao SAR; Lam Kam Seng, chair of the UM University Council; Wei Zhao, rector of UM; Kot Man Kam, director general of the UM Alumni Association; and Vitor Wong, director general of the UM Students' Union. In his speech, Tam Chon Weng said that UM is an important institution of higher education firmly grounded in Macao, and under the leadership of former and current rectors, the university has made steady progress over the years, with sound educational ethos and a culturally diverse and intellectually stimulating learning environment. He added that through 35 years of development, UM has now become a comprehensive university with a high degree of internationalisation and growing recognition from society. He promised that the Macao SAR government will continue to provide complete support to UM in the future. Rector Wei Zhao also gave a speech at the ceremony. Rector Zhao said that UM has made good progress in recent years, which would not have been possible without the great support of the government; the wise leadership of former and current chancellors, University Council members, and rectors; as well as the joint efforts of UM faculty, staff, students, alumni, and prominent members of the community. He added that building on the university’s rich legacy and a spirit of innovation, UM members will continue to work towards the goal of building a first-rate university, and produce more outstanding graduates to serve Macao, China, and beyond. After the opening ceremony, principals from 35 local secondary schools and other guests participated in a tree planting ceremony, which signified UM’s commitment to producing outstanding graduates for Macao in collaboration with other local educational institutions.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today laid down five paths to help Macao better integrate its development with the national development aims laid out in the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan, in bids to lead Macao to strengthen its economic competitiveness. With the concerted effort of the local community, Macao could take advantage of its special functions and advantages as established under the nation’s “One country, two systems” policy. In doing so, Macao could enhance its own contributions to the country’s economic and social development during the next five years, Mr Chui added. Mr Chui made the comments this afternoon in Macao at a briefing session sharing new policies and aspirations that had been set out in the recently concluded sessions respectively of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), collectively known as the “Two Sessions”. It was important to take note of the aspirations expressed and the guidance given by the Central Government for the long-term sustainability and prosperity of Macao. This was of particular importance during the year marking the start of both the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan and Macao’s Five-Year Development Plan, which both cover the period from 2016 to 2020, he stated. The Chief Executive outlined the five paths designed to enable Macao to consolidate its unique position and to help it become a growing part of the country’s development story. The paths included: 1) Full compliance with the country’s constitution and Macao’s Basic Law; 2) The coordination of the city’s Five-Year Development Plan with the major policy direction of the country; 3) To expedite Macao’s “Centre and Platform” policies; 4) To support the social development of young people and improve social welfare; 5) To strengthen the effectiveness of governance to promote Macao’s economic development. The “Centre and Platform” policies refer to the strategy of transforming Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure, and making it a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. The Government would also make better use of Macao's 85 square kilometres of coastal waters as recently demarcated and develop the maritime economy, while also protecting the marine environment, said Mr Chui. He additionally stated the nation’s supportive policies and supportive economic strategies regarding Macao would lead the city toward further development opportunities and help maintain Macao’s sustainability. The Government would continue optimising the quality of local education and initiate more services designed to support entrepreneurship among young people. The recently launched “Thousand Talents Programme” is also part of the Government’s efforts to boost exchanges between young people from the mainland and from Macao. Mr Chui said the Government needed to speed the pace at which it carried out administrative reforms; to press ahead with anti-corruption efforts; to rationalise the Government team; to promote better innovation in public services; and to promote stronger cross-departmental cooperation. Such measures would assist the all round development of Macao. Also present at the briefing session was the Vice Chairman of the CPPCC, Mr Ho Hau Wa. He reiterated that Macao could push forward its development in the coming five years by taking advantage of the principle “One country, two systems” and the opportunities arising from the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan. Mr Ho additionally said Macao’s first Five-Year Development Plan would promote a better quality of life and tackle long-standing challenges, helping the city to achieve its goal of moderate economic diversification. The Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Li Gang, said the community’s support for the governance of the Chief Executive and the Government – a governance done according to the law – would help overcome any challenges and difficulties, and facilitate the establishment of the “Centre and Platform” policies. Mr Li also said that adhering to the principle of “One country, two systems”, and making use of the advantages available under that principle, would reinforce Macao’s position and functions in relation to the country’s economic development and opening up policy.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, is scheduled to attend the opening of Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2016 on 24 March. Mr Chui will lead a delegation to Hainan Province on 23 to 24 March for the forum themed “Asia’s New Future: New Dynamics, New Vision”. Members of the delegation include the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping. The Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Dabo, is invited to join the delegation. While Mr Chui is away, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, will be the Acting Chief Executive.
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