News

Government Headquarters Open Day sessions will this year be held on 17 and 18 October (Saturday and Sunday) from 9am to 6pm. The sessions will include a series of performances and thematic flower displays. During the two days, members of the public will have the opportunity to visit the Protocol Palace of the Government Headquarters – a brightly coloured landmark built more than 160 years ago – and its garden, located on Avenida da Praia Grande. There will also be guided tours of the ground floor of the Headquarters. There will additionally be a display in the multipurpose room of the Protocol Palace, titled “Photo Exhibition on ‘The Historic Centre of Macao’ as World Heritage”. The theme of the flower show is “Joy of Family”. It aims to add to the appeal of this year’s Open Day sessions. The colourful blooms will be in the Protocol Palace, on the grass lawn, in flower racks and in the front yard. The highlight will be the Calla Lily (or Zantedeschia aethiopica), for its elegant shape and diverse colours. In addition, six traditional Chinese containers, part of the nation’s cultural heritage, will be used to display Chinese-style flower arrangements at the bottom of the staircase of the Protocol Palace. There will be live performances by the Macao Police Band, and music instrument, choir and dance performances by students from respectively the School of Music and the School of Dance at the Macao Conservatory, an institution attached to the Cultural Affairs Bureau. The original portion of the Government Headquarters – including the Protocol Palace – was built in 1849. It has been used as the office for Macao heads of government before and after the establishment of the Macao SAR. Today the building houses the Executive Council chamber; a multifunctional meeting room; and the Lotus Chamber. The office of the Chief Executive is on the first floor, together with the Green Chamber, the Yellow Chamber and the Blue Chamber, which are for greeting guests and holding meetings and banquets. For more detailed information and a schedule of Open Day sessions activities, please visit http://www2.gcs.gov.mo/openday/en/index.php or http://www.gov.mo, or download the official “Open Day App” available for either Android or iOS portable devices.
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The Government will use targeted strategies and strengthen cooperation with neighbouring Guangdong Province, in an effort to combat illegal immigration to Macao and to maintain public safety in the city, the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, said today. Mr Wong spoke to reporters this morning after making an inspection visit – along with representatives of police departments – to the mainland-Macao boundary near the University of Macau and at the Long Chao Kok coastal boundary in southern Coloane. The Secretary said the Government was highly concerned about detected increases in violations of immigration rules, especially when these activities involved organisation and concealed movement. Mr Wong disclosed 1,810 illegal immigrants were caught in the first nine months of this year, contributing to a 64 percent increase in such detections compared to the corresponding period last year. The figure includes illegal immigrants detected by the Macao Customs Service, by the Judiciary Police, by the Labour Affairs Bureau and by other departments. The Government has taken a number of measures to prevent and detect unlawful entry to Macao. They include heightening the fence at the portion of the Macao-Zhuhai boundary located at the University of Macau on Hengqin Island, and the implementation of a mechanism for communication and action between the Macao Customs Service and Public Security Police Force, he said. With assistance from the mainland authorities and the full cooperation of the University, the number of illegal immigrants intercepted at that fence in the first eight months of this year was limited to six, compared to 51 caught last year. Long Chao Kok, a boundary area where half of all the smugglers intercepted this year were caught, posed certain difficulties for the police in performing their duties effectively, due to its coastal location, Mr Wong said. But the police would step up efforts to tackle such unlawful acts by using more advanced technology, including the planned installation of electronic devices in the area, he said. Reporters asked Mr Wong during his inspection visit about a Macao resident detained in the United States of America. Mr Wong said Macao’s security authorities had no information and no comment on the issue, noting U.S. legal proceedings were active. The case was being handled outside Macao, and was outside the Government’s jurisdictional control, he added.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) paid an inspection visit to Busan, Korea on 1 – 2 October. Marking its presence at the 20th Busan International Film Festival currently going on from 1 – 10 October, the Tourist Office seized the opportunity to observe and learn more about the procedures in detail for organizing international events in Korea. Through observation, MGTO learnt from others’ experience in order to keep presenting various spectacular events. During the stay, MGTO also visited Busan Tourism Organization and the film festival organizer. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association Director General Chan Lai Sze, Vice President Ho Sio Man and Deputy Managing Director Lei Sou Ian, together with other delegates, paid a visit to Founder and Honorary Festival Director of the Busan International Film Festival, Kim Dong-ho during the event. Director Senna Fernandes and MGTO’s representative in Korea also paid a visit to Busan Tourism Organization and met with the Organization’s Chief Executive Officer, Shin Yong-sam. MGTO rode on the opportunity to visit relevant facilities and learn about the details and keys to organizing successful international events in Korea. By learning from others’ experience, it can remarkably optimize MGTO’s work as a mega event organizer in the future. Busan was designated as a “City of Film” in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network last year. The Network was founded in 2004 to promote international collaboration between cities which are dedicated to investing in creativity as an impetus that leads to sustainable urban development, social inclusion and more powerful influence of culture in the world. The Busan International Film Festival, on the other hand, is the first mega international event of its kind in Korea and also Asia’s most magnificent occasion for film industry, a gathering which has won wide recognition around the globe today. MGTO is committed to organizing a colorful variety of mega events for local citizens and visitors to join, with the aim to attract visitors for a longer stay to experience Macau in depth. The Tourist Office hopes that Macau can become one of the ideal filming locations for film producers from around the world, and local resources such as the World Heritage Site “The Historic Centre of Macao” can be well utilized, such that Macau can march toward industry diversification. Screening over 300 films from some 70 countries, the 20th Busan International Film Festival is expected to host over 12,000 movie industry professionals at home and from worldwide as well as attract more than 200,000 spectators. The Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association is running a booth at Asian Film Market, one of the Festival highlights, to showcase the fruits of Macau’s film production and cultural industry development. This press release is available at: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/index.php
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Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in October on 7 October for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Iao Hon Market and the Border Gate area (Portas do Cerco ) 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 University of Macau (UM) held the first lecture of its University Lecture Series today (7 October). The lecture, titled ‘The Coming of the Age of Big Data’, was given by Prof Lionel Ni, a renowned computer scientist and vice rector for academic affairs at UM. Prof Ni shared the research results of his team, and discussed the enormous potential and power of big data. He noted that big data not only has changed people’s way of thinking, but has revolutionalised the role of technology. The value of big data lies in its power to assist with the analysis of business models, thereby providing a basis for decision-making, and although big data cannot replace humans in the decision-making process, it is imperative that people in the 21st century embrace the advent of the age of big data. The lecture attracted a full-house audience, including teachers and students from local universities and secondary schools as well as local residents. The University Lecture Series will be held on a regular basis. Speakers will include chair professors and distinguished professors at UM, world-renowned scholars from around the world, and leaders in various industries. UM hopes that the University Lecture Series will help the public know more about the latest developments and most advanced ideas in various fields and promote lifelong learning in Macao.
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To commemorate the Legislative Assembly Building Open Day, Macao Post announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at the Square of Legislative Assembly Building at 10H00 to 18H00 on 24th October 2015, providing the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “Legislative Assembly Building Open Day”. A commemorative envelope with stamp priced at MOP4.50 will be issued, and various philatelic products will also be available for sale during the above activity. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps.
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To celebrate the 20th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair, Macao Post announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at Venetian Macao Convention & Exhibition Center and our Philately Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters during 22nd to 25th October 2015 providing the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “20th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair”. Opening hours as follow: 22/10 Venetian Macao Convention & Exhibition Center 12:00 to 18:00 Philatelic Shop of Macao Post Headquarters 12:00 to 18:00 23-25/10 Venetian Macao Convention & Exhibition Center 10:00 to 18:00 A commemorative envelope priced at MOP2.50 will be issued, and various philatelic products will also be available for sale during the above activity. Welcome to visit us and collect Macao Stamps.
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The “Secure Electronic Postal Box – SEPBox” Mascot Design Competition, organized by Macao Post, aims to encourage participants to demonstrate their unlimited creativity and imagination to design a Mascot with the functions and professional service of the “Secure Electronic Postal Box – SEPBox”. There are General Group and Secondary Group in this competition. After evaluation by the panel of judges, the winners are as follows: General Group: 1st Prize: LAM, SI CHENG 2nd Prize: MAK, KA MAN 3rd Prize: CHAU, CHONG IN Secondary Group: 1st Prize: CHIO, WENG CHONG of Colégio de Santa Rosa de Lima - Secção Chinese 2nd Prize: SUEN, CHI IAN of Escola Secundária Pui Va 3rd Prize: NG, WENG MAN of Escola Secundária Pui Va The prize presentation ceremony will be held in the Communications Museum on 9th October, 2015 at 15:00.
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With the growing popularity of smart phones and other mobile communications devices, Macao Post will launch the "Macao Post App" (Apps) on 9th October 2015. This App is convenient for the public to find Macao Post's information at all times. Functions include the latest news, mail tracking , postage calculator and searching postal network. The first phase of launching will be the traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Portuguese and English versions apply to "Android" system. "Android" mobile can free install the "Macao Post App" in the "Google Play Store".
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In accordance with the promotional campaign of the Universal Postal Union, Macao Post specially printed the “Keep me safe to get me there faster” Postcards in order to enhance the awareness of the senders for not posting dangerous and prohibited goods. Postcards will be offered freely at Central post office and all the branches starting from 9th October. The purpose of this promotional campaign is to strengthen the publics’ awareness of all the dangerous and prohibited goods (includes lithium battery, nail polish and perfume etc.) which shall not be sent by air mail or EMS. Safe mailing ensures the items can be delivered to the addressees more secure and faster. For more information, please visit www.upu.int/keepmesafe. Each person is allowed to get 1 for free per time, and the postcards are available while stock lasts.
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