News

The promotional video “Visible Cultural Forces”, specially produced and launched by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), puts forward the concept of culture being a major force in the development of the society, concluding that the Macao’s cultural forces as the visible power of the city. The video “Visible Cultural Forces” is divided in six parts: “New Cultural Scene”, “Cultural Heritage”, “Cultural and Creative Industries”, “Cultural Events”, “Public Libraries” and “Culture dissemination by Education”, which highlights IC’s projects this year. IC anticipates to carry out the restoration projects of several cultural heritage items and the establishment of cultural spaces and library facilities as well as revitalization projects such as the Patane Library, No. 80 of Rua das Estalagens and the Maritime Workshops, which will open to the public correspondingly. The cultural and creative industries are an important component of the establishment of a diversified society and economy. This year, IC will launch the Support Programme for the Production of Original Animation Short Films, the Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums, the Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making and the Support Programme for the Production of Feature Films. These programmes complement each other and contribute to the development of the cultural and creative industries. The promotional video “Visible Cultural Forces” will be available on the website of the Cultural Affairs Bureau www.icm.gov.mo, the Macao Heritage Net www.macauheritage.net, the Macao Art Net www.macauart.net, the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website www.macaucci.com, exclusive channel in Youtube “IC Macao”, Facebook Page “IC Art” and on IC’s WeChat account.
…

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) hosted “Introduction of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Works in 2016 and Spring Luncheon for the Year of Monkey” on Monday, 29 February, at the Grand Lisboa Hotel, inviting members of the Cultural Consultative Committee, of the Cultural Heritage Committee, and the local media in the Chinese, Portuguese and English languages, as well as representatives of news agencies in Macao. The Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture (GSASC), Ip Peng Kin and advisor, Lam Wan Nei; members of the Cultural Consultative Committee and of the Cultural Heritage Committee; representatives of the territory’s mass media; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng and the Vice-Presidents, Leung Hio Ming and Chan Peng Fai, as well as the heads of department of IC were present and interchanged ideas in this joyful luncheon. The luncheon was intercalated with a speech by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, in which he reviewed last year’s cultural achievements and highlighted IC’s works for the coming year; and with a new promotional video entitled “Visible Cultural Forces”. The video, divided in six parts, presents IC’s projects for 2016, bringing about the concept of culture being a major force in the development of the society, concluding that the Macao’s cultural forces as the visible power of the city. In addition, the luncheon featured a percussion performance by three students of the School of Music of the Macao Conservatory, showcasing the academic achievements of local music students. The students, Lei U Wan, Chan U Lai , Yang Yuwen, participated as Macao representatives in the “2016 Tokyo International Percussion Competition” held last month, where they achieved satisfactory results by earning several awards. IC took the opportunity to express its gratitude to the members of the Cultural Consultative Committee, of the Cultural Heritage Committee and the media for their contribution to cultural affairs, and listened to their opinions regarding IC’s works for the forthcoming year. Under its new organizational structure, IC will continue to promote the city’s valuable cultural resources, casting the city’s soul with culture in order to achieve the objective of establishing Macao as a “Culturally Sustainable City”.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for January 2016 amounted to MOP973 million, up by 1.5% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP834 million) grew by 8.4%, while value of domestic exports (MOP139 million) dropped by 26.2%, with that of Tobacco (MOP27 million) falling by 49.9%. Total merchandise import decreased by 18.5% year-on-year to MOP6.96 billion. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP5.98 billion. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Mainland China (MOP136 million) and Hong Kong (MOP634 million) increased by 8.9% and 3.6% year-on-year in January 2016, while export to the EU (MOP17 million) and the USA (MOP11 million) decreased by 31.1% and 35.7% respectively. Exports of Non-textiles increased by 2.7% year-on-year to MOP903 million, of which value of Electronic components (MOP85 million) soared by 223.5% and that of Diamond & diamond jewellery (MOP84 million) rose by 19.4%; nevertheless, value of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP82 million) dropped by 47.5%. Exports of Textiles & garments totalled MOP70 million, down by 11.4%. By place of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP2.71 billion) and the EU (MOP1.63 billion) decreased by 21.4% and 15.4% respectively year-on-year in January 2016. Imports of Consumer goods dropped by 8.6% to MOP4.36 billion, with imports of Watches (MOP447 million) and Motor cars & motorcycles (MOP113 million) decreasing by 31.3% and 46.2% respectively. Moreover, imports of Mobile phones (MOP692 million), Fuels & lubricants (MOP434 million) and Construction materials (MOP209 million) declined by 48.1%, 30.6% and 39.6% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP7.93 billion in January 2016, down by 16.5% compared with MOP9.49 billion a year earlier.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitors on package tours totalled 581,000 in January 2016, down by 31.2% year-on-year and 18.5% month-to-month. Package tour visitors from Mainland China (455,000) decreased by 33.2% year-on-year, and those from the Republic of Korea (32,000), Hong Kong (16,000) and Taiwan (33,000) dropped by 18.1%, 29.7% and 29.1% respectively; meanwhile, those from Japan (14,000) increased by 27.1%. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 118,000 in January 2016, up by 5.3% year-on-year. Residents travelling on package tours rose substantially by 27.5% year-on-year to 52,000; the main destination was Mainland China (78.1% of total), up by 21.3%, followed by the Republic of Korea (7.2%) and Hong Kong (4.3%), both showing year-on-year growth. There were 106 hotels and guesthouses operating at the end of January 2016, an increase of 9 year-on-year. Number of guest rooms totalled 32,000, up by 4,000 (+16.0%) year-on-year, with those of 5-star hotels (20,000) and 4-star hotels (8,000) together accounting for 87.5%. A total of 895,000 guests checked into hotels and guesthouses in January 2016, up by 11.9% year-on-year. Guests from Mainland China increased by 8.3% to 580,000, while those from the Republic of Korea (28,000), Japan (17,000), Hong Kong (108,000) and Taiwan (40,000) recorded double-digit growth. The average length of stay of guests held stable as January 2015, at 1.4 nights. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses was 76.5%, down by 3.2 percentage points year-on-year; 4-star hotels had the highest occupancy rate at 78.9%, up by 1.2 percentage points. Visitor-guests accounted for 73.7% of the total overnight visitors, up substantially by 5.1 percentage points year-on-year.
…

To ensure honest business practice and quality services of ‘Certified Shops’, Consumer Council carries out continuous inspection on its ‘Adherents’ and ‘Certified Shops’ with diversified criteria. The Council kicks off its 2016 assessment with on-site evaluation in March, almost 1,500 shops will be graded according to over 30 grading principles, and shops being evaluated are called on to cooperate with the Council. The ‘Certified Shop’ mechanism is an important measure taken by Consumer Council to safeguard the rights of consumers prior to consumption, since its launch in 2001, the ‘Certified Shop’ emblem has increased both local and foreign consumers’ confidence in the retail business in Macao. The annual assessment on ‘Certified Shops’ is carried out by the Council based on a set of scientific, systematic, and objective assessment mechanism, assessment criteria include on-site evaluation, mystery shoppers, and complaint records from other government departments, etc.. The annual assessment is conducted throughout the year and the final results are announced at the end of the year. The ‘Certified Shops’ assessment team kicks off its annual assessment work in March, starting from on-site evaluation on about 1,500 ‘Adherents’ and ‘Certified Shops’. The assessment team will rate the shops according to over 30 guiding principles, including business practices of shops, after-sales service, price labelling, and the environment of the premises, etc., shops being evaluated may also be asked to present certain documents or information to prove that they are qualified in the assessment mechanism. The assessment team has been given training on how to conduct the evaluation for the assurance of work quality and objectiveness. The Council will continue to improve the assessment mechanism for the enhancement of the quality of ‘Certified Shops’ and protection of consumer rights. The Council therefore calls on all shops being evaluated to cooperate with the Council. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

As part of “2016 Macau Library Week”, the Macao Public Libraries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau will launch the “Book Exchange” activity on 1 March, in order to promote reading habits as well as to encourage residents who love reading to make friends through books and share their resources. The book collection period will last from 1 March to 17 April. Any residents interested in participating in the “Book Exchange” activity can bring their collection to the Bureau’s libraries and receive a stamped scorecard. During the activity on 23 and 24 April, residents can exchange books of equivalent value on the scorecard at the Old Court Building located in Av. da Praia Grande. Book collection locations: Macao Central Library, Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, Ilha Verde Library, Mong Ha Library, Coloane Library, Red Market Library, Taipa Library, S. Lourenço Library, Wong Ieng Kuan Library in Areia Preta Urban Park, Library in Ho Yin Garden and Mobile Library. Book collection rules: the staff will categorise the books by their original price and count the books individually. The scoring method is one point for every MOP10 but the score for books worth less than MOP10 will be rounded off; each point will be stamped once. The maximum for each book or set is 100 points, and the books without prices indication will be counted as MOP10. Textbooks, exercise books, magazines, indecent publications, books related to religion, comics, IT books published one year ago, travel books published before 2014, audio-visual materials, promotional materials, pirate books (which violat the copyright law), damaged and contaminated books, incomplete collection and books with inside pages inscribed cannot be exchanged. Only individuals can participate in this activity. For more information, please contact the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library through tel. 2893 0077, the Macao Central Library through tel. 2855 8049 or the Taipa Library through tel. 2884 3105, during office hours.
…

The applications for the “Academic Research Grants”, launched by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), will be open from 1 March to 31 May, 2016. The “Academic Research Grants” aim at encouraging original academic research on the culture of Macao and on the cultural exchange between Macao, Mainland China and other countries. Local or overseas doctorate degree holders with proven academic research experience, and local or overseas individuals with sufficient research experience and recognized academic production are eligible to apply and submit the duly filled out application form and research project plan to IC by double registered mail or in person. Applicants must also submit their curriculum vitae and certified copies of educational qualification certificates; incomplete applications or applications that fail to comply with the above will not be accepted. The grants, in the amount of MOP280,000.00 and MOP250,000.00, will be awarded according to the applicant’s academic background and to the content of the project and are subject to IC’s decision under proposal of the Selection Panel. The “Academic Research Grant Regulations”, application forms and research project plan are available for reference and download on IC’s webpage www.icm.gov.mo. Applications must be submitted before the deadline otherwise they will not be accepted. For more information, please contact Ms. Silvia Kuan, staff member of IC, through tel. 8399 6483 during office hours, or by email to silviak@icm.gov.mo.
…

The Cinematheque．Passion under the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) will host a talk entitled “How great is the power of film?”, conducted by renowned Hong Kong director, screenwriter and film critic Philip Yung, to be held on Saturday, 19 March, from 3 to 5pm. Online applications are now accepted. Admission is free. In his role as screenwriter, film critic and director, Yung integrates art with commerce. Being attentive to social phenomena, he insists on his own style of screenwriting. Among the films he wrote are Rigor Mortis, As the Light Goes Out and Father, and others. In 2009, he directed and wrote his first feature film Glamorous Youth, which participated in a number of international film festivals. With Port of Call that he directed and wrote, Yung earned nine nominations in the 52nd Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan last year. The work also won Best Film, Best Actor and Best Actress in the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards 2015, and a number of nominations for the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards. Junior filmmakers can learn a lot with Yung’s personal experience. In this talk, Yung will talk about “the power of film” based on his career and his journey from being a screenwriter to a director. There are sixty seats available. All interested parties are welcome to enrol through IC’s “Activity Registration System” (www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event) by 18 March (Friday) at 12pm. For enquiries regarding the talk 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 the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com).
…

The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has received confirmation from the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Beijing that Macao SAR Passport holders can obtain visa-on-arrival in the Sultanate of Oman for a maximum stay of 30 days. At present, a total of 121 countries and territories have agreed to grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Macao SAR passport holders, while 12 countries have agreed to grant the visa-free access or visa-on-arrival access to Macao SAR Travel Permit holders.
…

In order to encourage the development of classical music in Macao, to increase the musical accomplishment and performance of young musicians and to offer them valuable performance and learning opportunities, the Cultural Affairs Bureau organizes the “34th Macao Young Musicians Competition”, dedicated to Chinese and Western instruments, between 25th of July and 7th of August, to be held in several venues in Macao. Applications will be open from 22nd to 29th of April. This edition of Macao Young Musicians Competition features 32 categories of solo Chinese and Western instruments and vocal solo, with elementary, intermediate and advanced levels in each category. Competition in teams includes five categories only, which are not divided into levels. A First, Second and Third prizes, Certificate of Merit and Certificate of Competence will be awarded in each category. The First Prize-winning individual in each category or competitors recommended by the jury will have the opportunity to participate in the “Competition for Special Awards”, competing for the First, Second and Third prizes in each level. The first prize-winning team in each category will have the opportunity to compete for the “Award for Best Group Performance”. The “Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize” will be awarded to the First Prize-winning individual among all advanced levels. The “Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize” will be granted through a scholarship, and the amount of this scholarship equals to the net amount of the winner’s first year tuition fee in a music-related course. The remaining prizes will be delivered to the winners in form of a cheque. Applicants for the solo Chinese and Western instruments categories must hold a valid Macao SAR Resident identity card and must have been born on or after 1995; while applicants for the vocal solo category must have been born on or after 1991. In order to facilitate the applicants, applications can be done either online or in person. Applicants who choose to apply online may register online first, from 10am on 22nd of April to 12am on 29th of April through the webpage of the Macao Young Musicians Competition (www.icm.gov.mo/cjmm). Supporting documents and an application fee of MOP80 per category must be submitted at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building located at Tap Seac Square between 28th and 30th of April, from 10am to 7pm (open during lunch hour). Applicants may also choose to apply in person at the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building during the period and time indicated above, together with the completed application form, required documents and an application fee of MOP100 per category. For more information regarding the application, the competition’s regulations, the application forms and the list of compulsory pieces, please visit the Macao Young Musicians Competition’s website. Applicants may consult the compulsory pieces of the competition at the Macao Central Library, Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and Taipa Library from 1st of March during office hours. For enquiries, please contact IC through tel. 8399 6911 or 8399 6979, during office hours.
…