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The Government would study all opinions to consolidate consensus on development of the new urban reclamation areas and to meet the best interest of society. The Land, Public Works, and Transport Bureau, which is responsible for the co-ordination of planning the five reclaimed lands, said they had given full consideration to the community needs when drawing the blueprint of Zone A and had reserved adequate space for facilities such as healthcare, education and recreation. Speaking at the second consultation session on 18 July, official of the Bureau said the planning Zone A would be considered together with other infrastructures, such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Outer Harbour, to better co-ordinate transport and community facilities in the eastern area. The Bureau had so far received more than 340 contributions. In last Saturday’s session, participants raised concerns on the accommodation of transport and facilities in Zone A, height of buildings and visual landscape in Zone B, the forth channel that connects Macao peninsula and Taipan island, and a more convenient and environmental-friendly transport network. The Government re-iterated that acting in line with the laws to conserve cultural heritage was a common goal in the society; the planning of Zone B would be determined only after listening to experts, the public opinion, and proposals comprised by public works and cultural affairs departments. For the fourth channels, the Government had commissioned a research group to study whether an underwater tunnel or a bridge across the two islands would better fulfil the needs of development. Before 8 August, people may contribute their opinion to the Bureau through email (abcde@dsspot.gov.mo) or fax (2834 0019), or take part in the third consultation session on 1 August at the commercial centre of Tap Seac.
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The opening ceremony of the 25th annual meeting of the Association of Portuguese Speaking Universities (Associação das Universidades de Lrngua Portuguesa, AULP) was held in Praia county, Cape Verde. Cape Verde Prime Minister José Maria Neves, Cape Verde Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation António Correia e Silva, and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Tam Chon Weng attended the meeting. University of Macau (UM) Rector Wei Zhao delivered an address at the opening ceremony in Portuguese, winning a big applause from the participants. Rector Wei Zhao stressed in his speech that UM has been an active participant in the AULP’s work over the past 28 years and now serves as its president. He noted that Portuguese is one of the official languages in Macao, and UM is the strongest among all higher education institutions in Asia in terms of the presence of the Portuguese language, which is particularly reflected in the programmes offered by its Faculty of Law and Department of Portuguese. He added that as the president of the AULP, UM will continue to promote communication among AULP members and will work with the other members in promoting the development of teaching in the various institutions as well as the popularisation of the Portuguese language worldwide. After the opening ceremony, UM signed a collaboration agreement with the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Cape Verde. The agreement aims to promote academic collaboration between both parties, especially in the field of talent training. The AULP’s Board of Directors also held a meeting on the same day. UM Vice Rector (Research) Prof Rui Martins is the president of the Board of Directors. One of the important items on the meeting agenda was a discussion of the AULP’s three-year activity plan, which was initiated by UM, with the participation of all members of the Board of Directors.
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The Government decided to conduct water testing in all newly-constructed public housing estates to ease public concerns on water quality following the incident in Hong Kong. It was announced after a cross-departmental meeting on 16 July convened by the Marine and Water Bureau, with representatives from the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Health Bureau, the Housing Bureau, the Infrastructure Development Office and the Macao Water Supply Company Limited. Officials re-iterated that the current mechanism had a set of strict supervising procedures over water quality: water was tested at least twice before distributing to household, plus a regular testing for the level of metals. All results shown that water in Macao is safe for consumption and meets the World Health Organization’s standards. In addition, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau would examine the public water supply network regularly and the Macao Water Supply Company Limited would submit a periodic report on water quality to the authorities. Considering the situation in Hong Kong, where excessive lead content was found in drinking water in public housing estates, the Government had asked the Company to strengthen its water testing procedures to further safeguard the quality of water supply.
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Consumer Council conducted a test on the efficiency of disposable batteries and the result is featured in the latest issue no. 262 Consumer Report. Both AA and AAA types of disposable batteries are common in the market, and they are further divided into two types: alkaline and carbon zinc batteries. Consumers are concerned with the durability of batteries; the Council conducted a test on the efficiency of 20 battery samples and provides consumers with scientific information for reference. The mentioned test was conducted according to international standard IEC 60086-2:2011 on AA and AAA types of alkaline and carbon zinc batteries. Batteries are tested under the same condition to record their discharge time, and to calculate the amount of time that can be used by consumers per MOP1. Details of the test, and suggestions on the correct use of both alkaline and carbon zinc batteries can be found in the latest issue Consumer Report. Consumers tend to travel often in summer time, an article about different types of air ticket and the relevant information is featured in the latest issue as well. Further, a detailed introduction of the Council’s ‘Macao Fuel Prices Information Platform’ app is included in this issue. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the Consumer Council (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C), and the service counter of the Council at Macao SAR Government Service Centre (Rua Nova da Areia Preta, Nº52), Public Information Centre at Vicky Plaza, libraries and bookstores. Consumers may also access the magazine online on the Council’s official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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The Government would recruit more Portuguese medical specialists, such as language and vocational therapists, to meet the increasing needs in the society and facilitate the training of local personnel. This is according to a meeting between Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, and Minister of Education and Technology of Portugal, Mr Nuno Crato, held in Lisbon, Portugal on 14 July. Mr Crato, whose department would co-ordinate the recruitment as agreed, said he foresaw the procedures would commence in the near future. In the meeting, Mr Tam and Mr Crato exchanged views on issues of mutual interests, such as strategy to transform Macao as a training base of Portuguese language in Asia-Pacific regions, and support for the Portuguese school of Macau (Escola Portuguesa de Macau). During his visit, Mr Tam has visited the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon to learn more on the daily operation, and the Champalimaud Foundation, where he was briefed the Foundation’s facilities, research projects, treatment centre, cancer prevention and diagnosis methods, laboratory and other facilities for scientific research. Later the day, Mr Tam had met with the President of Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agents to introduce Chinese government’s initiative on maritime Silk Road, in which Macao would play a special role in tourism. Officials who accompanied Mr Tam in Portugal included Acting Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon, Ms Maria Gabriela dos Remédios César; and consultants from Mr Tam’s office.
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Regarding the media enquiries about the contents of the e-mails revealed by WikiLeaks, the CCAC clarifies as follows: Under Law no. 10/2000, Organic Law of the Commission Against Corruption of the Macao Special Administrative Region, one of the main duties of the CCAC is to suppress and investigate crimes of corruption and related fraud crimes within the activities of the public sector and of the private sector and the Commission is entitled to carry out inquiries and investigations deemed necessary to fulfill its aims. In recent years, the crimes including corruption have been committed by more concealed means which have been upgraded continuously and have become more and more high-tech. Therefore, it is necessary for the CCAC to keep track of the development of technologies from the perspective of detection and counter-detection. Also, it is necessary to stress that the investigative means or measures it adopts shall comply with the law. In particular, the relevant provisions under Penal Code, Penal Litigation Code and Law of Suppression of Computer Crimes shall be followed strictly. For legal and effective exercise of competence of criminal investigation, the details of operations and technical arrangements related to investigations conducted by the CCAC are confidential. Therefore, the CCAC will make no comment or response to enquiries about the means of investigation.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said conserving cultural heritage and improving people’s living quality were the Government’s major considerations in planning the new urban reclamation areas. He stressed that to act in line with the laws on heritage conservation was a common purpose of all public departments: the Government would take into consideration the public opinion and advice from experts when making its policy. Mr Chui said this at a public event on 15 July, when he also encouraged the public to contribute their opinions on the planning of the five plots of reclaimed land during the consultation period, which will end at 8 August. He said he would keep close touch with secretaries and would ask the departments of public works and cultural affairs to study the city’s development and heritage conservation to ensure the landscape would not be affected. In views of Zone A and Zone B, Mr Chui said the two of the five reclaimed areas would have to sustain the city’s development, especially the planning of housing and public infrastructure, to fulfil the Government’s goal in continuously enhancing the people’s living quality. The Government’s efforts in heritage conservation had achieved primary results; but there were room for improvement in revitalising heritage attractions, he said, adding that the Government would look into the experience of other areas to improve the work in this aspect.
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Consumer Council conducted its fourth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in July on 15 July for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Horte e Costa, Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga and Rua da Emenda areas in Santo António 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 over 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 Macao’s valuable cultural heritage to the city’s tourists and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Macao’s inscription as World Heritage, the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the travel agency Gray Line Tours of Macau organized, on Wednesday 15 July, in the morning, the first two “Cultural Heritage In-Depth Guided Tours”; welcoming and providing 45 tourists from Zhuhai, and about 20 foreign tourists, a guided tour of Macao’s world heritage sites, allowing them to gain knowledge about the Historic Centre of Macao. The tour starts at the A-Má Temple, continuing through the Lilau Square, Mandarin’s House and the St. Joseph’s Seminar and Church, ending at the Dom Pedro V Theatre. The tourists from Zhuhai were warmly received by representatives from the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Gray Line Tours travel agency. The chosen route goes through sites whose styles reflect the cultural fusion between East and West, and that reveal the harmonious coexistence between different religions, cultures and traditional lifestyles. Aiming to thank the tourists visiting the city on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Macao’s inscription as World Heritage, the Managing Director of Gray Line Tours of Macau, Limited, Wu Keng Kuong, and a representative of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Leong In Fan, were present at the Dom Pedro V Theatre to welcome the visitors. Leong In Fan introduced Dom Pedro V Theatre’s history as well as the commemorative activities of the 10th anniversary of the Historic Centre’s inscription to the tourists. They also offered a set of "tri-dimensional paper models of four of Macao’s world heritage sites" to everyone, encouraging them to experience Macao’s heritage on a deeper level, as well as promote the Historic Centre’s outstanding universal value. The “Cultural Heritage In-Depth Guided Tours” are co-organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Gray Line Tours travel agency, aiming to promote Macao’s cultural heritage and raise the city’s cultural image to visitors. Tourist groups are organized by the Gray Line Tours travel agency while the Cultural Affairs Bureau provides professional cultural heritage guided tour services. For more information on the commemorative activities of the 10th anniversary of Macao’s inscription as World Heritage, please visit the webpage www.icm.gov.mo/mhd10 or call IC through the tel. no. 8399 6699 during office hours.
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Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, said the police departments have introduced measures to prevent irregularity following the implementation of new tobacco tax. Speaking to reporters after the opening of the 11th Military Summer Camp for Macao Young Students on 13 July, Mr Wong said the measures included more random inspection at border checkpoints. The Macao Customs Service would review its measures at a timely manner and would retain close contact with other related departments on the work of preventing illicit cigarettes. Starting from 14 July, passengers are permitted to bring 19 cigarettes, or 1 cigar or 25 grams of other manufactured tobacco for their own consumption when they enter Macao. It is to prevent importation of dutiable cigarette following the tax is raised to more than 70 per cent of the retail price.
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