News

To cope with the demand of passengers on the air transport market of Macao during Chinese New Year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR approved the applications of a total of 48 extra and charter flights submitted by three airlines. These flights are destined to and from mainland China, Taiwan China, Japan and Republic of Korea. The above extra and charter flights, of which the applications were filed in by Air Macau, China Southern Airlines and Tiger Taiwan, have started operations since 1 February 2016 and will run through 16 February 2016. Origins and destinations are as follows: - Mainland China (23 flights): Zhengzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Chongqing - Taiwan China (12 flights): Taipei and Hualian - Japan (7 flights): Sapporo, Osaka, Asahikawa and Hakodate - Korea (5 flights): Seoul, Muan During Chinese New Year, the Chinese across the straits return home to enjoy their holidays; for the mainland Chinese, they would often take advantage of the long holidays to travel; Macao residents would also make good use of the 5-day rest to go on short tours. For these reasons, the markets for the short-haul flights such as mainland China, Taiwan China, Japan and Korea are usually in great demand during this time of the year.
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The Year of the Monkey is approaching and more than twenty cultural facilities under the Cultural Affairs Bureau will remain open from the first to the third days of the Chinese Lunar New Year (8 to 10 February), offering a series of activities to celebrate the Year of the Monkey to both residents and tourists, expressing its best wishes for the success to Macao’s cultural development in the coming year. The cultural facilities that will remain open during Chinese Lunar New Year include the Mandarin’s House, the Lou Kau Mansion, General Ye Ting’s House, the Macao Museum of Art, the Macao Handover Gifts Museum, the Macao Museum, the Heritage Exhibition of a Traditional Pawnshop Business, the Taipa Houses-Museum, the Museum of Taipa and Coloane, the Dom Pedro V Theatre, the Na Tcha Exhibition Room, the Woodcraft Works of Master Lu Ban Exhibition Room, the Patane Night Watch House, the Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre, the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, the Guia Fortress Chapel, the Guia Fortress and Information Centre, the Mount Fortress Corridor, the Macao Tea Culture House, the Tap Seac Gallery, the Old Court Building, the IACM Temporary Exhibitions Gallery, the Chun Chou Tong Pavilion and Iong Sam Tong Pavilion in Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, and the Guia Hill Underground Galleries (Group A). The Jao Tsung-I Academy will be closed on the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year (8 February) and will be open from 9 February. During the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Mandarin’s House will organise lion dance performances as well as calligraphy activities, while the Lou Kau Mansion will host Chinese music performances and provide several festive seals for visitors to create New Year’s couplets. General Ye Ting’s House will organize a total of four sessions of the “New Year Crafts Workshop” on 6 and 7 February, at 11am and 3pm, in which participants will learn to make festive decorations and ornaments. Participants are required to bring along a minimum of 20 red packets as base material for the workshop. Reservation is on a first come, first served basis; interested parties can make reservation before 5 February through tel. 2896 8820 during office hours. Reservations are limited to two participants per person per session. As part of the “Let's Celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Monkey” series of activities, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macao Government Tourist Office co-organize a series of performances by “Shanghai Folk Arts Troupe” between 7 and 10 February, at different hours and locations in Macao and Taipa, colouring this festive period. The Chun Chou Tong Pavilion in Lou Lim Ieoc Garden is now hosting the “Peachwood Charms for Spring Festival Celebration - Exhibition of Lunar New Year Traditions of the Beijing and Shanghai Municipalities”, which features different objects from Beijing and Shanghai related to the Chinese Lunar New Year. The Jao Tsung-I Academy organizes “The Charms of Flowers – Exhibition of Traditional Chinese Flower Arrangements”, which features assorted seasonal natural flowers exquisitely arranged in six types of traditional Chinese containers. The Academy also organises calligraphy activities with traditional calligraphy utensils and seals designed by Professor Jao Tsung-I, allowing visitors to create their own traditional New Year’s couplets. The Macao Museum of Art (MAM) is currently holding several exhibitions, including “The Magnificent Palace – Imperial Architecture of the Forbidden City”, “One Century of Austrian Art 1860-1960” and the “2nd Macao Printmaking Triennial”. Besides, MAM offers a special-themed guided tour: “The Magnificent Palace” from 8 to 10 February, at 3pm; and the “MAM Essentials” guided tour at 4:15pm. During Chinese Lunar New Year (8 to 10 February), admission to the MAM, the Taipa Houses-Museum and the Museum of Taipa and Coloane is free, and admission to the Macao Museum is also free to Macao residents upon presentation of the Macao Resident Identity card or Student Card. The Macao Public Libraries and the Archives of Macao will be closed for 3 days (8 to 10 February) during the Chinese Lunar New Year; while the Mobile Library will open on 12 February. Admission to the above activities, exhibitions and performances is free. For more information on the above-mentioned activities, please call the Cultural Affairs Bureau through tel. 8399 6699 during office hours or visit IC’s webpage at www.icm.gov.mo.
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In accordance with the statistics of registration of International Standard Book Number (ISBN) requests provided by the Macao ISBN Agency, 722 books and 26 periodicals were slated for publication in 2015. The record shows an increase of 82 books and 8 periodical titles in comparison with 2014. In 2015, 541 publications were submitted to the Macao Central Library collection under the Legal Deposit Regime (including 477 titles applying for ISBN). In 2015, a total of 93 publishers submitted new applications to join the ISBN system (including 1 school, 5 commercial organisations, 36 civic organisations, 47 individuals and 4 other special groups), with a cumulative total of 811 publishers (categories of publishers: 57 government departments, 30 schools, 153 commercial organisations, 349 civic organisations, 207 individuals and 15 other special groups). This shows an 13-fold increase in comparison with the 62 publishers registered in 2000 when the ISBN Agency was founded. The data reflects the stable development of publishing in the Macao SAR and a growth in the awareness of ISBN application for publishers. The international standardisation of book publication has greatly strengthened the ability to bring Macao books to the international market. To apply for an ISBN,, applicants must submit the completed application form together with one copy of the finalised cover page, title page and copyright page to the Macao ISBN Agency (address: Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, No. 3, Santo Agostinho Square, 2nd Floor,). First-time applicants are required to submit a copy of supporting documents of commercial registration or non-profit social organisation registration, whereas individual publishers are required to present their Macao I.D. Card. The ISBN Agency will reply to applicants within three working days starting from the day after all necessary documents are received. In addition, in order to facilitate publishers’ fulfilment of the Legal Deposit obligation, publishers can submit their publications in person to the ISBN Agency located in the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library or to the Central Library located in Tap Siac Square, or by post The postage can be waived if the publication weight is under two kilograms. For more information regarding the services of the ISBN Agency, please visit http://isbn.library.gov.mo or call (853) 8598 6600 during office hours.
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Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in February on 2 February 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. 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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With the seven-day Spring Festival Golden Week (7 – 13 February) approaching, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is actively getting prepared with a variety of measures adopted as follow: activation of tourism notification system, more scrupulous inspections, reminders sent to trade about various concerns, staff arranged at various locations to provide tourism information for visitors, food guide publication as well as an array of mega celebrations to roll out during Lunar New Year, etc. The above measures are done to safeguard service quality, optimize tourism environment and cater to the needs of local residents and visitors, so that they can enjoy a memorable vacation in town. Tourism Notification System for Golden Week Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province and MGTO will put their "Tourism Notification System for Spring Festival Golden Week" into operation from 4 to 14 February. The two authorities will keep in close contact to ensure smooth operation of hospitality work for visitors between Guangdong and Macao during Lunar New Year. During the period of notification system operation, MGTO will release relevant information on its website daily including updated numbers of Mainland and total visitor arrivals at various entry ports on every previous day. The related figures are available on MGTO’s Macao Tourism Industry Net: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo during the aforementioned period. MGTO regularly posts on its website different categories’ room rates of all hotels and guests houses in Macao ,and through its WeChat ID, the Office also suggests visitors to arrange their accommodation and itinerary in advance before visiting Macao. During Chinese New Year, MGTO will carry out more scrupulous inspections at tourist spots, border ports and different districts. Besides, the Office will take concerted action with police authorities to combat provision of illegal accommodation. Manpower will be added at Tourist Information counters, with MGTO’s inspectors standing by round-the-clock. MGTO's tourism hotline (853) 2833 3000 will maintain its 24-hour operator service to answer tourists' enquiries. Visitors can also visit MGTO's website to obtain tourism and related information. Calling for trade’s assistance to divert visitors off the beaten path In order to safeguard visitor rights and tourism quality, MGTO has already sent out letters to trade operators to raise their awareness about hygiene, fire safety, guest capacity, opening hours, occupational guidelines for hosting tour groups, requirement for hotels and catering establishments to declare their price lists as well as for hotels to keep a record of hotel guest information upon check-in, hotel swimming-pool management guideline and so forth. In addition, MGTO has redesigned and produced a new version of its promotional brochure “Enjoy Macao” in different languages including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Portuguese and English. The new brochure is ready for distribution at MGTO’s Tourist Information counters and service counters, with assistance from local travel agency associations to give away to visitors as well. By sending out letters, MGTO specially advised local travel agency associations to suggest tour operators adjusting the itinerary of their tour groups to major attractions. On the other hand, through mobile text messages, the Tourist Office advised visitors to visit popular sightseeing attractions during off-peak hours. Such tactics are adopted to divert visitors from crowded areas so as to minimize the impact on traffic and neighborhoods near tourist sites and maintain a positive destination image of Macao. Staff will be stationed at ten different tourist points to provide tourism information and guidance for visitors and assist in crowd management. MGTO also regularly communicates and exchanges news with Consumer Council, Public Security Police Force, Macau Customs Service, Marine and Water Bureau, Transport Bureau and so forth. Visitors can visit Public Security Police Force's website: http://www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/pspmonitor on phone or computer and check the real-time border-crossing images at the arrival/departure halls and traffic lanes of Barrier Gate, Outer Harbour and Cotai Frontier Post on the "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports". Hence they can flexibly choose a suitable timing to leave or arrive in Macao. MGTO's website offers a direct link to Public Security Police Force's webpage for the "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports". Handy information for an enjoyable trip Visitors can conveniently view the monthly highlights about local events and festivals, performances, exhibitions, activities as well as the newest attractions in town from MGTO’s mobile app "What's On, Macau" and plan their itinerary in Macao. They can also download the mobile apps "Experience Macau" and "Step out, Macao" to acquire more local travel tips. For local dining, visitors can find award-winning restaurants and eateries listed in the publication “Star Merchant Award" – Restaurants and Eateries Guide. MGTO has also published the "Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival" (Chinese version only) together with the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, General Union of the Macau Neighborhood Association as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macau. Offering a contact list of restaurants and eateries open during Chinese New Year, the handy food guide familiarizes visitors with relevant restaurants’ operation information. To let citizens and visitors enjoy a colorful festive experience, MGTO is presenting a series of events during Spring Festival, including "Parade of Gigantic Golden Dragon" on the first day of Lunar New Year, "Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Monkey" on the third and sixth day of Lunar New Year, performances at local attractions by performance groups from 8 countries/regions which participate in the Parade, “Parade Float Exhibition” and “Fireworks Display for the Celebration of Chinese New Year". As another highlight, the God of Fortune, the three Gods of Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity, the 12 Chinese Zodiac Mascots, Entourage Boy and Girl, Macao Tourism Ambassadors, dragon and lion dance teams will travel around town wishing residents and visitors a happy Lunar New Year, while distributing “Lai Si” and souvenirs. MGTO has made continuous efforts to optimize the supporting facilities along the eight walking tour routes themed as "Step Out, Experience Macao's Communities" through interdepartmental task force, with increasingly complete information available about dining options, shopping, sanitary facilities and so forth. The Office has also launched a WeChat game “Macao Hunt” in February. Participants can look out for golden monkeys along the designated walking tour routes for a chance to win electronic coupons from nearby merchants and enter a lucky draw. "Macao Food Guide during Spring Festival", Chinese New Year Festivities Program and related information can be downloaded from MGTO's website: http://www.macaotourism.gov.mo or acquired from MGTO’s Tourist Information counters.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is appealing the local film and video sector to register in the “Macao Database for Cultural and Creative Industries” (hereinafter referred to as Database), in order to provide business matching opportunities for local film and video production entities including companies, associations and individuals. Film and video production entities that have not yet enrolled in the database are welcome to join. Currently, the demand for film and video production services is increasing in both the public and private sectors. Through business matching via the Database, IC hopes to provide public institutions and private enterprises information on the local cultural and creative entities regarding the need of film and video production services, facilitating the industries’ business opportunities and boosting their development. Apart from the film and video category, the Database is also open to other local entities engaged in the cultural and creative industries, such as companies, institutions, manufacturers, associations, local creative practitioners, non-local creative practitioners based in Macao, the intellectual property registration and legal consultation entities. Since the Database has been established, it has received over 400 applications from local cultural and creative companies, associations and individuals. The Database helps to understand the development of the local cultural and creative industries and facilitate communication between the government and the sector, in order to have a more comprehensive and supportive policy and development plan. The Database also stimulates business matching among enterprises and promotes the development of local cultural and creative industries. Along with a series of cultural and creative promotion events held in Macao and overseas, such as the participation in the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, Macao MIF and the consignment in the Mandarin’s House Gift Shop, the “Database for Cultural and Creative Industries” and the “Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website” are fulfilling their role of facilitating information exchange, promoting cooperation and showcasing the accomplishment of the local cultural and creative industries. Local film and video production entities interested in registering in the Database can download the application form from IC’s website (www.icm.gov.mo/dpicc) or from the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com) and submit the completed form in print, along with an electronic copy of the form and attachments, to the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (No. 567, Av. da Praia Grande, Edif. BNU, 12th floor A-D, Macao) during office hours. For enquiries, please contact Ms. Lau or Mr. Chong through tel. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours or email to info.dpicc@icm.gov.mo.
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Consumer Council conducted its first ‘Supermarket price survey’ in February on 1 February for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Areia Preta, Mong Há and Avenida de Venceslau de Morais 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. 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 Heritage Foundation released today its 2016 Report on the Index of Economic Freedom, rating Macao’s economy as “mostly free” for the eighth consecutive year. The SAR’s overall score of economic freedom is 70.1, well above the world and regional averages, making its economy the 37th freest among 178 economies. In the Asia-Pacific region, Macao is ranked 9th out of 42 economies, same as the previous year, just behind Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Chinese Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. Based on 10 attributes, the Report assesses the degree of economic freedom of individual economies around the world. Macao receives relatively high score in attributes such as government spending, trade freedom, investment freedom, fiscal freedom and financial freedom. The Foundation’s 2016 Report says that Macao has attracted significant investment since opening up its gaming industry in 2002. Ever-growing investment in resort and entertainment projects and related infrastructure has made Macao one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. Macao largely maintains its own free-market economic structure.
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The Government is closely monitoring the latest developments relating to the mosquito-borne Zika virus and would follow closely advice from the World Health Organization (WHO). The Health Bureau has adopted necessary preparations against the risk of Zika spreading to Macao. But the Bureau said that so far no such case of the disease has been reported to local authorities. The Government’s preparation measures include: enhancing laboratory-based capability for detection of the disease; issuing guidelines to healthcare professionals; and strengthening monitoring and control efforts. Zika virus is primarily spread to humans through bites from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Symptoms of Zika infection might include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and headache. Research suggests Zika virus might cause abnormalities at birth in human infants if women contract the disease during the early stages of their pregnancy, the Bureau stated. Most cases of transmission of the virus from mosquitoes to humans were reported in countries and territories in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Columbia, Mexico and Venezuela. The Health Bureau also noted a recent Zika case reported in Taiwan. The Bureau urges travellers – in particular pregnant women – to avoid visiting the affected areas. When travelling overseas, Macao residents should protect themselves from mosquito bites. It is suggested they should wear light-coloured and long-sleeved clothing, apply insect repellent and stay in air-conditioned places or places with mosquito screens. If any symptoms of Zika infection develop after travelling aboard, please seek medical advice immediately.
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In order to further implement the policy objectives of the Macao SAR Government and uphold the “people-based” principle, as well as constantly optimizing public services and closely following the development pace of new electronic media platforms, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) launched a new version of its official website today (1 February). The new version is compatible with the browsing functions of the smartphones, in a bid to further enhance IPIM’s role as an information platform, to more effectively assist local and overseas enterprises to timely and accurately grasp economic and trade information, as well as helping them become more aware of the trends of the ever-changing markets and seize business opportunities. In recent years, IPIM has spared no efforts in disseminating trade and economic information through diverse and easily accessible channels, such as the internet, the Macao Trade and Invest Kiosk and WeChat, so that the general public and SMEs at home and abroad could learn more about IPIM’s functions and services, the development trends of the convention and exhibition industry, Macao's role as a business and trade co-operation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, as well as the progress of the development of the “Three Centres”. In this regard, IPIM launched a new version of its website, with the same URL – www.ipim.gov.mo on 1 February 2016. Respective content is presented in Chinese (simplified and traditional Chinese characters), Portuguese and English, to provide a full range of services. With a completely new design, its layout is concise and simple, with enhanced website security, usability, consistency, accessibility and compatibility. To be in line with IPIM´s work, special focus has been put on strengthening its functions as an information platform, making it easier to obtain information through a smartphone, aiming to bring a better browsing experience both for residents and members of the business community. In the future, IPIM will further improve the contents and presentation of its website and expand more channels of communication, while keeping abreast of the constant innovation and technological progress, to better serve the local community and merchants at home and abroad.
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