News

The Government would step up efforts in strengthening relations with the people and the press for long-term effective governance and sustainable development, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. The Government would take measures to provide more on-the-job and professional training to journalists to develop a more favourable working environment in the industry, he said. Speaking at a dinner on 16 March to representatives of local news outlets and correspondents stationed in Macao representing media in the mainland and Hong Kong, Mr Chui said he noted their patriotic spirits and efforts to better serve the people. Their contributions in the implementation of “One country, two systems” helped to build a more harmonious society, he said. With advancing technology in disseminating information and a more prosperous publishing industry, the people have more alternatives in receiving diversified information. Mr Chui re-iterated that the Government had always attached great importance in upholding press freedom.
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The 26th Macao Arts Festival (MAF) Outreach Programme comprises wonderful activities, totalling over 60 activities including talks, post-show sharing sessions, workshops, children’s corner, community activities and movie screening, allowing participants to explore the different facets of the arts and broaden their horizons. Stimulating lectures on arts administration Following the “Lectures” held during the month of March, the 26th MAF organises, for the first time, “Arts Administration Talks”, inviting as speakers Taiwan WCdance group Artistic Director, Wen-Chung Lin, and the Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association General Manager, Winona Chan, to talk about “Survival Methods for Small Dance Groups and Arts Group Administrative Strategy”. Likewise, Lieven Thyrion, general manager of Belgian modern dance company les ballets C de la B, will share his experience of “Providing Support during the Creative Process”, in order to inspire local arts administrators and those in charge of performing groups to consider the path for their development. Arts accessibility service workshops Workshops in this edition of the Festival feature qualified teachers, and it continues this year to cooperate with the Jockey Club Arts Accessibility Service Centre Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, inviting instructors to host theatrical audio description, theatrical interpretation and accessible captions, as well as offer a training platform and practice opportunities during the MAF shows Starlight Cinema and The Bizarre Fairy Tales, allowing even more visually and hearing impaired people to enjoy artistic performing acts. Additionally, the “Contemporary Theatre Criticism Workshop” features speakers critics and theatre professionals from the region, namely Shih Ming-Huei and Wu Shi-Fong from Taiwan, Lo Ching-man and Chan Kwok Wai from Hong Kong, and Mok Sio Chong from Macao; the workshop is divided into five topics on Macao theatre, dance critique, theatre critique, theatre script and playwright, hoping to lead the students to write their own performance reviews. The “Art Criticism Workshops for secondary school students” will take place in middle schools in order to encourage students to enter performance halls. The “Solo What You Want? and Bal Workshop” counts on choreographer Thomas Lebrun as guest speaker, who will share the joys of dance, and participants can watch and participate in the party following the performance of the Festival’s opening act Lied Ballet; les ballet C de la B host a workshop destined to explore participants’ techniques in dance language; the duo in charge of the comic show Cocorico will also teach participants how to become the kings of comedy. There will be a lot more outreach activities, most of them with free admission and a limited number of seats, available on a first come, first served basis. For more information, please refer to the Macao Arts Festival booklet or the MAF webpage www.icm.gov.mo/fam. Applications can be done by phone, through tel. no. 8399 6699 (during office hours), online at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event, or by email to outreach@icm.gov.mo.
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The 26th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), to be held from 1 to 31 May, will present 30 fantastic performances and art exhibitions, totalling over 100 activities, including the festival outreach programme. Themed “Encounter”, the 26th MAF seeks to transcend the boundaries of art and allow different mediums of the arts to converse, thus demonstrating the diversification of art. The Asian premiere of Lied Ballet presented by the Centre chorégraphique national de Tours from France heralds the curtain-up of the MAF; through the body movement of the dancers, audiences are led to appreciate various artistic styles, from Baroque to Modernism. Trust, presented by the Schaubühne am LehninerPlatz is also an Asian premiere; the German dancers take the ‘translated’ text to explore and emphasize physical performance at the closing of the festival. Out of Context – for Pina pays tribute to contemporary dance master Pina Bausch. The Suit, presented by Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord from France, directed by legendary theatre director Peter Brook, showcases the master’s extraordinary denotation of theatrical space. Teatro Praga from Portugal presents OLD AGE, a play that deepens the issue “What is old age all about?”. As ever, while introducing fabulous overseas programmes, the MAF is committed to offer a platform for local art circles to get in touch with new ideas. This edition of the MAF has commissioned WCdance from Taiwan the piece Aerodynamics. Prominent theatre director Tang Shu Wing co-operates with the Macao Youth Repertory Theatre to stage the French classic work Phaedra 2.0-Desires and Lies, transcending the boundaries of language and text. Local plays are equally fascinating: the MAF also commissioned Fateful Decision – winner of the 1st prize in the 10th Macao Literature Competition - Drama Category. The Soda-City Experimental Workshop Arts Association will stage Memory Blueprint II, shifting the setting from a site-specific theatre to a formal theatre. Dóci Papiaçám di Macao’s new play Macao's Got Talent addresses hot social issues. Dream Theatre Association’s production Roberto Zucco and the Dirks Theatre Arts Association’s production Protean Cities are all accomplished performances not to be missed. The art of traditional Kun opera has been passed from generation to generation. The Jiangsu Kun Opera Theatre Performing Arts Group presents 1699 The Peach Blossom Fan and Kun Opera Excerpts, performances that perfectly demonstrate the inheritance of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Macao Kaifong Cantonese Opera Juvenile Troupe and the Macao General Association of Cantonese Opera and Music take to the stage two Cantonese Opera plays, Bound-feet Liu Jinding Crashes Four Gates and Tale of the Pipa, respectively. In addition, the Iao Hon Garden will be converted into an outdoor cinema; Starlight Cinema has selected a number of outstanding films from all over the world. For the first time the Outdoor Performing Arts Showcase will be moved from Iao Hon Garden to Barra Square. The MAF programme includes several children programmes, which allow both adults and children to appreciate art together. Savanna – A Possible Landscape builds dynamic structures with wood to represent wild animals realistically. Local group Black Sand Theatre will present the play Aquarium through which the wonders of the maritime world will be explored. The mime show Cocorico presents humorous comedy from France, Beau Geste Company will present Transports Exceptionnels while Dot by Spanish Maduixa Theatre brings the audience to a wonderful and picturesque space. Macao Orchestra’s concert Music of the Imagination will enliven Children’s Day; the Macao Orchestra will also present Macao Soul, a concert performed at Saint Dominic’s Church. The Macao Chinese Orchestra will stage the Musical “Dreams of Pilgrimage to the West” and the Breakthrough Association multimedia show The Bizarre Fairy Tales embarks upon new musical experiences. A series of exhibitions will be also launched to broaden audiences’ horizons: the Macao Annual Visual Arts Exhibition 2015 – Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Categories; the exhibition At the Risk of Colour – Claude Viallat and Franck Chalendard opens a path for visual arts experience with texts and colours. The Macao Museum presents From Lorient to the Orient – Port Cities of China and France on the 18th Century Maritime Silk Route displays the cultural exchange between China and France on the Maritime Silk Road. The MAF presents a large number of concerts, dance, theatre, Chinese opera and exhibitions to meet every spectator’s taste. The MAF Outreach Programmes includes activities ranging from talks, post-show sharing sessions to workshops which will allow audiences to interact with the hosting groups and crews directly, and understand the ideas behind their productions while enjoying the shows, hence echoing the theme of this edition of the MAF – “Encounter”. Tickets for the 26th MAF are available on the Macau Ticketing Network from 10:00am on 22 March; chits will be distributed at the retail sales offices from 9:00am on the first day of ticket sales. Reservations can be made by phone or online from 12:00. Each individual can purchase a maximum of ten tickets per performance. Purchasers meeting specific criteria will receive a 40% early-bird discount on tickets from 22 to 29 March; 30% discount will be offered on or after 30 March. Purchasers can get a 30% discount on tickets for Lied Ballet or Trust by presenting a BOC Multi-currency Credit Card or BOC card. A 20% discount is also available when presenting BOC Multi-currency Credit Card, BOC Card, Luso International Banking Ltd., BCM, OCBC Wing Hang, Tai Fung Bank or BNU Credit Card. Purchasers who spend more than MOP500 (net amount after discounts) can enjoy the ‘Taste and Art’ dining offer – a 15% discount coupon for the Pastry Bar at MGM Macau; the offer is valid while stock lasts. An ‘Art x Coffee’ Facebook check-in discount is also available for purchasers who complete the relevant procedures in the specified cafés, who will be offered 10% discount in specific types of coffee. The 26th MAF is supported by the Macao Government Tourist Office, TDM, Air Macau and MGM Macau. The Macao Arts Festival website is: www.icm.gov.mo/fam; email: fam@icm.gov.mo. For enquiries, please call (853) 8399 6699 during office hours; 24-hour ticket reservation hotline: (Macao) 2855 5555; (Hong Kong) 2380 5083; (Mainland China) 13 9269 1111; online ticket reservation is available at www.macauticket.com. The 26th MAF’s press conference took place on 16 March, Monday, at 3pm at the MGM Macau The Vista. Present at the press conference were the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng; the Deputy Director of the Macao Government Tourist Office, Tse Heng Sai; the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leung Hio Ming; the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, Grant Bowie; the Acting Director of the Chinese Programming Division of TDM, Ltd., Lok Kong; the General Manager of Marketing & Sales of Air Macau, Ge Lan; the Head of the Cultural Events Department of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ieong Chi Kin and the Customer Director of Bank of China Macau Branch, Iu In Pen.
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The University of Macau (UM) today (16 March) kicked off the Career and Internship Fair 2015. As the first of its kind on the new campus and the largest in history, this year’s fair attracted more than 100 companies, offering over 5,000 jobs in more than 20 industries, to over 1,300 graduating UM students. The fair will last until 20 March. According to UM’s latest employment and further studies survey among bachelor’s degree graduates for the 2013/2014 academic year, the three most popular industries for UM graduates are education, entertainment and gaming, and hospitality, with the employment rate reaching 92 per cent and the median monthly income being MOP 14,000. 20 per cent of last year’s UM graduates chose to pursue further studies. Prof Philip Chen, dean of UM’s Faculty of Science and Technology, said in his speech that in addition to pursuing academic excellence, UM also puts an emphasis on providing internship opportunities for students to produce exemplary graduates for Macao and various industries. Elvo Sou, head of the Student Counselling and Development Section of the Student Affairs Office and organiser of the fair, said that this year’s fair is the largest in history, and in addition to providing various employment and internship opportunities, the fair teaches the students how to make career choices and provides an opportunity for them to showcase their talent. He added that UM plans to launch a series of assistance programmes to help students start their own business, so as to keep pace with the evolving needs for economic diversification of Macao’s society. During this period, the exhibiting companies are welcome to provide job interviews for applicants on the spot in order to speed up the employment process. UM will also hold 35 recruitment talks. The fair has attracted many students who would like to know more about the job market. Fourth-year Portuguese major Lucia Luo said that she wants to know more about the companies, and she will apply for a job on the last day of the fair. Third-year economics major David Choi said that the fair can help him make a better career choice in the future.
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Letter is a long history means of communication and also the most memorable form. In order to promote the significance of letter, Macao Post invited the Associação da Literatura Moderna de Macau to compile the “Selection of Letter Writing of Macao Youth”. From the 1980s onwards, Macao Post has been arranging local students to participate the International letter-writing competition for young people which is organized by the Universal Postal Union. Starting from 1996, Macao Post has been organizing “A letter to Santa Claus” essay writing competition to celebrate the Anniversary of Macao Post and Christmas, from which encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings through letters. Macao Post commissioned the Associação da Literatura Moderna de Macau for carrying out a comprehensive analysis on all the entries of the two above mentioned composition contests. The analysis was jointly conducted and published into the “Selection of Letter Writing of Macao Youth” by three scholars from the association, Prof. Tang Keng Pan, Prof. Sio Chio Ieong and Prof. Tang Chon Chit with a research team composed by postgraduate students. In addition to the selection of these two essay contests’ champion, it also explains the knowledge and practical writing principles of letter writing with examples. This selection brings benefits to the future youth writing. The “Selection of Letter Writing of Macao Youth” will be sold on 23rd March, 2015 at the following post offices: Philatelic Shop at Macao Post Headquarter, Rua do Campo, Terminal, Airport and the Communications Museum. The printing volume of this selection is 500 and the price is MOP100.
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The Government is examining functions and structure of all departments in further streamlining the team and raising administrative efficiency, to carry out the Chief Executive’s policy vision in action. This is according to the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, who said there would be more details announced in the 2015 Policy Address next week. Speaking to reporters on the side-line of a public event on 14 March, Ms Chan said regrouping the leisure and cultural services of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau was at its final stage, and the Government would begin the work on reforming legal departments and consultative bodies gradually. Optimising service quality and simplifying administrative procedures are of the greatest importance of the consolidation, the Government will make best efforts in ensuring no civil services would be affected. In views of the coming Policy Address, she said the priority of work was on administrative reform, catching-up with the legislation schedule, and consolidation of the legal system. In previous time, Ms Chan has met with representatives of various associations from legal affairs, business and civil servant sector to have better understanding about their opinions and difficulties faced in preparation for the Policy Address for the fiscal year of 2015.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on shampoo and shower gel on 11th March for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council’s ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
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Consumer Council conducted its fourth ‘Supermarket price survey’ in March on 12 March 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), and the ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps. 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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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP133.9 billion (USD16.77 billion) at the end of February 2015. The reserves increased by 0.4% from the revised value of MOP133.3 billion (USD16.70 billion) for the previous month. Macao SAR’s foreign exchange reserves at end-February 2015 represented 12 times the currency in circulation or 101.7% of Pataca M2 at end-January 2015. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency’s exchange rates against the currencies of Macao’s major trading partners, rose 0.71 points month-to-month and 7.05 points year-on-year to 103.67 in February 2015.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council conducted its specific price surveys on tissue papers, oral care products and milk powder on 25 and 27 February respectively . Results of the mentioned surveys have been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and are available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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