News

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 1,375 new companies were incorporated in the third quarter of 2014, up by 228 year-on-year. Total value of registered capital increased by 55.6% to MOP201 million, of which registered capital of Business Services (MOP81 million) surged by 197.6%. Analysed by industry, the majority of new incorporations were operating in Wholesale & Retail and Business Services, with 447 and 258 respectively. In the third quarter of 2014, companies in dissolution totalled 107, and the value of registered capital of companies in dissolution amounted to MOP43 million. Analysed by size of registered capital, there were 951 new incorporations (69.2% of total) registered with capital under MOP50,000, and the total value of capital was MOP25 million. On the other hand, there were 40 new companies registered with capital of MOP1,000,000 or over, and the total value of capital amounted to MOP123 million (60.9% of total). In the third quarter of 2014, capital of the new companies came mainly from Macao (MOP140 million) and Mainland China (MOP33 million), including MOP21 million from the 9 Provinces of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, with that from Guangdong province sharing MOP18 million. Analysed by combination of the shareholders, there were 905 new companies established solely by Macao shareholders, and 149 joint ventures between shareholders from Macao and other countries or regions. In the first three quarters of 2014, a total of 3,955 new companies were incorporated, up by 20.5% year-on-year; total value of registered capital increased significantly by 235.3% to MOP1.53 billion. Number of companies in dissolution totalled 392, and the value of registered capital of companies in dissolution amounted to MOP84 million. At the end of the third quarter of 2014, number of registered companies totalled 47,317, an increase of 4,643 from a year earlier.
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Held in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province in late September, the 23rd Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival included two films from Macao, The Memories and Timing, in its session "Hong Kong and Macao Film Showcase". The former was selected by the Organising Committee as the session's opening film. The Macao delegation included Zhang Xiaoguang, Chief of the Department of Education and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao S.A.R.; Shao Bin, Director-level Assistant of the same Department; Leong Ieng Va, Acting Chief of the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau; Choi On On, Director of the Macao Film & Television Association; and Macao film directors Ho Fei and Emily Chan. The "Hong Kong and Macao Film Showcase" projected The Memories by Ho Fei and Timing by Emily Chan, which received an enthusiastic response and many enquiries from the press and the public. Ho Fei said the selection of The Memories as the opening film was a great incentive to his team, and he hoped more Macao films would be screened in prestigious film festivals like this. Moreover, Emily Chan pointed out that although Timing tells a local story, it is still appealing to Mainland China audiences. The Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival is the longest running of China's four major film festivals. Li Xuejian, chairman of the China Film Association, referred at the opening ceremony of the "Hong Kong and Macao Film Showcase" that there is an emergence of promising young Macao directors recently which can enrich the Chinese film selection. Acting Chief of the Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries, Leong Ieng Va, also encouraged local filmmakers to explore various genres. Besides taking part in the session, the delegates also exchanged views with participating professionals, getting useful updates on the film industry at large.
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Closing of the Museum during Macao Grand Prix
Communications Museum of Macao will be closed from November 13 to 17 (Thursday - Monday) due to the Macao Grand Prix. New Activities to Celebrate Christmas 2014
Communications Museum has prepared new Christmas background images for the "Personal Picture Postcard" and the "Green Screen Studio" in addition to the "Kid's Playthings" interactive games, "3-Dimensional Stamps" and the huge "Draw My Story of Stamps" 3-dimensional panels for photo-taking located at the Postal/Philately Gallery and launched during the Stamp Festival. A new interactive game "Mail Catcher" is now available at the ground floor of the Museum. Visitors can simply stand and move within the specified spots where they can be detected by the sensors, and then they can play as the postmen in the game to catch mails. All are welcomed to play! To celebrate the coming Christmas, Communications Museum will be holding the Christmas "Night Mail" Party from 19:00 to 22:00 on December 6 at the Museum. Activities include the "Fortress Treasure Hunt" game, baking demonstration and making "Yummy Stamps" cookies, "Musical Christmas Card" workshop and "Sending Christmas Present to Myself". The activity will enroll 15 groups and charge MOP100.00 per group. Children of Primary 3 to 6 are welcomed to join. Each participant can invite 1 family member as his/her partner for free. Interested parties can register and pay at the Reception Counter from now till 30 November (Sunday) during the opening hours of the Museum. First-come-first-served.
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In the "Draw My Story of Stamps" contest this year, a total of 178 pieces of creative work were received, including 20 of the General Category, 44 of the Primary Student Category and 114 of the Secondary Student Category. The prize presentation ceremony will be held on 1 March 2015. The judges have made complimentary remarks on the creative works. The participants have shown their unlimited creativity. Their works have combined the original creative concepts of the stamps used, and meanwhile extended and developed the stamp concepts into the drawings. From 2 December 2014 till 1 March 2015, Communications Museum will be exhibiting the creative works at the Temporary Exhibition Gallery on the ground floor of the Museum. All are welcomed to visit! The results of the contests are as below: Winners of General Category
1st Prize: Chan Pui Lam
2nd Prize: Long Sut I
3rd Prizes: Wan In Ieng
Appreciation Awards: Chan Cheng Cheng, Lam Wai Keng, Cheng Ka Leng Winners of Primary Student Category
1st Prize: Santa Rosa de Lima English Secondary – Tou Sam Iao
2nd Prize: Sacred Heart Canossian College, Chinese Section - Kuong Chi Kuan; Guidance: Leung Wan Kei
3rd Prizes: Colégio Dom Bosco (Yuet Wah) – Ku Chon Hei
Appreciation Awards:
1. Santa Rosa de Lima English Secondary – Tou Sam U 2. Pui Ching Middle School – Hui I Sam; Guidance: Wong Kuai Fan
3. Pui Ching Middle School – Kong In Teng; Guidance: Wong Kuai Fan Winners of Secondary Category
1st Prize: Escola Estrela do Mar – Lou Ka I
2nd Prize: Tong Nam School – Chong Cheng I; Guidance: Leong Sok Wa
3rd Prize: Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School (Macau) – Ieong Weng Lam; Guidance: Leung Kim Fong
Appreciation Awards:
1. Pui Ching Middle School – Cheng Nga Man; Guidance: Ao Weng Pan
2. Kwong Tai Middle School – Wong Chi Hou; Guidance: Wong Si Teng
3. Tong Nam School – Pang Ka Pou; Guidance: Leong Sok Wa
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To promote the development of local cultural and creative industry, the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) has been offering a number of programmes in this area since 2011. Among them, there is the Commercial Photography course, inviting professional photographer Derry Sio to teach. The Institute hosts the exhibition of "Discovering Solid Ideas: Exhibition of Commercial Photographic Work by Derry Sio & His Students" from 6 November to 25 January 2015 to showcase the course outcome with the general public. The opening ceremony of the exhibition takes place at 1600 on 6 November and interested parties are welcome to pay a visit to the exhibition. Some 28 works by Derry Sio and a number of those created by his students are displayed in this exhibition, demonstrating the photographic skills taught in the course, fully showcasing the teacher's expertise and professionalism, as well as students' creative thinking. Derry Sio puts emphasis on strengthening students' basic photography techniques, and encourages them to be bold and creative. Through integration of people and objects and the usage of simple lighting sets, a number of professional commercial photos are created, giving life to otherwise ordinary people and objects. The photos displayed in this exhibition are the works produced by the students in Sio's, some of which were submitted as the students' graduation projects. Nowadays, taking photos is simple, but enhancing the value and artistry of the photos is the teaching objective of the Commercial Photography courses. Successful commercial photographs are derived from proper photographic techniques, ideas, attitudes and experiences. In addition to photographic skills, Sio shares his personal experiences with his students in the class, teaching them different skills from preparation, observation, creation and the desire for change. With the motto "There is no best, only better", Derry strives to create a work of perfection, guiding those interested in engaging in the cultural and creative industries through commercial photography. A professional photographer in Macao, Derry Sio has worked with a number of local telecommunications companies, banks, insurance companies, design companies and in the tourism industry for many years. He served as the official photographer for the 2009 Miss Macau Pageant and the collection album From Heaven brought the Craftsmanship of a Soul, a jewellery exhibition held in the Capital Museum in Beijing, as well as numerous other large-scale events. During his college years, he was inspired by his teachers to engage in the photography industry. Since 2011, he began to serve as the instructor of Commercial Photography courses in the Institute for Tourism Studies, applying his knowledge of photography to teaching. He hopes to pass the torch to the younger generation and cultivate more professional photographers in Macao. Derry now serves as the chief photographer and the director of Vision Macau. To further develop the career of creative industry professionals in Macao, IFT provides learning opportunities for them. Concerning the lacking creative art administrative management talents in Macao, IFT has been running an Art Administration Programme for the three consecutive years and invited renowned overseas professors to deliver lectures at IFT. Local culture and arts associations and industry talents are welcome to enroll in the course, in order to promote the cultural and arts development of Macao. IFT will continue to meet social needs and offer more diversified cultural and creative courses to the public and interested parties in the future.
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The Talents Development Committee is launching its first elite cultivation scheme, subsidising outstanding Macao talents to take specific Master's degree programmes in the University of Cambridge, the world-class academic institution, by participating in its "Global Leaders Programme". Up to three places are available for eligible Macao SAR Permanent Residents to apply. Macao SAR Government to Shoulder Portion of Expenses
The MSAR Government attaches great importance to constructing an effective, long-lasting mechanism of talent cultivation, thus it has established the Talents Development Committee, which is responsible for formulating, planning and co-ordinating the long-term development strategy of talent cultivation, as well as designing and implementing short, medium and long-term measures and policies of talent cultivation. The Task Force of Encouraging Talents to Return to Macao, set up by the Committee, is first launching an elite cultivation scheme, in which the Macao SAR will collaborate with the world-class academic institute, the University of Cambridge. The Committee will select no more than three outstanding Macao individuals to participate in the "Global Leaders Programme". Grantees will enjoy the opportunity of taking a Master's degree course in a specified discipline, including: Engineering (for Sustainable Development), Energy Technologies, Education, International Relations and Politics, Management, Masters in Public Policy, Finance and Economics, or Medical Science. The Committee and Macao Foundation will subsidise the tuition and accommodation fees for the chosen applicants. Macao SAR permanent residents who are undergraduate degree holders of accredited higher education institutes (or equivalent to Bachelor's degree qualification) and can provide proof of academic results is eligible to apply for the scheme. In addition, applicants should have a GPA for their Bachelor's degree of no less than 3.0, and meet English proficiency requirements for academic standards. Interested parties may check the application procedures on the Talents Development Committee website (http://www.scdt.gov.mo/) and apply for the scheme via online system. The submission deadline is 31st January 2015. Selected Applicants to be Announced in 2nd Quarter Next Year
The Committee will admit no more than three outstanding Macao individuals to take a one-year Master's degree at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom commencing September 2015. The admission results will be announced in the second quarter of 2015 on the Talents Development Committee website. Grantees will be informed via SMS, email and phone by staff. Grantees must complete the Master's programme and obtain the degree within the specified duration (September 2015 – August 2016). Meanwhile, they shall sign an interface specification that promises to return to Macao. Within six months after graduation, they shall return to Macao and undertake a job relating to their programme discipline. The work period shall not be less than one year. Details can be found on the Talents Development Committee website. For enquiries, please contact the secretariat of the Talents Development Committee via Tel: (853) 2855 5108 or E-mail: info@scdt.gov.mo.
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Since its opening, "A Retrospective Exhibition of Decorated Arches of Macao in Commemoration of the 15th Anniversary of Macao's Handover to China", held at Tap Seac Gallery, has been enthusiastically received, arousing widespread public awareness and support. To enable more people to appreciate this exhibition, the period of exhibition will be extended to 30 November 2014. The National Day pailou (decorated arch) erected in Tap Seac Square will also be on display until the exhibition ends. The exhibition, co-hosted by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Macao Foundation and the Macao Artists Society primarily showcases works themed around Macao's National Day pailou, featuring 30 paintings by former pailou designers and members of the Macao Artists Society, in addition to precious photos and models of National Day pailou. The event enjoys an extension in Tap Seac Square, where, using time-honoured skills, a National Day pailou themed 'Motherland and Macao's Current Situation' has been erected. This exhibition, therefore, offers a glimpse into those heady decades when impressive archways were erected across Macao to hail the achievements of the New China, welcoming younger people to appreciate and older people to revisit this unique local pailou tradition. A large number of groups, schools and organisations have supported and visited the exhibition. A delegation of consuls accredited in Hong Kong and Macao also appreciated the exhibition and were deeply impressed by the Macao pailou culture of bygone days. "A Retrospective Exhibition of Decorated Arches of Macao" is patent at Tap Seac Gallery daily, and is open from 10:00am to 7:00pm. Admission is free.
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To further expand bilateral economic and trade collaboration between Guangdong and Macao under the Framework Agreement on Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao, and jointly promote the development of the MICE industry in Guangzhou and Macao, the 2015 Macao-Guangzhou Famous Products Fair, co-organised by IPIM and the Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation of Guangzhou Municipality, will be held from 23 to 25 January 2015 at the Poly World Trade Centre in Guangzhou. This event plays a very important role in Guangzhou-Macao trade and economic co-operation. The 2015 Macao-Guangzhou Famous Products Fair will cover a wide range of products including MinM, Macao souvenirs, cultural and creative products, consumer goods, clothes, food products, wine, products from Portuguese-speaking countries as well as other merchandise. During the fair, famous products from Macao and Guangzhou will be showcased and sold to residents of and visitors to Guangzhou. There will also be diverse activities, including business matching sessions, product procurement and promotional events for Macao and Guangzhou companies during the fair, which will serve as a platform for companies from Macao and Guangzhou to network and co-operate, thereby promoting economic and trade ties between the two places. In order to encourage companies from Macao to participate in the exhibition, IPIM is providing an incentive programme for companies from Macao. The incentives cover a standard booth, accommodation, transportation, round-trip freight transportation, storage area and temporary staff. Eligible enterprises only need to pay a participation fee of MOP$2,000.00 for a booth or MOP$1, 800.00 for raw space. The scope of exhibits will include: products manufactured in Macao, Macao brands and overseas products with an agent in Macao (priority will be given to products from Portuguese-speaking countries). All Macao enterprises are welcome to participate in the event and explore new business opportunities. Local companies interested in participating may obtain an application form from IPIM, located on the 4th Floor, World Trade Centre, 918 Avenida da Amizade, Macao, during office hours until 17 November. As the number of booths is limited, applications will be processed on a first-come first-served basis with the organisers reserving the right of final decision. Registration and enquiry hotline: 8798 9267 / 8798 9199, email: mgfpf-enquiry@ipim.gov.mo
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Every year, the University of Macau (UM) confers honorary doctorates on distinguished individuals with outstanding achievements and significant contributions to social development and education. This year, three Nobel Prize winners, namely Prof Robert C Merton, Prof Chen-Ning Franklin Yang, and Prof Mo Yan, as well as two distinguished individuals in the field of civil engineering, namely Prof Lee Chack Fan and Ir Siu Yin Wai, will receive honorary doctorates from UM. The conferment ceremony will be held in UM's University Hall at 11:00am on Saturday 6 December. Prof Lee Chack Fan and Ir Siu Yin Wai will receive the Degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa. Prof Robert C Merton will receive the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration honoris causa. Prof Mo Yan will receive the Degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa. The ceremony for conferring the Degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa upon Prof Chen-Ning Franklin Yang will be held separately. Prof Lee Chack Fan is an honorary professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and an expert on geotechnical and hydraulic engineering. He has made significant contributions to the construction of nuclear power plants, dams, and infrastructure facilities in mainland China, including the famous Three Gorges Project and the Ertan Dam. In the early 1980s, Lee volunteered as a senior consultant to the Ministry of Water Resources and Electric Power of China. Thus trudging amid the hostile terrains of China, he began his long years of undertakings to serve his country in many of its hydraulic projects. He has taught at HKU for over 20 years, during which he strove for its research excellence and forged cooperation with the academia in mainland China. He is also actively involved in the promotion of culture and community service and is the author of a number of best-selling self-help books. Prof Robert C Merton is an American economist and a Nobel laureate in economics in 1997. He is currently a distinguished professor of finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Sloan School of Management and a professor emeritus of Harvard University. He is also resident scientist at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where he developed a next-generation integrated pension-management solution system that addressed deficiencies associated with traditional defined-benefit and defined-contribution plans. Prof Merton is noted for putting finance theories into practice and has re-shaped the world of finance and economics with his Option Pricing Theory. Prof Mo Yan is the first Chinese to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. He played an important role in inducting contemporary Chinese literature in the world's literary Hall of Fame. In the mid-1980s, Mo became noted for having written a corpus of in-search-of-roots works with infusions of the raw rural culture. His 1986 novel Red Sorghum Clan was the first neo-historical novel in modern Chinese Literature. In 2012, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his ability to merge "hallucinatory realism" with "folk tales, history and the contemporary" in his work. He has published more than 80 short stories, 30 novellas, 11 novels, 9 scripts for TV dramas and films, 2 plays, as well as 5 essay collections which were later re-published in three complete volumes. Ir Siu Yin Wai is a native of Macao and has been a practicing engineer for over 30 years. He obtained engineering qualifications from different places and has written many influential papers on engineering. At the beginning of 1980, Siu set up his firm in Hong Kong. With his talents and diligence, he has become a top engineer in the Greater China region. Ir Siu was commissioned for many famed projects of luxurious estates and commercial centres and has received the Structural Excellence Award from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Institution of Structural Engineers for a hotel construction project in Macao. Apart from the above accomplishments, Ir Siu has always concerned himself with education and performed many philanthropic deeds, including the establishment of scholarships and donations to various institutions. Prof Chen-Ning Franklin Yang received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 jointly with his research partner for their work in disproving the "parity laws", which were taken as the golden rules by physicists at that time. He and his partner were the first two Chinese to win the Nobel Prize. His Yang-Mills theory is another achievement of great significance. The theory is considered one of the greatest theories of modern physics in the 20th century. Prof Yang has been elected a fellow of national science academies in many countries. He has won numerous awards and has made significant contributions to China's development in the various aspects of science education.
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Consumer Council conducted its first 'Supermarket price survey' in November on 4 November for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Areia Preta 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), 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 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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