News

Government Headquarters will once again have its Open Day, on Saturday and Sunday (25 and 26 October), when members of public are invited to take part in this annual event in which SAR Government has arranged a series of activities to present Macao's different perspectives. In the two-day open day, from 9 am to 6 pm, the Protocol Palace and part of the garden will also be open. Visitors can enter the premises of Government Headquarters from the right side of the Protocol Palace on Travessa do Paiva, follow the designated route and proceed to the Multi-purpose Room and the Lotus Room on the ground floor. Walking up the marble staircase will bring them to the upper floor where halls themed in colours are located – the Grand Hall, the Green Hall, the Yellow Hall and the Blue Hall. Before leaving the building through the main entrance, visitors will pass by the garden and appreciate the Southern European style-crafted structure. A photo exhibition entitled "Marks of the Past - Photo Exhibition of Monumental Arches for National Day Celebration in Macao between 1950s and 1970s" -- will be held in the Multi-purpose Room. There will be guided tours to introduce the public to the interior settings of the Grand Hall, reminiscing the nostalgic appearance of Macao. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau will also hold a flower show themed in "Fairy-tale Forest", in the Front Gate Display Zone, the Green Lawn Display Zone, the Flower Racks Display Zone, the Indoor Staircase Mini-landscape and the surrounding area. The rose is the themed flower in this year's show. In addition to presenting a wide variety of roses, the show will also feature other flowering plants, creating a lovely and colourful landscape. There will also be other activities in these two days, including performances by the Public Security Police Band and dances staged by students of Macao Conservatory School of Dance. The Macao Post will set up a Temporary Post Counter in front of Government Headquarter on Avenida Doutor Stanley Ho, offering philatelic products customer's selection and commemorative postmarking service. Macao Government Tourism Office will set up a booth to distribute promotional material and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau will initial the Cybernetic Fountain at Nam Van Lake in the scheduled time-slots. For the convenience of visitors, special traffic arrangements will be in force certain sections of Travessa do Paiva during this period. Drivers are urged to pay attention to the special arrangement and follow the direction of traffic policemen in the vicinity. For more information please visit http://www2.gcs.gov.mo/openday/en/index.php or www.gov.mo , or download "Introduction to the Open Day Application", which is compatible to iOS (5.1 version or later) or Android (4.0 version or later).
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The University of Macau's (UM) Zhuhai Research Institute (UMZRI) will receive a total of MOP 3 million in funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for eight research projects, according to the results of grants application for the year 2014 recently released by the NSFC. This is the first time the UMZRI has submitted a funding application to the NSFC. The eight funded research projects are respectively headed by Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) associate professor Dr Anna Kou Kit Ian; FST assistant professors Dr Liu Zhi, Dr Hu Guanghui, Dr Ian Hou and Dr Zhou Jiantao; as well as Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) associate professor Dr Yan Ru and assistant professors Dr Chen Meiwan and Dr Hoi Pui Man. Their research topics are "The Related Topics about Spheroidal Wave Functions in Quaternion Analysis", "Efficient Estimation of Volatility Matrix under Presence of Infinite Variation Jumps with Applications", "Efficient Numerical Methods for Real-Time Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory", "The Peculiar Optical Properties of Superconducting Qubit Systems and their Applications to Quantum Information", "High-performance Image Compression over Encrypted Domain", "A Novel Functional Carrier based on Angelica Sinensis Polysaccharide for the Delivery of Anticancer Drugs", "Targets Discovery of Danshensu for Anti-platelet Aggregation and Vascular Protection", and "Gut Bacteria-involved Regulatory Mechanism in Alterations of Intestinal P-glycoprotein in the Rat Model of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Ulcerative Colitis".
The project, "Gut Bacteria-involved Regulatory Mechanism in Alterations of Intestinal P-glycoprotein in the Rat Model of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Ulcerative Colitis", which is headed by Dr Yan Ru and which will receive MOP 900,000 in funding, has also been selected by the NSFC as one of this year's General Programmes. According to statistics from the NSFC, the medical science category, which Dr Yan Ru's application falls under, receives more than 20,000 funding applications each year, and only about 4,000 are approved for grants of varying amounts. The other seven UM scholars stood out in the category which the NSFC has established specially for young scholars under the age of 35. This category receives about 60,000 funding applications each year, and only about 25% of them, or 15,000 applications, are approved. It is encouraging news that UM has received approval for research grants from the NSFC on eight projects upon first-time application. Founded in 1986, the NSFC aims to encourage innovative scientific research and to promote balanced, coordinated, and sustainable development of various academic disciplines by awarding research grants to outstanding research projects in China on an annual basis.
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Last year, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) launched the "Subsidy Programme Series for Macao's Cultural and Creative Industries", thereby encouraging the development of these local industries. The first two programmes to be designed were the "Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making" and the "Support Programme for the Production on Feature Films", granting subsidies to a total of 12 submitted projects. In order to acknowledge the extraordinary works of the grantees, IC held on 23 October, at the Macao Creative Pavilion at the 19th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF), an awards ceremony for the "Subsidy Programme Series for Macao's Cultural and Creative Industries". The President of IC, Dr. Ung Vai Meng, stated in his speech that these awards aim to recognise the efforts and contributions of the subsidised participants. He also expressed his wishes that these programmes can meet the current development phase of Macao's cultural and creative industries of different areas, offering targeted support measures to these industries, assistance and resources to participants and also gathering an even greater number of high quality local creative works. Present at the ceremony to present awards included: the Head of the Cultural Department of Zhejiang Province, Jin Xingsheng; the President of IC, Ung Vai Meng; the Senior Manager of the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre, Victoria Kuan; the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Industrial Association of Macau, Fong Son Kin; the member of the Cultural Consultative Committee, Lei Chin Pang; and veteran fashion designer from Macao, António Conceição Júnior. Eight finalists (individuals/groups) for "Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making" included Tam Chi Kit, Chan Wai Chan, Cheang Chi Tat, Lei Weng Man and Lei Ho Sin Ieng (group), Wai Chin Seong, Cheang Man Cheng and Tse Ka Wai (group), Lee Ming San, Cheong Oi Leng, whilst four finalists for "Support Programme for the Production of Feature Films"included Choi Ian Sin (Sweet Home), Ivo M. Ferreira (Cliché), Ho Fei (The Island of Heart), Chan Ka Keong (Passing Rain). Currently, subsidy grantees participate in showcases locally and abroad, engaging in talks with partners and establishing business relationships. This year, the Macao Creative Pavilion is themed on Macao original music, presenting Macao original music and various audio services. During the MIF, music-themed seminars and live shows will be held, in a total of 19 activities. IC organises two seminars on 26 October. The first one, to be held at 11.30am, is themed "Analysing the Past and Exploring the Future: Trends in Independent Music Development", featuring as guest speakers Jesper Chan and Chan Ka Wai, from Hong Kong, and Vincent Cheang, from Macao, who will explore the current state of independent music in Hong Kong and Macao as well as its future development. On the same day, at 2.30pm, the Seminar "Advance to Global Digital Music Platforms, A Way to Recreate Value!" will take place, counting on a representative of Taiwan's Rock Mobile Corporation who will share with the audience the trends and changes in music development. All live shows and seminars are open to the public; admission is free. IC has invited fourteen cultural and creative entities inscribed in the Database for Cultural and Creative Industries to participate in the Macau Creative Pavilion at the 19th MIF, namely Chessman Entertainment Production Co. Ltd., Like Entertainment Production Co. Ltd., AV Depot Ltd., Live Music Association, Macau Association of Composers, Authors & Publishers, Macau Electronic Music Association, 4daz-Le Records, 100 Plus Music Ltd., Venus Audio and Lighting Engineering Co. Ltd., Music Power of Macau, Macau Artistes Association, Class Entertainment Production, Lei Sound – Audio & Lighting Technology Co. Ltd. and Cao Box Ltd.
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The opening ceremony of the exhibition of "Precious Moments in Macao" 2014 Photography Competition was held today at Lou Lim Ieoc Garden Pavilion, showcasing 56 winning works which recorded the precious moments of Macao this year. Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of the Government Information Bureau ("GCS"), Mr Chan Chi Ping, said the GCS began holding this competition in 2004. On the 11th anniversary of this annual competition, Mr Chan recalled that the rise and development of Macao in the past decade and the passion of Macao people are reflected by the photos that enrich and perfect the memories of local residents. There was overwhelming participation coupled with quality of entries reaching new heights, marking a breakthrough for this successful competition. More than 240 participants submitted a total of 1,058 entries this year, with a great variety of themes. According to Mr Chan, a new special feature prize – "Letting Macao thrive through education" – had been added, to showcase the Government's policy objective of building a long-term mechanism for talent training. This was judged by GCS's Macao Yearbook Editorial Committee, which selected five winning works, with the hope that these could inspire people to enjoy the fun of learning. The competition is jointly organised by the GCS, eight photographic associations and four media organisations -- Photographic Society of Macao, Photography Salon Society of Macao, Macao Association for the Promotion of Photographic Art, Macao Association of Photographers, Macau Multi Media Photographic Association, Macao Association of Photographic Art, Macao Camera Lens Art Association, Macao Digital Photography Association, Macao Media Workers Association, Macao Journalists Club, Macao Journalists Association and Macao Media Club. From the 1,058 entries, 51 winning entries were selected after three rounds of professional evaluation. The top three winners are: First Prize: Chan Chi Hong; Title: A Happy Family Race
Second Prize: Ng Hoi Kei; Title: A Smiling Drunken Dragon
Third Prize: Vong Kuok Kei; Title: Viva Macao The winning works of the "Precious Moments in Macao" 2014 Photography Competition will be exhibited at the Lou Lim Ieoc Garden Pavilion from 24 to 27 October 2014, during the opening hours from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All visitors are welcome. The GCS will continue to host photography competitions to capture the amazing moments of people's everyday lives in Macao.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals increased by 3% year-on-year to 2,405,497 in September 2014. Same-day visitors accounted for 52% of the total, at 1,241,926. Analysed by place of residence, visitors from Mainland China increased by 6% year-on-year to 1,595,485, coming primarily from Guangdong Province (641,481) and Fujian Province (75,084); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme rose by 11%, at 653,800. Visitors from the Republic of Korea (46,812) and Japan (27,331) increased by 24% and 7% respectively year-on-year, while those from Hong Kong (509,181) and Taiwan (79,968) decreased by 3% and 13%. Long-haul visitors from the United States (13,787) registered year-on-year increase of 7%, while those from Australia (8,840), Canada (5,031) and the United Kingdom (4,291) saw decrease. The average length of stay of visitors remained unchanged from a year earlier, at 1.0 day in September 2014; overnight and same-day visitors stayed an average of 1.9 days and 0.2 day respectively. In the first three quarters of 2014, visitor arrivals reached 23,529,009, up by 7% year-on-year, with same-day visitors sharing 53% of the total. Visitors from Mainland China (15,812,886), the Republic of Korea (420,464) and Japan (228,031) increased year-on-year, but those from Hong Kong (4,864,004) and Taiwan (726,921) decreased. Moreover, long-haul visitors from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom recorded year-on-year increase; however, those from Canada registered decrease.
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Being one of the 19th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) key events, the International Trade and Investment Forum 2014 will be held at 2:45pm on 23 October (the opening day of MIF) in the Sicily Room of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. Ministerial officials from the Mainland and overseas, leaders of local and overseas chambers of commerce and business organisations are invited to share their views on the theme "Regional Co-operation and Mutual Development". The Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao Special Administrative Region Tam Pak Yuen will give a speech at the Forum, plus other speakers including Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Lu Pengqi, Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Chairman of Guangdong Chimelong Group Co. Ltd. Su Zhigang, Deputy Minister of Labour and Promotion of Employment of Peru Daniel Ysau Maurate Romero, President of Macao Chamber of Commerce Ma Iao Lai, State Secretary for Foreign Trade of Angola Alexandre David de Sousa Costa, State Secretary of Planning and Regional Integration of Guinea-Bissau Degol Mendes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AICEP Portugal Global Miguel Frasquilho as well as President of Portuguese Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry João Marques da Cruz. The speakers will give thematic speeches on various economic topics such as how Macao explores development and opportunities through regional co-operation under the new trends in global economic development as well as introduction of the current investment environment and up-to-date market updates on Portuguese-speaking countries. The International Trade and Investment Forum 2014, is jointly organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Macao Chamber of Commerce. Guests from the business community and other sectors are welcome to join. Places are limited so please register early. Simultaneous translation services are available in Putonghua, Cantonese, Portuguese and English. For further information and registration, please contact Ms. Kuan in IPIM's Research and Information Division on 8798 9127, Fax: 2872 8208 or 2859 0309 or email ipimpcom@ipim.gov.mo
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Consumer Council conducted its fifth 'Supermarket price survey' in October on 21 October for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets at Lam Mau, Patane and San Kio 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 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 1,918 restaurants & similar establishments were operating in 2013, up by 240 year-on-year, comprising 1,843 restaurants, eating and drinking places (+217) and 75 cooked-food stalls in municipal markets. Number of persons engaged increased by 4,200 to 26,187. Receipts and Expenditure of restaurants & similar establishments amounted to MOP 8.50 billion and MOP 7.82 billion, up by 23% and 24% respectively. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy rose by 20% year-on-year to MOP 3.25 billion. Gross Fixed Capital Formation soared by 76% to MOP 345 million on account of the acquisition of equipment by the new eating places. In 2013, there were 1,843 restaurants, eating and drinking places; eating places increased by 186 to 1,498 (81% of total). With an increase in establishments, number of persons engaged went up by 19% to 26,034. Receipts of restaurants, eating and drinking places reached MOP 8.47 billion (+23%), of which receipts of eating places totalled MOP 5.18 billion and those of restaurants amounted to MOP 2.91 billion, up notably by 24% and 21% year-on-year. Expenditure of restaurants, eating and drinking places amounted to MOP 7.81 billion, up by 24% year-on-year. Major expenditure items included Purchase of Goods (MOP 3.24 billion) and Compensation of Employees (MOP 2.56 billion), up by 25% and 20% respectively. Operating Expenses increased by 27% to MOP 2.01 billion, of which Rent of Establishment rose significantly by 38% to MOP 787 million. Expenditure of eating places totalled MOP 4.81 billion and that of restaurants was MOP 2.65 billion, up by 26% and 20% respectively. Gross Value Added of restaurants, eating and drinking places amounted to MOP 3.24 billion, up by 20% year-on-year. Gross Fixed Capital Formation soared by 76% to MOP 345 million. Owing to an increase in cooked-food stalls operating in municipal markets, number of cooked-food stalls stood at 75 (+23) and persons engaged totalled 153 (+54) in 2013. Receipts (MOP 27 million) and Expenditure (MOP 13 million) of cook-food stalls went up by 39% and 24% respectively year-on-year. Gross Value Added amounted to MOP 14 million, an increase of 58%. Coverage of the Restaurants & Similar Establishments Survey includes licensed Chinese restaurants, non-Chinese restaurants, eating places, drinking places and cooked-food stalls in municipal markets in 2013, excluding hotel-operated restaurants and similar facilities, as well as street hawkers.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 199 establishments were engaging in Real Estate Management Services in 2013, an increase of 3 year-on-year; number of persons engaged rose by 1% to 5,253. Receipts totalled MOP 1.05 billion, up by 7% year-on-year. Expenditure increased 7% to MOP 893 million, of which Compensation of Employees (MOP 449 million) and Operating Expenses (MOP 366 million) grew by 8% and 3% respectively. Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy amounted to MOP 606 million, up by 8% year-on-year. Gross Fixed Capital Formation tumbled by 66% to MOP 2 million due to a decrease in acquisition of machinery & equipment and motor vehicles. There were 23 establishments operating in Security Services, up by 3 compared with 2012; number of persons engaged increased by 8% to 5,438. Receipts amounted to MOP 822 million, up by 12% year-on-year. Expenditure went up by 15% to MOP 754 million, with Compensation of Employees (MOP 656 million) rising by 17% to account for 87% of the total. Gross Value Added increased by 13% year-on-year to MOP 724 million. Gross Fixed Capital Formation surged by 83% to MOP 4 million on account of an increase in acquisition of motor vehicles and computer equipment. Despite a decrease of 1 establishment operating in Cleaning Services (113), number of persons engaged increased by 5% year-on-year to 4,611 owing to the expansion of the large establishments. Receipts increased by 7% year-on-year, at MOP 517 million. Expenditure rose by 12% to MOP 450 million, with 82% being spent on Compensation of Employees. Gross Value Added totalled MOP 435 million, up by 7% year-on-year. Gross Fixed Capital Formation decreased significantly by 62% to MOP 3 million due to a decline in acquisition of motor vehicles and computer equipment. Number of establishments in Advertising Services increased substantially by 63 year-on-year to 421; number of persons engaged rose by 20% to 1,167. Receipts (MOP 559 million) and Expenditure (MOP 529 million) registered remarkable growth of 40% and 54% respectively. Receipts came primarily from Advertising Services, at MOP 410 million (73% of total), up significantly by 46%. Expenditure was mainly incurred on Purchase of Goods & Services (MOP 301 million), sharing 57% of the total. Gross Value Added totalled MOP 148 million, up by 4% year-on-year; Gross Fixed Capital Formation increased by 6% to MOP 36 million. A total of 38 establishments were operating in Conference & Exhibition Organising Services, up by 5 year-on-year; number of persons engaged increased by 37% to 178. Receipts rose by 13% year-on-year to MOP 232 million, coming mainly from Conference & Exhibition Organising Services (MOP 204 million). Expenditure went up by 14% to MOP 179 million, of which expenses on Purchase of Goods & Services amounted to MOP 136 million (76% of total), up by 30% year-on-year. Gross Value Added increased by 8% year-on-year to MOP 78 million. On the other hand, Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 1 million) registered a notable decline of 49% owing to a decrease in acquisition of equipment.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will attend the plenary meeting of Legislative Assembly on 11 November at 15:00, to brief them on governance and policies implemented in 2014 and to present the budget for the fiscal year 2015. The work summary will be broadcast live on the website of Legislative Assembly (http://www.al.gov.mo), Portal Website of the Macao SAR (http://www.gov.mo), the website of the Office of the Chief Executive (http://www.gce.gov.mo), the website of the Government Information Bureau (http://www.gcs.gov.mo) and government news channel in Youtube (www.youtube.com/macaogcs). In addition, it will also be on air live at Teledifusão de Macau (television channels and Radio). As the fourth term of Chief Executive, Mr Chui will deliver the policy address for the fiscal year 2015 in the first quarter of next year.
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