News

Given the earthquake situation occurred in Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel security alert to Chinese nationals. Following is the translated version of the full text: "On April 25, an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 occurred in Nepal resulting in many collapsed buildings, disrupted communications, and causing many deaths and casualties. Given the danger of possible aftershocks, inaccessible transportation, and shortage of resources, the Center for Consular Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens not to travel during this period to Nepal. Chinese citizens already in Nepal should strengthen security precautions to protect their personal safety and in case of emergency contact the Embassy for assistance. Embassy of China in Nepal for Consular Protection and Assistance: 00977-9801037888; Embassy of China in Nepal - Duty Officer mobile phone: 00977-9801029888; Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China: +86-10-12308 / +86-10-59913991." The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) alerts Macao residents not to travel during this recent period to Nepal. Until the present moment, GGCT has not received any request for information or assistance. If necessary, Macao residents can call the 24-hour Tourism Hotline (853) 28333000, the Chinese Embassy and consulates or the Consular Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hour hotline for assistance.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) attended today the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Board Meeting held in Leshan, Sichuan province, in China. During the last few days, MGTO also joined the PATA Annual Summit, the Annual General Meeting and other key meetings of the association. Head of MGTO Communication and External Relations Department, Kathy Iong, is in Leshan for the event, where she represented MGTO at the PATA Board Meeting. MGTO is one of the PATA board members for the years 2014-2016, therefore has a seat at the Board Meeting. MGTO also attended today the PATA Annual General Meeting, following which a new PATA chairman and vice-chairman were announced, Kevin Murphy and Andrew Jones, respectively. Hosted by PATA, co-hosted by Leshan Municipal People’s Government, and supported by Sichuan Tourism Administration and Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, the four day-long PATA event also included the PATA Annual Summit 2015 one-day conference, held on Friday. This year under the theme “New Dimensions of Heritage and Culture Tourism”, the conference featured opening remarks from China National Tourism Administration Vice Chairman Li Shihong and officials from Sichuan, as well as presentations from domestic and international speakers on such topics as Preserving Heritage Sites, Social Media in China and The Conscious Traveller. Other highlights of the program were the PATA Executive Board Meeting, the Youth Symposium, Committee meetings, the PATA Chapter Colloquium, among others. PATA has been a valuable platform for Macau to promote its tourism image and connect the local travel trade stakeholders to the world. Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible development of the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry. Macau has been a member of PATA since 1958. Among PATA members are 87 government, state and city tourism bodies, 31 airlines, airports and cruise lines, 61 educational institutions and hundreds of travel industry companies. In addition, there are 43 PATA Chapters and 13 PATA Student Chapters worldwide, including the PATA Macau Chapter and the PATA Macau Student Chapter.
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Organized by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), a Business Events Strategy Workshop was held on April 23, at the multi-function conference hall of Macao Business Support Centre (MBSC), attached to IPIM, located at the 19th Floor of China Civil Plaza. Aiming to actively articulate with the Macao SAR Government´s development policy with regards to the promotion and development of the local convention and exhibition industry, IPIM is currently providing an “One-Stop Service” for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao to both local and overseas events organizers, in a bid to assist the said industry to grasp the opportunities generated by the development of the local convention and exhibition sector. Through this event, IPIM hopes to explore with the local convention and exhibition sector on how to respond to the challenges and opportunities brought about by the convention and exhibition market nowadays and jointly develop an effective strategy to promote the sustainable development of Macao´s convention and exhibition industry. The workshop was presided over by IPIM´s consultant in the convention and exhibition area, Mike Williams. Mr. Williams has over 20 years of experience in marketing and managing bids for international conventions and exhibitions, having assisted and provided professional advices to convention and exhibition promotion agencies in Australia, Japan, South Africa, Malaysia, the United States and countries in Eastern Europe. During the workshop, the speaker shared with the participants his insight on the latest trends in the international convention and exhibition industry, planning strategies for convention and exhibition commercial activities, and the marketing strategies of Asia´s main cities. In turn, the participants have also expressed their opinions on the development of the local convention and exhibition industry. The above workshop has attracted over 50 representatives from the local hotel industry, convention and exhibition centres, international chambers of commerce, destination management enterprises, and representatives of the meetings and public relations sector.
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The Government has initiated a co-operation mechanism with the Zhuhai authorities to strengthen ties in the newly established Free Trade Zone in Hengqin area. According to Secretary for Economy and Finance Mr Leong Vai Tac, the areas of co-operation included legal affairs, investment and trade, education and health, boundary crossing checkpoints management, finance and innovation, cross boundary infrastructures. The mechanism is under an agreement to further develop Zhuhai-Macao co-operation for the development of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Hengqin Area of Zhuhai. The agreement was signed by Mr Leong and the Mayor of Zhuhai Mr Jiang Ling after the unveiling ceremony of the FTZ in Hengqin, overseen by the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr Ho Hau Wah, the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao Mr Yao Jian, and the Secretary of the Zhuhai CPC Provincial Committee Mr Li Jia on 23 April. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Leong said the Government would bring more opportunities to local enterprises and citizens in the country’s development on trade and investment. He outlined six aspects in Guangdong-Macao co-operation, including regular visits between Macao, Zhuhai and other parts in Guangdong province for better understanding the country’s policies; legislation revision; further co-operation in Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Industrial Park, especially the Guangdong-Macao Chinese Medicine Technology Park; invitation to more local enterprise to take part in the FTZ; provide more specific services for the building of Hengqin Macao Youth Business Valley; and optimising the co-operation mechanism for development of FTZ in Hengqin area. Heightened co-operation with Hengqin in commercial, tourism, and cultural industry would also bring complementary advantages to the building of a world centre for tourism and leisure, and a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, the strategic positions laid down by the Central Government on the future development of Macao. The Government would make best use of the country’s initiatives in building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (“Belt and Road”), taken as an effective measure to enhance Macao’s competiveness.
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During the 1st May 2015 and the 30th April 2016, participants who successfully applied to receive Electronic Water Bill through “Secure Electronic Postal Box – SEPBox” will immediately get MOP$20 water charges rebate and eligible for lucky draws, and have chances of winning prestige philatelic album (A prestige stamp album collects one set of all stamps and souvenir sheets issued by Macao Post from the establishment of Macao Special Administrative Region to 2014), please visit http://seps.macaupost.gov.mo/waterbill for details.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met with the Vice Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission, Mr He Lifeng, at Government House where they exchanged views on Macao’s position in contributing to the development of “Belt and Road”. In the meeting held on 23 April, Mr Chui said the Government would give the highest policy priority to the country’s strategic development of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (“Belt and Road”), and make best use of the country’s policies to further reinforce the city’s economic diversification. Mr He said the Central Government had introduced a framework last month to actualise the economic initiatives put forward by the President Xi Jinping, giving a clearer direction of development and bring more opportunities to countries involved. Mr Chui said the Government would step up the research on leveraging Macao’s special position in developing the “Belt and Road”, and make further contributions into the national development with Macao’s roles as “a world centre of tourism and leisure” and “a commercial and trade co-operation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries”. The Government would need more advice from the Commission and related departments and academic institutes, he said Officials who were at the meeting were Head of Office of the Leading Group for Western Region Development of the Commission, Mr Ou Xiaoli; Head of Department of Liaison of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Yipeng; Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam, and advisors from the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Kou Chin Hung, Mr Wu Kan and Ms Lei Ngan Leng.
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To commemorate the International Museum Day, Macao Post announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at the shop of Communications Museum, at 9:30 to 17:30 on 14th to 17th May 2015 providing the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “International Museum Day”. A commemorative postcard will be distributed to public. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps.
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Macao Post announced that the issue date of the stamp theme “150th Anniversary of Guia Lighthouse” on the Issues Plan 2015 will be changed from 16 July 2015 to 8 July 2015.
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As a celebration of the “World Telecommunications and Information Society Day”, “International Museum Day” and “International Children’s Day”, visitors will enjoy free entrance at the Communications Museum from May 14 to 17 (Thursday to Sunday) and May 30 to 31 (Saturday to Sunday). The International Museum Day 2015 postcard issued by Macao Post will be free distributed at the Museum’s Reception Counter from 9:30am on May 14 to 5:30pm on May 17. Commemorative cancellation service for stamp collectors will also be available. The 3rd Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Museums Professionals Forum & Seminars of International Museum Day, 2015 The 3rd Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Museums Professionals Forum & Seminars of International Museum Day, 2015 is a prelude to the Macao International Museum Day Carnival, 2015 of this year. It will be held at the auditoriums of the Macao Museum and Communications Museum for museum professionals on May 14 and 15. In the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Museums Professionals Forum, twelve representatives from the three places will deliver talks on different topics. They include Ph.D YANG Qi, Director of Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History; Mr. HUANG Jianmin, Deputy Director of The Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen; Mr. CHEN Shaofeng, Deputy Director of Guangdong Museum; Mr. CHENG Cunjie, Researcher of The Memorial Museum of Generalissimo Sun Yat-Sen's Mansion; Ms. YUENG So, Evita, Head of Conservation Office, LCSD Hong Kong; Ms. MO Cynthia, Director of Marketing and Business Development, LCSD Hong Kong; Ms. CHAN Shuk Man, Paulina, Curator of Hong Kong Science Museum; Ms. YAU S.K., Rosa, Curator of Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence; Ph.D Chui Sai Peng, José, Vice-president of Macau Tung Sing Tong Charitable Society; Mr. PUN Wing Wah, Head of Department of Gardens and Green Areas, IACM and Mr. LEONG S.C., Oscar, Education and Exhibits Controller, Macao Science Center. They will talk about “Calling, Preservation, Restoration, Research, Exhibition & Utilization of Collections”, “Exhibition Planning, Production, Multimedia Application”, “Exhibition Education, Guiding Visits and Museum’s Publication” and “Museum Products, Advertising and Promotional Activities”. In the Seminars of International Museum Day, Ph.D. WANG Xiaoming, Director General of Shanghai Science & Technology Museum is invited to talk about “How to Develop the Educational Function of Museum? – Discovery and Thinking of Shanghai & Technology Museum”; Ms. LO Fione, Chief Curator of Hong Kong Heritage Museum, to talk about “Sustainable Museums: Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century”; Ms. SHAO Shan, Deputy Director of Guangdong Museum of Art, to talk about “Encounter” and Mr. CHAN Ieng Hin, Director of Macao Museum, to talk about “Make it Big with Something Small – Strategies of Macao Museum”. During the seminars, they will share their views about “Museums for a Sustainable Society”. For the speakers’ information and detailed schedule, please visit the websites of Communications Museum (http://macao.communications.museum) and Macao Museum (www.http://www.museums.gov.mo). “Telecommunication over Decades” Special Exhibition From May 15 to August 30, Communications Museum will be showing the “Telecommunication over Decades” exhibition at the Temporary Exhibition Gallery on the ground floor of the Museum. The exhibition will showcase the most influential telecommunications tools and methods to Macao citizens from the 60’s to the present. The exhibition is divided into six main areas, namely the “Store of Our Childhood”, “Home in the Past”, “Simulated Paging Station”, “Mobile Communications”, “Smart Communications” and “Looking up Telephone Numbers”. Visitors can experience the different methods of communication by operating the interactive exhibits, and recollect the lifestyle of people in those days. Besides, visitors can recognize the different models of mobile phones across different eras from the “Telephone Display Wall”. They can also recall the scene of using coin insertion phones at the “Old-style Telephone Booth”, and call by dialing “Super Telephone Models”. Mobile Museum - A-Ma Bamboo Theatre The opening ceremony of the Macao International Museum Day Carnival will be held at the A-Ma Bamboo Theatre in the afternoon of May 17 (Sunday). Communications Museum will be showing the “Sound of the Bamboo Theatre”. Visitor can do testing for the sounds on the spot. In addition, there will be “The Fun of Sound & Wind Music” workshop at three different schedules. Family and friends are welcomed to join and make their own pan flutes and learn the theories of producing sound by air vibration and air column resonance. “Science is Fun” Research Project Jointly organized by the Communications Museum and the Macau Society of Biomedical Engineering, the science activity is aimed at arousing students’ interest in science and discovering their potentials in doing independent research projects, and ultimately enhancing their thinking ability, creativity and execution techniques. It is also aimed to promote the research, knowledge and spirit of science among the public. This year the research project is about the theme “Sound of the Bamboo Theatre”. The measurement of sound volume will be done during the Chinese opera performance. Several schools, each with two groups of students, are invited to join and submit their research reports.
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To cope with the Open Day of the Military Camp of the People’s Liberation Army Macau Garrison, Macao Post announces that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philatelic Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters at 13:00 to 18:00 on 1st May 2015 providing the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “Open Day of the Military Camp of the People’s Liberation Army Macau Garrison”. A commemorative envelope will be distributed to public. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps.
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