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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs on 25th July 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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In preparation for the implementation of the "Tourism Law of the People's Republic of China", Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) invited a policy expert from China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to give explanation sessions to the related governmental departments and travel trade partners and clarify the key points of the law, including those about Mainland residents' visits to Hong Kong and Macau. The "Tourism Law of the People's Republic of China" is a national law which will come into effect on October 1st this year. While not applicable in the Macau Special Administrative Region, considering the close relations between Mainland and Macau especially with regard to supervision of tourism markets, MGTO invited Deputy Director General of Policy and Legal Department of CNTA, Li Lei, to Macau to address two explanation sessions about the "Tourism Law of the People's Republic of China" today (July 24). The talk highlighted the provisions of the law about Mainland residents' visits to Macau and Hong Kong followed by a question and answer session, helping the relevant governmental departments and travel trade partners to understand more clearly about the related law and its relation with both destinations' tourism development. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes indicated that MGTO highly values the upcoming enforcement of the Tourism Law in the Mainland, which meets the needs arising from cross-regional and inter-trade development of the travel industry. The Office believes that the law will effectively protect the legal rights of both visitors and operators, tackle the irregularities in tourism markets and provide better solution to tourism conflicts, etc. which can eventually facilitate the sound tourism development of both destinations. In line with Macau's strategic positioning as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, one of MGTO's main work goals is to optimize industry management and training while actively promoting quality tourism. MGTO will adjust its supervision and inspection work according to the evolving market development and the launch of the Tourism Law. Industry partners welcomed the explanation sessions in general. Some expressed that it is essential to know about Mainland's situation considering there is frequent collaboration between Mainland and Macau tourism sectors. Especially since the Tourism Law will come into effect soon, they can understand the new law to prepare in advance. The two explanation sessions attracted over 200 attendees, including representatives from the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture, MGTO and Tourism Development Committee as well as Association of Macau Tourist Agents, Travel Industry Council of Macau, Macau Travel Agency Association, Macau Tourist Guide Association, Macau Hotel Association and trade representatives, etc.
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The annual security exercise with "unlawful seizure of aircraft" for this year's theme was conducted in Macau International Airport in today's early morning (24 July 2013). The exercise simulated the scenario that a foreign political organization that has activated several terrorist attacks in their own country has unlawfully seized an aircraft carrying 54 passengers and 10 crew members and has requested to land in Macau International Airport. The airport immediately activated the emergency plan to handle the incident and rescued the passengers and the crew members eventually. The exercise was deemed to have reached its goal. Public Security Police Force was the coordinator of the exercise which took place from 00:00 to 06:00. About 300 people participated in it. The exercise aimed at testing and assessing the efficiency of the airport emergency plan and the action plans of the various participating entities in the areas of command and control, coordination, communication and the use of resources. An aircraft was simulated to be unlawfully seized by 4 members of a foreign terrorist organization that requested to land the aircraft in Macau International Airport. The hijackers were armed with weapons; the passengers and the crew members were held captive. When the aircraft captain notified the airport control tower of the incident, the control tower immediately communicated the incident with the relevant entities in accordance with the airport emergency plan. The Airport Emergency Operations Centre was activated and representatives from all relevant entities arrived at the centre to handle the incident. The authorities eventually arrested the hijackers and rescued all the passengers and the crew members. Apart from Public Security Police Force, the other participating entities were Unitary Police Force, Macao Customs Services, Security Coordination Office, Judiciary Police, Fire Services Bureau, Health Bureau, Marine and Water Bureau, Civil Aviation Authority, CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd, Administration of Airports, Ltd., Air Macau Company Ltd., Macau Security Company Ltd. (airport security) and Menzies Macau Airport Services Ltd. To enhance the capacity of the entities and the personnel involving in airport security to handle incidents of unlawful interference, the International Civil Aviation Organization requests all countries or administrations to carry out a security exercise once every two years. In places worldwide, there are occasional incidents of terrorist activities that are carried out through air transport means. Although Macao is considered a low risk place in terms of terrorism, the need to guarantee the safety of passengers and their properties is always kept as the priority work by the Facilitation and Security Committee. The Committee adopts a higher standard than the international one by incorporating, on an annual basis, a security exercise as part of the training activities in the yearly schedule of events.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on eggs on 23th July 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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At the just-ended 12th Meeting of the Asia Pacific Federation of Pharmacologists, Dr. Chen Xiuping from the University of Macau's (UM) Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine received the SERVIER Young Pharmacologist Award 2013. This is the second consecutive time UM academics have received this award. Meanwhile, Dr. Chen attended the oral presentation competition in the conference and received the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award of Young Scientist for his presentation. Co-founded by the Chinese Pharmacological Society (CPS) and Servier, a French pharmaceutical group, the award aims to recognise scientists with outstanding contributions to pharmacology. Every year eight outstanding young scientists are selected out of candidates from across the country to receive this award. At the conference, Dr. Chen presented his study titled "Cucurbitacin B Induced DNA Damage Causes G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest in Cancer Cells" in the oral presentation competition. He explained in detail how cucurbitacin B, a compound extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Calyx Cucumis (Guadi), induces DNA damage and cell cycle arrest. He received the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award of Young Scientist for his presentation. Dr. Chen is also a recipient of the Natural Science Award at the First Macao Science and Technology Awards in 2012. This is the second consecutive time UM academics have received the SERVIER Young Pharmacologist Award. Prof. Lee Ming-Yuen, also from the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, was last year's recipient of the award.
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The Macao Chinese Orchestra (MCHO), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, closes the 2012-2013 season on July 26, Friday, with the concert Classical Heritage, to be held at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium at 8pm. The talented musicians of the OCHM, under the baton of Music Director and Principal Conductor Pang Ka Pang, are joined by soprano Shen Na, guitarist Custódio Castelo's (Portuguese guitar) and by double bassist Carlos Menezes. The concert includes "Recollection" for Soprano and Traditional Orchestra by Hao Weiya, a work that describes memories and feelings from a feminine point of view. Member of the China National Opera House, Shen Na is one of China's most renowned sopranos. After an extremely successful tour of fifteen Chinese cities, the singer is now especially invited to collaborate with the MCHO in this concert. Another guest star is Custódio Castelo, one of today's highest-profile masters of Portuguese guitar who combines an exceptional technique with innovative arrangements. The guitarist and composer presents some of his own compositions in this concert, namely The Wisperer of Sorrows, where he mirrors his inner emotional world; Ventus, a celebration of the creative freedom and artistic potential of the Portuguese guitar; In Quietude, a description of the intimate relationship between people and the fast changing information world as well as between people themselves; and also Absent and Land of Dust. Joining Castelo are double bassist Carlos Menezes and MCHO's talented musicians, presenting a unique concert not to be missed. The programme of the concert also includes works inspired by the city's fusion of cultures, such as Macao Impressions, by Zhao Jiping, Taipa and Portugal Nostalgia, by Rão Kyao/ Kuan Nai Chung, among others. Tickets for the concert "Classical Heritage – 2012-2013 Season Closing Concert" may be purchased through the Macao Kong Seng Ticketing Network at the prices of MOP 100, 60 and 40 (reservation hotline: 2855 5555). A series of discounts is also available for those who qualify. For more information, please visit the Macao Chinese Orchestra website at www.icm.gov.mo/ochm.
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Consumer Council released its 'Supermarket Price Survey' of July. When comparing the data collected in June, 33 percent of the surveyed products recorded a price decrease, 24 percent of the products remained no change in price, while 43 percent of the products had recorded a slight increase in price. The overall price increases were from below 1 percent to 3 percent. Consumer Council collected prices of about 340 products in its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated18th July. In comparison with the 339 products surveyed in June, prices of 113 on-shelf products had been decreased and these items included rice, canned foods, toothpaste and tissue papers. For the 146 on-shelf products which recorded price increases, the items were mainly noodles, beverages, seasonings and snacks. Many beverage brands surveyed had recorded an increase in price of over 10 percent. 80 on-shelf products surveyed had remained no change in price. The current survey reviewed that prices of the over 300 on-shelf products remained stable, with an overall price increases of below 1 percent to 3 percent, and most staple foods had recorded a decrease or remained stable in price. The Council also analyzed the numbers of lowest price products available in the 15 supermarkets surveyed. Tai Fung supermarket in Taipa recorded the most numbers of lowest price items in which 120 items sold at Taipa Tai Fung recorded the lowest price among all surveyed supermarkets. Tai Fung supermarket at Estrada do Repouso branch ranked the second, with 61 of its on-shelf items having the lowest price, and the third place went to San Miu supermarket located at Brás da Rosa, with 55 of its on-shelf items being recorded with the lowest price. Starting from June, consumers can make price comparison in a more convenient way by accessing to the function of 'Lowest Price in Town' of the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps where they can browse the latest numbers of lowest price products found in the 15 surveyed supermarkets.
Among the 4 supermarket chains surveyed, selling prices were found to vary in different branches in different regions and price discrepancies were observed again in branches of San Miu and Tai Fung supermarkets. Price differences were found for over 180 on-shelf items sold in both Tai Fung supermarket Taipa branch and Estrada do Repouso branch, of which the items of beverages, snacks and sanitary and hygienic products were found to have price discrepancies from 1 to 25 percent. Over half of the 250 on-shelf items sold in both San Miu supermarket R. dos Mercadores branch and Brás da Rosa branch were found to have price discrepancies, with percentage differences of 5 percent to over 35 percent. From around the 280 on-shelf products sold in both Royal supermarket S. Lourenco branch and Avenida do Almirante Lacerda branch, only 7 products were found to have a difference in prices, with the greatest price discrepancy of 16 percent. 12 percent of the on-shelf products sold in the two Park'n Shop branches were found to have price discrepancies and the items were mainly canned foods and shampoos. Consumers are advised to check with the information available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), especially the function of 'Top Ten Price Differences'. Consumers can also download the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps to make price comparisons.
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. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitor arrivals increased by 10.4% year-on-year to 2,324,935 in June 2013; same-day visitors accounted for 50.1% of the total, at 1,164,332. In June 2013, visitors from Mainland China increased by 20.0% year-on-year to 1,464,665, mainly coming from Guangdong Province (629,648) and Fujian Province (64,466); Mainland visitors travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) totalled 603,704. Moreover, visitors from the Republic of Korea (33,570) and India (21,724) also increased by 12.7% and 14.2% respectively, while those from Hong Kong (558,326) and Taiwan, China (75,889) decreased by 0.1% and 12.8%. Long-haul visitors from the UK (4,249) increased by 1.7% year-on-year, whereas those from the US (14,908), Australia (7,280) and Canada (4,727) decreased by 6.4%, 7.4% and 11.2% respectively. The average length of stay of visitors held stable from a year earlier, at 1.0 day in June 2013, with overnight and same-day visitors staying 1.8 days and 0.2 day respectively. In the first half year of 2013, visitor arrivals totalled 14,142,240, an increase of 4.2% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China and the Republic of Korea increased by 9.8% and 5.3%, while those from Hong Kong and Taiwan, China decreased by 3.3% and 8.6%. Moreover, long-haul visitors from the US (87,676), Australia (54,113) and Canada (35,842) declined year-on-year, while those from the UK (28,835), France (20,285) and the Russian Federation (16,199) recorded growth.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, has pledged to fully support relief operations in Gansu following earthquakes this morning that claimed more than 80 lives and caused serious injuries to more than 300. Mr Chui has sent a condolence letter to the Central Government today to express concern and sympathy of the people of Macao. Two quakes with a 5.9- and 5.6-magnitude struck in Dingxi in Gansu province at 7:45 am: the shallow epicentres resulted in greater damages.
While relevant government departments and the local government were carrying rescue and relief operations, Mr Chui said the Macao Government would actively participate in relief works and provide full support.
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The exhibition "Vanishing Techniques – Photography by Jean Baudrillard", organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government and co-organized by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau and the Alliance Française de Macao, will be extended until the 8th of September due to a great flow of visitors since its opening in May. The exhibition, included in the 24th Macao Arts Festival and the Le French May's activities, gathers around 50 photography works by Jean Baudrillard, one of the most influential philosophers of our time. This is the most complete and comprehensive introduction to Baudrillard's work since his death; the photographs were personally selected by the last thinker's wife, Marine Baudrillard, and are curated by the Chinese-French curator Mr. Fei Danwei. The philosopher developed a unique photographic theory and practice which allowed him to demonstrate with a camera his different ways of looking at and perceiving the world, giving his photographs great impact around the world. The exhibition "Vanishing Techniques – Photography by Jean Baudrillard" will continue to run at Tap Seac Gallery, daily from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free.
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