News

Infrastructure Minister and engineer Mr Rui Araújo Gomes of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau passed away in while in Macao today for the 5th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum.
The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, sent a telegram of condolence to the minister's family to express his great sorrow at Mr Gomes's passing. The telegram sent today reads: "We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Infrastructure Minister Mr Rui Araújo Gomes of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
"With his outstanding talent and great professionalism, Mr Rui Araújo Gomes was dedicated to the development of co-operation between Macao and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. His contribution is hugely appreciated.
"On behalf of the Macao SAR Government and in a personal capacity, I would like to express our deep sadness at the death of Mr Rui Araújo Gomes and offer our sincere condolences to his family."
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Numerous papers by academics and PhD students from the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) have been ranked among the most downloaded papers in the Science Direct database and the IEEE Xplore database, which include millions of articles. In the last three years, more than 14 papers from FST have been ranked among the most downloaded papers in academic databases. "Visiting Power Laws in Cyber-Physical Networking Systems", which is co-authored by UM Rector Wei Zhao, participants in the national 973 programme, and Prof. Li Ming from the East China Normal University, last year was ranked by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, which is under the Ministry of Science and Technology of PRC, among China's 100 most influential international papers for the year 2012. Another article by these authors, "IEEE Trans. Parallel and Distributed Systems", has been ranked among the most highly cited articles in the Science Direct database. "Data-intensive Applications, Challenges, Techniques and Technologies: A Survey on Big Data", co-authored by FST Dean Prof. Philip Chen and PhD student Zhang Chunyang, was published in the Information Sciences journal in January 2014, and was ranked the No.1 most downloaded article within four months of the inclusion. "A Multiple-Kernel C-mean Algorithm for Image Segmentation", co-authored by Dr. Chen Long, Prof. Philip Chen, and Dr. M. Lu, has been ranked the 25th most downloaded paper in IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Part B. In 2013 it was downloaded 447 times in the Science Direct database. "A 2.3 mW 10-bit 170 MS/s Two-Step Binary-Search Assisted Time-Interleaved SAR ADC", co-authored by Dr. Wong Si Seng, Dr. Chio U Fat, Dr. Zhu Yan, Dr. Sin Sai Weng, Prof. U Seng Pan, and Prof. Rui Martins, was published in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits in August 2013. It was ranked among the 100 most downloaded papers in the whole IEEE Xplore database for two consecutive months. "Engine Idle-speed System Modelling and Control Optimization Using Artificial Intelligence", co-authored by Prof. Wong Pak Kin, Prof. Tam Lap Mou, Dr. Li Ke, and Prof. Vong Chi Man, has been ranked among the top five most cited articles in the Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, in the last five years. Three papers by Dr. Zhou Yicong have been ranked among the most downloaded and most cited articles in more than one journal and database in the last three years. Other authors whose articles have been cited or ranked the most downloaded in the last three years include Prof. Tang Yuanyan, Dr. Zhou Jiantao, Prof. Simon Fong, as well as 12 PhD students. In recent years, UM has increased funding and other resources to support scientific research, in an attempt to achieve excellence in research and elevate the level of research in Macao. As a result, UM has seen a marked increase in both the quality and quantity of published papers. In 2013, UM published 398 SCI-indexed research papers, compared to 88 in 2008, an increase of 350 per cent. In terms of citation frequency, there has been an over three-fold increase.
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The Identification Services Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Hereafter called "Macao SAR") was informed by the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong that, with effect from 9th May 2014, holders of Macao SAR Passport are eligible to lodge online application for Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) on the website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection of the Australian Government. Applicants who intend to visit Australia as tourists, for business visitor activities or visit friends or family can lodge their visa application by logging in the online system under "Online Service" on the website (www.immi.gov.au), without the need to lodge visa application in person at the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong nor by post nor by email. Tourists from countries around the world are required to obtain a visa to visit Australia. In order to facilitate visa applications for Macao residents to Australia, the Australian Government introduced "Label-Free Visa Arrangements" in 2012. Last year, the Australian Government and the Macao SAR Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on immigration matter, which has strengthened the exchange and cooperation between the two governments, and consequently promoted the facilitating measure on personnel exchange to a brand new stage. The measure that the Australian Government provides to Macao residents is the latest simplifying method on visa application. Residents of many countries or regions are also using this method to lodge their visa application to the Australian Government. Physical visa labels will not be affixed in the travel document of the applicant under the new simplifying measure. Visa information is instead recorded in Australia's immigration system database. These computerized records are available to airline staff at the airports for verification of those flights' check-in passengers bound for Australia. If the applicant' visa application is approved, the notification of visa approval will be sent to the designated postal or email address of the applicant. The applicant should print out or keep the reply of the assessment result and present it if needed. The Macao SAR Government has been striving to request greater facilitation on entering Australia for Macao residents. The introduction of the above-mentioned measure is attributed to the persistent close cooperation between the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong as well as the Australian Government, and the Macao SAR Government. It will further deepen the relationship between the two places and strengthen the ease of travellers and therefore to boost in the tourism, and socio-culture between Australia and the Macao SAR. For more information on the application of visas to Australia, please visit the following website of the Australian Government www.hongkong.china.embassy.gov.au.
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IFT Tourism Retail and Marketing Management students successfully completed a Visual Merchandising and Store Design project which helped the Macau Heritage Ambassadors Association with a focus on their spin-off brand called "All In Macau" with its newly opened store called M-Dimension to sell tourism souvenirs and gifts. (Address: Rua dos Artilheiros No.20-B Macao, China). This project involves researching the current state of the tourism souvenir market, leading to developing a new range of souvenirs under the "All In Macau"' brand with its related window display and store design concept for the M-Dimension store. Via this project, students engaged in research leading to the development of mood-board to stimulate the development of concepts. Subsequently, students used floor planning, 3D modeling as well as graphics programmes to turn their ideas into professional illustrations as well as videos for their final presentation. The course instructor Dr. Fernando Lourenço, and Mr. Leong Man Kit from Macau Heritage Ambassadors Association were very impressed with the outcomes. This was an excellent way to build a stronger link with the industry by offering our support to local non-profit organisations. For more information about the projects, please check out the YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/iftdesigncourses.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the total population was 614,500 as at end-March 2014, an increase of 7,000 quarter-to-quarter; female population totalled 314,600, accounting for 51.2% of the total. There were 1,637 live births delivered in the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of 119 or 6.8% quarter-to-quarter. Male babies totalled 836 and the gender ratio of the newborn stood at 104.4, corresponding to 104.4 male babies per 100 female babies. Meanwhile, mortality cases totalled 543, an increase of 15 quarter-to-quarter; the top three underlying causes of death were Neoplasms (178 cases), Diseases of the Circulatory System (141 cases) and Diseases of the Respiratory System (103 cases). In the first quarter of 2014, there were 800 Chinese immigrants and the individuals granted right of abode registered a net inflow of 158, down by 147 and 297 quarter-to-quarter. Non-resident workers totalled 145,692 at the end of the first quarter, an increase of 7,854. A total of 1,167 cases of marriage registration were recorded in the first quarter, up by 173 quarter-to-quarter.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) launched a opinion poll and survey for new additional walking tour routes "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" to collect residents, businesses and visitors opinions, which will serve as reference for the launch and improvement of more itineraries. "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" is a MGTO long-term "Community Tourism Plan". Following the launch of the first four "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" walking routes in 2013, MGTO plans to introduce new additional walking itineraries under the same theme in 2014. Before unveiling four new additional routes, MGTO promotes an opinion poll which includes explanation sessions and encourages residents and businesses of community and visitors to answer surveys and to provide their suggestions. MGTO is organizing six explanation sessions to collect the opinions of local residents, businesses and tourism trade. The six sessions as follows: Session for Tourism Development Committee, Public Session for residents and media, Sessions for parishes of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Santo António, São Francisco Xavier and Nossa Senhora do Carmo. The opinion poll is carried out simultaneously through online questionnaires (in Chinese and Portuguese) and street surveys. Macau residents, businesses and visitors can fill in the online questionnaire anonymously from 19th May to 19th June. Street surveys to provide suggestions from neighborhoods' residents and merchants are personal interviews about the four new additional itineraries. For MGTO's reference on the launch and improvement of more walking tour routes, a final report will be published after collecting all explanation sessions, online questionnaires and street surveys opinions. MGTO organized today (8) an explanation session open to public and invited local residents, media, and related associations to participate. MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, MGTO deputy directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong, representatives of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Land, Public Work and Transport Bureau, and Transport Bureau attended the event. In a speech at the occasion, Senna Fernandes highlighted: "Diversify cultural tourism products and continue to boost the Community Tourism Plan are MGTO main work goals this year. We hope to collect valuable opinions from residents, merchants and visitors, and take them in consideration, so that in future the launch of four new additional walking tour routes is well accepted by visitors. Thus, we invite everyone to participate actively and to help us to optimize tourism environment". During the public session, MGTO deputy director Cheng Wai Tong presented the main ideas for the four new additional walking routes and the community opinion poll working plan. The proposed four new additional tourist itineraries are located at Parishes of Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Santo António and Nossa Senhora do Carmo, in Taipa, and Parish of São Francisco Xavier in Coloane area (see ideas for proposed routes attached). MGTO is already promoting the public consultation through website http://en.macautourism.gov.mo/index.php, newspapers, and radio, among other communication channels, and appealing residents and merchants to participate in this community opinion poll sharing their opinion. The first four itineraries "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" were launched by MGTO on 27th September last year to encourage visitors to explore different areas of the city on foot. The four routes launched are as follow: "A Tour of Historical Trails", "A Tour of Nature and Creativity", "A Tour of East Meets West" and "A Tour of Arts and Culture". Printed map leaflets of the four routes are available, and visitors can download the maps as well as enjoy the videos on these routes from MGTO website. Residents and visitors can also search through AppStore or Google Play and download for free the mobile application "Step Out, Macau". Currently, along the four walking tour routes there is entertainment such as lion dance, Chinese opera, street dance, martial arts, and folk dance performances, as well as street painting, music and puppet shows.
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Consumer Council conducted its first 'Supermarket price survey' in May on 7 May 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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that a total of 1,126 new companies were incorporated in the first quarter of 2014, up by 138 year-on-year; total value of registered capital increased by 23.7% to MOP191 million. Analysed by industry, the majority of new incorporations were operating in Wholesale & Retail (423) and Business Services (237). Companies in dissolution totalled 155, up by 26 year-on-year; value of registered capital of companies in dissolution decreased by 84.9% to MOP28 million. Analysed by size of registered capital, there were 754 new companies registered with capital under MOP50,000 (67.0% of total), and the total value of capital was MOP20 million (10.3% of total); there were 44 new companies registered with capital of MOP1 million or over, and the total value of capital amounted to MOP122 million. In the first quarter of 2014, capital of the new companies came mainly from Macao (MOP118 million) and Mainland China (MOP53 million), including MOP26 million from the 9 Provinces of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, with that from Guangdong province sharing MOP24 million. Analysed by combination of the shareholders, there were 715 new companies established solely by Macao shareholders, and 165 joint ventures between shareholders from Macao and other countries or regions. At the end of the first quarter of 2014, number of registered companies totalled 44,724, an increase of 4,077 from a year earlier.
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The Government Information Bureau (GCS) gave an assurance today that the newly launched "MSAR News" app does not collect personal private information from users' mobile phones and devices. In a statement, GCS said it was very concerned after a newspaper reported today that certain government departments' mobile apps might involve personal privacy issues. The GCS stressed that "MSAR News" does not collect any personal private information from its users' mobile phones, especially information that relates to phonebook, call records and GPS locations. "MSAR News", launched by the GCS on 4 April 2014, is a free one-way mobile app that enables mobile users to read official news and information on their portable devices in real time.
The mobile app only reads from users' mobile phones the version number, username and device token. No other personal private information from users' mobile phones, especially the phonebook, call records and GPS location data, is collected. When "MSAR News" is installed on an Android device, the phone system will alert its user that the mobile app may access certain attributes of the phone, but emphasised that the app will only read the user's identification data. The only purpose of reading such identification data is for statistical analysis of the brands, models and versions of the users' devices for reference in future upgrades of the mobile app and information services.
The GCS will incorporate a privacy policy statement into the terms and conditions for use of this mobile app and specify the kind of personal information that might be read. To further improve the app, the installation alert for Android versions will also be adjusted by deleting the items not to be collected. As more and more people use mobile phones and other mobile devices to access information, the GCS launched the "MSAR News" app on 4 April to provide real-time government news and photos, and local weather reports, with the aim to enhance public awareness and understanding of government policy and services. This app has rich content, comprising five main sections: "News", "Gallery", "News Features", "Hot News", and "Hot News Photos".
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is promoting Macau at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2014, the leading international annual tourism fair taking place in the Middle East, which opened today in Dubai and runs until Thursday. To tap into the great potential of the Middle East visitor source market and expand Macau's international visitors, MGTO is once again promoting the city's appeal as a tourism destination at ATM. MGTO is showcasing Macau's latest updates and tourism products with a 50 square meter booth at the key-event for the Middle East region, dedicated to the theme "Touching Moments Experience Macau". Visitor arrivals from the Middle East to Macau have been increasing fast for the last few years. In 2013 Macau welcomed close to 15,000 visitors coming from the Middle East, a 5.5 per cent growth year on year, while for the first quarter of this year arrivals from the region already increased by 8 per cent, compare to same period last year. This year on its 21st edition, the 4-day event, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre, attracted 2700 exhibitors representing 83 countries and territories.
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