News

The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) will host a three-day workshop on airport pavements design and evaluation commencing today (2 November 2011) to share experiences and enhance each other's knowledge and capability in this technical aspect, with the aeronautical authorities and airports from the United States and Asia, international organizations and expert service providers The airport runway technologies are constantly changing. To ensure that the aeronautical authorities and the airports can obtain the latest development of the runway design, construction and engineering technologies, AACM and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) collaborated with each other to host the "Regional Workshop on Airport Pavements – Design and Evaluation" in Macao with the objective of allowing participants to share experiences through discussions and case studies to effectively deal with airport pavement problems. The workshop is held in the convention facilities of Macao Science Centre, from 02 to 04 November 2011. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States is the main speaker. In the three-day event, the speakers and the participants will discuss airfield pavement design, construction, maintenance and management; runway surface friction characteristics, evenness and roughness; pavement load classification; major research initiatives on pavement design for heavy aircraft; state practices on overload operations and environmental constraints; new pavement software and technologies development and so on. FAA will also illustrate some case studies, including construction problems at Trinidad and Tobago Airport, and field instrumentation at John F. Kennedy International Airport. In addition, the workshop will highlight a number of state or administration presentations. Hong Kong SAR and Republic of Korea will present the pavement management at Hong Kong International Airport and Incheon International Airport respectively; Japan will report on the damage to Sendai Airport and its pavement from the tsunami; Myanmar will introduce their airport pavement design and evaluation; Macao SAR will talk about the evaluation of structural capacity of airfield pavements in Macau International Airport. The workshop has attracted more than 70 participants who come from 14 states or administrations namely Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United States, as well as ICAO and its subsidiary – "Cooperative Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programme – South Asia", and two international expert service providers in airport pavement testing and evaluation. The Macao SAR participants also comprise Civil Engineering Laboratory of Macau, CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd. and Administration of Airports, Ltd. To cope with the integration of Macao into the Pearl River Delta Region, Macau International Airport will undergo gradual expansion so that its capacity can fulfill the future demand of air transport in the neighbouring area. The expansion will include the reclamation of the shallow water area between the two taxiways and the extension of the safety area of both runway ends. The President of AACM, Chan Weng Hong, said "The workshop is hosted in a timely manner in Macao as it provides a platform for the Macao participants to exchange the latest development trends on runway and pavement design and evaluation and understand how other states or administrations deal with the respective construction problems."
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On 4 November the University of Macau (UM) will hold a Doctor honoris causa Lecture Series, which is part of UM's 30th anniversary Lecture Series. Renowned evolutionary geneticist and molecular biologist Prof. Francisco J. Ayala will be the speaker, and his topic will be "Science and Religion: Conflict or Concert?" On the following day, UM will hold a ceremony to confer a Degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa upon Prof. Ayala. Today, many religious denominations accept that biological evolution has produced the diversity of living things over billions of years of the Earth's history. Many have issued statements observing that evolution and the tenets of their faiths are compatible. Scientists and theologians have written eloquently about their awe and wonder at the history of the universe and of life on this planet, explaining that they see no conflict between their faith in God and the evidence for evolution. In this central human controversy, Prof. Ayala holds that science and religion should be viewed as different ways of understanding the world and that the evidence for evolution can be fully compatible with religious faith. At the lecture Prof. Ayala will discuss the overwhelming evidence in support of biological evolution and will evaluate the alternative perspectives offered by advocates of various kinds of creationism. He will also explore the many fascinating inquiries being pursued. For educators, students, teachers, community leaders, legislators, policy makers, and parents who seek to understand the basis of evolutionary science, this lecture will provide a precious opportunity to hear the insights of Prof. Ayala and to discuss questions with him. The lecture will take place at 17:00 on 4 November (Friday) at UM's Cultural Centre. It will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Mandarin. For on-line registration, please visit https://isw.umac.mo/ayala/faces/index.jspx. For enquiries, please call 83974339 or 83974332.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 4.0% quarter-to-quarter to MOP569 in the third quarter of 2011. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers (MOP581) rose by 3.4%, and that of unskilled workers (MOP363) went up by 2.0%. Analyzed by occupations, average daily wages of structural iron erectors (MOP671) and concrete formwork carpenters (MOP632) increased by 11.1% and 3.8% respectively over the previous quarter; however, wage of plumbers (MOP603) decreased by 2.1%. After discounting the effect of inflation, wage index of construction workers was 92.0 in real terms in the third quarter of 2011, up by 1.5% quarter-to-quarter. As regards construction materials, the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars increased by 3.8% quarter-to-quarter to MOP6,045 per tonne, and that of concrete rose significantly by 16.1% to MOP404 per cubic metre. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings rose by 5.2% quarter-to-quarter to 119.4 in the third quarter of 2011; in particular, price indices of steel, concrete and timber increased by 3.8%, 17.1% and 3.7% respectively. Compared with the same quarter of 2010, price index of construction materials for residential buildings registered an increase of 20.4%. Starting from the third quarter of 2011, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings has been rebased using 2010 as the base period, incorporating new items of construction materials and equipment commonly used, such as ceramic sanitary ware, ceramic tiles, lift etc., in order to better reflect the price changes of construction materials.
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Over 250 delegates from 93 countries, regions and international organizations took part in the fourth general meeting of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes held in Paris, France on 25-26 October 2011. A total of 17 review reports of different countries and regions, including the Phase I review report of Macao SAR, were adopted in the meeting. The report of Macao SAR was already published and posted on the OECD's official website, signifying that Macao SAR met internationally agreed standards on transparency and exchange of information on tax matters. The Phase I Review mainly focused on whether the region's current legal and regulatory framework was sufficient and could effectively guarantee the implementation of tax information exchange. It covered a number of legislation including Commercial Code, Commercial Registry Code, Civil Code, Offshore Business Act, anti-money laundering regulations and guidelines, tax laws, Financial System Act, as well as Information Exchange Act. Macao SAR would have to continually fulfill relevant international requirements to ensure that measures on enhancing tax transparency and exchange of information are being effectively carried out. Meanwhile, in an effort to facilitate the Global Forum's Phase II review of Macao SAR scheduled on the first half of year 2013 on the implementation of information exchange standards in practice, Macao SAR would study and follow up the suggestions for improvement made in the Phase I report shortly afterwards.
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As prices of cooking oil continued to rise in the past few months, Consumer Council started its specific price survey on cooking oil in October to monitor price trend and price discrepancies of cooking oil. In the current survey, a price difference of almost 130 per cent was observed in 'Lion & Globe Pure Olive Oil (500ml)'. According to data recorded in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Survey', prices of cooking oil continued to rise since August, certain brands even recorded accumulated price rises of over 15 per cent. The Council conducted the latest survey on 26th October, surveying 23 samples of cooking oil from 24 local retail outlets to provide consumers a comprehensive selection for price comparison. In the current survey, a general price difference of 20 to 30 per cent was observed for the same product sold in different outlets. The highest difference recorded this time was found in 'Lion & Globe Pure Olive Oil (500ml)' in which the lowest and highest selling price differed for almost 130 per cent; 'Tripod Brand Top Quality Pure Peanut Oil (2L)', however, recorded only a price gap of 1.35 per cent. The specific price survey on cooking oil is now available online on the Council's official website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8988 9315.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the total number of licensed motor vehicles reached 203,443 at the end of September 2011, a year-on-year increase of 5%, of which 54% (109,936) were motorcycles and 39% (79,495) were light private cars. New registration of motor vehicles went up by 10% year-on-year to 13,260 in the first three quarters of 2011, with motorcycles and light private cars accounting for 55% and 38% respectively. In the first nine months of 2011, number of traffic accidents rose by 6% year-on-year to 10,393 cases, resulting in 4,056 victims and 8 of them were killed. Cross-border vehicle traffic by land between Macao and Mainland China increased by 9% year-on-year to 3,057,501 vehicle trips in the first three quarters of 2011, of which vehicle traffic through the Border Gate accounted for 82%. Commercial flight movements at the Macao International Airport increased marginally by 1% year-on-year to 26,397 in the first nine months of 2011, with Mainland China and Taiwan, China (each of 33%) as well as Thailand (10%) being the major routes. Helicopter flights between Macao and Hong Kong (11,887) and between Macao and Mainland China (2,700) recorded increases of 7% and 9% respectively. Passenger transport by sea between Macao and Hong Kong totalled 91,805 ferry trips in the first nine months of 2011, up by 2% year-on-year. Concurrently, ferry trips between Macao and Mainland China decreased by 5% year-on-year to 18,591. In the first three quarters of 2011, seaborne container throughput totalled 73,879 TEU or 54,711 containers handled, up by 11% and 14% respectively year-on-year. Gross weight of seaborne containerized cargo decreased by 4% year-on-year to 128,802 tonnes, with 3,126 tonnes of transshipment goods. Gross weight of containerized cargo by land decreased by 25% to 26,044 tonnes, including 8,016 tonnes of transit goods. In the first nine months of 2011, outward air cargo (18,144 tonnes) and inward air cargo (7,280 tonnes) fell by 23% and 31% respectively; meanwhile, transit air cargo decreased by 23% year-on-year to 3,659 tonnes. At the end of September 2011, number of mobile telephone users increased by 17% from a year earlier to 1,291,617, whereas fixed-line telephone users decreased slightly by 1% to 166,725. As regards internet services, number of subscribers reached 204,548 and the cumulative duration of usage totalled 382 million hours in the first nine months of 2011, up by 25% and 24% respectively.
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The 5th UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook, organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), was held in Guilin, China from October 26-28, 2011. Director of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) João Maunel Costa Antunes spoke at the Opening Ceremony of the Forum and delivered closing remarks as the Vice Chairman of PATA. Also present at the opening ceremony were Mayor of Guilin Municipal People's Government Li Zhigang, Vice Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration Du Yili, Executive Director of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Frederic Pierret, Director General of the Guangxi Tourism Administration Chen Jianjun and Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kaye Chon. Speaking at the Opening Ceremony as the Vice Chairman of PATA, Antunes expressed that innovation and diversification have been central to recent tourism success in destinations such as Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, Guilin and Chengdu. Tourism requires constant renewal and the Forum gave participants the inspiration and the technical knowledge to make that renewal process happen. Together with other panelists from Korea, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia, Antunes, as the Director of MGTO, shared with the participants examples of how Macau has embraced innovation and diversification to completely reposition the destination over the last few years at the session of "Innovation and Diversification in Tourism". With the theme of "Innovation and Diversification of Tourism in Demanding Times, the Forum comprised two sessions, the technical session and plenary session. It aimed to provide a platform for policy makers, senior officials, researchers and industry representatives to share information, analyze the current global & regional trends affecting tourism and map out the next course of action for the future.
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With an effort to ensure members of the public can share the benefits of economic growth, Macao SAR government launched for the first time in 2008 the Wealth Partaking Scheme, distributing a prescribed sum of money by posting cheque or bank transfer to residents of Macao SAR who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. By virtue of the respective law, cheques of the Scheme 2008 that have not been encashed remain to be valid until 31 January 2012. For persons aged under five on 1 July 2008 who became holder of Macao SAR identity card prescribed by Law No. 8/2002, in case of the payment concerning the Scheme 2008 has not yet been received, the latest date for application will be on 30 December 2011.
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For four consecutive years, the international community of government leaders, businesses, professionals, financial institutions, investors and a host of non-government organizations has converged in Macao to actively participate in the collective effort to address environmental issues of common global concern. The Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF), an initiative by the Macao government, is contributing to China's efforts to achieve specific objectives for a low carbon society, as well as to raise public awareness and improve conditions for humanity. From its launch in 2008 through to 2011, MIECF has grown from strength to strength and regarded as a success by delegates, exhibitors and the international community. Now, MIECF returns for its fifth edition in 2012 from March 29 to March 31, at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. As the 2012MIECF Event Manager, Koelnmesse Pte Ltd is inviting interested service providers to participate in this Call for Tender, for appointment of service contracts. The range of services being tendered for are:  Stand Contractor
 Freight Forwarder
 Travel Services
 Accounting Service
 Document Printing
 Registration Services
 Shuttle Bus & Limousine Services
 Translation and Interpretation Interested parties are welcome to submit their tenders. Submission deadline is 14 November 2011. Full information on the tender procedures and specifications can be obtained form the website at www.macaomiecf.com.
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The Institute for Tourism Studies' Bachelor Degree Programme emphasises on the balance between theory and practice. Students are required to complete certain hours of practical tasks related to their majors every year. One of the tasks given to the Tourism Business Management students is to provide free guided tour to tourists and local residents. The activity, with the theme of "Tour around Macao with IFT students", is organised by year two students of Tourism Business Management Degree Programme. With the assistance from the instructors, five different itineraries have been designed and each lasts about one hour and thirty minutes. This free guided tour service will be provided to all tourists and local residents on Saturday and Sunday, from 29 October – 12 November. The main objectives of the activity: I. It allows the students to put what they have learnt about tourism into practice. The whole project, from itinerary design to time control to the actual tour guiding, is planned by the students themselves with assistance from instructors. By coordinating the activity, their communication skills can also be enhanced. II. To promote Macao to the visitors by offering the free guiding service at the city centre and tourist attractions. Residents will also be made aware of the importance of tourism to Macao. The Institute for Tourism Studies is the only public higher education institution in Macao that provides training for tourism and service industry. It endeavours to promote Macao through various activities and to leave a good image to everyone who visits the place.
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