News

To raise citizens' concerns for inmates, Macao Prison previously organized a photo contest entitled "A Smile‧An Encouragement‧ Let's Support the Inmates" with assistance from the Photographic Society of Macau. The contest received 162 entries and the evaluation was completed on 19 June. Director of Government Information Bureau Chan Chi Ping, Director General of Photographic Society of Macau Cheong Io Tong, and jointly with Director of Macao Prison Lee Kam Cheong formed the evaluation committee of the contest, the entries were evaluated based on entries' relevance, aesthetic quality and photography skills. After three rounds of professional screening, judging and comparison, a first prize, a second prize, a third prize, five merit prizes and ten nominations were selected from the public category, while a first prize, a second prize, a third prize and five merit prizes were chosen from the student category. Public Category winning results: first prize winner Tang Chan Seng: Happy Face; second prize winner Tang Kai Lon: Conquering the Darkness; third prize winner Ng Hoi Kei: Children in the Mountains. The five merit prize winners are, in no particular order, Tang Chan Seng: Angel of Love; Tang Kai Lon: Giving you a Smile; Lok Wai Keong: Smile of Truth, Goodness and Beauty; Lok Wai Keong: Innocent Smile; Cheong Mei Son: Smile to Welcome Spring. The ten Nominations are, in no particular order, José Lopes Lai: Ha Ha Ha; José Lopes Lai: Rushing with a Smile; Lam Hon U: Smiling Little Angel; Ng Hoi Kei: Sister and Brother; Lam Sao Wa: Children Fun; Lam Sao Wa: Joyful Family Trip; Lam Kuok Keong: Grateful for New Life; Chan Kuong Chong: Joyful Smile; Chan Kuong Chong: Happy Childhood; Hon Peng U: Happy Fisherman Family. Student category winning results: first prize winner Silvestre, Juvina Angelica: Cultivation; second Prize winner Lei Kei Fong: Forward; third prize winner Ho U Tong: Smiling Boy. The five merit prize winners are, in no particular order, Si Un Cheng: Smile; Chan Wai San: Encouragement and Support; Silvestre, Juvina Angelica: Lovely Child; Chim Kin Ieong: Smile, Hug; Kuok Hoi Neng, Naive Smile. The prize presentation ceremony will be held on 4 July 2013 at Macao Forum during the opening ceremony of "Macao Prison Inmates' Handicraft Exhibition 2013". The winning entries will also be displayed in the said venue and uploaded to the Macao Prison website (www.epm.gov.mo) and the Photographic Society of Macau website (www.psm.org). Winners will be notified regarding the collection of prizes. For any queries, please dial 8896 1280 or 8896 1283.
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The Macau Grand Prix Committee (MGPC) today announced Star River‧Windsor Arch as title sponsor of the 60th Macau Grand Prix. The official title of the Diamond Jubilee edition of the legendary event will be the Star River‧Windsor Arch 60th Macau Grand Prix. In addition to being overall sponsor, the company, which has supported the event for several years, is also title sponsor of all three prestigious headline races on the programme: The FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup, the Star River‧Windsor Arch Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix; The Star River‧Windsor Arch Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 47th Edition, the world-famous two-wheeled thriller; and the FIA World Touring Car Championship – Guia Race of Macau – Presented by Star River‧Windsor Arch, the grand finale of the 2013 season. Sponsorship of the overall event as well as the three blue riband races will ensure Star River‧Windsor Arch substantial local and worldwide coverage, and represents the most extensive involvement of the company in the Grand Prix to date. Title sponsorship of several of the other races on the two-weekend, six-day programme has already been snapped up. The Grand Prix's increasingly-popular sportscar race, which features the world's most revered automotive marques driven by an impressive field of international and regional professionals, will be known as the City of Dreams Macau GT Cup for the second consecutive year. Likewise, the race for modified road cars, which has also earned itself a legion of enthusiastic fans, will again be known as the Suncity Group Macau Road Sport Challenge, while the annual thrilling showdown between the neighbouring SARs will once again be known as the Hotel Fortuna MAC / HKG Interport Race. As announced earlier, this year the official Safety Car will be a Bentley Continental GT, with the Bentley Flying Spur as the Official Car, while the Rescue Vehicles will be Raffles Passat Variant V6s.
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As the Macau Grand Prix prepares to mark a significant milestone in its rich history, preparations are well underway to usher in a new era of development. Major infrastructure projects are currently proceeding, and enhanced improvements in the areas of safety and logistics are planned for the 60th anniversary Diamond Jubilee. Two decades ago the existing Macau Grand Prix building was completed – just in time for the 40th running of the event. In the 20 years since, the stature of the Grand Prix has grown to such an extraordinary extent that the race programme now includes two FIA events – the FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup and the double-header season finale of the FIA World Touring Car Championship – in addition to the world renowned Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix and a trio of international races which ushered in a new era in 2011: The Macau GT Cup, the Roadsport Challenge and the Macau Touring Car Cup. As the Grand Prix becomes increasingly popular with yet more drivers, teams, journalists and supporters from the world over flocking to the SAR each year, this year's Diamond Jubilee signifies an exciting new era with the start of the two-phase construction of a new Macau Grand Prix building. Phase I of the project will see the completion of a new Race Control Tower in time for the 60th running of the Grand Prix, while the existing Grand Prix Building will remain in operation until the completion of the November event. The Grand Prix building is scheduled for demolition at the end of 2013 or early 2014, with the new facility completed in time for the 61st Macau Grand Prix. Demolition of the 20-year-old Race Control Tower is now complete, and foundation works for the new building were completed on June 20th. Construction of the new structure is already underway, with Phase I of the Macau Grand Prix development project to be operational by the end of October this year. For the Guia Circuit itself, each year new measures are added in line with developments in FIA safety regulations. As this year marks the start of the new era, additional safety features, such as tall crash protection barriers and fences, will be implemented to ensure both driver and spectator safety. In order to improve traffic flow during the event itself, the number of gates in the Armco barriers will increase again this year. The number of moveable gates will rise from last year's 110 to 120, with additional locations including the exits at residential parking lots and the hospital. On the track, resurfacing will begin from this summer onwards and work in busy areas will be carried out at night and during the day at weekends and minimise possible inconvenience to local residents.
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From Seoul to Sydney, the Macau Grand Prix Committee (MGPC) and the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) are joining hands to promote the 60th Macau Grand Prix Diamond Jubilee celebrations across the world. Organized by MGTO, the 2013 Macau Festival was held from April 5-7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and featured the 2001 Macau Grand Prix-winning Formula 3 car of former F1 driver Takuma Sato. At the 10th anniversary of the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix from April 10-12, MGPC and MGTO partnered to promote the Macau Grand Prix Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the Shanghai International Circuit to the more than 190,000 spectators who attended the three-day event. In Australia, the storied history of the Macau Grand Prix was celebrated at a Sydney exhibition organized by MGTO Australia which featured past drivers and winners as well as the inaugural 1954 Macau Grand Prix trophy. Among the special guests at the May 23-26 event was legendary Australian driver Brian Lewis, who raced for Eduardo de Carvalho's Macau Grand Prix team in the 1960s, while members of de Carvalho's family, who emigrated from Macau to Australia in 1965, visited the exhibition on the final day to fete the family heirloom. The launch of the exhibit brought out legends and past Macau Grand Prix winners Kevin Bartlett (1969), Vern Schuppan (1974 and 1976), who famously raced for Teddy Yip's eponymous Theodore Racing team, and Fernanda Ribeiro who won the ladies' race in 1956. A week-long 2013 Experience Macau Festival in Seoul featured Korean driver Im Che-won, who is now based in Spain and competing in the European F3 Open's Copa Class, among several VIPs, as well as the car that Spaniard Daniel Juncadella drove to victory in the 2011 Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix. Closer to home, for the first time in its 59-year history, a competition was held to find a theme song for the 60th Macau Grand Prix. The contest, open to all Macau residents, attracted more than 20 entries. The quality of all the entries highlighted the extraordinary depth of musical talent Macau possesses, as well as the inspiration the Grand Prix holds for the residents to whom it belongs. The appropriately-titled 'Number 1', a song composed by Mok Ka Hang and Filipe Tou, was declared the winner. Runners-up in the competition were "GP Racing" and "Racing for our Dreams", while the remaining seven finalists were presented with Merit Awards. As well as reaching out to individual travellers across the region, MGPC participated in a Mini Mart for the Southeast Asian Tourism trade organized by MGTO on April 16 at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. The event represented an opportunity to highlight the numerous unique opportunities the Grand Prix represents for the industry across the region. A focal point of both the promotions and the celebrations marking the diamond jubilee will be a book chronicling the fascinating history of the Macau Grand Prix. The publication, titled 'The Macau Grand Prix at 60. A Diamond Celebration', is published by Dr. Philip Newsome, a recognised Macau Grand Prix historian and author of several authoritative books on the subject over the last two decades, including 'Teddy Yip – from Macau to the world and back' published in 2012. The Grand Prix is also literally taking off after MGPC agreed a promotional campaign with Air Macau which will see information distributed at check-in counters at the airline's destinations, which include Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Thailand. Air Macau will also broadcast the official TV commercial on their inflight programming in July, while discussions are underway with TurboJet to show promotional videos to passengers. Closer to the event itself, a display of elegant and prestigious classic cars will be held from November 9 to 17 at the exhibition hall of the Venetian with free entry, providing visitors and residents alike with a chance to see the racing and road cars of yesteryear. As in previous years, the MGPC will work closely with a number of local associations and civic organisations to ensure all local residents have the opportunity to enjoy the 60th Grand Prix celebrations. Preparations to ensure the Grand Prix is run to the highest international standards continued with the start of a rigorous training programme for race officials and staff on May 4, marked by an opening ceremony held at the Tourism Activities Centre.
The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Mr. Cheong U officiated at the ceremony, and awarded the 20 training course instructors certificates of appointment. Nine hundred volunteers have signed up to be part of the historic event this year. The May 4 opening ceremony marked the start of a full schedule of training programmes run by the Automobile General Association Macao-China (AAMC), and courses will continue until July. The programmes include both theory and practical training for the volunteers, covering every aspect of the event to ensure a thorough understanding and high level of competence. Internship programs will be held in August.
The individuals undergoing training include Race Control personnel, track, flag and pitlane marshals, grid staff, track clearance teams and scrutineers. Recruitment of volunteers began in late March and more than half of the enrolment applications were from students, a fact which demonstrates the event's attraction amongst the young which bodes well for the future development of the Grand Prix. Safety remains a major priority and since June, the Rescue Teams, made up of personnel from the Fire Department and Macao health services, have been conducting Rescue driver training. In October, the FIA Medical Delegate will travel to Macau to conduct a training assessment. The AAMC has been working hard both on the training programmes as well as the organisation of the Macau Touring Car Series, which incorporates AAMC N2000, AAMC Road Sport and AAMC Challenge races, the top drivers in each qualifying for an entry in this year's Hotel Fortuna MAC/HKG Interport Race, Macau Touring Car Cup or the Suncity Group Macau Road Sport Challenge. Four Rounds of the Macau Touring Car Series were held at the Guangdong circuit in May and June. The MCGP continues to work tirelessly to ensure the Star River‧Windsor Arch 60th Macau Grand Prix will be a sparkling jewel in the history of both the event and the SAR.
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Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) has the honour to invite patisserie expert, Jean-François Deguignet from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Schools to showcase French patisserie making for the "Le Cordon Bleu Master Chef Week at IFT". The "Le Cordon Bleu Master Chef Week at IFT" took place from 25 to 29 June, a series of various pastry workshops were organised for IFT Culinary Arts Management students, the public and industry professionals to attend. The workshop included tutorials on conceptual knowledge and cooking demonstrations for French patisserie, followed by hands-on practical sessions. The workshops in the last three days were open to the public and industry professionals and received about 250 applications. During the workshop, Chef Deguignet demonstrated the culinary techniques in French patisserie including chocolate diamonds, orange cake, lemon cake, yuzu macaroon, savarin and strawberries formage blanc. The participants were offered a unique learning opportunity and were introduced to a sense-awaking experience of some traditional but yet innovative patisserie throughout the workshops. Chef Deguignet was brought up in a family of pastry chefs in a town near Paris. Hence at an early age, he discovered his great interest in pastry and developed skills in what would later become his profession. Since 1999, Chef Deguignet has been passing on his pastry knowledge and expertise to Le Cordon Bleu's students at the Paris and Korean schools. He has earned recognition in various international competitions and special prizes throughout his career. Le Cordon Bleu, one of the leading schools for teaching classical French cuisine, patisserie and boulangerie, was founded in Paris, France in 1895. Over the last century, Le Cordon Bleu has evolved from a cooking school to an international network of 29 international schools across 5 continents, in the area of culinary arts and hospitality institutes, maintaining at the same time the highest standards of culinary excellence. This extraordinary cross-over and collaboration between IFT and Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts School is a good example of IFT's endeavour to bring in new culinary elements to Macao and to exchange ideas with international prestigious institutions. Through organising this event, it is believed that the culinary skills and horizon of local citizens and professionals will be enhanced and insights can be brought to IFT Culinary Arts Management students.
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A total of 215 contestants have submitted their works for the "Precious Moments in Macao" 2013 Photography Competition, which is co-organised by the Government Information Bureau together with eight photographic organisations and four media associations. Out of 907 entries, 52 winning entries have been picked after five rounds of professional evaluation. The judging was held on 2 June; the judging panel comprises one representative from the Photographic Society of Macao, Photography Salon Society of Macao, Macao Association for the Promotion of Photographic Art, Macao Association of Photographers, Macao Multimedia Photographic Art 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 the Macao Media Club, respectively as well as representatives from the Government information Bureau. This year's competition has once again used an online portal for the submission of entries. During the submission period between 22 April to 12 May, a total of 907 entries from 215 contestants were submitted. These entries reflect changes in Macao's skyline and precious moments in the lives of Macao residents. This year's competition is marked by the variety and quality of submissions. After five rounds of evaluation by the 13-member judging panel, the following 52 winning entries have been selected: First Prize: Chan Meng Kai; Title of Work: Playing Nazha – the Child Deity
Second Prize: Kong Iu Lam; Title of Work: Morning Exercise
Third Prize: Cheong Kam Ka; Title of Work: Fending Off Winners of the 49 merit prizes are as follows (in no particular order): CHAN MENG KAI: Passion of Christ
CHAN KUAN LONG: Red Market
CHIN KUONG HENG: 2012 Latin Parade
CHOI IM FAN: Youth Dance Festival
CHOI IM FAN: Flying Flag
CHOI IM FAN: Golden Dragon
AGOSTINHO GUILHERME FERNANDES：Patio
FONG TOU IEONG: Dressed up in Colours
HO WAI KIN: Shall We Dance
HOI MAN CHON: Roundabout
IEONG POU I: Slam Dunk
IEONG SUT LIN: Haircut
KAU LEONG HOI: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Macao Basic Law
KONG KAM TEC: Splash
KUAN CHENG CHENG: Sport for All
LAI WING CHIU: Lightening
LAM SAO WA: Watching Fireworks
LAM SZE CHUN: Dash of Colour
LEI CHI FAN: Bliss LI MAN LOK: Prosperity
LI MAN LOK: Glittering Skyline
LOK WAI KEONG: Religious Procession
LOU CHON MAN: Glowing Eggs
LOU KA IN: Science Center
MAK HENG KIN: Broad Smiles
JUVINA ANGELICA SILVESTRE: Clowns
JUVINA ANGELICA SILVESTRE: Gods and Goddesses
TAM KAM WENG: Giant Birds
TAM KAM WENG: Golden Twilight
TAM TEK HONG: Sketching
TANG CHAN SENG: Kickboxing
TANG CHAN SENG: Flight
TANG KAI LON: Innocence
TANG KAI LON: Rugby Match
UNG TENG PONG: Nightscape
VONG HOI VENG: Hurray
VONG HOI VENG: Goddess A-ma Procession
VONG HOI VENG: Hurdling
VONG KUN KIO: Latin Parade
VONG KUN KIO: Dragon Dance
VONG MEI KUAN: Dance for Joy
VONG MEI KUAN: Defence & Offence
WAN WAI SAI: Water Festival
WONG CHI HANG: Neon Lights
WONG IENG TAC: Flight WONG MAN LAI: Heavenly Mists
WONG MENG FAI: Inner Harbour
WONGMENG FAI: Gimme a Go
WONGMENG FAI: Marathon Winners of the first, second and third prizes will get a cash prize of MOP8,000, MOP5,000 and MOP3,000 respectively in addition to a trophy while winners of the merit prizes will each get a cash prize of MOP500 and a certificate. In addition, five submissions from the above winning entries have been picked as winners of this year's Yearbook Full-page Illustration Award and their winners will each get a cash prize of MOP1,000. The five winners are as follows (in no particular order):
TAM KAM WENG: Giant Birds
TANG KAI LON: Innocence
TANG CHAN SENG: Flight
LOK WAI KEONG: Religious Procession
CHOI IM FAN: Golden Dragon This year's Yearbook Cover Award, which is decided by the Editorial Committee of the 2013 Macao Yearbook, has been left vacant due to the lack of suitable entries.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June, Consumer Council recently collected prices of takeaway food/beverage items from local cafés. Surveyed items included hot milk tea, hot coffee, toast with butter, and egg sandwich. The relevant data and price comparisons have been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). The Council collected prices of four takeaway food/beverage items from 80 local cafés in six parishes of Macao. The current price survey is the fifth survey conducted by the Council to get more information about prices of food/beverage items in local cafés
For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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For the purpose of Macau SAR citizens and people from other countries and regions to better understand and inquire various kinds of Macau social services information through internet platform, Social Welfare Bureau (SWB) will launch the new homepage on 1st July 2013, and the homepage address is http://www.ias.gov.mo. Service information in the new homepage is available in Chinese, Portuguese and English and provides information with the contents such as hotspot information, hotlines numbers, information about advisory committee, theme pages and latest news, etc. The information on the new website is more precise and detailed and the main page is simpler, its operation and searching function are more accessible and easy to facilitate a rapid access of the public to the information they need. Through the new internet platform Social Welfare Bureau expects to provide online information about social services, with quality and in a convenient and easy way. Welcome to the new website for consultation and presentation of opinions.
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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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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for May 2013 amounted to MOP795 million, up by 17% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP582 million) and domestic exports (MOP212 million) increased by 25% and 1% respectively. Total merchandise import reached MOP6.91 billion, up by 17% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP6.12 billion for May 2013. In the first five months of 2013, total value of merchandise export increased by 17% year-on-year to MOP3.86 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP3.01 billion) increased by 30%, but that of domestic exports (MOP846 million) decreased by 14%. Total value of merchandise import grew by 13% to MOP32.26 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP28.40 billion for the first five months of 2013. From January to May 2013, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP2.16 billion) and Mainland China (MOP620 million) increased by 31% and 17% respectively year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP156 million) and the EU (MOP120 million) decreased by 29% and 15% respectively. In additon, exports of Non-textiles (MOP3.48 billion) expanded by 23% year-on-year, of which exports of Electronic components (MOP362 million) and Diamond & diamond jewellery (MOP322 million) surged by 92% and 117% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP382 million) decreased by 18%, of which export of Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP126 million) declined by 35%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP10.48 billion) and the EU (MOP7.65 billion) increased by 13% and 15% respectively year-on-year in the first five months of 2013. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 16% to MOP20.39 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP3.26 billion), Watches (MOP2.33 billion), Beauty, cosmetic & skin-care products (MOP937 million) and Footwear (MOP656 million) increasing by 16%, 17%, 50% and 15% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP36.12 billion in the first five months of 2013, up by 13% compared with MOP31.94 billion a year earlier.
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