News

Consumer Council recently conducted a price check on over-the-counter drugs (nonprescription). An average price discrepancy of about 20 percent was revealed in most of the surveyed items, prices of one item sold in different outlets even differed for over 80 percent. Consumers are advised to check with the Council's 'Specific price survey'. Consumer Council conducted its price check on over-the-counter drugs from 26 drugstores on 11th May, surveying 6 different drugs, including remedies for cold and flu, cough syrup, and stomachache medicine, etc. Prices of 3 of the surveyed drugs recorded price differences of about 20 percent. On top of the list was 'Advance Cough Suspension (120ml)', which recorded a price difference of 81.8 percent, ranging from $31.90 to $58.00 in different outlets. Prices of 'WEISEN-U (30 tablets)' in different outlets also differed for almost $30.00 (from $42.50 to $72.00), which was about 70 percent. The Council indicates that the specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs revealed that selling prices of the same item sold in different outlets varied significantly and consumers are advised to check on the resources available to make comparisons. The specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). Further, consumers are advised to have consultation with a physician when not feeling well. If over-the-counter drugs are to be taken, consumers should take note of the precautions and intended dosage described on the package, cease taking of the drugs if any illness occur, and seek medical help. Consumer Council also indicates that consumers need to take into account whether the package label is complete when buying nonprescription medicines; information such as name of the medicine, ingredients, dosage, batch number, and expiry date are all to be considered other than the price.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total population of Macao was estimated at 562,900 as at 31 March 2012, an increase of 5,500 (+1.0%) compared with end-2011. In the first quarter of 2012, there were 1,578 live births, down by 9.9% quarter-to-quarter, with 819 male babies. Gender ratio of the newborn was 107.9, corresponding to 107.9 male babies per 100 female babies. Number of mortality cases totalled 511, up by 14.1% quarter-to-quarter; the top three underlying causes of death were Neoplasms, Diseases of the Circulatory System and Diseases of the Respiratory System. Meanwhile, 6 cases of fetal mortality were recorded. In the first quarter of 2012, there were 815 Chinese immigrants and 556 individuals authorized to reside in Macao, down by 73 and 80 respectively quarter-to-quarter. Meanwhile, 287 illegal immigrants were repatriated, an increase of 20 quarter-to-quarter. Number of non-resident workers totalled 98,664 at the end of the first quarter, up by 4,636 quarter-to-quarter. In addition, 1,090 cases of marriage registration were recorded, up by 4.2% over the fourth quarter of 2011. Due to the outburst of Influenza in Spring, there were 2,505 cases recorded in the first quarter of 2012. Consequently, a total of 3,074 cases of Notifiable Diseases were reported in the first quarter, up significantly by 326.9% quarter-to-quarter.
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On 12 May, 1800 – 2000 at Eduardo Marques Garden, Coloane, IFT Heritage Management Year 4 Students organised a "Speak Up! Memories of Coloane" event. It is a student project led by IFT Visiting Professor Richard Engelhardt and Dr. Johannes Widodo, supported by Cultural Affairs Bureau and Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. The Event includes: Interpretation of memoirs and experience sharing by Local heroes of Coloane, Video presentation made by Heritage Management Year 4 students of IFT. Students chosen Coloane Village as case study in the Heritage Management Programme – "Economics of Heritage Conservation" course. Guided by internationally renowned heritage specialists, Dr. Richard Engelhardt, Regional Adviser for Culture in Asia and the Pacific, UNESCO and Dr. Johannes Widodo, Assistant Professor of the National University of Singapore. Heritage students dedicate doing deep research work on history of Coloane and actively interact with locals on discovering the culture and traditions in Coloane, touching moments for countless times, invaluable stories and memories are collected with all efforts. The event aims to provide a platform for local communities to speak out on their unique and memorable stories reflecting local lifestyle with distinctive feature, as well as discovering rarely known histories and memories of Coloane residents. It mainly established on the base of stories sharing by local villagers, while recording conduct in form of documentary including movie, website and brochure which were shared during the event. The event helps to strength communication and wake up memories among the locals and outsiders who concern on culture protection and heritage conservation. Hence, not only local communities but individuals and parties who are interested in the memories of Coloane, curiosity about stories are welcomed. The objective of holding this event is to promote the unique local customs and characteristic social value of Coloane to the public in order to improve the understanding of history, and the appreciation of civilisation and human spirit of Coloane, leading to accord with the locals' stories to sustain the traditional unique culture.
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Paul Pun, Secretary of Caritas Macau received a donation of MOP 3000 on 9 May, 2012, the proceed of Terra Madre 2012, a Taste Education event organised earlier by Tourism Event Management Year 2 students of Institute for Tourism Studies at Mateus Ricci primary school, from the student representatives and Dr. Baudouin Neirynck (1st from left), President of Macau Slow Food Association.
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Integrated as part of the 2nd Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao and with the aim "to promote the MSAR legal system to the legal professionals in Mainland China" with a view to strengthen the exchanges between the notary professions of both sides, the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) recently organized a workshop on "The Notary Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region". For this event, fourteen executive officers in charge of notary work were invited to attend from the Justice Department of the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the Municipal Notary Offices of the Guangdong Province. Through a presentation of the content and the development trend of the MSAR's notary law, this workshop promoted further exchanges and cooperation between Macao and Mainland in the notary field. The workshop took place on April 19th in the meeting room of DSAJ. Ms. Wang Ting, Deputy Division Head, Division of the Notary Management, Department of Justice of the Guangdong Province, and Miss Leong Pou Ieng, Acting Director of DSAJ, respectively, fully corroborated and endorsed the effectiveness and significance of this event. Keynote speakers of the workshop included Mr. Lou Soi Cheong, Notary Public of the First Public Notary Office, Legal Affairs Bureau, on "Introduction to the MSAR Notary Law" and Mr. Kuang Zhiqiang, Deputy Head of the Guangzhou Notary Office, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province on "Introduction to the Characteristics of the Notary System of the Guangdong Province and Its Main Functions". The Notary Public Lou Soi Cheong presented to the Mainland participants the Macao Notary System, including the functions and nature of different public notarial entities, the organization of the different types of notarial activities and explained, in detail, the characteristics of different types of notarial acts. Deputy Head Kuang Zhiqiang, on the other hand, gave a synopsis on the characteristics of the notary system in Mainland China, the main types of notary works and presented recommendations to strengthen the co-operation in the notarial area and related legal issues between the Macao and the Guangdong Province, which enriched the understandings of the local legal professionals and notaries public about the current situation in China. As the notarial systems of both sides are different, participants showed their keen interest in the notary system and notarial implementation of both sides and raised various questions, which led to a lively positive atmosphere during the workshop. At the end of the event, the Mainland participants paid a visit to the Second Public Notary Office, the Property Registry, Commercial and Movable Property Registry, Civil Registry and the Consolidated Government Services Building in order to learn more about the actual operation of registry and notary. The 2nd Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao, which incorporates this workshop, has as its main objective the "Consolidation of the Macao Legal System" and is going to take place until December 2013. The execution of the Co-operation Programme is coordinated by the Law Reform and International Law Bureau, together with many entities and public departments of the Macao SAR, namely the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Economic Services, the Financial Services Bureau and the Institute of European Studies of Macao.
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Macao and Guangdong today signed five protocols during the annual Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference, to bring their joint efforts to a new horizon. The two governments will work on the construction of a new passage next to the Bordergate-Gongbei checkpoint to ease heavy traffic, as stipulated in one of the protocols. After a long period of thorough study and discussion, Macao and Guangdong agreed that there is urgency in building a new passage to accommodate the growing number of cross boundary travellers, Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On told the press after the conference. In the coming year, both governments would work on the projects that would benefit the general public, such as enhancing management of water quality and food safety, he said. The Governor of Guangdong, Mr Zhu Xiaodan, said the two governments would also work on the projects on Hengqin Island and new area of Nansha. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, and Vice Governor of Guangdong, Ms Zhao Yufang, would hold regular meetings to follow up on the co-operation projects between the two governments. The annual Guangdong-Macao Cooperation Joint Conference was held today at Macao's Government Headquarters, with Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On and the Governor of Guangdong Mr Zhu Xiaodan delivering keynote speeches. The Secretary for Economy and Finance Mr Tam Pak Yuen and Vice Governor of Guangdong Ms Zhao Yufang reviewed the progress of the previous co-operation projects. With the full support from the Central Government, Guangdong and Macao had been dedicated in implementing the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement and enhancing co-operations in projects on Hengqin Island. Apart from the agreement on building a new passenger passageway, Macao and Guangdong also signed protocols on co-operations in tourism, industrial standardisation and state-owned land lease. Deputy Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Mr Zhou Bo, and Deputy Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao SAR, Ms Gao Yan, also attended the meeting.
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Representatives of the Identification Services Bureau met with the representatives of the "Macao Family Reunion Association" (hereinafter called "Association") on 15th May 2012. In the meeting, representatives of the Identification Services Bureau reaffirmed that the Central Government has been employing the same principles and scopes for the residents in Mainland to enter Macao for residence. Even the "Adult Children" in the measure, which was initiated in December 2009, must also fulfill the regulations at that time. Before 1st November 2001, children (aged under 14) of Macao residents in Mainland could apply to enter Macao for residence if they fulfill the requirements administered by the Public Security Authority in Mainland regarding the entry into Macao for Mainland residents. Nonetheless, if applicants became the age of 14 or above during the process of examination, their applications would be declined. "Adult Children" refers to the Mainland-born children of Macao residents, who have become overage during the application process. "Adult children" issue is solved on the condition that the applicants have fulfilled the relevant requirements of the Public Security Authority in Mainland in regard to Mainland residents entering Macao for residence at the time of submitting the application. At present, persons who do not satisfy the requirements of the "Guidance Notes on Application for Adult Children of Macao Residents in Mainland to Enter Macao for Residence" and made the request for their Mainland children to reside in Macao are mainly Macao residents who possessed a "Temporary Stay Permit" or "Blue Ribbon Card". Representatives of the SAR Government have repeatedly met with the related persons, listened to their requests and complaints and explained that their Mainland children are not within the scope of "Adult Children" specified in the aforesaid "Guidance Notes" due to the reason that their children had become the age of 14 when they obtained the Macao Resident Card and did not fulfill the requirements for applying to reside in Macao at that time. In the meeting, representatives of the "Association" mentioned that it was unfair as the condition of the parents who came to Macao in the 1990s was different from the condition of the parents who came to Macao in the 1970s and 1980s. In fact, in the "Operation of Registration of Persons without Identification Documents" in 1990, the Macao Government registered the persons who were staying in Macao unlawfully and issued them a "Temporary Stay Permit". According to stipulations of the laws at that time, these persons were not considered as residing in Macao. Therefore, they were not considered as a Macao resident. These persons officially become a Macao resident only from the issuance of Macao Resident Cards in 1996 and 1997. At the time, they became eligible to apply for their Mainland children to reside in Macao. Previously, a parent who possessed a "Temporary Stay Permit" filed a lawsuit in the Administrative Court of the Macao SAR, requesting to recognize the identity of Macao resident during the period of possessing the "Temporary Stay Permit", so as to make the children in Mainland fulfill the requirements for applying to reside in Macao. In the decision of the Court, it is clearly indicated that the "staying period" of "Temporary Stay Permit" holders in Macao is not considered as "resident period". They are only considered as a Macao resident at the time of obtaining a Macao Resident Card. Some representatives think that Mainland children entering Macao for residence can solve the shortage of human resources in Macao. Nevertheless, Mainland children entering Macao for residence and the reinforcement of human resources belong to two different categories. Satisfying requests of individuals will trigger other additional types of requests. The SAR Government reaffirmed that the categories of application for Mainland residents entering Macao for residence are defined by the Central Government and the quotas of persons entering Macao for residence is confirmed after consulting the SAR Government for opinions. The Central Government has clearly defined the principle and the scope to settle the issue of "Adult Children" of Macao residents. In addition, relevant authorities in Mainland have announced the application formalities, assessment standards and procedures to the public, conforming to the principle of equity, publicity and impartiality. Mainland residents applying for entering Macao for residence must fulfill the Mainland requirements and their applications have to be lodged in Mainland. The issue of "Adult Children" in Macao has reached a reasonable and complete settlement. There is only one arrangement, which was initiated on 1st December 2009, for "Adult Children" to enter Macao for residence. No alteration is made and will be made on the arrangement.
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The first IFT Alumni Reunion Dinner was successfully held last week at Emperor Hotel. Dr. Fanny Vong - President of IFT, Ms. Florence Ian - Vice-president of IFT, Mr. Antonio Chu - Head of Technical and Academic Support Division, Ms. Doris Ip - Student Counsellor, IFT Alumni Association representatives: Mr. Alex Kuok - Chairman of Board of General Assembly, Mr. William Wong - President of Board of Directors, Mr. Vic Lam - Head of Monitoring Committee, Student Union representatives: Mr. Kelvin Sit – President of Executive Committee, Mr. Dominic Chio – Vice President of Executive Committee and fellow alumni and members attended the dinner. Chairman of Board of General Assembly Mr. Alex Kuok, President of Board of Directors Mr. William Wong, Head of Monitoring Committee, Mr. Vic Lam, reviewed the work of the alumni association and called for interested alumni to join the association as the new election of new board members is going to be held. Honorable guest Dr. Fanny Vong, President of IFT, thanked for the alumni support to the Alma Mater and emphasised that the success of IFT relies a loton their professionalism and contribution to the hospitality industry. Mr. Antonio Chu, Head of Technical and Academic Support Division introduced the function of IFT Alumni Affairs to the alumni and welcomed fellow alumni to give valuable suggestions and comments to the alumni affairs. He hopes it will be an annual event to provide alumni a chance to catch up with old friends, share hardship and joy at work life. Ms. Zoe Huang and Mr. Frandison Lok both have just won the IFT Singing Contest 2012 sang during the dinner, followed with lucky draw, making the evening a memorable one.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao announced today that the preliminary estimate of Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves amounted to MOP130.3 billion (USD16.31 billion) at the end of April 2012. The reserves rose by 1.2% or MOP1.6 billion from the revised value of MOP128.8 billion (USD16.10 billion) for the previous month. Macao SAR's foreign exchange reserves at end-April 2012 represented 20 times the currency in circulation or 163.2% of Pataca M2 at end-March 2012. The trade-weighted effective exchange rate index for the pataca, a gauge of the domestic currency's exchange rates against the currencies of Macao's major trading partners, fell by 0.05 points month-to-month but rose by 1.04 points year-on-year to 88.19 in April 2012. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
發放日期 / Data de divulgação / Release Date: 15/05/2012
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Hotel Management Year 2 students of Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) organised the 2012 Macau Charity Gala Dinner "Night of Shanghai" on 11 May at IFT Educational Restaurant, aiming to raise fund for Action Oasis. The event allows students to put their theory into practice and experience "Real Life" management situations. It helped to develops and expands their management, supervision, planning, preparation, communication as well as guest contact skills, build confidence, creativity and motivation, enrich food and beverage knowledge and their ability to make sound effective decisions. The event is supported by Macau Government Tourist Office, local hotels and industry partners. The theme of the Charity Gala Dinner is "Night of Shanghai", which was held at IFT Educational Restaurant on 11 May, 1900. Shanghainese cuisine was served with traditional Chinese music and magic show. Highlight of the dinner was Charity Auction of top grade Pu'er Tea and wines. All surpluses will be donated to the Action Oasis, which serves as the charity fund for providing the poor children in Mainland China the opportunity to study. Charity information: "Action Oasis (2012) – Giving Mainland Children Schooling Opportunities" is a fund raising campaign organised by The Chinese Educators' Association of Macao and co-organised by IFT along with other associations and universities. Its aim is to provide financial support to poor children who cannot afford an education in western provinces of Mainland China that suffer from desertification.
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