News

President Xi Jinping today met with the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and members of the Macao and Hong Kong delegations who were in Hainan to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2013, which opened today. President Xi then posed for a group photo with the delegates. Afterwards, Mr Chui attended the opening ceremony of the annual conference. In the evening, he attended a welcoming reception hosted by the Hainan Provincial Government.
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Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) set up a display facility called "Macao Ideas – Taipei" in Macau Economic and Cultural office in Taiwan located in the Taipei 101, providing a place for people to learn about Macao's products and business environment. "The Introduction of Macao Business Environment, Convention and Exhibition Industry and 'Macao Ideas – Taipei' Launching Ceremony" has been held in 101, on 3 April 2013. There are 79 guests taking part in the ceremony, including a group of Macao entrepreneurs from various enterprises headed by IPIM and different business associations of Taiwan. "Macao Ideas – Taipei" has been modelled on the Macao product display centre - "Macao Ideas", showing some products from Macao enterprises as well as information on Macao business environment, convention and exhibition industry and Macao MICE calendar. The Introduction of Macao Business Environment, Convention and Exhibition Industry and "Macao Ideas – Taipei" Launching Ceremony Organised by IPIM and Macau Economic and Cultural office in Taiwan, "The Introduction of Macao Business Environment, Convention and Exhibition Industry and 'Macao Ideas – Taipei' Launching Ceremony" has been held in 101, on 3 April 2013. There are 79 guests taking part in the ceremony, including a group of Macao entrepreneurs from various enterprises headed by IPIM and different business associations of Taiwan, such as Small and Medium Enterprise Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taipei Chamber of Commerce, Youth Career Development Association Headquarter, Taiwan Design Center, and Chinese National Federation of Industries to name a few. The guests officiating over the ribbon cutting ceremony include IPIM's President Mr. Jackson Chang, Macau Economic and Cultural Office Director Ms. Nadia Leong Kit Chi, Taiwan Trade Center President & CEO Mr. Yuen-Chuan Chao, IPIM's Executive Director Ms. Echo Chan, Taiwan General Chamber of Commerce Convener Mr. Wang Ying Chieh, and the supporting partner of "Macao Ideas"- Macao Chamber of Commerce Director Mr. Vong Veng Him and Industrial Association of Macao Director Ms. Maria Lou. Macao's business and investment environment and "Macao Ideas" have been introduced through a promotional video, and the interactive system – a main facility set up in "Macao Ideas – Taipei" has also been demonstrated during the ceremony. A cocktail reception has been arranged after the ceremony. "Macao Ideas – Taipei" "Macao Ideas – Taipei" is a display area with nearly 6.6m long and 2.4m wide, with the same main design theme of "Macao Ideas" in Macao using traditional Portuguese blue and white tiles. Inside there is an open showcase displaying different products from Macao enterprises, including coffee and food, fashion and accessories, arts and crafts and industrial products. QR Code cards for more than 100 individual exhibitors in "Macao Ideas" are available for visitors to pick up. Moreover, information on Macao's environment such as it's business environment, investors service, convention and exhibition industry, service for MICE Bidding and Support as well as "Macao Ideas" have been introduced in various ways, such as a touch screen to browse IPIM, Macao MICE portal and "Macao Ideas" website; LED monitor to read "Macao Ideas" electronic magazine and Macao MICE calendar; and interactive system for visitors to select information they require about Macao. "Macao Ideas" A Macao products display centre set up by IPIM in May 2011, aimed to provide a promotional platform for local enterprise to introduce their product to overseas market. Currently displays more than 900 exhibits from over 100 local enterprises. The product categories include garments, shoes, accessories, handbags, jewellery, food, coffee, tea, wine, health products, medical products, furniture, industrial supplies, technical products, motorcycles, cultural and creative products and handicrafts. Representatives from "Macao Ideas" are onsite for advice and to provide business consultations. Requirements and co-operation intents of enterprises will be recorded and referred to related exhibitors, business negotiation sessions will be arranged as appropriate.
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Integrated in the 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Program in the Legal Field, the Legal and Judicial Training Centre is going to hold a seminar on "Cybercrime and Digital Forensics". This event will start on April 8th through 12th (Monday to Friday), from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Auditorium of the Civil Service Training Centre located on Alameda Dr. Carlos D' Assumpção n.° 322-362, Cheng Feng Commercial Centre, 7th floor. This seminar will be conducted in English, with simultaneous translation into Cantonese and Portuguese and will feature the following keynote speakers: 1. Ms. Francesca Bosco, Project Officer of Emerging Crimes Unit, United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI); 2. Dr. Giuseppe Vaciago, PhD, Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Milan, Italy. The objective of this seminar is to reinforce the technical-practical knowledge of all practitioners in the area of cybercrime and digital forensics. The following topics will be discussed: 1. The Hackers Profiling Project and New Profiles of Attackers-Trainer; 2. Organized Crime Involvement in Cyberspace (general overview and cases); 3. Emerging Investigative Techniques: Big Data and Social Networks (OSINT) and Mobile Surveillance; 4. Digital Forensics, Privacy and Due Process Rights; 5. Conclusion and Discussion of the Main Issues of this Training Program. The 2nd Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao, which incorporates this seminar, 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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According to statistics released today by the Monetary Authority of Macao, broad money supply grew marginally in February. As total loans increased at a faster pace than total deposits, the overall loan-to-deposit ratio of the banking sector rose from a month earlier. Money supply Currency in circulation grew 4.2% while demand deposits dropped 3.6%. M1 thus decreased 2.4% from one month earlier. Concurrently, quasi-monetary liabilities grew 0.6%. The sum of these two items, i.e. M2, rose 0.2% to MOP390.7 billion. On an annual basis, M1 and M2 rose 33.8% and 25.8% respectively. The share of Pataca (MOP) in M2 stood at 24.6%, down 0.4 percentage points from a month ago or 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. The share of Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in M2 was 54.6%, down 0.4 percentage points month-to-month but up 0.7 percentage points year-on-year. Deposits Resident deposits rose 0.2% from the preceding month to MOP382.5 billion. Of which, MOP deposits and HKD deposits decreased at respective rates of 2.1% and 0.5% while other foreign currency deposits grew 4.6%. Non-resident deposits dropped 0.8% to MOP133.7 billion whereas public sector deposits with the banking sector increased 7.0% to MOP52.5 billion. As a result, total deposits with the banking sector rose 0.5% from a month earlier to MOP568.7 billion. The shares of MOP and HKD in total deposits were 20.6% and 47.2% respectively. Loans Domestic loans to the private sector increased 0.9% from a month ago to MOP207.2 billion. Among which, MOP65.8 billion was MOP-denominated and MOP123.0 billion was denominated in HKD, representing 31.7% and 59.4% of the total respectively. On the other hand, external loans increased 3.2% to MOP234.9 billion; of which, loans denominated in MOP and HKD accounted for 1.0% (MOP2.2 billion) and 22.3% (MOP52.5 billion) respectively. Loan-to-deposit ratios The loan-to-deposit ratio for the resident sector at end-February remained virtually unchanged from the previous month at 47.6%. The ratio for both the resident and non-resident sectors was 77.7%, up 1.2 percentage points from end-January. For enquiry, please contact:
Research and Statistics Department, Monetary Authority of Macao (Tel: 83952532; Fax: 28353042)
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As scheduled, the two notes issuing banks and participating banks started the exchange on 1 March 2013, which will last until 30 August 2013. Thanks to the support and cooperation on the part of the banks involved and registrants, the process has so far been smooth and orderly. To ensure proper implementation, the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) has issued guidelines to banks involved for the detailed arrangement, which includes the setting up of special counters for the purpose, submitting relevant statistical information at regular intervals, procedures for appointment of authorized representatives, and reminding the banks that they are not entitled to disposing the left-over notes at their discretion. To ensure orderly completion of the application, registrants are advised to adhere to their originally selected banks and schedule, as proven by past experience. AMCM will continue to maintain close communication and contact with banks involved to ensure that the entire process will be conducted smoothly.
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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 specialisations 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 6 – 21 April. 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 tourists 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. IFT is the only public higher education institution in Macao that cultivates talents for tourism and service industry. It endeavours to promote Macao through various activities and to leave a good impression to everyone who visits the place.
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Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On is scheduled to leave for Boao in Hainan Province, to attend the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2013 on 7 April. Mr Chui will lead a government delegation to Boao on 6 to 8 Apri, to this year's conference which is themed "Asia Seeking Development for All: Reconstructing, Responsibility and Cooperation". The President, Mr Xi Jinping, is scheduled to attend and deliver a keynote speech. The Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Hu Zhengyue, was invited to join the delegation The Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam, and the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, will also be members of the delegation. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, will be Acting Chief Executive while Mr Chui is away.
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Due to the maintenance works of CEM for the distribution network on 9th April 2013 （Tuesday）, please be informed that the office hours of Ocean Garden Post Office, located at Rua do Jardim, Jardins do Oceano, "Azalea Court", Taipa, will be changed as below on that day. From 4:00pm to 7:00pm We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
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The United Nations Human Rights Committee (the Committee) issued concluding observations on the Macao SAR's implementation of the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) today (March 28, 2013). The Macao SAR Government will continue to implement all the measures that protect human rights as always, devote to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Covenant and carry out the spirit advocated by the Covenant. The Macao SAR delegation attended the meetings of the United Nations Human Rights Committee on March 18 and 19 and provided detailed replies to the questions raised by the Committee concerning the situation of the Macao SAR's implementation of the Covenant. The Committee expressed in its concluding observations that it was satisfied to have conducted a constructive exchange with the Macao SAR Government delegation. The Committee gave the Macao SAR Government credit for the measures adopted for and the efforts put into safeguarding human rights, including the accession to multiple international conventions related to the protection of human rights, for instance, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee also complimented the Macao SAR Government on laying down laws in major scopes such as the protection of refugees, the combat against trafficking in persons, the assistance of youth offenders in correction and social integration, and so forth, including the formulation of Law no. 1/2004, the Regime of Recognition and Loss of Refugee Status, Law no. 2/2007, the Educational Supervision Regime for Young Offenders and Law no. 6/2008, the Combat against the Crime of Trafficking in Persons. The Macao SAR Government appreciates and respects the Committee's suggestions but has differences in the points of view on certain issues with the Committee. The Macao SAR Government will gradually implement the suggestions, which are practical and feasible and which conform to the Basic Law, the local law and the actual situation of the society. As regards the mention of the interpretation of the Basic Law in the concluding observations, the Macao SAR Government emphasizes that the Basic Law is the national law formulated by the National People's Congress; pursuant to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the provision of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, the power of interpretation of the Basic Law belongs to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. What shall be emphasized is that the exercise of the relevant authority does not have any impact upon the Macao SAR's judicial independence, law or high degree of autonomy. Since the establishment of the Macao SAR, the Court of Final Appeal has never sought an interpretation of the provisions of the Basic Law from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in light of Article 143. The Macao SAR Government does not agree with the Committee's suggestion on withdrawing the reservation to Article 25(b) of the Covenant. In fact, the Covenant does not prohibit reservations. Pursuant to the provision of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, if a treaty does not prohibit reservations, a State may formulate a reservation, provided that it does not contravene the object and the purpose of the treaty. When the Central Government of the People's Republic of China delivered a note to the depositary of the Covenant regarding the continuous application of the Covenant in the Macao SAR in 1999, four declarations which conformed to the rules of international law were made pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Basic Law and the legal status and actual situation of the Macao SAR. The election system of the Macao SAR shall be formulated in accordance with the Basic law and the Decision made by the Standing Committee of National People's Congress in 2012. The current election system accords to the actual situation of the Macao SAR without any contravention to the provisions of the Covenant which are applicable to the Macao SAR. As for the Committee's suggestion to the Macao SAR Government concerning the establishment of a brand new and independent human rights monitoring institution, the Macao SAR Government deems it unnecessary. Human rights are already fully protected by the independent judicial power enjoyed by the Macao SAR and by the current specific institutions, such as the Commission Against Corruption, the Office for Personal Data Protection, the relevant committees or organisations established in different areas, including the combat against trafficking in persons, police affairs, the rights and interests of women, and so forth as well as the Legal Aid Regime, which will enter into force on April 1. After the revision of the Organisational Law of the Commission Against Corruption in 2012, apart from maintaining its functions of the "Ombudsman", the competence of the Commission in relation to the promotion of the protection of human rights, freedoms, guarantees and legitimate interests has also been reinforced. As the head of the Macao SAR, the Chief Executive represents the Macao SAR, therefore the independence of the Commission Against Corruption will not be affected by the nomination of the Commissioner Against Corruption by the Chief Executive. The Macao SAR has a sound and independent judicial system. Should a resident hold that his/her fundamental rights are violated, he/she can directly invoke the provisions of the Covenant and institute legal proceedings in the courts. In case he/she is under financial distress, he/she may apply for legal aid so as to guarantee that he/she can obtain or uphold his/her lawful rights and interests via legal proceedings. In relation to the cases of refusal of entry of journalists mentioned by the Committee, the Macao SAR Government reiterates that journalists fully enjoy press freedom and interview freedom in Macao and are free to enter and leave Macao and interview locally, without the need to notify or register at any official department. The refusal of entry to Macao of the persons concerned had nothing to do with their identities as journalists but due to the fact that the security authority considered that the visitors, who were ready to enter Macao, might disturb the internal security of the Macao SAR, thus the authority could refuse their entry according to laws. Under the protection of the Basic Law and the Press Law, the media of the Macao SAR fully enjoys freedom of press, freedom of speech and autonomy in editing and interviewing. In fact, the media industry of the Macao SAR continues to thrive after the handover. The number of media units or the discussion of issues in the areas of politics, economy, society, people's livelihood and so forth of the Macao SAR are constantly increasing. As regards the Committee's recommendation that the Macao SAR Government should consider decriminalising defamation, the Macao SAR Government holds that the law should protect different rights. As the right to reputation is a major personal right, it is necessary to prevent the infringement of reputation through criminal law and punish the offender accordingly. Regarding the Committee's concern about the freedom of assembly, it should be pointed out that, Article 27 of the Basic law stipulates that Macao residents are entitled to the freedom of assembly, and the right to public assembly and that to demonstration are protected under Law no. 2/93/M. All Macao residents have the right to assemble under peaceful circumstances and in the absence of weapons, without the need for any pre-authorisation. In relation to the Committee's concern about the practice of employing non-resident workers in the absence of formal contracts, the Macao SAR Government reiterates that, pursuant to Article 23 of Law no. 21/2009, the Law for the Employment of Non-Resident Workers, the employment contracts with non-resident workers shall be concluded in writing.
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Mr. Grant R. Bowie, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited was invited to deliver a talk about "A Preferred Future for Macao – with so many opportunities available, which ones should we pick to create our desired Macao of the future?" at IFT on 27 March. More than 100 IFT students and staff attended the talk and had a lively discussion and interaction with the speaker. Mr. Grant Bowie shared his ideas on the topic during the talk and encouraged the youth to have deep thinking on how their own choices and contribution can create a desired Macao, not only for the local community, but also for the tourists visiting Macao. He indicated that nowadays, there are many opportunities ahead for local young people. But still, they need to be really cautious when making decision to grab the opportunities because the opportunities can determine success or failure of their life and career, while their success or failure connect to the future of Macao. He encouraged the students to invest in education and to continue their studies whenever there is a chance, learning applied skills in addition to professional knowledge during their studies; to have a clear picture of what they want to be; to be brave to voice out what they prefer Macao to be and actively engaged in the progress of the Macao's transformation to a desired city. To let students to be aware of the up-to-date requirement and development of the industry, IFT often invites prominent guest speakers from the industry to deliver talks to the students. Lao, a student majors in Culinary Arts Management, said he enjoyed the talks delivered by those successful figures. The valuable experience and the elements paving their path to success shared by the speakers help him to make a clear aim for his future and the plan to achieve the aim; and surely give him inspirations and motivation for his studies.
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