News

Macao and Portugal have signed five co-operation agreements at the second Macao-Portugal Joint Committee meeting held in Lisbon. A joint communiqué issued after yesterday's meeting in the Portuguese capital said the parties signed agreements on education, environmental protection, consumer rights, and tourism. The meeting addressed the importance of the bilateral relationship development and increasing reciprocal visits and co-operation between the public and private sectors, it said. Before discussing further future co-operation, the both sides reviewed and concluded the works on culture, education, law, security, tourism, environmental protection, sports, consumer rights, and cartography and land survey standards. On the training for teachers of Portuguese, following the wide use of the language internationally, Macao would continue to serve as a platform to train and to spread Portuguese, which is one of the two official languages of Macao. The Portugal government would assist Macao in the training of teachers. On tertiary education, the relevant departments on both sides would deepen collaborations to enhance the quality of tertiary education in Macao. The communiqué said both sides have agreed to strengthen co-operation in heritage, cultural and creative industries, and in contemporary art. It was also confirmed that Portugal's contemporary architecture art exhibition will be held in Macao. Officials from the Macao's Consumer Council and the Portugal Consumer Protection Bureau would commence training in consumer disputes arbitration techniques.
Meanwhile, Macao's Institute for Tourism Studies and Portugal's tourism authority - Turismo de Portugal – have agreed to strengthen the exchanges of teachers and students, and to provide opportunities for internship.
A new milestone has been achieved in environmental protection which reflected co-operation on the control of emissions of air pollutants. Working on past co-operation, there will an increase in the exchange of judicial officials and experience-sharing meetings between members of the profession. In the economic area, both sides have investigated the co-operation in culture and creative industry. Entrepreneurs from Macao and Portugal held a round table meeting one day before the meeting to discuss the linkages of cultural heritage, innovation and techniques between the creative industry in the past and in the future. The delegations were led by the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Mr Tam Chon Weng, and the Portuguese Foreign Ministry's Director General for Foreign Policy, Mr Rui Macieira. The two governments recorded that they were satisfied with the results and confirmed that the third meeting will be held in Macao. The first joint committee meeting was held in Lisbon in April 2011.
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The 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest is held at the sea area before Macau Tower from 14 September to 1 October. Due to the delay of regional maritime transport caused by the typhoon lately, the equipment of the Italian fireworks team could not arrive in Macau as scheduled. The show time and performance teams on 28 September and 1 October are therefore revised. The contest program is renewed as follow: 9:00 p.m., 28 September – presented by Groupe Fiatlux-Ampleman, from Canada *One show only on the night 9:00 p.m., 1 October – presented by SAS BREZAC Artifices, from France
9:30 p.m., 1 October – presented by Panzera-Industria Pirotechnica, from Italy 10:00 p.m., 1 October – presented by Dancing Fireworks Group, Co. Ltd, from Mainland China
*Three shows on the night
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the unemployment rate for June-August 2013 held stable at 1.9% in comparison with May-July; the underemployment rate was 0.6%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Total labour force was 369,000 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.8%. Total employment reached 362,000, up by 2,300 from May-July. Analysed by industry, employment in the Construction sector showed continued growth, up further by 3.5% over the previous period to 35,000. Number of the unemployed was 7,200, up by 200 from May-July. With a new batch of fresh graduates joining the labour market, fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job increased by 3.4 percentage points to account for 13.6% of the total unemployed. In comparison with June-August 2012, the labour force participation rate rose by 0.5 percentage points, while the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate dropped by 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points respectively.
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The exhibition "Jazz & Design – Niklaus Troxler", organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao S.A.R. Government, in collaboration with OCT Art & Design Gallery and the Macao Polytechnic Institute, will open on the 11th of October, Friday, at 6:30pm, at the Tap Seac Gallery, located at no. 95, Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida. The exhibition features 100 posters by internationally renowned Swiss graphic designer Niklaus Troxler, showing his best works created during his prolific career spanning 35 years. Troxler started organising jazz concerts in Willisau, Switzerland, in 1966 and by 1975 they had morphed into the Willisau Jazz Festival, an international contemporary jazz event that runs over several days. He has also produced all the festival posters from the outset, impressive and richly creative artworks. He uses changing lines and colour interaction, combining everything that fascinates him about jazz music – rich notes, melody, rhythm, abstraction, improvisation, individuality – to create posters that have won him numerous national and international design awards. Through this showcase, the organiser hopes to inspire more creative concepts and share with Macao's designers and public the creative and motivational power emanating from these outstanding poster designs. The exhibition will run from the 12th of October until the 11th of November, at the Tap Seac Gallery, from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free. To offer a deeper insight into the work of this world-famous graphic designer, the organiser will also arrange a thematic talk on Design and Living, hosted by Mr. Troxler himself and by the exhibition's curator, He Jianping, who will both introduce the exhibition while sharing their own creative experiences. The seminar, in Mandarin and English, takes place on the 12th of October, Saturday, from 2:30pm to 5pm, at the Lecture Theatre 1, 1F, Wui Chi Building, Macao Polytechnic Institute. Seats are limited and interested persons should call 8399 6699 before 11th of October for reservations.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs on 25th September for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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The Macao SAR Government will issue a contactless electronic identity card to Macao residents from 31 October 2013. New security features have been incorporated in the contactless electronic identity card. The crytographic program is advanced on its original basis to further enhance the security of the document. The new security features of the contactless electronic identity card include: 1. Tru/windowTM LOCK (right top corner)
2. Tactile features:
(a) Golden lotus tactile feature in 3D engraving (bottom right)
(b) Lotus image with mat surface (centre)
(c) Relief text (in wavy shape, from bottom left side to bottom right corner)
3. Tru/visionTM (invisible which can only be seen under the ultraviolet beam)
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and Tourism Development Committee attended the Cross-Straits Four-Regions Tourism Industry Summit held in Hong Kong today (24 September) for an opportunity not only to enhance understanding and tourism cooperation among the four regions across the Straits but also support regional tourism development in the long run. "Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Trade Forum 2013 – Cross-Straits Four-Regions Tourism Industry Summit" was held in Hong Kong to explore opportunities and potentials for cooperation among tourism sectors from the four regions across the Straits. The Summit also covered discussion topics about "enhancing mutual visitations among the four regions across the Straits" and "the long-term communication mechanism among tourism sectors from the four regions across the Straits". MGTO Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Head of Communication and External Relations Department, Kathy Iong and Secretary General of Tourism Development Committee, Gloria Wong along with nine committee members attended the aforementioned event. The members of Tourism Development Committee as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Administration of Airports Limited, Liu Suning addressed the topic of enhancing sustainable regional development during the respective discussion session. With close ties to each other, the four regions across the Straits each boast unique tourism resources. They can thereby fully capitalize on their complementary advantages and enhance mutual cooperation in tourism, seeking to expand regional tourism and attract a greater number of visitors from overseas markets to the region as a whole. MGTO hopes to stimulate stronger networking and collaboration among the four regions in order to build their brand as a regional travel destination and benefit regional tourism development in the long term. Hong Kong-Taiwan Business Co-operation Committee (BCC) hosts joint conferences for members from Taiwan and Hong Kong annually. Focusing on tourism industry as their conference theme this year, BCC organized the "Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Trade Forum 2013 – Cross-Straits Four-Regions Tourism Industry Summit". Commissioner for Tourism of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Philip Yung; Chairman of BCC, David Lie; member of Economic Co-operation Committee of Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (THEC) and Chairman of Travel Agent Association of R.O.C, Taiwan, Yao Ta Kuang; as well as member of BCC and Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Peter Lam attended the Cross-Straits Four-Regions Tourism Industry Summit.
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Consumer Council released its 'Supermarket Price Survey' of September. When comparing the data collected in August, 34.6 percent of 344 on-shelf products recorded a price decrease, 30 percent of the products remained no change in price; while 35.4 percent of the products had recorded an increase in price. The current survey reviewed that prices of most staple foods remained stable. Consumer Council conducted the latest 'Supermarket Price Survey' dated 17th September. In comparison with the over 340 products surveyed in August, prices of 119 on-shelf products had been decreased and these items included personal hygiene products such as toothpastes and tissue papers, etc., while in the previous survey the prices of these products were found to increase slightly. 122 on-shelf products which recorded price increases of around 1 to 2 percent were items such as canned foods, snacks and dairy products. Prices of 103 on-shelf products surveyed had remained no change, these mainly included different brands of cooking oil and rice. From the results found in the recent surveys, the overall prices of staple food had remained stable. The Council also analyzed the numbers of lowest price products available in the 15 supermarkets surveyed. Tai Fung supermarket Taipa branch recorded the most numbers of lowest price items, in which 108 items at that branch recorded the lowest prices among all surveyed supermarkets. Tai Fung supermarket La Baie Du Noble branch ranked the second, with 96 of its on-shelf items having the lowest prices, and the third place went to Lee Fong supermarket at Almirante Costa Cabral with 49 of its on-shelf items being recorded with the lowest prices. Consumers can make price comparison in a more convenient way by accessing to the function of 'Lowest Price in Town' of the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps where they can browse the latest numbers of lowest price products found in the 15 surveyed supermarkets. Among the 4 supermarket chains surveyed, selling prices were found to vary in different branches located in different regions and price discrepancies were observed again in branches of San Miu and Tai Fung supermarkets. Around the 220 on-shelf items sold in both Tai Fung supermarket Taipa branch and La Baie Du Noble branch, over 70 percent of the products were found to have a price discrepancy of 5 to over 10 percent, and the items were mainly canned foods, rice and seasonings. Around half of the 250 on-shelf items sold in both San Miu supermarket R. dos Mercadores branch and Mercado de Iao Hon branch were found to have price discrepancies, with percentage differences of around 5 percent. From around the 270 on-shelf products sold in both Royal supermarket S. Lourenco branch and San Tou branch, 16 products were found to have price discrepancies. Less than 10 percent of the on-shelf products sold in Park'n Shop branches located at R. Areia Preta and Son Wo Kong Cheong were found to have price discrepancies and the items were mainly canned foods and snacks. Recent surveys had found that supermarket chains had narrowed the price differences among branches located in different regions. Consumers are advised to check with the information available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo), especially the function of 'Top Ten Price Differences'. Consumers can also download the 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps to make price comparisons. 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. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June, Consumer Council conducted its specific price surveys on household cleansing products and eggs on the 19th and 23rd of September respectively. Results of the mentioned surveys have been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and are available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is ready to unveil the first four walking tour routes under the theme "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" on 27 September, encouraging visitors to explore the lesser-known quarters in Macau. The new routes are expected to divert visitors off the beaten tourist track in order to alleviate the burden and boost community tourism. Capturing the occasion of the forthcoming 1st October Golden Week, the Office will introduce four walking tour routes at the first stage to guide a leisure stroll around town for visitors who can explore different areas in Macau for fascinating encounters and local traditions. The four walking tour routes are as follow: "A Tour of Historical Trails", setting off from Avenida da Praia Grande to Praça de Ponte e Horta; "A Tour of Nature and Creativity", a walk from Kun Iam Temple to St. Lazarus Church; "A Tour of East Meets West", which starts from Senado Square and ends at Maritime Museum; and "A Tour of Arts and Culture" from Macau Fisherman's Wharf to A-Ma Temple. The tour maps will be available in different languages including Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), English and Portuguese starting from 27 September. MGTO will introduce and promote the four walking routes as part of the project "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" through different advertising channels such as WeChat, SMS, MGTO website, Social Networking Service, printed publications and so on. The Office also produced different videos for the four routes which enable visitors to virtually experience the walking tours and enjoy the scenery along the routes at first hand on MGTO's website. In addition, MGTO has been inviting overseas travel agencies and media for successive familiarization trips in Macau while encouraging travel consultants to consider adopting the walking routes in their itinerary planning. In the future, MGTO will introduce Smartphone applications for the walking routes as well. To enrich visitors' stroll experience, event highlights along various tour routes will be marked on the October edition of MGTO's monthly free publication "What's On". Besides, MGTO together with Transport Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau as well as Land, Public Work and Transport Bureau have formed an interdepartmental task force to work on improving the existing signage system with their first priority given to the area which covers the tour routes. The team also strives to have direction signs or tour map boards gradually built at the starting and ending points of the various routes since the end of this year, in order to provide a more leisure and walker-friendly environment for both locals and visitors around the city. Locals and visitors will be able to obtain the walking tour maps for free at MGTO's Tourist Information counters. They can also download the maps or enjoy the videos of the routes on MGTO's website soon: http://www.macautourism.gov.mo . When devising the project "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities", MGTO keeps regular communication with relevant associations while continuing to pay close attention to public opinions and refine the tour routes. Meanwhile, the Office seeks to improve supporting facilities through interdepartmental cooperation. MGTO is currently designing a number of other walking routes including the island tours for successive launches next year.
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