News

The Historical Archives of Macao is the public repository of Macao's unique historical documentary heritage. It collects, processes, protects and makes available the enduring records of government supporting Macao's memory. In celebration of China Cultural Heritage Day and International Archives Day, the Historical Archives of Macao will hold an Open Day on 11 June to increase public awareness of the function and collection of the Archives, while an archives exhibition titled "How Many Are We?", which will also open on the same day, remains on display until 14 August. Census enumeration –creating a snapshot of the population based on a single moment in time- has been a part of administrative activity for centuries, providing benchmark information on the changes in the demographic structure and socio-economic characteristics of the population. The "How Many are We?" exhibition focuses on the development of census enumeration in Macao as reflected in information gathered by the Administration over the centuries. Records, plans, photographs and other historic materials from the Historical Archive's collection and items from the Macao Statistics and Census Service are on display. These records reflect the interaction between the Chinese and Portuguese communities in Macao, contributing to the rich fabric of social harmony that we see today. Members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibition at the Historical Archives of Macao (open Mon-Fri, 09:30-18.30, Sat & Sun, 10:00-18.00).Website of the Historical Archives of Macao: http://www.archives.gov.mo/en. For enquiries, please call 2859 2919.
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Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13 2010, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) sealed a total of 139 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally. Six more operators are fined 200,000 patacas each.
Inspections involved investigations to a total of 641 occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, including 34 overstayers and 28 illegal immigrants, whose cases are being follow up by police authorities. Macau Government Tourist Office has waged a total of 139 sanctions and 29 operators who provided accommodation illegally were fined 200 000 patacas each according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation". To date, two operators have voluntarily paid the fine of 200 000 patacas within the statutory period. At the same time, 17 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3,000 patacas each, among which eight have already paid the fine.
For those who failed to pay the fine within the statutory period, MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine and informed PSP to deny reentry of the involved persons into Macau if they are non-residents.
MGTO together with PSP will carry on its operation to crack down illegal accommodation. Staff of Macau Government Tourist Office continues to check the premises to ensure they remain sealed and supply of water and electricity suspended. MGTO stressed that damaging the seal and resuming supply of water and electricity is a criminal offence which will be submitted to judicial entity for follow up.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the 3 hospitals had 564 doctors and 1,200 nurses in 2010. Number of in-patient beds totalled 1,172 and the occupancy rate of in-patient beds decreased slightly by 0.6 percentage point year-on-year to 73.2%. Besides, a total of 15,000 surgical operations and 294,000 emergency treatments were carried out in 2010. Meanwhile, there were 496 establishments providing primary health care services, with 376 being private clinics, engaging 758 doctors and 471 nurses. A total of 2,324,000 medical consultations were provided in 2010, up by 10.7% year-on-year. Attributable to the Influenza and Enterovirus Infection pandemic, as well as extension of the Healthcare Subsidy Scheme, medical consultations in private clinics soared by 21.0%. In 2010, the ratios of health professionals to the population held stable as 2009, with number of doctors and nurses per 1,000 population staying at 2.4 and 2.8 respectively. Number of in-patient beds per 1,000 population, increased from 2.0 beds in 2009 to 2.1 beds in 2010. Number of blood donors increased by 6.6% year-on-year to 9,919 in 2010 and the median age was 26.7. Moreover, the Blood Donation Centre provided 20,000 units of blood and blood components to the hospitals. In 2010, there were 238 establishments providing Chinese medicine and therapy services, engaging 194 doctors of Chinese medicine and 153 Chinese herbalists, providing 1,142,000 consultations in Chinese medicine and therapy services.
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According to the monitoring data of Gamma Radiation recorded for the past 24 hours (2nd June 16:01 till 3rd June 16:00) by the Taipa Grande Station of the Macao Meteorological Bureau, the Gamma-ray absorbed dose rate per minute ranges between 0.1160 and 0.1283μGy/h (micro Gray / hour) which is far more below the warning level of 0.35μGy/h. In viewing that the nuclear leakage occurred at Fukushima Prefecture Nuclear Power Plant is now in relatively stable situation and no immediate impact is expected on Macao, the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau will cease to release the press release for the ambient gamma radiation starting from 3rd June 2011. However, the latest gamma radiation data will continue to be updated on our website every six hours. The Macao Meteorological Bureau will continue to pay close attention to the radiation level in Macao. If any abnormalities being discovered, we will release related message to the public immediately and inform relevant government departments to adopt relative contingency measures.
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The Legal and Judicial Training Centre is going to organise the Seminar on "Mutual Legal Assistance: Party Autonomy in Cross-Border Civil and Commercial Matters" on 7th June, from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. in the Multi-function Room of the Law Reform and International Law Bureau located on Alameda Dr. Carlos D' Assumpção, n. ° 398, CNAC building, 6th floor. The Seminar, integrated as part of the 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, will feature as its keynote speaker Dr. Tang Zheng, Lecturer of the School of Law, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. The Seminar will be conducted in English, with simultaneous translation to Cantonese and Portuguese. During the four daily sessions, which will take place until June 10th, the following topics will be discussed: 1. Choice of Forum Agreements;
2. Choice of Forum Agreements in Europe – The Brussels I Regulation;
3. Judicial Support of Arbitration Agreements;
4. Choice of Law. 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 2012. 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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Consumer Council's latest specific price survey report on tissue and toilet papers was conducted on 30th May. The current report showed an average price decrease of around 2% to 24% for most brands. Out of the 13 surveyed samples of tissue and toilet papers from 25 local retail outlets, the retail prices for most of them remain steady. A price drop of around 2% to 24 % was observed for 4 surveyed brands sold at different retail outlets. Yet, there was a slight increase of around 1% to 2% for some of the surveyed samples when compared with last month's report. As the current report has shown a decrease in price for most of the surveyed samples, it results in a great discrepancy in price of the same brand sold at different retail outlets. The discrepancy in price observed this time is 53% as compared to 40% recorded at last month's survey. Consumer Council has set up a "Specific Product Price Information Platform" on its website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo) to allow consumers to use its online search function to check the prices of items that are of their interest and also the price discrepancies of the surveyed items at different retail spots. Besides, the "Supermarket Price Information Platform" can also be found on the website. Both platforms allow consumers to check the prices of the surveyed products and review the previous surveys that Consumer Council has conducted over the past months. The specific price survey report on tissue and toilet papers is now available online on the Council's official website. For enquiries, please call 8988 9315. The latest Consumer Report issue no. 213 is also published, covering the recent activities performed by Consumer Council and the detailed report on the test on accuracy of fuel meters at gas stations in Macau that was publicized lately. Consumer Report is now available free of charge at the two offices of Consumer Council, Public Information Center located at Vicky Plaza (Rua do Campo), bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources online at the Council's official website (http://www.consumer.gov.mo).
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According to the monitoring data of Gamma Radiation recorded for the past 24 hours (2nd June 10:01 till 3rd June 10:00) by the Taipa Grande Station of the Macao Meteorological Bureau, the Gamma-ray absorbed dose rate per minute ranges between 0.1160 and 0.1283μGy/h (micro Gray / hour) which is far more below the warning level of 0.35μGy/h. The Macao Meteorological Bureau will continue to pay close attention to the radiation level in Macao. If any abnormalities being discovered, we will release related message to the public immediately and inform relevant government departments to adopt relative contingency measures.
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To celebrate China Cultural Heritage Day, observed this year on the 11th of June, the Cultural Affairs Bureau is offering a wide variety of public activities and benefits, among them a concert by the Macao Orchestra at the Mandarin's House, a special lecture, additional docent services and free admission to attractions and exhibition venues. The exhibition and performance Genesis and Spirit – supported by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China and the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government and jointly organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and the China National Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage – includes the large-scale Exhibition of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Macao Forum, the Performance of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Ruins of St. Paul's and the Demonstration of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage – Thangka Painting and Wood-Block Printing at the Mandarin's House. The three part presentation aims to increase public knowledge and awareness of the precious value China's Intangible Cultural Heritage and the conservation works being undertaken to protect it. To help residents play a more participatory role in cultural heritage, the Cultural Affairs Bureau has broadened the scope of its activities this year, with the opening ceremony to be held on 11th June. Centred on one of the major topics in the development of Chinese culture, China Cultural Heritage Day seeks to create a favourable environment for the protection of cultural heritage and to raise public awareness of the importance of its conservation. A regulation issued by the State Council of the People's Republic of China has declared the second Saturday in June China Cultural Heritage Day. This year, on 11th June, the entire nation will host a series of celebratory events revolving around the theme 'Cultural Heritage for a Better Life'. Genesis and Spirit exhibition, performance and demonstration at Macao Forum, Mandarin's House and Lou Kau Mansion This year, the Cultural Affairs Bureau has joined forces with the China National Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage to organise the exhibition Genesis and Spirit – Exhibition of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage. The opening will take place on the afternoon of 11th June at the Macao Forum, and the exhibition will run until 10th July. Reflecting the rich resources, uniqueness and fascinating quality of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage, the exhibition also features a special introduction to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macao. Several performing groups will convene at 5:00pm on 11th and 12th June at the Ruins of St. Paul's to present Chinese folk dances from various regions. The performances will feature items inscribed on China's List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, among them the Dangshan Suona, the Left Foot Tune of Yi and the Farmers' Dance of China's Korean ethnic group. Demonstrations of the folk arts of Thangka Painting and Wood-Block Printing will be given at the Mandarin's House from 11th -15th June, presented by three renowned representative inheritors of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Niang Bem, Chong Defu and Gao Wenying will reveal to the public the surviving skills of the rare art forms of Thangka Painting and Wood-Block Printing. The Mandarin's house will also host the Macao Orchestra, for a heritage-themed performance titled Colours at 4:00pm on 11th June. Come listen as the various classic musical works complement the elegant environment of this historical mansion! The Shandong Folk Arts Show opens to the public from 31st May to 19th June at Lou Kau Mansion. Celebrated artisans Xu Xiuling and Qiao Zhenxia will demonstrate the arts of Lu Embroidery and Zhangqiu New Year's Prints, crafts that are unique to the region of the historic States of Lu and Qi. A free workshop on Zhangqiu New Year's Prints is available to the public at 3:00pm on 11th June. Interested parties are invited to register. Exhibition, lecture and docent services cater to variety of participants Jointly organised by the Historical Archives of Macao and the Statistics and Census Service, the exhibition How Many are We? runs from 11th June to 14th August, conveying information about the development of Macao over the last few centuries through data collected from Macao's census enumeration. In addition, the Historical Archives of Macao – Open Day, scheduled for 11th June, will allow the public to visit and learn from informative displays about the archive collection and techniques for the restoration of printed documents. In a special lecture, titled Analysis of Sense of Identity and Regional Characteristics Interpreted through Case Studies of Cultural Heritage Conservation, to be held at 3:00pm on 12th June at the Macao Museum Auditorium, the public can hear from Taiwanese expert Chiu Ruhua about the creation and significance of the cultural heritage communities in Taiwan and Japan as practical examples for cultural heritage conservation work. The lecture will be given in Putonghua (Mandarin). For reservations and enquiries, please call 8399 6424.
A free Tour of Heritage Library Buildings, organised by the Macao Central Library and designed for primary students and their parents, will run from 2:00pm to 6:00pm on 11th June. The tour takes participants to several Macao libraries that are undergoing conservation work and which form part of the city's cultural heritage, imparting them a better understanding of the libraries' historical backgrounds and the opportunity to experience the joy of reading.
The Night Tour of World Heritage Sites – Listen to Stories of the Old City, organised by the Macao Heritage Ambassadors Association, will provide free docent services on the evenings of 11th and 12th June, in a total of six sessions. Tour departure times are scheduled for 6.30pm, 7:00pm and 7.30pm. For online registration, please visit www.mhaa.org.mo. For enquiries please call 6238 6441.
Attractions offer free visits with complimentary shuttle bus service
Along with the free exhibitions, shows, performances, lectures and docent services already mentioned, several additional cultural heritage sites and exhibition venues will open to the public for free on 11th and 12th June. The Guia Lighthouse and Dom Pedro V Theatre will provide free docent services from 10:00am to 5:00pm, while the Macao Museum and the Heritage Exhibition of a Traditional Pawnshop Business will waive their admission fee. For the convenience of both residents and tourists, complimentary shuttle buses provided by the Cultural Affairs Bureau will link designated venues on 11th and 12th June. The buses will run every 45 minutes, from 11:00am to 5:00pm, between the Macao Forum, the Ruins of St. Paul's and the Mandarin's House (passengers alight near A-Ma Temple and walk to the House). For enquiries regarding China Cultural Heritage Day activities or registration for the Free Workshop on Zhangqiu New Year's Prints to be held at Lou Kau Mansion, please call the Cultural Affairs Bureau hotline on 8399 6699 or visit www.icm.gov.mo. 2011 China Cultural Heritage Day Activities
(* please find the attached file.)
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According to the monitoring data of Gamma Radiation recorded for the past 24 hours (1st June 16:01 till 2nd June 16:00) by the Taipa Grande Station of the Macao Meteorological Bureau, the Gamma-ray absorbed dose rate per minute ranges between 0.1178 and 0.1291μGy/h (micro Gray / hour) which is far more below the warning level of 0.35μGy/h. The Macao Meteorological Bureau will continue to pay close attention to the radiation level in Macao. If any abnormalities being discovered, we will release related message to the public immediately and inform relevant government departments to adopt relative contingency measures.
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According to the monitoring data of Gamma Radiation recorded for the past 24 hours (1st June 10:01 till 2nd June 10:00) by the Taipa Grande Station of the Macao Meteorological Bureau, the Gamma-ray absorbed dose rate per minute ranges between 0.1178 and 0.1300μGy/h (micro Gray / hour) which is far more below the warning level of 0.35μGy/h. The Macao Meteorological Bureau will continue to pay close attention to the radiation level in Macao. If any abnormalities being discovered, we will release related message to the public immediately and inform relevant government departments to adopt relative contingency measures.
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