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MGTO’s Inspection Division joined forces with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) on September 14 to seal three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally on the same floor of a building in response to a complaint. 27 occupants were involved and one premise constituted of 40 bedspaces. An operator was seized in the operation. The three premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were flat A, B and D on the 6th floor of a building. The Cross-departmental Working Team found 18 occupants from the Mainland in flat A, which housed 40 bedspaces. Four occupants were found in flat B, including the operator of that premise. Five occupants were found in flat D. Flat A and D shared one common main door and a large amount of food was found in flat D. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 465 premises were checked, of which 61 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 58 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the PSP will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found four premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, the operations involved a total of 503 occupants, among whom 282 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, with 10 overstayers and seven illegal immigrants. 12 operators, nine touts, nine persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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Five projects have been selected for the Cultural Affairs Bureau Academic Research Grants supported by the Macao Special Administrative Region aimed at fostering academic research on Macao-related fields. With more specific criteria, greater openness and enhanced conditions, the Cultural Affairs Bureau Academic Research Grant is aimed at supporting academic research projects in the Humanities that make a significant original contribution to the understanding of Macao, and of Macao's relationship with China and other countries. The regulations provide a flexible scheme for application and for the payment of grants. Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year. The Evaluation Panel meets twice annually and applicants are informed of the Panel's decision in March or August, depending on when the application is received. This semester, the following projects were chosen out of the applications received between December 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010: Zhu Rong will focus on “A Case Study of World Cultural Heritage Protection and Management in Macao”. Zhu received her doctorate in Architectural Theory and Design from Dongnan University, and is now an associate professor at School of Design of Jiangnan University. Zhao Lifeng will conduct research on “Gaming industry in Macao during the Republic of China (1912 - 1949)”. He obtained a Ph.D. in History from Shanghai’s Fudan University. He is now an associate professor at the Research Centre for Hong Kong and Macao History and Culture at Jinan University’s Chinese Culture and History Research Institute. Peng Feng’s research topic will be “Legal Protection of Culture Heritage: the European Experience and its Application in Macao”. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Law and Resource Protection from Wuhan University, Dr. Peng is now an associate researcher at the Institute of Law in Shanghai’s Academy of Social Sciences. Ye Nong will focus on “Portuguese Migration from Macao to Hong Kong in the Second Half of the 19th century and the Community’s Characteristics”. Dr. Ye received a Ph.D. in Ancient Chinese History from Jinan University and is now an associate research fellow at the Research Centre for Hong Kong and Macao History and Culture at Jinan University’s Chinese Culture and History Research Institute. Zhu Dexin will study the topic of "Clash and Change: Macao Vegetable Farmers in Macao’s 20th Century Urban Development". Zhu was awarded a Ph.D. in Contemporary Chinese History from Nankai University in Tianjin and is now a visiting associate professor at the Historical Research Centre of Macao’s Polytechnic Institute. The grantees must submit, within the research period, a monograph of 120,000 words minimum and the Cultural Affairs Bureau reserves the exclusive right to publish all or part of the grantee's original monograph, for example, in the Bureau’s publication Review of Culture. For more information on the Cultural Affairs Bureau Academic Research Grants, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s website: www.icm.gov.mo .
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The Pilot Survey of the 2011 Population Census has been successfully completed in mid-August. More than 8,500 housing units were interviewed, with 96% of completed questionnaires. Moreover, 50 winners of the Population Census Quiz were announced. The Director of the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) expressed that public support and co-operation have enabled successful completion of the Pilot Survey. DSEC will conduct a throughout evaluation of the operation in order to enhance the various work of the 2011 Population Census. For households that have not completed an interview during the Pilot Survey period due to travel or other reasons, the Census enumerators have left behind notification letter with which households have been calling DSEC to provide information. In addition, DSEC has held a Population Census Quiz during the Pilot Survey period. The Quiz was well received with participation of more than 1,000 entries. The 50 winners, drawn by Ms. Vanessa Kong, Director of DSEC, were: Vong Sio Mei, Mak Fong In, Fong Iok Ha, Lei Weng Ian, Vong Chi Keong, Chao Mok Lan, Chan Pui Ian, Tou Im Fan, Chan Kin Va, Ng Kai Fong, Choi Tou Man, Lei Im Leng, Vai Kin Va, Chan Pou U, Mak Fong Ieng, Seak Fok Man, Ng Man Lei, Leong Heng Ieng, Chan Mun Van, Lai Sok Peng, Fong Iok In, Lo Chon Fa, Un Man On, Leong Iat, Chan Lai Hong, Loi Pui Veng, Ma Kuok Meng, Cheang Sai Mun, Chio Pek Kei, Tong Hin Kit, Lam Lai Seong, Lai Vai Peng, Choi Kit Hong, Vong Lai Ieng, Leong Vai In, Chan Peng Kai, Iong Kam Vun, Lai Sut Ieng, Vong Pui Man, Tong Hin Veng, Seak Kun Fong, Ieong Si Nga, Leong Mei Chan, Chan Iok Lin, Chan Lai Ieng, Lo Vai Keng, Chu Kuok Chu, Lam Lai Sa, Lam Fong Kun and Chon A Cheng. The above winners will receive MOP500 worth of supermarket shopping coupons. Winners shall bring along their ID card and collect the prizes in person at the Division of Promotion and Dissemination of Information of DSEC, Alameda Dr. Carlos d´Assumpção, No. 411-417, Dynasty Plaza, 17th floor, between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm Monday to Friday, before 30 September 2010. Moreover, winners will be notified individually and the list of winners will be available on the DSEC website (www.dsec.gov.mo). For enquiries, please call 8399 5334.
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The Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPolyU) jointly organised the PATA Travel Mart 2010 Human Resources Seminar at IFT on 14 September. This full-day seminar is one of the activities on the PATA Travel Mart programme, scheduled to take place in Macao for the first time on 14 to 17 September. The event brought together buyers and sellers in the Asia Pacific Region for business networking and matching. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) was founded in 1951, acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA members, it enhances the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism within the region. The seminar, titled "HR Challenges in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Promoting Industry and Academia Collaboration", was hosted by PATA CEO Mr. Greg Duffel, PATA Education and Training Committee Chairman Professor Kaye Chon and IFT President Dr. Fanny Vong. During the seminar, scholars and industry practitioners had productive discussions on the following topics: (1) Career Planning for Hospitality and Tourism Industry: Advice to Students (2) Is There a Gap in Expectations between Educational Institutions and Industry? What Can We Do to Narrow the Gap? (3) Perspectives from Young People: Panel by Students and Recent Graduates (4) Current Issues in HR Challenges and Potential Solutions The goal of this event is to provide a forum that will help bridge the potential gap that exists between the academia and the tourism industry by suggesting innovative and unique perspectives on the issues and constraints of the supply and demand of qualified employees in the travel and tourism industry, and at the same time creating an occasion for students and the new PATA generation to interact with industry leaders in the region.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that visitor arrivals in package tours surged by 75.6% year-on-year to 458,968 in July 2010. In comparison with July 2009, visitors from Mainland China (323,849); Taiwan, China (24,519); Japan (24,081) and the Republic of Korea (12,370) rose substantially by 98.4%, 23.3%, 64.7% and 260.1% respectively, while those from Hong Kong (24,165) decreased by 7.6%. In the first seven months of 2010, visitor arrivals in package tours increased by 39.0% year-on-year to 3,523,907. In July 2010, Macao residents travelling outbound in package tours soared by 69.3% year-on-year to 25,105, with Mainland China (71.0% of total); Taiwan, China (6.5%); Malaysia (5.8%) and Japan (5.6%) being the most popular tour itineraries. In the first seven months of 2010, residents travelling in package tours totalled 135,664, up by 27.4% year-on-year. Meanwhile, outbound residents travelling under own arrangements using services of travel agencies rose by 15.5% year-on-year to 50,012 and the main destinations were Mainland China (31.5% of total), Hong Kong (31.3%) and Taiwan, China (18.6%). In the first seven months of 2010, outbound residents travelling under such arrangements increased by 11.4% year-on-year to 267,325. At the end of July 2010, total number of available guest rooms of the hotel sector increased by 1,564 (+8.6%) year-on-year to 19,759 rooms. A total of 654,999 guests checked into hotels and guest-houses in July 2010, up by 24.6% year-on-year, with the majority coming from Mainland China (51.9% of total) and Hong Kong (21.3%). The average occupancy rate of hotels and guest-houses stood at 79.9%, up significantly by 12.2 percentage points year-on-year; average occupancy rate of hotels reached 80.6%, with 4-star hotels leading at 82.2%. The average length of stay of guests remained unchanged as July 2009, at 1.5 nights. Number of guests reached 4,455,167 in the first seven months of 2010, up by 22.7% over the same period of 2009. In the first seven months of 2010, visitor-guests of hotels and guest-houses accounted for 60.5% of the total number of tourists, down from 61.4% in the same period of 2009.
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From yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 12), the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed two premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and eight occupants were found on site, among which, one Korean and two Vietnamese were unable to provide identification and were handed over to the police for investigation Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 458 premises were checked, of which 58 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 57 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the PSP will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found four premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, the operations involved more than 472 occupants, among whom 255 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, with seven overstayers, seven illegal immigrants and three persons unable to provide identification. 11 operators, nine touts, nine persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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The PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Travel Mart 2010 will take place from September 15 to 17 at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. As Asia Pacific's foremost travel contracting and networking show, the travel mart is expected to attract a thousand participants and guests.
Following the successful PATA Annual Conference held in 2005, it is the first time for Macau to host the PATA Travel Mart. More than 300 buyers, 500 sellers and 50 media representatives from around the world will gather in Macau for the event.
PATA also cooperates with the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University to organize a full-day seminar, “Human Resources Challenges in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Promoting Industry and Academic Collaboration” at IFT on September 14. Its goal is to provide a forum for the academia and the tourism industry to exchange on issues of the supply and demand of qualified employees in the travel and tourism industry.
The PATA Travel Mart 2010 opening ceremony will be held in the morning of September 15 and the 3-day travel mart will provide a platform for 900 buyers and sellers to network and seek business opportunities. The first two days are for trade members and the organizer will invite local higher education institutes to visit the mart on the third day. In addition to workshops and case studies, tours to Macau’s world heritage will also be organized for the participants.
MGTO is sponsoring, for the 15th consecutive year, the 2010 PATA Gold Awards, where PATA will present 20 Gold Awards and four Grand Awards at the PATA Gold Awards Lunch and Award Presentation on September 17 to acknowledge the outstanding achievement of the stakeholders in various tourism industry aspects.
Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. MGTO has been a member of PATA for over half a century since 1958.
PATA has currently 800 full members and over 7,000 chapter members around the globe. PATA's membership boasts more than 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, over 50 airlines and cruise lines, and hundreds of travel industry companies.
PATA Chapter is the foundation of the Association with close to 40 chapters all over the world, of which PATA Macau Chapter was set up in 1983 and it has over 70 members at present.
There has been a close tie between Macau and PATA. Between 1980 and 2002, PATA conducted 5 task force projects to provide guidelines and recommendations for tourism development in Macau. These projects include "Macau - A study of Tourism Development" in 1980 regarding the balance between heritage preservation and tourism development; "Macau Education Task Force" in 1990 concerning the overall education and training framework to meet short and long term manpower needs; "Macau Tourism in Transition" in 1994 pointing to the development of a MICE destination; "Macau Tourism Marketing - A new Focus for the Millennium" in 1996 about the setting up of overseas representation offices; and "A study of the Future of Macau's Tourism and its International Airport in the Context of the Pearl River Delta Region" in 2002 regarding market diversification and interrelationship between the aviation network and marketing promotion.
MGTO has been actively participating in the tourism meetings and activities held by PATA and since 1996, MGTO has been supporting the PATA Gold Awards, so as to promote Macau tourism.
In 2005, the 54th PATA Annual Conference was successfully held in Macau and its MICE industry then entered a new era.
Website of PATA: www.pata.org
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The "22nd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest" kicks off today (September 11) as the fireworks teams from the United Kingdom and Chinese Taiwan light up the sky of Macau with splendid fireworks. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Cheong U and Director of Macau Government Tourist Office João Manuel Costa Antunes joined with other guests to officiate the opening ceremony at the Macau Tower Outdoor Plaza.
Held on September 11, 18, 22, 25 and October 1 at the sea area across the Macau Tower, 22nd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest has attracted ten teams from around the world to vie for the contest.
The contest this year features teams from the United Kingdom, Chinese Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia, Portugal, Korea, Japan, France, Italy and China, each will show off their pyrotechnic wizardry to spectators both from Macau and overseas. Pyro 2000 Limited from the United Kingdom lifts the curtain on the fireworks extravaganza. Established in 1996, Pyro 2000 has participated in various fireworks displays and competitions around the world. The team staged a fireworks display for the closing ceremony of World Cup Cricket Final in 2007 and pocketed the second prize of the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest 10 years ago.
Wan Dar Fireworks Mfg. Co., Ltd. from Chinese Taiwan is a veteran in the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest as well as other international celebrations and competitions. It took part in this contest as early as 1989 and attained the third prize in 2008. Wan Dar is all set for this year’s prize which it missed last year.
This year MGTO and Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM) jointly launch “SMS Game” to promote citizen participation in the event. During the period of fireworks display contest, CTM will send out short message to their mobile service subscribers to introduce the game, in addition to promotion of the game on the websites of MGTO and CTM. Macau residents can send one text message to CTM through their mobile to vote for their favorite team after each night of display. The citizen who voted for the most popular team on that night is eligible for lucky draw to win two sets of reservoir stand tickets for the 57th Macau Grand Prix (Saturday and Sunday) and souvenir. The 5 teams who get the most SMS votes will be awarded with “The People’s Choice” certificates and souvenirs. However the voting result will not affect the jury’s decision on the fireworks display contest. MGTO will also post web banner on CTM’s website to enhance the promotion effectiveness.
Each participating team is requested again this year to complement their display with music to enthrall the audience with a light and sound spectacular. To enhance the enjoyment, the organizer will install sound systems at the waterfront of the Macau Tower Outdoor Plaza, at the Macau Tower Street seaside and at the square in front of Kun Iam Statue on Ave. Dr Sun Yat Sen so that the public can enjoy synchronized music to the spectacular displays. Spectators are able to listen to live music of the fireworks displays through Radio Macau's live broadcast at FM100.7.
MGTO and the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau will again jointly present the Fireworks Carnival to offer an array of live entertainment, cultural activities and culinary delights on the fireworks display nights. The opening ceremony of the Fireworks Carnival 2010 will be held today (September 11) at 7:30pm. Citizens can enjoy an array of live entertainment, cultural activities and culinary delights at the carnival between 5:00 - 11:00 p.m. on each of the fireworks display nights. 26 stalls offering snacks and souvenirs will also add sparkle to the party.
This press release is available on MGTO’s website: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/
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From yesterday 5 p.m. until 5p.m. today (September 11), the Cross-departmental Working Team sealed a premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally. The premise comprised 25 bedspaces and an illegal immigrant found on site was handed over to the police for investigation. MGTO joined forces with the Public Security Police Force (PSP) on September 10 to raid a premise suspected to provide accommodation illegally according to information provided by a citizen. The premise, which comprised four rooms, offered 25 bedspaces. Nine occupants from the Mainland, including one suspected to be illegal immigrant, were found and investigated. The Cross-departmental Working Team has been carrying on operations to combat premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, adjusting inspection strategy and search methods continuously. Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13, a total of 433 premises were checked, of which 56 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed, while 55 were normal residences. Ensuing investigations on the rest of the premises have been launched. Among the checked premises, some were vacant or unoccupied. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the PSP will continue investigation on unanswered doors, which are suspected to be used to provide accommodation illegally. Meanwhile, during investigations to other cases, PSP has found four premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and informed the Cross-departmental Working Team to handle the cases. To help the investigations, when necessary, MGTO can request a judicial order to enter into the suspect premises to investigate. To date, the operations involved more than 460 occupants, among whom 247 were occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally and were investigated, with seven overstayers and seven illegal immigrants. 11 operators, nine touts, nine persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were seized. Following the raid to premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, MGTO began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff, and adopted provisional measures to cut the supply of water and electricity to the concerned premises and sealed the doors. According to the new law, operators and person who manage the premise that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Public can also call 2833 3000 to report suspected premises. MGTO and Legal Affairs Bureau remind travelers that, according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation", occupants found in premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally have the obligation to provide information or will be fined 3,000 patacas for violating the duty of cooperation. Occupants providing false information need to bear criminal responsibility. Non-residents who fail to pay the fine by due date might be denied reentry into Macau in the future.
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Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Cheong U, congratulated today members of the Cross-departmental Working Team for their cooperation and results achieved, which have met the expected target to combat the problem of providing accommodation illegally. “Through the efforts of all and the cooperation of different government departments involved, the expected results have basically been achieved,” Cheong U said, while calling members of the Cross-departmental Working Team to “keep the team spirit” in future works in combating illegal accommodation. Cheong U met members of the Cross-departmental Working Team this morning after their first meeting since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13. To date, the Cross-departmental Working Team was able to access 176 premises for inspections, of which 55 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were sealed and the supply of water and electricity suspended. During the operations, 238 occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally were investigated, including 11 operators, 9 touts, 9 persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) and two occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) already began sanction proceedings on involved operators, touts and managing staff. After almost one month since the new law took effect, representatives of different government departments of the Cross-departmental Working Team met this morning to evaluate the work done so far, as well as exchange ideas on ways to improve the operations and solve new problems and situations which have emerged. The Cross-departmental Working Team coordinator, MGTO director, João Manuel Costa Antunes, mentioned that the results of the operations have shown the effectiveness of the joint efforts of MGTO and the Public Security Police Force to access the suspected premises, as well as the support in related works from other departments that join the Team. Antunes pointed out that based on the good results achieved so far, along with the execution of the penalties in the law, conditions are in place for the success of the operations to combat illegal accommodation. According to the new law, operators and persons who manage the premises that provide accommodation illegally (management staff) incur a penalty of up to 800 000 patacas, touts can be fined up to 100 000 patacas and occupants who fail to cooperate are fined 3 000 patacas. Meanwhile, MGTO together with Legal Affairs Bureau are preparing a new campaign to raise the awareness on the problem of illegal accommodation. The new campaign targeting visitors seeks to alert them about the problem before their arrival in Macau, and will be launched before the “golden week” of October 1, of the National Day of People’s Republic of China.
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