News

Vice Premier Mr Li Keqiang announced in Zhuhai today the official start of construction work on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang; the Governor of Guangdong, Mr Huang Huahua; the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Mr Donald Tsang Yam-kuen; the Chief Executive of Macao, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah; the Third-term Chief Executive of Macao, Mr Chui Sai On, and the Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr Zhang Xiaoqiang. Before the start of the ceremony, Mr Li met Mr Ho and Mr Chui, and other officiating guests. Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Mr Ho described Guangdong and Hong Kong as Macao’s most important partners in regional co-operation. He said he believed the bridge would greatly enhance transport in the Pearl River Delta Region and the integration of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Mr Ho expressed gratitude to the governments and people of Guangdong and Hong Kong for their support of Macao. After the ceremony, the guests boarded a ferry to inspect the construction of the project.
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For two successive events, since the launched in 2008, 2008MIECF and 2009MIECF (Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition) is growing from strength to strength and earned the acclaim of both local and international participants. We are glad to inform you that the 3rd edition of MIECF is scheduled for 8 – 10 April, 2010. The 2010MIECF Event Manager is inviting interested service providers to participate in Part II of Open Tenders, for appointment of service contracts. The range of services being tendered for are:
§ In-bound Logistic Co-ordinator (Deadline: 23 December 2009) § Public Relations Services – Part II (Deadline: 30 December 2009) Interested parties are welcome to submit their tenders before the mentioned deadlines. Full information on the tender procedures and specifications can be obtained form the website at www.macaomiecf.com.
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The English edition of Macao Yearbook 2009, an annual publication compiled by the Government Information Bureau (GCS) of the Macao SAR, is launched today (17 December 2009). It is divided into five sections: Administrative Priorities of the MSAR Government; Calendar of Events; Review of the MSAR; Overview of the MSAR; and Appendices. The English edition of Macao Yearbook 2009 comprises 661 pages and is enriched by 178 photographs. Consisting of 16 chapters, the Overview of the MSAR presents information on the political and administrative system; legal and judicial system; external relations; economy; gaming industry; tourism; public order; education; culture and sport; health and social welfare; media, communications and information technology; land, infrastructure, housing and public utilities; transport; geography, environment and population; religion and customs; and history. The Macao Yearbook 2009, together with a complimentary CD-ROM containing the PDF version of the yearbook, can be purchased at the following places at 120 patacas or 120 Hong Kong dollars per copy at a later date: major local bookstores and Government’s Public Information Centre at Rua do Campo; and the Macao Post Office (Macao Post)’s Philatelic Division, Rua do Campo Branch, Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal Branch, Macau International Airport Branch, and Nova Taipa Branch. During the promotional period lasting until 31 March 2010, a 20-percent discount will be offered to any purchase of Macao Yearbook 2009. The Chinese and Portuguese editions of Macao Yearbook 2009 were launched earlier in November.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao releases today the balance of payments (BOP) statistics of Macao SAR for the reference year 2008. The internationally recognised statistics were compiled according to the guidelines published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the Balance of Payments Manual, Fifth Edition, as well as relevant technical advices with respect to Macao from the IMF. The BOP is a statistical statement that summarises external transactions of an economy with the rest of the world. The BOP of Macao SAR consists of current account, non-reserve capital and financial account and change in reserve assets. The BOP statistics enables a better understanding of Macao's overall external transactions, and facilitates policy analysis as well as comprehensive assessments of the economic and financial stability of the SAR. In 2008, Macao's overall BOP recorded a surplus of MOP18.2 billion. Among the major components, the current account registered a surplus of MOP46.6 billion. The capital account had a net inflow of MOP3.2 billion, and the financial non-reserve assets showed a net reduction of MOP26.6 billion. Although the visible trade deficit, valued in f.o.b., widened to MOP41.9 billion, rising tourism receipts boosted the invisible trade surplus considerably to offset the bigger deficit in merchandise trade and the marked increase in net outflow of factor income. The current account surplus therefore reached MOP46.6 billion, up by MOP1.4 billion from the revised surplus of MOP45.2 billion in 2007. The economy of Macao contracted significantly in the fourth quarter of 2008 as against the global financial tsunami. Imports of goods, valued in f.o.b., fell slightly by 1.8% year-on-year, but exports of goods plunged notably by 21.4% due to the continued decline in textiles and garment exports. Hence, deficit in the goods account widened from MOP38.6 billion in 2007 to MOP41.9 billion in 2008. Surplus in the services account, however, rose from MOP89.6 billion to MOP112.1 billion. Travel services surplus rose by 28.2% to MOP130.0 billion whereas transportation and other services together recorded a deficit of MOP17.9 billion. The income account, which reflects the net external factor income, recorded a net outflow of MOP17.1 billion in 2008, up substantially from a net outflow of MOP1.3 billion in 2007. This stemmed mainly from an increase in factor income outflow upon strong growth in income earned by foreign direct investors in Macao, as well as a decrease in factor income inflow resulting from the loss in outward direct investment and shrinking income from other investment. Factor income inflow and outflow amounted to MOP13.3 billion and MOP30.4 billion respectively. The largest item of the outflow was earnings of foreign direct investors, amounting to MOP22.0 billion, while payments of securities and other investment totalled MOP6.9 billion. Current transfers, which include mainly inflow and outflow of workers’ remittances as well as donations received/made by local social service organisations with respect to the rest of the world, recorded a net outflow of MOP6.4 billion in 2008, an increase of MOP1.9 billion over one year earlier. Net inflow in the capital account increased from MOP2.6 billion in 2007 to MOP3.2 billion in 2008 mainly due to an increase in inflow of non-government capital transfers. Net financial non-reserve assets registered a net inflow of MOP26.6 billion, down from MOP55.6 billion in 2007. This was caused mainly by the slowdown in inward direct investment, with the net inflow declining from MOP40.1 billion in 2007 to MOP28.0 billion in 2008, as well as the decline in net inflow of other investment from MOP25.2 billion to MOP10.0 billion. Concurrently, portfolio investment recorded a net outflow of MOP11.1 billion as against MOP10.1 billion in 2007, while financial derivatives changed from a net inflow of MOP0.4 billion to a net outflow of MOP0.2 billion. The account of reserve assets in the BOP statistics records the net change in foreign currency assets (excluding the SAR Reserve Fund) held by the Monetary Authority of Macao. In 2008, reserve assets (after price, exchange rate and other adjustments) increased by MOP18.2 billion, as compared with an accumulation of MOP28.2 billion in 2007. The BOP statistics for the year 2008 are preliminary estimates. Figures in individual components are subject to revision later when more information becomes available.
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The Macao Museum under the Cultural Affairs Bureau and its affiliated galleries, including the Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre, the Heritage Exhibition of a Traditional Pawnshop Business “Tak Seng On”, and the Mount Fortress Corridor, will remain open as usual during the holidays of the Establishment Day of the Macao SAR, the Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Residents and tourists are welcome to visit the Museum and its galleries during the aforementioned holidays. Macao Museum will open to the public for free on the Establishment Day of the Macao SAR on Sunday 20th December 2009. In order to meet the needs of visitors, the Winter Solstice on the 22nd (Tuesday), the Christmas holidays on the 24th and 25th (Thursday and Friday), and New Year’s Day on 1st January 2010 (Friday) will open as usual. In addition to the permanent exhibitions presented by the Museum, residents and tourists may enjoy the temporary exhibition “Red Years – Exhibition of Photographs by Zheng Jingkang”, which is currently on display. The exhibition showcases photographs featuring the Sino-Japanese War during the 1940s on 20th Century, the War of Liberation, and the peaceful period from the founding of the PRC to the 1960s taken by Zheng Jingkang - the accomplished first-generation professional photographer of the New China - whose photograph was used as the template for a huge oil portrait of Chairman Mao that hangs from the Tian’anmen rostrum. The Macao Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00am to 6:00pm, and closes every Monday. Ticket sales close at 5:30pm. For opening hours of all affiliated galleries and details of the above exhibition, the public may contact 2835 7911 during office hours or visit www.macaumuseum.gov.mo.
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The Vice President, Mr Xi Jinping, today officially opened the Decade of Achievements Exhibition for the 10th Anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR), in Beijing’s Capital Museum. Also participating in the ceremony were the Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Mr Liu Qi; State Councilor, Ms Liu Yandong; Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Director of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Liao Hui; Vice Chairman of CPPCC and the Director of United Front Work Department of Communist Party of China, Mr Du Qinglin; Macao’s Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the Third-term Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. In an address, Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah said the month-long exhibition showcased the implementation of the principle of ‘One country, two systems’ in Macao in the past decade and projected the future development of Macao. Visitors would see the development of Macao in terms of economy and humanity, as well as Macao people’s love for their country and the MSAR. Vice Chairman of CPPCC and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Mr Liao Hui, said Macao had implemented the principles of ‘One country, two systems’, ‘Macao people governing Macao’, and a high degree of autonomy. With the support of the Central Government and concerted efforts of Macao people, the MSAR had made great strides in terms of economic growth, upgraded the livelihood of its people and enhanced social harmony. Mr Liao described the exhibition was a dynamic display of Macao’s achievements in the past decade. He said he believed that the Third-term Chief Executive and the next SAR Government would further unite people from all walks of life and continue to bring successes to Macao. More than 300 guests, including heads of Central Government departments, committees, Beijing Municipal Government officials, foreign diplomats in China, representatives of provinces and cities in Beijing and dignitaries in Macao, attended the opening ceremony. The exhibition is open to the public till 13 January next year. Visitors could see the changes, developments and progress made by Macao in various fields, thereby reflecting the boundless vitality of the principles of “One country, two systems”, “Macao people governing Macao” and a high degree of autonomy, as well as Macao people’s deep-rooted love for their country and the MSAR. It is also intended to project an even brighter future for the MSAR. A rich variety of innovation is featured in the exhibition, by blending multimedia content with interactive elements. Through a creative combination of text, photographs, video, music, objects, lighting, sound effects and scale models, visitors are offered an all-round insight of the journey taken by the MSAR since its establishment 10 years ago.
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President Mr Hu Jintao will lead a delegation to Macao on Saturday (19 December) to officiate the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Macao’s Return to the Motherland and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Third-term MSAR Government. Mr Hu is also the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. Mr Hu and his delegation are scheduled to leave Macao on Sunday (20 December).
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A fireworks extravaganza held by the Macau Special Administrative Region will light up the sky of Macau at 9pm on December 20 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR. The 25-minute show is the largest fireworks display ever organized in Macau. For the first time in Macau, the grand fireworks display will be launched at seven locations at the same time, including the Nobre de Carvalho Bridge featuring fireworks waterfall, 4-inch shells and display cakes; landsite between the Nobre de Carvalho Bridge and Macau Tower featuring water shells, 6-inch shells and cakes; landsite in front of MGM Grand featuring water shells, 6-inch shells and cakes; four barges located on the two sides of the Nobre de Carvalho Bridge featuring 8-inch shells and cakes. This is the largest fireworks display ever organized by the Macau SAR in terms of launch sites and number of shells involved. To enhance enjoyment of the fireworks display, sound systems will be installed at the Avenida Panorâmica do Lago nam Van, the park between Avenida de Sagres and Nobre de Carvalho Bridge (next to Wynn Resort), Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen (in front of One Central), Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen (facing Nam Van Lake) and Avenida dos Jardins do Oceano in Taipa. Spectators can also tune to Radio Macau (FM100.7) for synchronized soundtrack. Macau Government Tourist Office called for a public tender for operating the display and among fireworks companies from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and France, “Panda Fireworks Co. Ltd” from Hunan of Mainland China, which also organized the fireworks displays for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 60th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing this year, was selected. Ian Riedel, a veteran technical consultant of the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, is invited to be the consultant of this pyro-musical show to give professional advices for a smooth and safe completion of the event.
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IFT will offer two “Shatec Institute Courses” in the area of F&B and front desk selling in January 2010 and is inviting application. IFT strives to look for cooperation opportunities with international institutes and certification bodies, to provide training courses which are recognised globally and nurture professionals with international qualifications. For this, IFT is collaborating with Shatec Institutes Macau to co-organise different training programmes which can further raise the standard of our human resources. The first batch of “Shatec Institute Courses” will start in January. Founded in 1983, Shatec Institutes is the oldest Hotel and Tourism training organisation in Singapore. There are 7 well-equipped institutes and a team of experienced instructors to provide training on Tourism, Hospitality, Culinary, Bakery and F&B Management to more than 1,800 students from 20 different countries every year. In the past 25 years, Shatec fostered about 25,000 talents for different occupations. IFT will run a series of “Shatec Institutes Courses” in the area of selling, event planning, butler service, disaster and human resources management. The first batch of courses includes “F&B Up-selling and Suggestive Selling” and “Front Desk Up-selling and Suggestive Selling”. Courses will be delivered by experienced instructor from Shatec Institutes. The objective of the course is to enhance service staff's techniques in suggestive selling, so as to increase F&B sales and overall revenue for the organization. Both courses are inviting applications. Interested parties can visit the website www.ift.edu.mo for application information.
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The Secretariat of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) / World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Typhoon Committee (TC) is organizing a meeting of the Advisory Working Group of this Committee in Macao during 16-17 December 2009. The purpose of the meeting is to review its Strategic Plan 2007-2011, the Annual Operating Plan 2009 and to discuss the Annual Operating Plan 2010 and future projects and actions related to the TC main components: Meteorology, Hydrology and Disaster Prevention and Preparedness. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 9 am on 16 December at the conference room of the Conselho Consultivo para o Reordenamento dos Bairros Antigos de Macau. The meeting will be attended by the chairpersons of the Working Groups and high representatives of the ESCAP and WMO. At the commencement of the meeting, a launching ceremony for the “MMGB Collected Papers Volume 3” will be hosted by the Director of the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (MMGB) Dr. Fong Soi Kun. Since Year 2004, MMGB has started to compile the collaboration research achievements with the professors from the Sun Yat-sen University, extended abstracts for papers presented at the international symposia or seminars, as well as the regional professional cooperation workshops by the colleagues in MMGB for publication of the collected papers. This year the publication is the 3rd volume of the collected papers. In celebrating of the Tenth Anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region, MMGB issued the 3rd Volume of the Collected Papers this year. MMGB will continue to keep abreast of the times and to work hard on researching on meteorological and climate change, aiming to use their expertise for the improvement of livelihood.
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