News

Macao today reported five local and three imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases, taking the total number of such cases to 81. The Health Bureau announced that one of the local cases involved a two-year-old boy who had been taken care of by a crèche during daytime. He was tested positive for the virus yesterday and the Bureau had ordered the crèche to suspend its childcare services. The second local case involved a four-month-old baby from a Portuguese family with six out of its eight members confirmed with the virus. It is believed that the baby contracted the virus from her family members. The three other local cases involved a family of four, with the parents, aged 49 and 46, and their 13-year-old son contracted the virus. Their daughter was considered as a close contact person and was required to undergo medical observation at home. The three imported cases involved two Macao women, aged 21 and 24, and an 11-year-old Australian. Macao had reported 81 Influenza A (H1N1) cases to date, with 23 patients receiving treatment at hospital and one patient at home, and 46 people were asked to stay home for medical observation. Today eight patients had recovered from Influenza A (H1N1) and were discharged from hospital. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated that there were no fatal cases and the spread of the virus was moderate.
…

Macao and Guangdong today signed an agreement relating to the construction of the University of Macau campus on Hengqin Island, following the recent approval by the National People’s Congress. According to the agreement, both Macao and Guangdong would provide the necessary support to facilitate construction. They would steer the project under the frameworks of the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020) and a master development plan of Hengqin Island approved by the State Council last month. The agreement was signed after the annual Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference, which was presided over by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the Governor of Guangdong, Mr Huang Huahua. During the conference, Mr Ho thanked Guangdong for supporting the project of University of Macau campus on Hengqin, Macao’s enterprises in Guangdong and Macao’s drive in diversifying its economy. And Mr Huang said Macao and Guangdong should make good use of the policies adopted by the Central Government and enhance co-operation and integration. Officials from Macao and Guangdong also exchanged ideas on large-scale infrastructure, trade and economy, education, electricity and water supply, food safety and traditional Chinese medicine at the conference.
…

Macao today reported two local and three imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases, taking the total number of such cases to 73. At a press conference at the Influenza Response and Coordination Centre, the Health Bureau announced that the two local cases involved the mother and son from the same family with three other family members contracted the virus earlier. The two contracted the virus from their family members and were tested positive for the virus early this morning. They were regarded as local cases. The three imported cases involved a 24-year-old woman from Taiwan and two Macao teenagers aged 13 and 16 respectively. Macao had reported 73 Influenza A (H1N1) cases to date, with 22 patients receiving treatment at hospital and 45 people asked to stay home for medical observation. Today five patients had recovered from Influenza A (H1N1) and were discharged from hospital. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated that there were no fatal cases and the spread of the virus was moderate.
…

Macao today reported four local and two imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases, taking the total number of such cases to 68. At a press conference at the Influenza Response and Coordination Centre, the Health Bureau announced that the first three cases involved a seven-year-old girl, her two-year-old brother and their cousin aged 22 months, who all lived with their grandparents. The girl had visited Gongbei, Zhuhai, and played in a playground in a shopping mall on 2 July and showed flu symptoms on 5 July. She was tested positive for the virus yesterday and was classified as an imported case. Her brother and cousin were also tested positive yesterday and were regarded as local cases. The other three cases involved a 63-year-old Portuguese woman, her son aged 37 and granddaughter aged 14. The woman, who had arrived on 1 July and lived with his son’s family in Macao, showed flu symptoms on 5 July. Her son and granddaughter also developed flu symptoms the next day. They all went to Hospital Conde S. Januário for medical attention and were tested positive for the virus today. The Portuguese woman was regarded as an imported case and her son and granddaughter were classified as local cases. The six patients were receiving treatment at the quarantine wards at Hospital Conde S. Januário, taking the total number of H1N1 inpatients to 26. Five patients had recovered from Influenza A (H1N1) and were discharged from hospital today, and 51 people were required to stay home for medical observation. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated that there were no fatal cases and the spread of the virus was moderate.
…

The Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Huahua, is to lead a delegation to Macao tomorrow to attend the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference 2009 on Thursday. Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah and Mr Huang would jointly officiate at the conference and deliver speeches. Themes of the conference would include reviewing their experience in their past co-operation and identifying key areas for future co-operation. After the conference, Macao and Guangdong would sign an agreement on enhancing the project of the University of Macau campus on Hengqin Island. Mr Huang would also visit the Border Gate Checkpoint, the Macau International Airport, the University of Macau, its future campus on Hengqin and some scenic spots.
…

Eight patients had recovered from Influenza A (H1N1) and were discharged from hospital today, while Macao also reported an imported case and a local case respectively. Macao had reported 62 Influenza A (H1N1) cases to date, with 25 patients receiving treatment and 55 people asked to stay home for medical observation. The imported case involved a 34-year-old Indonesian who lived in Hong Kong. He visited Macao on 2 July, developed flu symptoms on the next day and was confirmed carrying the virus yesterday. The local case involved a 38-year-old Macao resident, who was a missionary from the Philippines. He developed flu symptoms on 5 July and was tested positive for the virus this morning. Since he had not left Macao in the preceding seven days, he was thus classified as a locally infected case. Macao’s pandemic alert remained at Level VI, Blue, which indicated that there were no fatal cases and the spread of the virus was moderate.
…

“A Journey through Light and Shadow – The Invention of Photography and the Earliest Photographs of Macao, China” Exhibition was jointly-organized by the Macao Museum and the Nicéphore Niépce Museum of France. Since its opening, the exhibition has been receiving excellent feedback from the Macao society and tourists, and the especially valuable attention and appreciation of photography amateurs. There have been constant streams of visitors and the number is still increasing. Many schools and associations have visited not only the exhibition, but also the pinhole camera model setting located at the Mount Fortress garden, facilitating young people and staff’s understanding of the development of the history of photography. This is very helpful for the popularization of the science of photography. The two major parts of the exhibition, “The Invention of Photography” and “The Earliest Photographs of Macao, China” have been attracting local residents as well as tourists. Through the display of some 20 classic cameras and their respective accessories, together with 190 early photographs, visitors can better understand the history of photography and its development. The world’s first camera, invented by Frenchman Nicéphore Niépce in 1826, is a prime focus in the exhibition. This precious camera has only been displayed outside its museum in France twice since 1974 and therefore it is only the third time it leaves its museum. The camera will be returned to France on 12 July. All visitors interested in viewing the world’s first camera must come to the exhibition before this date. This exhibition will be held until August 23. To facilitate visits, local residents may have free admission on Sundays upon presentation of their ID card or student identification. The Macao Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and is closed on Monday. Ticket sales stop at 5:30pm. For inquiries or group visits, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau homepage (www.icm.gov.mo) or the Macao Museum homepage: (www.macaumuseum.gov.mo), or call Mr. Ho at 83941217 or Ms Lee at 83941231 during office hours.
…

Macao today reported two imported and two local Influenza A (H1N1) cases, taking the total number of such cases to 60. At a press conference at the Influenza Response and Coordination Centre, the Health Bureau announced that one of the confirmed local cases involved a 23-year-old staff of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who had contacted with two confirmed H1N1 patients to conduct epidemiology research. The Bureau said that he had put on full protective gear when meeting the patients. Two other staff of CDC who led the two patients to the quarantine wards showed no signs of sickness. The Bureau stressed that even the most stringent protective measures were employed, the virus could still spread rapidly. It urged the close contact persons of confirmed patients to provide accurate information to the staff of CDC when phoned in order to minimise the necessity for face-to-face contacts. The second local case involved a 45-year-old Macao citizen, who worked for the Legal Affairs Bureau. The patient’s husband was classified as a close contact person and was asked to stay home for medical observation. Since the two patients had not left Macao in the preceding seven days, they were thus classified as locally infected cases. The two imported cases involved two Macao citizens aged 14 and 48, who had been in the United Kingdom and Guangzhou in the preceding seven days respectively. Meanwhile, one patient had recovered and was discharged from hospital today. Currently 31 confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) patients were receiving treatment at the quarantine wards at Hospital Conde S. Januário, and 93 people were asked to stay home for medical observation.
…

Macao Franchise Expo (MFE) ended today (4 July), with satisfactory results. The last day of the event was open to all, so that the small and medium-sized enterprises and the general public could participate in the activities. A total of 4800 visitors were registered in the two-day event. There were altogether 883 sessions of business matchings, and 16 cooperation and franchising agreements were signed at the venue, including those related with ready-to-wear, restaurant, environmental protection and energy conservation products, mango wine, decorative lighting, mineral water, fire equipment, casual shoes, white wine and agency and sale of environmental flooring, setting-up of food technology and sale point, organizing of preparatory committee, development of environment products and others. Cooperation counterparties were from Mainland China, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Portugal, South Korea and the Philippines, amount involved exceeded 100 million Patacas. There were altogether nine professional promotion seminars and one forum, attended by over 400 persons. EIGHT MORE COOPERATIONS WERE REACHED
FURTHER STRAIGHTENING OF COOPERATION BETWEEN MACAO AND ENTERPRISES FROM MAINLAND CHINA AND ABROAD Out of the eight cooperations reached today, five were protocols, two were letters of intent and one memorandum of understand. Seven cooperations were entered into between enterprises from Macao and Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Jiangsu, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Another coperation agreement was entered into between an exhibitor from Hong Kong with another from Mainland China. Cooperation projects include: Hechi – Macao International City, entered into between Yijun Investment and Development (International) Co., Ltd., of Macao, and Huayi Lighting Company Limited, of Zhonghshan for the purchase purchase of decorative lighting products agented by Hua Hui. A letter of intent was entered into between Macao World Commercial Environmental Techonology Consultancy Centre and Taiwan T-Winner Co., Ltd. for the setting-up of a food technical research centre in Macao for the sale of Taiwan’s famous passion and chicory fiber series of products, Taiwan De Shun Group and Macao San Chai Investment Co., Ltd., to set-up franchising of Bear House Restaurants. SIGNING CEREMONY WITNESSES BY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS The second part of the signing ceremony was held at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. Dr. Echo Chan, Executive Director of Macao Trade and Promotion Institute and concurrently Coordinator of the Macao Franchise Expo, Dra. Paula Ling Ling Hsião Yun, member of the People's Congress of the PRC and lawyer, Mr. He Jun, Director of China Chain Store & Franchise Association, Mr. Vong Kok Seng, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Wu Ka I Miguel, Vice-President of Association of Property Agents and Realty Developers of Macao, Mr. Wilson Lee, President of Licensing & Franchising Association of Hong Kong, Mr. Chen Qingsheng, Vice-President of Chain Store & Franchise Association of Guangdong Province and President of the Association of Advertising Agents in Macao and Mr. Fong King Fu, Vice President of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macaui were present at the signing ceremony. SEVERAL SESSIONS OF PROMOTION SEMINARS TO ENCOURAGE THE PMES TO SEARCH FOR BUSINESS OPPOTTNITIES In addition to the three promotions seminars held yesterday, six more franchise promotion seminars were hold today, apart from several other activities with different themes and characteristics, to encourage the PMEs to participate in different MFE franchise activities in their search for business opportunities, namely promotions of RDS Fried Chicken Secret Recipe Franchise, Chongqing Hot Pot Franchise Project, Vitality of Franchising in Macao and and Analysis of Development Strategy, etc. Besides introduction of products, several sessions were also held to share experience and sucess of franchising, potential of franchising development in Macao and development strategy. According to some of the speakers, there is a concentration of international brands in Macao, therefore, it very suitable for the PMEs to develop and operate under franchising and, furthermore, Macao has all the advantages to develop this type business cooperation model. MACAO FRANCHISE EXPO CLOSES WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTSDr. Echo Chan, Executive Director of IPIM (right fourth), Mr. He Jun, president of Association of China Chain Store & Franchise Association, (left fourth), and Mr. Vong Kok Seng, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Macao Chamber of Commerce witnessing the signing ceremony at the Macao Franchise Expo.
…

Macao today reported five more imported Influenza A (H1N1) cases, taking the total number of such cases to 47. At a press conference at the Influenza Response and Coordination Centre, the Health Bureau announced that the five patients comprised three Macao citizens aged 15, 19 and 23, a 20-year-old Mainlander and a 10-year-old Indonesian. Meanwhile, six patients had recovered and were discharged from hospital today. Currently 28 confirmed Influenza A (H1N1) patients were receiving treatment at the quarantine wards at Hospital Conde S. Januário, and 172 people were asked to stay home for medical observation. The Bureau also announced that it had adjusted the criteria for raising the local pandemic alert. Previously the Bureau would consider raising the alert from Level VI Blue to Level VI Yellow when the number of patients being treated at hospital at any one time exceeded 20. Now it would do so when the number exceeds 40. Since most infected patients were not seriously ill, adjusting the criteria would prevent a premature elevation of the alert, the Bureau said. The Bureau also announced that from now on some patients would be treated in their homes instead in quarantine wards of hospitals. Based on the experience of other affected regions, the number of patients would increase steadily. To reserve the capacity of the hospital for patients in serious conditions, those in fair condition and could be taken care of by their family members could receive treatment at home.
…