News

Tests carried out on a Macao resident who returned from the United States of America with fever showed he did not carry the H1N1 virus. The man, who returned via Taipei arrived at Macau International Airport about noon today and temperature checks by Health Bureau staff at the airport showed he had fever. He was sent to Hospital Conde S. Januário and was tested negative for influenza A (H1N1) virus. He was discharged in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 88 children and 84 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 136,000 people entering Macao and dealt with 15 enquiries. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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The Administrative Regulation number 13/2009 regarding the Wealth Partaking Scheme 2009 was gazetted on 11th May 2009 and will come into effect in mid-May. The modes of fund disbursement for the Wealth Partaking Scheme 2009 are divided into automatic transfer and crossed-cheque mailing. Details of distribution are as follows: Wealth Partaking Scheme 2009 Distribution Schedule and Arrangement Bank transfer dates / Dates for cheques to be received in Macao Beneficiaries 15 th May 2009 Persons receiving financial assistance from the Social Welfare Bureau, teaching staffs receiving direct subsidy and students in tertiary education receiving student aid from the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (Student Benefits Fund), retired civil servants receiving retirement pension and other persons receiving survivor pension (bank transfer) Week 1 18 th May 2009 – 22 nd May 2009 Persons born in or before 1945 21 st May 2009 Persons receiving subsidy for senior citizens (bank transfer) Week 2 25 th May 2009 – 29 th May 2009 Persons born in 1946-1948 Week 3 1 st June 2009 – 5 th June 2009 Persons born in 1949-1956 Week 4 8 th June 2009 – 12 th June 2009 Persons born in 1957-1961 Week 5 15 th June 2009 – 19 th June 2009 Persons born in 1962-1966 16 th June 2009 Staffs in public administration (bank transfer) Week 6 22 nd June 2009 – 26 th June 2009 Persons born in 1967-1974 Week 7 29 th June 2009 – 3 rd July 2009 Persons born in 1975-1984 Week 8 6 th July 2009 – 10 th July 2009 Persons born in 1985-1990 Week 9 13 th July 2009 – 17 th July 2009 Persons born in 1991-1997 Week 10 20 th July 2009 – 24 th July 2009 Persons born in 1998-2008 Support Centre for Wealth Partaking Disbursement In order to facilitate the implementation of this Scheme, the government of Macao Special Administrative Region has established a Support Centre for Wealth Partaking Disbursement that will enter into service on 18th May 2009. In addition to giving assistance to the public on problems of fund receiving, the Support Centre also provides enquiry service. Enquiries and advance booking can also be made either at the Support Centre’s website www.planocp.gov.mo or via telephone number 2822-5000 to best reduce waiting time. The opening hours of the Support Centre are from Monday to Friday, except public holiday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no lunch break. Should any resident fail to receive the cheque ten days after the receipt dates, he or she can seek for assistance from the Support Centre. (Hotline: 2822-5000, fax: 2822-3000) Alteration of postal address for crossed-cheque mailing The crossed-cheque will be delivered to the address declared by the residents when applying for the Macao SAR Resident Identity Card. Residents can change their postal address for crossed-cheque mailing purpose at the website of Wealth Partaking Scheme or that of the Identification Services Bureau www.dsi.gov.mo. Residents can also download the declaration form and return directly or by post to the Bureau after completion. Furthermore, residents can go to the Bureau or the Support Centre for Wealth Partaking Disbursement to proceed with the procedures of change of address. Support Centre for Wealth Partaking Disbursement Identification Services Bureau (Procedures of change of address) Address G/F, Room O & P, China Plaza Building, 804 Avenida da Praia Grande 1st floor, China Plaza Building, 804 Avenida da Praia Grande Opening hours Monday to Friday (except public holiday) 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. (no lunch break) Opening date ： 18 th May Monday to Friday (except public holiday) 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. (no lunch break) Enquiry and advance booking 2822-5000 (In service starting from 18 th May) 2837-0777 2837-0888 Fax 2822-3000 --------- Website www.planocp.gov.mo www.dsi.gov.mo
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Residents and visitors entering Macao should fill in the health declaration form seriously to help control the spread of the flu virus, the Health Bureau urged today. According to the International Health Regulations (2005), health declaration is a means to prevent pandemic from spreading. Since victims of the novel influenza A (H1N1) do not necessarily shown signs of fever, and their declaration of health and travel history could help health authorities to track them and provide them treatment when necessary. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 109 children and 61 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 132,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 14 enquiries, but no unusual case was detected. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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(8 May 2009) In promoting the 10th Anniversary of Macau SAR Establishment and the theme of “Experience Macau Celebrations!”, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has launched the “Celebrate Macau” Photo Collection Campaign in Hong Kong to invite all Hong Kong residents to share their precious memory of Macau and experience the new Macau with their Macau photographs. Through the “Celebrate Macau” Photo Collection Campaign, MGTO aims to encourage more Hong Kong people to celebrate the Macau SAR Establishment together. All Hong Kong residents are invited to provide their Macau photos that show the magnificent sceneries of Macau, especially the heritage sites in “The Historic Centre of Macau”, to share their precious memory of Macau, and to witness the splendid development of Macau over the past 10 years. Starting from 1 May until 15 June, Hong Kong residents or Hong Kong permanent residents are welcome to submit not more than 20 Macau photos to MGTO under the four category: “Heritage”, “Livelihood”, “Scenery” and “Macau Today”. MGTO will select some of the photos for the “Celebrate Macau” Exhibitions and producing the “Experience New Macau with Sweet Memory” booklet in July. For more details about the “Celebrate Macau” Photo Collection Campaign, please refer to the http://www.hkctp.com.hk/macau10/.
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The number of crimes recorded in the first quarter of this year saw a slight decrease of 1.4% compared with the same quarter last year: violent crimes were down by 18.9%. Releasing the crime statistics for the first quarter of 2009 at a press conference today, the Secretary for Security, Mr Cheong Kuok Va, said Macao remained a secure and stable city. The total number of crimes recorded in the period stood at 3,298, also down 1.4% year on year. The number of violent crimes went down by 18.9% to 163 cases, two of which were homicides. There had been no reports of abduction since the first quarter of last year. The number of robbery and loan sharking cases also went down by 29.8% and 11.1%, transferring counterfeit money and forgery by 47% and 42.5%. Blackmail and drug abuse cases increased by 18.5% and 54.8%, and violation of order and assisting and employment of illegal immigrants by 43.3% and 19%. The police also caught 41,672 illegal immigrants and overstayers in the first quarter. Among the overstayers, 11,594 (+5,570) were Mainland visitors who had entered Macao under the Facilitated Individual Travel scheme, and 26,428 (+14,036) were Mainland visitors with other identification documents. There were 3,206 (+2,778) foreign visitors who overstayed and 444 (+89) illegal immigrants from the Mainland.
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Macao’s Health Bureau had obtained the technique to perform rapid tests to detect the influenza A (H1N1) virus, thanks to the exchanges with the Mainland, Hong Kong and the United States’ health departments. The Bureau announced today that test results for the virus could now be known in five to six hours. A spokesman said all four Macao residents who were quarantined in Hong Kong and Guangdong have shown respiratory illness symptoms. The quarantine period for the three Macao residents in Hong Kong would finish tomorrow and it was reported to the Health Bureau that the Macao resident in Guangdong had been discharged. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 85 children and 60 adults with respiratory illness symptoms today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 135,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with 10 enquiries, but no unusual case was detected. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the global economic recession and weakened investor confidence affected the number of new companies incorporated to drop by 25.3% year-on-year to 547 in the first quarter of 2009, and the total value of registered capital decreased notably by 73.8% to MOP44 million. Among these new companies, 212 (with registered capital of MOP23 million) were operating in Wholesale and Retail, 99 (MOP7 million) in Business Services and 82 (MOP5 million) in Construction. Furthermore, 420 new companies (76.8% of total) were incorporated with registered capital of MOP50,000 or less and the respective capital (MOP12 million) made up merely 26.6% of the total. Meanwhile, there were 3 new companies incorporated with registered capital of more than MOP1,000,000 and the corresponding value of capital totalled MOP10 million (21.5% of total). In addition, 81.5% of the new incorporations were limited companies. Capital of the new companies came mainly from Macao (MOP25 million), Hong Kong (MOP9 million) and Mainland China (MOP7 million). Capital from Guangdong Province (MOP4 million) took the lead among the Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces. Analysed by shareholders’ place of residence, 308 new companies were established solely by Macao shareholders, 75 were joint ventures between shareholders from Macao and other countries/regions; meanwhile, there were 164 new companies incorporated by shareholders from countries/regions other than Macao. In the first quarter of 2009, number of dissolution of companies totalled 149, up by 41.9% year-on-year, with the total value of registered capital amounting to MOP26 million. Among the companies in dissolution, 53 were operating in Wholesale and Retail, 26 in Business Services and 26 in Construction.
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The Government and the community will join hands to launch a series of activities tomorrow to keep the city clean and promote awareness of influenza A (H1N1). The campaign is organised by the Health Bureau and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, together with some other Government departments and more than 10 associations. Activities would include talks, photo exhibitions and booths promoting hygiene and information on influenza, as well as cleansing activities targeting the hygiene black spots in the community. Taxi drivers will be asked to clean and sterilise their vehicles too. Meanwhile, the Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 92 children and 57 adults with respiratory illness today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 120,000 people entering Macao. They also dealt with nine enquiries, but no unusual case was detected. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao. The Health Bureau would continue to keep in close touch with the World Health Organization and health authorities of the Mainland and Hong Kong to keep up with latest developments. The Bureau urged residents to maintain good personal hygiene and keep the environment clean. Anyone with a cough, sore throat or fever should wear a face mask and seek treatment at Hospital Conde S. Januário or Kiang Wu Hospital immediately. Used face masks should be put into trash cans properly. The Health Bureau also urged residents and visitors entering Macao not to take more than one copy of health declaration form to avoid creating inconvenience to the others and waste resources.
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Eng. João Manuel Costa Antunes, Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) headed a group of business delegates from Macau hospitality industry to attend the HOFEX 2009 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today. Eng. Costa Antunes was invited to attend the opening ceremony as a distinguished guest and participated at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Other honorable guests include Mr. Henry TANG Ying-Yen, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for administration of the HKSAR Government, Mr. James TIEN Pei-Chun, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and Mr. Mark Lettenbichler, Chairman of the Hong Kong Hotels Associations. The booth of MGTO engaged the promotional theme of “Experience Macau” with the 5 senses. For the purpose of promoting business tourism, its design was inspired by the architectural facade of the Macau Business Tourism Centre, reflecting the huge efforts engaged for MICE development in recent years. There were 38 members of “Industry Partners Program” displaying their promotional materials under this marketing platform provided by MGTO. As a supporting organization, MGTO invited representatives of three major hospitality associations, namely, Macau Hotel Association, the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao and Macau Chef Culinary Association to attend the opening ceremony of the HOFEX 2009. The delegates expressed positive compliments and support to MGTO’s involvement. Officially opened today, HOFEX 2009 (The 13th Asian International Exhibition of Food & Drink, Hotel, Restaurant & Foodservices Equipment, Supplies & Services) is the biennial trade show running till May 9, 2009. This year, more than 1,800 leading exhibitors including 41 national groups participated in HOFEX 2009. It is anticipated that more than 35,000 qualified buyers and industry players from around the world will visit the show.
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The Influenza Pandemic Prevention Coordination Group met today to discuss and to update members on the spread of the influenza A (H1N1) virus across the world and the preventive measures Macao is taking. Group Chairman Mr Chui Sai On, who is also the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, hosted the meeting, which was attended by representatives from 10 departments. The Director of the Health Bureau, Dr Lei Chin Ion, briefed the attendees on the latest development of the outbreak, the characteristics of the influenza A (H1N1) virus, the treatment of confirmed cases by other countries and regions, and Macao’s preventive measures. Meanwhile, three Macao women who were quarantined in Hong Kong for staying at the same hotel where Hong Kong's first confirmed case stayed were reported to be in a healthy condition and had developed no symptoms of illness. A man from Macao who was on the same plane with the confirmed Hong Kong case and quarantined in Taishan, Guangdong, is also in a healthy condition. The quarantine period of these four Macao residents would end on Friday. To date there is no probable or confirmed human case of influenza A (H1N1) reported in Macao. The Hospital Conde S. Januário treated 156 children and 75 adults with respiratory illness today and medical teams at terminals checked body temperatures of more than 140,000 entering Macao. They also dealt with five enquiries, but no unusual case was detected. The Bureau would continue to keep in close touch with the World Health Organization and health authorities of the Mainland and Hong Kong to keep up with latest developments. The Bureau urges residents to maintain good personal hygiene and keep the environment clean. Anyone with a cough, sore throat or fever should wear a face mask and seek treatment at Hospital Conde S. Januário or Kiang Wu Hospital immediately. To strengthen the awareness of influenza A (H1N1) and the necessity of keeping good personal and environmental hygiene in the community, the Health Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, and some other Government departments and more than 10 associations are to launch a one-month promotional campaign on Thursday offering talks, photo exhibitions and booths fair on hygiene and influenza and cleansing programmes. Taxi drivers will be asked to clean their vehicles too.
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