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Macao people’s support to the nation’s aerospace project had impressed the Delegation of Shenzhou-7 Manned Space Mission, the head of the delegation, Mr Zhang Jianqi, said today. Mr Zhang said this as he and the three astronauts who completed China’s first spacewalk mission met the press this morning before returning to Beijing. Mr Zhang, who is also the Deputy Chief Commander of the mission, said he was impressed by the residents’ support to the nation’s space exploration project and their love towards the nation and the Macao SAR. Macao people are determined, confident and optimistic, he said, and with the support of the Central Government, he said he believed that the SAR Government and the Macao people would be able to overcome the global economic downturn. He also said that China would start setting up space laboratories and stations after 2011, and that Macao and Hong Kong people may contribute in experiments for the project. Zhai Zhigang, the astronaut who conducted the spacewalk, said he was impressed by the cultural diversity, harmony and uniqueness of the city. His colleague Liu Boming extended his gratitude for Macao people’s support for the nation’s astronauts, as well as the contribution of technicians and scientists for the space programme. After the interview, the delegation bade farewell to the Chief Executive Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah at Santa Sancha, before leaving for home.
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Tourism and MICE industry leaders from Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau took part in the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (AACVB) meeting to outline strategic plans and projects for the Association next year. During the AACVB meeting held December 8 and 9 at the MGM Grand Macau, different task forces of the association introduced the activity plans on research, website, branding and marketing of AACVB, destination marketing, education and membership development. The Board of Directors’ meeting also approved the strategic plan for 2009 which will see the activation of the website of the association, participation in MICE events and organization of training courses. The new management and action plan reflect a new high level commitment and unity of purpose to drive the future of the regional MICE industry. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Daniel L. Corpuz, vice-president of AACVB and the Executive Director of the Philippines Convention and Visitors Corporation. Also attending the meeting were Director of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Mohd Rosly Selamat, Conventions Director of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Suprabha Moleeratanond, General Manager for Destination Marketing of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Gilly Wong, Macau Government Tourist Office Director, João Manuel Costa Antunes and Deputy Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. AACVB was founded in 1983 in Manila, the Philippines; Macau has hosted the headquarters and permanent secretariat of the Association since 1987.
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The three astronauts who completed China’s first spacewalk mission today attended a sharing session with some 2,000 Macao students. During the afternoon session, the astronauts told of their experience in space and answered questions raised by the students. They encouraged the students to stay focused, work hard and try to attain their goals. In the morning, the astronauts and their delegation toured the Ruins of St. Paul, the Museum of Macau, the Mount Fortress, the Wine Museum and the Macau Tower. They attended receptions hosted by the Macao Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army and Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao of the Liaison Office. In the evening, the Government organised a welcome variety show for the three astronauts and the delegation. During the show, the Macao Foundation and Macao’s business sector donated 5 million and 11 million patacas respectively for China’s aerospace programs. Tomorrow the astronauts are scheduled to meet the press and meet the Chief Executive, before returning home.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, reiterated today that the Government would firmly steer the MSAR towards becoming a corruption-free society. Mr Ho made the remarks in the wake of the arrest of the head of an autonomous entity by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) yesterday on suspicions of corruption and abuse of power. Speaking when he attended an outdoor event today, Mr Ho said the Government would not tolerate such cases and he believed that the court would severely punish the corrupted. And we should not ignore such cases even if bringing them to light would affect the Government or Macao as a whole. He said the present case showed the effectiveness of the Commission and the entire monitoring mechanism. But since it was in legal process, he would not comment on its details. He said that the case would also remind officials that they should serve the public with integrity. Information Department
Government Information Bureau
Macao SAR
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Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT) signed the cooperation agreement with University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Singapore Campus on 5 December. President of IFT Dr. Fanny Vong and Dean of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Singapore Campus, Dr. Andy Nazarechuk presided over the ceremony at the Auditorium of Team Building in IFT. University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a non-profit educational institution founded in the State of Nevada. It is home to The William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, which is recognised as one of the leading hospitality management programme in the United States. In Las Vegas, the Harrah Hotel College has the largest hospitality management programme, 55 faculty members and has a close relationship with many leading hotel, restaurant and convention organisation that support the college through internships, scholarships, and employment opportunities. UNLV Singapore Campus is UNLV’s first International Campus which has been approved by the Singapore Ministry of Education as an Institute of higher learning featuring as specialised programme in hospitality management education. Student will earn a fully accredited Bachelor of Science Degree from UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. UNLV and IFT, where learning is “hands-on” and provides a bridge between the classroom and professional practice in the field. Besides the theoretical lectures, internship is also one of the essential elements on accomplishment. With the rapid growth and development on Macao’s tourism and hospitality industry in recent years, many large-scale international entertainment complexes inaugurated, leading to a high demand on human resources, thus quality tourism education becomes the critical factor to meet the industry’s need. IFT strives to seek for diversified development, the expansion of international network, joint projects, compact communication with the World Tourism Organization and many higher institutions from overseas and Mainland China, helps to maintain our programmes meeting international standard. With the implementation of this cooperation agreement, UNLV and IFT foresee the tremendous cooperative opportunities in research, cultural and academic exchange, as well as a great opportunity to enable American to take a step ahead Macao and Asian culture.
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The three astronauts who completed China’s first spacewalk mission are scheduled to visit Macao from December 8th to 10th, at the invitation of the Macao Government. The delegation, to be led by the Deputy Chief Commander of the Shenzhou VII Mission, Mr Zhang Jianqi, will be here after a four-day visit to Hong Kong. In Macao, Zhai Zhigang, the first Chinese astronaut who conducted a spacewalk, and fellow astronauts Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, will attend sharing sessions and tell Macao’s students of their adventures in space.
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The Outbound Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCTE) announced that as the Suvamabhumi International Airport in Bangkok will resume full operation tomorrow (December 5), Macau residents still stranded in Thailand could take the flights back to Macau. Hotlines in Bangkok will cease operation and those who need assistance can call MGTO's hotline at 2833 3000. As the situation in Thailand has calmed down, GGCTE has been informed by Air Macau that Suvarnabhumi International Airport will be reopened by 11 a.m.(Thai local time) tomorrow (December 5). Air Macau’s flight will depart Macau for Bangkok at 6:55 pm (Macau time) tomorrow while the return flight will depart Bangkok for Macau at 9:45 pm (Thai local time) the same day and is expected to arrive Macau at 1:25 am on December 6. Air Asia will also resume flights between Macau and Bangkok tomorrow (December 5). Among the three stranded Macau residents registered with GGCTE, one has returned to Macau safely last night (December 3), one has a confirmed seat on Air Macau to fly back to Macau tomorrow night, while one has made his own arrangement to return to Macau. GGCTE’s assistance to stranded Macau residents has concluded and the hotline in Bangkok will cease operation at 10 pm tonight. Visitors or residents can call MGTO's hotline at 2833 3000 for inquiry. GGCTE reminds those with valid tickets to reconfirm their flights and reservations with related airlines. Due to the closure of Suvamabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, GGCTE activated contingency procedures last Thursday evening (November 27) to contact the travel trade for information of stranded Macau residents and tour groups. At the same time, the Office contacted Air Macau for charter flight arrangement. The flight chartered by the SAR Government brought home 173 Macau residents and tour participants last Saturday night (November 29). In the ensuing days, GGCTE continued to assist 5 stranded Macau residents on arrangements to fly home. As the Suvamabhumi International Airport reopens, the contingency procedures of GGCTE have come to an end. GGCTE expresses its gratitude to the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macau SAR, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, Travel Industry Council of Macau, Air Macau, Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau (CTM), Hutchison Telephone (Macau) Co Ltd, SmarTone Mobile Communications (Macau) Ltd, the Representative of MGTO in Thailand and members of GGCTE, without whose efforts the mission would not have been completed successfully.
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Eight pacts to enhance co-operation between Macao and Guangdong were signed today at the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference 2008 this afternoon. These pacts would boost co-operation in urban planning, education, tourism, traditional Chinese medicine, sports, culture and emergency management. According to a memorandum, Macao and Zhuhai would set up a joint task force to discuss projects of mutual benefits. The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Huahua, led a number of officials to attend the conference. During the conference, Mr Ho said that with the Central Government’s support, Macao and Guangdong have made much progress in their co-operation, especially in lifting people’s livelihood and enhancing economy, culture and education. Mr Ho said that Guangdong’s support to Macao could most notably be seen in solving the shortage of rice earlier this year, and in guaranteeing water supply to Macao. He thanked Mr Huang for the province’s extensive support. Guangdong’s support to the Zhuyin water project and the third water supply pipeline to Macao would safeguard water supply to Macao in the future, he said. Given the ensuing effect of global financial turmoil, Macao and Guangdong should work together in developing their economies. Both sides agreed to deepen co-operation in economy, transportation network and other infrastructure, as well as areas that would benefit their people, such as food safety, water and electricity and environmental protection. He also said that Macao would give its full support to Guangzhou Asian Games 2010 and Shenzhen World Student Games 2011. Macao’s representatives to the conference included the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, and the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io. It was also attended by the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Mr Zhou Bo, and the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao, Ms Gao Yan.
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Work had commenced this morning on the Zhuyin water project, which would guarantee a stable water supply for Macao. The start of construction was marked by a ceremony officiated by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Huahua, before the opening of Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference 2008 today. The Macao SAR Government has paid 450 million RMB in advance as future water charges for the construction of the project. The ceremony also marked the circulation of the third water pipeline to Macao, a project that cost Macao 54 million RMB. This pipeline would significantly enhance the capacity of water supply to Macao and the overall capacity would meet Macao’s demand until 2020, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io, said during the ceremony. He said Macao and Guangdong had made much progress in co-operation of water supply following the signing of a framework agreement last year. He especially thanked the Central Government and the authorities in Guangdong and Zhuhai for their support in tackling salinity in Macao’s water supply.
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Three Macao residents are still Thailand after the Macao Government brought 173 residents home on a chartered flight last Saturday. Two of the three Macao residents were looking to return to Macao. The third was waiting for the reopening of airports in Bangkok. The Outbound Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCTE) would keep close contact with airlines and look for seats for the Macao residents that are still in Thailand. Those who know of any Macao residents still stranded in Thailand or need assistance may call GGCTE’s hotlines: 081-8041788 or 081-7925107 (calling in Thailand), or (66) 81-8041788 or (66) 81-7925107 (overseas calls), from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Thai local time). Residents may also call the round-the-clock hotline (2833 3000) operated by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) for help. To date GGCTE received 151 enquiries. GGCTE would continue to monitor the situation in Thailand and provide necessary assistance to Macao’s residents in Thailand.
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