News

As a continuation of the debut Thai Catalogue Show held in May, SME Service Centre of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) is planning a series of country-themed catalogue shows successively for local SMEs to gain access to information of overseas products and service markets. Upcoming there will be the“Catalogue Show of Indonesian Products and Services”, jointly organised by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong and IPIM, held from 14th to 25th July 2008 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at IPIM’s Macao Business Support Centre (Alameda Dr. Carlos d'Assumpçao No. 263, Edif. China Civil Plaza, 19 Andar, Macau). Being a member of ASEAN, Indonesia has gradually become a significant trading partner of Macao. Trading activities between Indonesia and Macao has been increasing since the Handover, with trade figures growing intensively and recorded a 28.74% increase from 2006 to 2007, up 32.97% year on year. According to statistical data, there is a growth of 13.83% in the annual import value from Indonesia since 2000. Last year, total import value from Indonesia reached 203 million, of which around 70% are edible bird’s nest, food products, tableware and kitchenware, pumice stones, coffee and electronic products. The rich natural resources of Indonesia will enable Macao and Indonesia to benefit from long-term development in different arrays of business and economic co-operation. Through the joint efforts of the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture and Coordinating Board of Investment of Indonesia, an assorted collection of over 40 types of catalogues will be on display and total number of catalogues available for distribution will be over 5000 pieces. A wide range of materials, covering investment and travel guides, MICE information, promotional materials of food and beverages, agriculture, seafood, spices, handicraft industries and product pamphlets of Indonesian companies are included in the collection. Local SMEs in search for partners or distribution rights from Indonesia or any other interested parties are cordially invited to visit the Catalogue Show. For enquiries, please contact Mr Ho or Ms Leong of Small and Medium Enterprise Service Centre (28728212) or visit IPIM’s website www.ipim.gov.mo Macao Trade and Invest Kiosk for detailed information about the Show.
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The first jury meeting of the Macao Pavilion Concept Design Competition was successfully convened today (8 July). Upholding the established assessment criteria, the jury and the technical team held a consultation and selected the first three winning entries among 31 quality entries received. These entries are: “Dancing Lotus”, “Glitter” and “Lanternas do Coelhinho” (alphabetical order). Participants of these entries will give a presentation of their entries in the second jury meeting on 22 July. Macao residents who are over 16 years old can participate in the online “Make a Guess at the First Prize” campaign at the Macao SAR Government Portal http://www.gov.mo/macaoat2010expo and select their favorite First Prize-to-be. The organizer will select 200 winners by lucky draw from those who successfully guessed the First Prize. Each of the 200 winners will receive two admission tickets to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Enthusiastic participation, quality entries The Competition received enthusiastic industry responses: 31 quality entries received, among which are entries from Taiwan and Beijing. It is reported that some Macao students studying abroad in related specialties contacted local architects and expressed wishes to participate in the Competition as a group. This clearly reflects the earnest attention of the public on construction preparation of Macao Pavilion The jury and technical team The selection mechanism is divided into two parts: the jury and the technical team. Chaired by Mr. Francis Tam Pak Yuen, Secretary for Economy and Finance, the jury is composed of 11 jurors from governmental bureaus and professional associations. The function of the technical team is to give technical advices to the jury. Members of the jury and technical team are listed in annex 1. Five assessment criteria The Jury shall uphold the principles of openness, fairness and justice, as well as observe five criteria of assessment in its professional selection of winning entries. First, concept design of entry must conform to the themes of Shanghai World Expo “Better City, Better Life” and Macao Pavilion “Spirit of Cultures, Essence of Harmony”. Second, it must meet the requirements for design of Macao Pavilion. Third, it must comply with the parameters of Macao Pavilion. Fourth, entry should be creative and feasible. Finally, entry must possess overall aesthetic and practicality. At the same time, entry shall also satisfy requirements of Macao Pavilion concept design, including featuring its theme; featuring Macao as a city of tourism, entertainment and leisure; featuring the achievements of Macao in culture, social construction and economy after the handover; harmonizing and echoing the style of China Pavilion; utilizing advance technology of multi-media and incorporate interactive and entertaining elements; and taking into consideration concerns of environmental protection both in the design and materials used. Proceedings of selection All entries are represented by numbers. The concept design documents shall not contain any name, sign or symbol that can reveal the identity of the individual or group participants. In witnesses of the jury and technical team, concept design documents were unsealed on 7 July. The first jury meeting held yesterday (8 July) brought about the naissance of the first three winning entries, five excellence and 10 selected entries (for list, please refer to annex II). Participants of the first three winning entries will give a 15-minute presentation of their entries at the second jury meeting on 22 July. Subsequent to further consultations, the jury will decide on the First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize of the Competition. The First Prize will be awarded MOP180,000; the Second Prize MOP60,000; the Third Prize MOP30,000; Excellence MOP10,000 each; and Selected MOP 3,000 each. Final results will be announced in July. Final results will be announced end of the month. Winning entries will be showcased in the “World Expo National Tour Exhibition” to be held in Macao in October this year.
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, said today that a law would be introduced soon to cap the gaming junket promoters' commissions at 1.25%. Mr Tam announced this after he met with representatives of six gaming operators this afternoon. He said this decision was based on the principle of the Gaming Industry Regulatory Framework, and a by-law for this cap would soon be passed to the Executive Council for further discussion. This process is expected to be completed in August, he said. The by-law would provide for stiff punishment for violators, but there would be a grace period for operators to make the necessary adjustment in their contracts with gaming promoters. Mr Tam also said the Government was very concerned to hear that some foreign workers were being employed as dealers -- which was against law -- and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau would closely monitor the situation. So far, they have not seen a case. Mr Tam said issues such as the number of tables, local manpower and gaming workers’ promotion prospects were also discussed at the meeting.
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, today emphasised that the Government was in close touch with the gaming operator in seeking ways to minimise the effect on some 200 staff that were laid off several days ago. Mr Tam said this after he met with legislators Mr Ng Kuok Cheong and Mr Au Kam San to hear their opinions on the issue, the management of foreign labour and on the labour policy. He said their suggestions were similar to the Government's consistent planning, and that would be a reference for policy making in the future. He stressed that the Government was open to all suggestions. On the lay off, Mr Tam reasserted that the Labour Affairs Bureau had made some suggestions to the gaming operator, but whether they would be accepted was up to the operator. He said the Government's long-term goal was to prevent lay offs. On the recruitment of foreign labour, Mr Tam stressed that the aim was to supplement the lack of local manpower. Over the past year, both gaming profits and the scope of the industry were increasing, the proportion of local staff to foreign workers was one of the main subject the Government studied to review the development of the industry, said Mr Tam.
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The Government would strongly urge gaming operators to gradually increase the proportion of local employees to the middle and higher level managerial positions, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, said today. Mr Tam disclose this when he met representatives of a gaming employees association in the Labour Affairs Bureau this morning to hear their opinions following the laying off of some 200 staff by two gaming casinos several days ago. He said the Government was deeply concerned and the Labour Affairs Bureau was actively following the case. He said he would meet representatives from all six gaming operators to discuss promotion prospects for local staff. He stressed that the Government’s long-term goal was to see more local staff in managerial levels in the gaming industry. When asked whether the lay off was a result of the Mainland’s adjustment to facilitated individual travel (FIT) scheme, Mr Tam said the operators made their decision based on commercial consideration. He said the Government was reviewing the development of the gaming industry, and before that the review is completed, the total number of tables would remain at some 4,000. Meanwhile, Mr Tam said the Labour Affairs Bureau would jointly run management courses that would help the gaming employees to upgrade themselves.
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The Competition now entered the first phase of evaluation. The organizer, Office for Preparation of Macao’s Participation in the Shanghai World Expo, received 31 quality entries upon submission deadline on 4 July. The Competition was received with enthusiasm; in addition to entries locally received, there are also entries from overseas. All participants are noted by numbers only. There shall not be any name, sign or symbol that can reveal the identity of individual or group participants in all documents of the concept design proposals. In witnesses of the jury and technical team (please refer to annex), documents of concept design proposals were opened today (7 July). The first jury meeting held today will select the first three winning entries, as well as other selected entries. Preliminary results will be announced later today (8 July). Macao residents can participate in the online “Make a Guess” campaign tomorrow The first three winning entries selected tomorrow will be available for public viewing at the Macao SAR Government Portal http://www.gov.mo/macaoat2010expo. Macao residents over 16 years old are invited to participate in the online “Make a Guess at the First Prize” campaign from 9 July to 5pm 21 July. Participants can make a guess at which one of the first three winning entries will be awarded the First Prize of the Competition. Upon announcement of the Competition results after the second jury meeting, 200 winners will be selected by lucky draw from those who successfully guessed the First Prize of the Competition. Each of the 200 winners will receive two admission tickets to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. List of lucky draw winners will be announced at the Government Portal and local newspapers in August.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) have once again joined hands to present a talk on business tourism in Macau, this time conducted by the key-speaker: ICCA chief executive officer Martin Sirk. The talk took place this afternoon at the Tourism Activities Centre (CAT) and targeted business tourism executives. MGTO director, João Manuel Costa Antunes, on behalf of the host organization, opened the event, which was then conducted by its guest speaker. ICCA CEO Martin Sirk made a presentation about “Competitive environment and key factors for success in the international meetings business”. He also talked about “Bidding for major events: lessons from the bidding process that ICCA uses for its own congress”. The event was attended by around three dozens of executives from Macau travel trade, Mainland China and Hong Kong-based ICCA members, among others. After the talk the participants had the chance to network in a MGTO hosted cocktail at the Grand Prix Museum, followed by dinner at the Wine Museum. Martin Sirk has been CEO of ICCA for about six years. His rich working experience includes, among others, international sales and marketing for congress centers, hotels and city convention and visitor bureaux. With more then 850 member companies and organizations in over 80 countries worldwide, ICCA is the most global organization within the meetings industry. ICCA’s first and foremost aim is to evaluate practical ways to get the travel industry involved in the rapidly expanding market of international meetings. The organization was founded in 1963 by a group of travel agents.
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Between 1960 and 1970, many people were sold to the South Pacific to work as labourers. By that time, parents often reminded their children to be careful when they went out, otherwise they would be caught and sold by the human traffickers. Does human trafficking still exists in our society nowadays? According to the data, crimes of trafficking in persons still occur in different parts of the world and are generally transnational in nature. In view of this, the MSAR Government enacted Law no. 6/2008 – Combating the Crime of Trafficking in Persons to eliminate all kinds of human trafficking in Macau. As from 24th June, penalties to activities of trafficking in persons are aggravated to combat efficiently transnational human trafficking crimes. It is considered as crime, e.g., adult and child trafficking for forced labour, prostitution and organ harvesting, by individual or organization. In coordination with the entry into force of the relevant law, Legal Affairs Bureau has issued the leaflet “Combating the Trafficking in Persons” to give citizens a clearer idea about it. This leaflet, available in Chinese, Portuguese and English versions, provides information on the general purposes of human trafficking, corresponding penalties to different crimes, protection measures provided by the Government authorities to the victims, etc. Citizens interested in this leaflet may get them from the following places: Judiciary Police, Migration Department and the frontier stations, Legal Information Stands of Legal Affairs Bureau, Women’s Association of Macau (Fu Lun Building, 2nd floor, at Rua do Campo) and its subordinated centres, Edif. da União Geral da Associação de Moradores at Bairro Tamagnini Barbosa and its subordinated centres, Caritas de Macau and its services centres, or visit our website at www.dsaj.gov.mo to download it. The Legal Information Stands are located in several places such as Health Centres, Hospital Centre of C.S.J, Civil Affairs Registry, Real Estate Registry, Businesses and Vehicles Registry, Public Notary Offices, Finance Services Bureau, Identification Bureau, Macao Post, University of Macau, Macao Polytechnic Institute, Centre of Permanent Education, Centre of Educational Activities of Taipa, Macau Electricity Company, etc.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today a special ad hoc group to be chaired by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture would be set up to co-ordinate various governmental departments helping the reconstruction works in Sichuan. Mr Ho, together with the Hong Kong Chief Executive, had been received by the Vice President, Mr Xi Jinping this evening. Mr Ho said Mr Xi had affirmed Macao compatriots’ donation and contribution in relief works, and expressed his warmest gratitude to the fellow citizens of Macao. This morning Mr Ho, with the delegation of Macao officials he is leading, visited the worst hit areas. He expressed his sympathy and solitude on behalf of the Macao citizens when he met the victims. He said after the meeting with the Sichuan Provincial Government that they have a better understanding of the reconstruction projects, and a communication mechanism would soon be introduced to carry out the plans. Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions would focus on the reconstruction of public facilities, such as hospitals, schools, stadia and infrastructures such as bridges and transportation networks. And since Hong Kong and Macao people have a special liking for pandas, these two regions would also contribute to the reconstruction works in the panda reserve of Wolong. Mr Ho said the Government had decided to allocate special funding in the financial budget in the next five years, and Macao Foundation would also participate in other rebuilding works. He also said that the Government would shortly organise local associations to visit Sichuan to learn how they could further contribute to relief works.
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The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, and the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Mr Tsang Chun-wah, today jointly chaired the Hong Kong and Macao co-operation meeting in Macao. During the meeting, the two of them, together with leading officials from the two cities, expressed the desire to further enhance co-operation and study the feasibility of extending joint projects in new areas. Recently the Guangdong Provincial Government had brought up an idea of strengthening the regional co-operation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Mr Tam said Macao would give full support, and working closely with Hong Kong would definitely facilitate co-operation in three areas. He said significant results and progress were achieved, especially after liaison and follow-up mechanisms had been set up in 16 different co-operative areas. Meanwhile, facilitation of immigration clearance and extension of stay for Hong Kong and Macao residents were focal points in the meeting. Experts would jointly work out a practical plan by the end of this year. On tourism, tourism bodies from both sides agreed to set up regular meetings, and to join hands in promoting tourism. On environmental collaboration, Mr Tam said the 2008 Macao International Environment Co-operation Forum and Exhibition held in April for the first time, would be regarded as platform to work with Hong Kong in protecting the environment. On labour matters, they agreed to set up a notification and compensation mechanism for industrial accidents and to strengthen work safety performance. They also agreed to increase co-operation in professional training for civil servants, education, building of intercity transportation, public health and heritage conservation, among other areas. The Chief of Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Ho Veng On and the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Mr Law Chi-kong reviewed the work done in the past six months and gave an update on the latest co-operation development. During their visit to Macao, Mr Tsang paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan.
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