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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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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today Macao would grasp opportunities that have emerged in the current global financial turmoil. Mr Ho made this remark when he paid a courtesy call on the Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Mr Wang Yang, in Guangzhou this afternoon. Mr Ho said Macao had not suffered much during the crisis, and that Macao should grasp the opportunities that emerged during this time. Mr Wang, who was also a Politburo member of CPC Central Committee, said that Guangdong and Macao should work together amid the financial crisis and try to expand their economies. He also thanked Macao’s support to the motherland when it suffered after a massive snowstorm last January. Mr Wang hosted a reception for Mr Ho and some members of Mr Ho’s delegation, including the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, and the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io. Before the courtesy call, Mr Ho visited Ancient Nanfeng Kiln and Zumiao in Foshan and met the city’s officials. Mr Ho is scheduled to attend Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference 2008 in Zhuhai tomorrow.
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The 34th National Congress of the Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies (APAVT) continued today in Macau with a debate on the new image campaign “Portugal, Europe’s West Coast” in the morning and the afternoon was reserved to discuss the challenges faced by the air transportation industry. Former President of Portugal, Dr. Jorge Sampaio, the invited keynote speaker for the morning panel, opened the session under the topic of Portugal’s new image branding. Sampaio gave his opinion on what it takes to build a successful country branding. He highlighted how important image building is to correct misperceptions and convey values of a country or region. Sampaio also pointed out the need fOR coordination of efforts between the public and private sectors for a successful result. Sampaio’s keynote was followed by a presentation on Portugal’s new image promotional campaign “Portugal, Europe’s West Coast”, by BBDO Portugal vice-president, Pedro Bidarra, the company which created the campaign. A debate on Portugal’s branding as a tourism destination followed the presentations. The discussion was joined by the Chairman of Turismo de Portugal, Luís Patrão, administrator of MM&Company, David Marks, chief executive officer of TUI Event Management Portugal, Duarte Correia, former Portugal Minister for Tourism, Telmo Correia, and former Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism, Vítor Neto. Well-known Portuguese journalist Sérgio Figueiredo moderated the debate. The working session in the afternoon discussed the topic “Air Transportation: Realities and Challenges”. Former Portuguese Secretary of State and TAP representative in Air Macau Luís Correia da Silva was the key speaker of the session. He spoke in detail about the challenges that airlines face in the leisure travel segment under the current recession scenery. Afterwards, Correia da Silva joined a debate which had among its participants Aer Lingus sales manager, Aisling Lyons, Galileo Portugal chief executive officer, António Loureiro, SATA chief executive officer, António Menezes, ANA chief executive officer, Guilhermino Rodrigues and TAP vice-president, Luiz Mór. The discussion was moderated by Top Atlântico Madeira administrator, João Welsh. The five-day long event, which opened on Sunday, closes this coming Thursday. The hosting of the APAVT Congress in Macau reinforces MGTO’s promotional strategy to show the new Macau to Portuguese tour operators, and attract more visitors from Portugal to Macau, especially for the celebrations next year of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Macau SAR. Macau has also been invited to be the “International Guest Destination” at the Lisbon Travel Market 2009 to be held next January. The National Congress of APAVT is a main highlight in the annual agenda of the Portuguese tourism industry. APAVT is the most representative association of Portuguese tourism, and since its foundation in 1950, has played a fundamental role in the development of tourism in Portugal. This is the fourth time that APAVT has chosen Macau to host its annual national congress, after 1982, 1990 and 1996, and the first after the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region.
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