MGTO Director Senna Fernandes arrives at the Tourism Activities Centre to obtain an update on the situation
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) carried out measures to close down Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel today (23 July) and posted the notification mandate at all entrances and exits of the hotel. Effective for a period of six months, close-down measures were executed in a smooth process. From 22 July to 2 p.m. on 23 July, MGTO arranged around 1,000 visitors to leave the hotel orderly. During the process when close-down measures were performed, MGTO arranged around 70 visitors and over 30 hotel staff members to leave the hotel. Teaming up with Public Security Police Force, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and Health Bureau, some 20 inspectors of MGTO arrived at Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel at noon to carry out close-down measures. The inspectors inspected all the rooms and facilities one by one at each floor of the hotel, ensuring that all parties have left the hotel. In addition, they properly handled the electrical and mechanical facilities in the hotel and made sure that there is no hidden peril against safety or public health. After the above measures were done, the inspectors carried out procedures to close down the establishment and sealed all entrances and exits of the hotel. They also solemnly informed the persons in charge of the establishment that any party, by entering the establishment without authorization or operating the hotel during the period of temporary closure, will incur criminal liability. The close-down procedures were completed around 2 p.m. MGTO inspectors will go to the establishment to examine its situation of temporary closure from time to time. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, MGTO set up a help desk at the Tourism Activities Centre, where staff members from MGTO, Labour Affairs Bureau, Social Welfare Bureau, Consumer Council and Tourism Crisis Management Office were stationed to provide information. Enquiries can also be made through Tel: 28333000. By 6 p.m., the help desk attended to a total of 19 cases, of which 3 cases were about room reservation involving 17 rooms, while 14 cases involved hotel staff and 2 cases involved hotel membership. A total of 8 enquiries were received through Tourism Hotline. Located in Taipa, Macao, Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel (formerly known as New Century Hotel) has committed serious administrative irregularities and failed to carry out essential fire safety measures. Considering the severity of the hotel’s irregularities against fire safety and the inspection committee’s conclusion, MGTO has reason to believe that it would cause serious or irreparable damage to the public if the Office did not adopt any provisional measures. Therefore, according to the provisions of Clause No. 1, Article No. 83 of the Administrative Procedure Code, MGTO decided to implement provisional measures to close down Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel for a period of six months. During the period of temporary closure, if requirements are met regarding works project and construction permit, etc., the hotel can apply for temporary entry into the establishment to conduct the necessary works to rectify the situations. However, the hotel is not allowed for business operation during the period. Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel, formerly known as New Century Hotel, is a five-star hotel opened in Macao since 1992. The hotel applied for approval to be renamed as Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel in 2013 and owns over 500 rooms up to date. This is the first time in Macao to have a five-star hotel closed down temporarily by the Government.
