News

Yesterday afternoon (20th of December) a traffic accident occurred in the Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus in Taipa, involving two tour buses and a private vehicle. The 29 tourists from the Hunan tour group already left Macao yesterday. Of the 34 tourists from the Shandong tour group, 2 were hospitalized while a third also had to stay behind in Macau in order to accompany her hospitalized family member. The remaining 31 tourists left Macao yesterday. If necessary, affected tourists and their families can contact the 24-hour Tourism Hotline: (853) 2833 3000.
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There was a traffic accident during the afternoon of today (20th of December) in the Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus in Taipa, involving two tour buses and a private vehicle which led to 57 people being sent to the Conde de Sao Januario Hospital, with 53 of them being tourists from mainland China, of which 2 needed hospitalization, while the remaining 4 were the drivers of the tour buses and the private vehicle, a tour guide and a passenger of the private vehicle. Out of the 53 mainland China tourists, 29 are from Hunan, and 19 of them suffered light injuries and were later discharged while the remaining 10 did not suffer any injuries and have already left Macao. The remaining 34 tourists are from Shandong and have all suffered injuries, with 2 of them requiring to be hospitalized, while the remaining suffered only light injuries and have already left the hospital. Once informed of the accident, the Tourism Crisis Management Office and the Macao Government Tourism Office deployed immediately representatives to the Conde Sao Januario Hospital in order to gather information on the incident and to follow up on the condition of those injured, as well as to contact the travel agencies involved in order for them to provide as soon as possible the necessary assistance to the tourists, including meals, and handle their departure from Macao If necessary, affected tourists and their families can contact the 24-hour Tourism Hotline: (853) 2833 3000. * Chinese and Portuguese are the official languages of Macao, the English version of the web site is the translation from the Chinese originals and is provided for reference only.
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The Government is paying heed to the business environment for local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to possible changes in the labour market, said today the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac. Mr Leong noted the business environment in Macao remained relatively stable. The Government would be vigilant and would adopt measures to maintain the current high employment rate. The Secretary made the comments this morning after the reception hosted by the Government in celebration of the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. There were still uncertainties in other economies, which might affect the stability of Macao, despite the year-on-year increase in gross gaming revenue recorded for several months recently, said Mr Leong. The Macao Economic Services would pay close attention regarding any changes in the business environment, such as increases in property rental prices or in the salaries paid to employees. The Labour Affairs Bureau would closely monitor the labour market and would enhance the services it offers, such as employment matching and occupational training. Issues relating to the livelihood of the people are the top priority of the Government, said Mr Leong. In addition, Mr Leong commented on the Government’s decision regarding renewal of the contract with Macao (Yut Yuen) Canidrome Co Ltd. He stated the company would need to consider – prior to 20 July 2018 – if it wanted to keep operating its dog racing business. If the company were to choose that option, it would need to find a new location. Any new site would need to comply with urban planning rules in general and, in particular, would need to avoid creating any negative effect on local people’s livelihoods. Dog racing business also needed to fulfil international requirements. Regarding the idea that allowing the importation of non-resident workers for driver positions would be positive for the Macao economy, Mr Leong said different views had been expressed within society: the Government needed to study in depth the matter and to pay careful attention to opinions from the business sector and the labour sector.
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The scheme to enable Macao-registered motor vehicles to enter Hengqin Island in Zhuhai Prefecture was a significant initiative, and would encourage people across different sectors in Macao to participate further in regional cooperation. Speaking today at the launch ceremony in Hengqin for the vehicle scheme, the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, said its implementation would further boost cooperation projects between Guangdong and Macao that involved locating in Hengqin. The scheme – whereby qualified Macao-registered motor vehicles can enter Hengqin – would be implemented in a phased manner in order to ensure its efficiency, said Mr Wong. The authorities have received dozens of applications under the scheme: the first nine vehicles permitted to enter Hengqin made the journey today. Mr Wong said the more frequent exchanges and complementary economic cooperation between Macao and Hengqin that would be generated by the initiative would enhance social wellbeing in the two places and advance regional cooperation. The vehicle scheme would serve as an example for greater complementary and coordinated cooperation, and widen the scope of such ties between Macao and its network of neighbouring cities, he added. The initiative illustrated the strong support for Macao’s development from ministries and departments of the Central Government and of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, said Mr Wong. He expressed sincere gratitude to those authorities involved over the years in the discussions on the vehicle scheme. He noted it had been officially launched today to mark the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. In December 2014, the Central Government’s initiative to establish the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone was announced. It included positioning the Hengqin Area as a resource for regional cooperation and to assist – via the Framework Agreement on Cooperation Between Guangdong and Macao – in the process of achieving Macao’s adequate economic diversification. Macao is itself positioned as a world centre of tourism and leisure. The SAR Government’s first-ever Five-Year Development Plan outlined a vision whereby Macao would take greater roles in national development, strengthen its contribution to regional cooperation, and create more favourable conditions for engagement between mainland markets and international markets. Other officials attending today’s ceremony in Hengqin included: the Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr Ma Io Kun; the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Iao Lek; the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security, Ms Cheong Ioc Ieng; the Commissioner of the Public Security Police Force, Mr Leong Man Cheong; and the Director of the Transport Bureau, Mr Lam Hin San. Also present at the ceremony were: the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Yao Jian; the Deputy Secretary-General of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhong Xuanhui; the Secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee, Mr Guo Yuanqiang; the Zhuhai Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Mr Guo Yuanjiang; and the Mayor of Zhuhai, Mr Zheng Renhao.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today called for further effort to fully leverage Macao’s advantages in order to complement in the country’s development strategies.
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Consumer Council hotline (89889315) will be available during Memorial Day of the Establishment of the Macao SAR, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays. The hotline will be operating on 20th to 21st December and 24th to 27th December 2016, as well as 1st January to 2nd January 2017, from 9AM to 6PM daily. Normal working hours are resumed on 22nd, 28th, and 3rd January 2017. Consumers are reminded to inquire more about the products and services before making consumption, and keep the relevant receipts and contracts. If anyone finds his or her consumer rights being infringed, he or she should file a complaint with the Council or other departments and provide all necessary detailed information. Businesses are also reminded to serve consumers with honesty and integrity.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that 26% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments reported a year-on-year increase in receipts in October 2016, up by 5 percentage points from September, driven by an increase in visitors during the National Day holidays. Among them, 49% of the Chinese Restaurants and 13% of the Japanese & Korean Restaurants recorded growth, up by 20 and 6 percentage points respectively from September. Meanwhile, 51% of the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments reported a year-on-year decline in receipts, down by 12 percentage points from the previous month, with the corresponding proportions of Western Restaurants, Chinese Restaurants and Japanese & Korean Restaurants decreasing by 26, 16 and 6 percentage points respectively from the previous month. As regards retail trade, 35% of the interviewed retailers reported a year-on-year growth in sales in October, down by 5 percentage points from September. Meanwhile, the proportion of retailers that recorded a year-on-year decrease in sales rose slightly by 1 percentage point to 58%. Analysed by industry, all of the interviewed Leather Goods Retailers, 53% of the Watches, Clocks & Jewellery Retailers, 50% of the Adults' Clothing Retailers and 44% of the Supermarkets recorded a year-on-year increase in sales; concurrently, only 22% of the Department Stores reported growth, down by 33 percentage points from September. On the other hand, all of the interviewed Motor Vehicle Retailers, 78% of the Department Stores and 60% of the Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers registered a year-on-year decline in sales. With respect to business prospects in November, the interviewed restaurants & similar establishments expected no significant change in their business, with 19% anticipating a year-on-year growth in receipts, similar to that of the previous month. Meanwhile, 43% of the restaurants & similar establishments expected a year-on-year decrease in receipts, up slightly by 1 percentage point from the preceding month. Among the various types of restaurants, 25% of the Japanese & Korean Restaurants forecasted a year-on-year rise in receipts in November, up nearly by 13 percentage points from the preceding month, while 69% anticipated a year-on-year decrease, same as in the previous month. Retailers were still cautious about their business prospects in November. The proportion of retailers that anticipated a year-on-year growth in sales rose by 1 percentage point from the previous month to 24%, with 60% of the interviewed Leather Goods Retailers expecting an increase. On the other hand, 45% of the interviewed retailers anticipated a year-on-year decrease in sales in November, down by 7 percentage points from the preceding month, with all of the Motor Vehicle Retailers and 50% of the Cosmetics & Sanitary Articles Retailers forecasting a decline. The sample of the Business Climate Survey on Restaurants & Similar Establishments and Retail Trade was selected based on the receipts of the establishments, comprising 167 restaurants & similar establishments (accounting for 53% of the industry’s receipts) and 135 retailers (accounting for 70% of the industry’s receipts). The Survey results reflect only the business performance and the expectations of the sample restaurants and retailers, where no extrapolation of results has been conducted.
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The Government is holding a series of events to share with all people in Macao the joy of the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). Highlights of the celebrations tomorrow (20 December), the day of the anniversary, include a flag raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square at 8am. It will be shown live by the television service of TDM. There will also be a reception hosted by the Government, at Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre, at 9.30am. Several Government departments have events to commemorate the anniversary of the Macao SAR. The activities include a concert promoted by the Sports Bureau, at Macao Stadium, Taipa, at 2pm. Macao Post is offering to the public a commemorative postmarking service. It will be located at a temporary counter at Macao Post’s Senado Square headquarters in the city centre. The franking service is available from 9am to 5.30pm on Tuesday. In addition, at 9pm, the Macao Government Tourism Office will stage a fireworks display on the waterfront near Macau Tower. Another event coinciding with the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR is a special flower show called “Enchanting Blossoms in Woodland”, organised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. It features more than 50,000 winter and festive blooms displayed at the Taipa Houses-Museum on Taipa. The show runs until 8 January, 2017.
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The Macao Orchestra (OM), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented the two concerts “Journey into the World of Music - Peter and the Wolf” on 18 December, at 2:30pm and 5pm, respectively, at the Macao Tower Auditorium. Students from Escola Caritas de Macau and the Concordia School for Special Education accompanied by parents were invited for the concerts which also featured cartoon decorations and photo shooting activities, offering a lively and cheerful atmosphere. The concert series “Journey into the World of Music” is an educational series held by the Orchestra annually. This year, OM played the classical musical fairy tale “Peter and the Wolf” in collaboration with Platypus Theatre from Canada, whose humorous narrative accompanied by particular instruments, encouraged the imagination of both children and adults. The assistant conductor of the OM, Francis Kan, led this classic in a vivid way and interacted with the audience bringing joy and musical inspiration to children. Nearly 100 students from Escola Caritas de Macau and the Concordia School for Special Education were invited by OM to enjoy the concerts, sharing the happiness of music. Principals of both schools expressed their gratitude for OM’s arrangement and believed it was a rare opportunity for the students, hoping they were inspired by the music and learn from this exciting experience. The Macao Orchestra will visit a number of charitable organizations and elderly homes next month to share the warmth of the Chinese New Year with the elderly and vulnerable groups by holding New Year concerts. The event aims to promote trans-generational harmony and coexistence.
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The Macao Orchestra (OM), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presented the two concerts “Journey into the World of Music - Peter and the Wolf” on 18 December, at 2:30pm and 5pm, respectively, at the Macao Tower Auditorium. Students from Escola Caritas de Macau and the Concordia School for Special Education accompanied by parents were invited for the concerts which also featured cartoon decorations and photo shooting activities, offering a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
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