News

A Macao medical team has successfully completed the first kidney transplant in Macao involving a living donor, with assistance from the First Affiliated Hospital of the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong Province. The surgical procedure involved a 54-year-old woman giving one of her own kidneys to her 39-year-old sister. The two women are now in-patients at the Conde S. Januário Hospital following the operations, and are respectively in a stable condition. The recipient was reported to have stable blood circulation and stable excretion of urine – key factors for assessing the success of such a transplant. The procedure – including removal of a kidney from the donor (nephrectomy), stabilisation of the removed organ, and the insertion of the kidney inside the body of the recipient – was done by a 12-member local medical team on Sunday (6 November), said the Director of the Health Bureau, Mr Lei Chin Ion, during a press briefing held on Monday (7 November). The transplant operation marked a new chapter in the city’s medical sector; it also helped raise public awareness regarding organ donation in Macao, said Mr Lei. Speaking during Monday’s press briefing, the Deputy Director of the First Affiliated Hospital of the Sun Yat-sen University, Professor He Xiaoshun, said this was a breakthrough in the cooperation between his hospital and the counterpart institution in Macao. Prof. He added it had been achieved under the guidance of the Chairman of the National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee, Dr Huang Jiefu. The operation showed Macao was advancing its medical techniques and would encourage further support from members of the public regarding organ donation. Such donation was a common practice in other well-developed cities, Prof. He added. There are approximately 600 patients in Macao that need to undergo haemodialysis (a way of cleansing from the blood of patients with kidney malfunction the toxins, extra salt and fluids that can otherwise build up); nonetheless, only a very limited number of organs can be obtained every year in Macao from living or deceased donors, Mr Lei said. To facilitate the opportunity for patients to receive appropriate treatment, the Government will step up efforts to promote organ transplantation within the local community; and will work more closely with counterparts on the mainland in order to share access to donated organs, i.e. Macao patients would be put on the mainland’s waiting list and vice versa. In addition, the Government has been sending local medical professionals to receive specialist training from medical experts at the Sun Yat-sen University. Macao formulated in 1995 a regulation on transplantation of organs and tissue and updated in 2015 the composition of the Ethics Committee for Life Sciences. Following several rounds of discussions by experts, the definition of, and regulation for, certifying brain stem death – and guidance on determining brain stem death – have been in place since April and May this year, respectively. A task force for organ transplantation, organised under the Health Bureau, has been preparing qualifying criteria – including patient age, general health and physical condition – regarding a transplant waiting list system in Macao. The standards applicable on the mainland and under international practice are both reference points for the Health Bureau in this regard.
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Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, “A Better Tomorrow – Exhibition on the Project of the New Central Library” is open until 7 December at the Old Court Building. This exhibition features the New Central Library planning works, the criteria of selection of the location, the buildings’ revitalization plan, the collection capacity after the opening, the layout of functional areas, among others. In order to allow the public to better understand the planning works of the New Central Library, guided tours to the exhibition will be available. Guided tours will be available during the period of the exhibition at the Old Court Building, from Tuesday to Friday, at 1:30pm, 3:30pm and 6:30pm; and at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Each guided tour will take around 40 minutes and will be conducted in Cantonese, and no interpreting services will be provided; interested individuals who request guided tours in Portuguese or English may call the Library for reservation; group reservation is also available. Admission is free. For reservations and enquiries, please contact Ms. Chan, staff member of the Macao Public Library, through tel. no. 6301 2842 or Mr. Lei through tel. no. 6301 1961, during office hours (Monday to Friday, from 9am to 1pm, and from 2:30pm to 5:30pm, excluding public holidays); or contact the Library’s front desk through tel. no. 2837 7117, during opening hours (Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 7pm; Sunday, from 11am to 7pm). For more information, please visit the Macao Public Library’s website at www.library.gov.mo.
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Consumer Council conducted its second ‘Supermarket price survey’ in November on 8 November for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Iao Hon Market and the Border Gate area (Portas do Cerco ) in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM’s Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. With reference to the local seven parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council on 8 November collects prices of fresh pork from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. The mentioned data collected during 2 November to 8 November are used for comparing the average selling price of the same products from Zhuhai and Hong Kong. The relevant data has been uploaded to the Council’s website for consumers’ reference. fThe specific price surveys on fresh pork and vegetables are now available on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), iPhone & Android ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ app, and the Council’s WeChat Account page. The relevant surveys include the average selling prices of local fresh pork and vegetables, and comparison on the respective the average selling prices rom Zhuhai, HK, and Macao. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The “2016 Cross Strait Four Regions (Xiamen) Forum on Exhibition Cooperation” was held between 6 and 9 November inclusive at the Xiamen Fliport Software Hotel. It was co-organised by: the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Convention and Exhibition Affairs; the Taiwan Exhibition and Convention Association; the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC); and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM). The Xiamen Convention and Exhibition Association was the event’s coordinator. IPIM Executive Director Irene V.K. Lau led a delegation of representatives from Macao’s MICE industry attending the Forum in Xiamen. The event attracted a total of 400 MICE professionals from the four regions surrounding the Taiwan Strait. The Forum aimed to promote exchanges and cooperation among the MICE sectors of Mainland China, the Asia-Pacific Region, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. During the opening ceremony, held on 7 November, speeches were delivered by: Mr Hong Yaofa, Deputy Director, Office of Xiamen Municipal Government; Mr Yuan Zaiqing, Chairman of China Convention and Exhibition Society (CCES); Walter Yeh, President of the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA); Irene V.K. Lau, Executive Director of IPIM; Benjamin Chau Kai-Leung, Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC; Li Xiahui, Vice President of the China Cities Association of Convention and Executive Chairman of Pan-Pearl Exhibition Association; Michael Tu Jiangguo, former Director of the Taiwan Exhibition and Convention Association; and Qiu Guoyue ,Vice Director of China (Xiamen) International Investment Promotion Center. In her speech at the Forum, IPIM Executive Director Ms Lau discussed Macao’s endeavours to promote a “Green MICE Industry”. She noted that the Macao SAR Government had been paying close attention to environment protection initiatives in the MICE industry. In this regard, the State Council issued in March the document “Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Cooperation within the Pan-Pearl-River Delta Region”, bringing new opportunities for cooperation between the MICE and environment protection industries within the Pan-Pearl-River Delta Region. The Macao Government has also published its “Guidelines on Waste Reduction and Separation for Convention and Exhibition Activities”, encouraging the active participation of the MICE industry in environment protection. The Macao Government has introduced a “Green Booth Award” scheme and a “Green Electricity Fee Rebate” programme covering major MICE events in the city, including the Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF) and the Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF). In addition, earlier this year, representatives from Macao’s MICE industry signed with the MICE Alliance of Pan-Pearl-River Delta Cities a cooperation agreement on “Working Together to Build a Green MICE Metropolis”, during the 11th Pan-Pearl-River Delta Regional Cooperation and Development Forum and Trade Fair. Ms Lau also invited the Cross Strait Four Regions (Xiamen) Forum participants to attend the 13th China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO 2017), to be held in Macao between 12 and 14 January 2017. CEFCO is considered the world’s third-largest fair for professionals in the convention and exhibition industry: 2017 will be the first time the event will take place outside Mainland China. On the afternoon of 7 November, two events were held at the Cross Strait Four Regions (Xiamen) Forum. The events, to promote exchanges between MICE industry representatives from the four regions of the Taiwan Strait, were: the “Cross Strait Four Regions MICE Project Matching Fair”; and the “Cross Strait Four Regions MICE Cooperation Mechanism Seminar”. Several MICE-related events were held concurrently with the Forum, including: the 2016 AFECA Annual General Meeting; the 2016 Incentive Tourism Planning Competition Series; and the Ministry of Commerce’s MICE Industry Standard Review Meeting. The representatives from Macao’s MICE industry have around 40 business negotiation and matching sessions during the “Convention and Exhibition Projects Matchmaking”. Macao MICE industry representatives attending the Forum included: Tony Lam, President of the Macau Fair and Trade Association; Lo Tak Chong, President of the Association of Advertising Agents of Macau; Iao Sok Tak, Deputy Director of the Macao Convention and Exhibition Association; Tam Ieng Wai, Deputy Director of the Macau Federal Commercial Association of Convention and Exhibition Industry; Tang Man Wa, Secretary-General of Macau Fair and Trade Association; Eva Ng, the Secretary General of The Association of Advertising Agents of Macau and Sam Lei, Senior Manager of IPIM’s Promotion Activities Department.
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Organized by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM) under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the opening ceremony of the contemporary art exhibition “Ad Lib – Recent Works of Konstantin Bessmertny” will be held on Friday, 11 November, at 6:30pm, at the Gallery of Special Exhibitions of MAM, on the 2nd floor. On the inauguration day, the exhibition will open until 8pm. After the opening ceremony, one hundred posters with the artist’s signature will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Everyone are welcome to attend. Russian artist Konstantin Bessmertny has been residing in Macao since 1993, where he has been devoting himself to artistic creation. Through his observation and experience of Macao’s dramatic changes, he expresses in his work his intimate care for his favourite Asian city from the perspective both of a foreigner and an insider. Bessmertny studied in several renowned art academies in the former USSR for seven years, gaining a profound attainment in what concerns technique. By employing absurdity and humour, he creates works that express ideas from philosophy, politics, theology, art history, cinema and music, leading the viewers to reflect on various social issues from multiple angles. Konstantin Bessmertny is acclaimed as one of the top-class contemporary artists in Asia. This exhibition features a total of thirty-four recent works of painting, sculpture, installations and mixed media by Konstantin Bessmertny, offering viewers a bustling and humorous visual feast. The exhibition “Ad Lib – Recent Works of Konstantin Bessmertny” is held until 28 May 2017. For details, please visit the webpages www.icm.gov.mo or www.MAM.gov.mo. For enquiries, please call MAM through 8791 9814 during office hours. The Macao Museum of Art is located at Avenida Xian Xing Hai, and is open daily from 10am to 7pm (no admission after 6:30pm; closed on Mondays). The admission fee is MOP5.00, and admission is free on Sundays and public holidays.
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The proceedings of the Second Review of the 2016 Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), will be held on Sunday, 13 November 2016, at the Dom Pedro V Theatre Mirror Hall. A total of 24 applications were received, from which 15 fashion design works were selected for the Second Review, following the First Review. The Second Review, a closed-door session, will be held at the Dom Pedro V Theatre Mirror Hall, which will therefore be closed from 9am to 6pm on the same day while the other facilities of the Theatre will remain open to the public. For enquiries, please contact Ms. Lam, staff member of IC through tel. no. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours.
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Due to overwhelming ticket demand, the Macao Cultural Centre, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, will be presenting two additional shows of Three Colours by the Norwich Puppet Theatre. The extra performances will be staged on December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2017 Using the colours red, blue and green as a theme, the performance merges projections, body movement and music, taking kids two years old and above to discover the beauty of nature’s landscapes. Besides guiding the young audience to establish a link between objects and colours, the performance also enables children to feel the emotions projected by a diverse pallet and imaginative stories. Besides the performances, the company will host two workshops where children may interact with puppet props and projections used on the show, experiencing nature’s landscapes. The Norwich Puppet Theatre was founded in England where it has been producing original shows, workshops and various theatrical projects for over 35 years. Besides its extensive touring in the UK, the troupe has been invited to perform in festivals around the world, having staged popular tales such as Snow White, Hansel and Gretel and Thumbelina. Three Colours additional shows will be presented by CCM on December 30, 2016 (Fri) and January 1, 2017 (Sunday) at the Small Auditorium. Tickets are already on sale at MOP 180 with various discounts at CCM’s box office and Macao Ticketing outlets. For further enquiries please visit www.ccm.gov.mo or call (853) 2870 0699. Credit card ticketing hotline (853) 2840 0555.
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Consumer Council conducted its first ‘Supermarket price survey’ in November on 7 November for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Areia Preta, Mong Há and Avenida de Venceslau de Morais in N. Sra. de Fátima Parish. The latest ‘Supermarket Price Survey’ is now available on Consumer Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo), ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. The survey is also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM’s Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. With reference to the local seven parishes and the number of supermarkets in each parish, the Council has divided around 100 supermarkets into 8 areas for price collection. The Council collects prices from these supermarkets for the provision of a more comprehensive database for consumers to check price discrepancies and make price comparisons according to their desired locations. For inquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, organised the chamber music concert “The Dual Faces of Russia”, demonstrating the flamboyant notes and heroic passion of Russian culture. Violinist Vit Polasek and Kai Sai, the Principal Oboe of the Macao Orchestra shared their views with participants before the performance, attracting numerous music fans. The Orchestra also presents the concert “Henning Plays Mozart” on Saturday, 12 November, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, part of the “Shining Virtuosos” Series, joining hands with Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud and offering music fans an opportunity not to be missed. Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud and OM will present two of Mozart’s violin works. Henning Kraggerud is one of the most distinguished musicians of northern Europe, recognised as a star in the music world for his passion for music, virtuosity and the beauty of his performances. His interpretation of Mozart’s works have been highly acclaimed by the critics. Tickets for “Henning Plays Mozart” are priced at MOP250, MOP200 and MOP150, and various discount packages are available. Ticketing Hotline: 2855 5555. For details about the programmes of the 2016-2017 Macao Orchestra Concert Season, please visit OM’s website: www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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