News

Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced that its newly-appointed representative in Indonesia has come into operation and will actively expand the Indonesian tourism market for Macao in line with the direction of Macao’s tourism development towards diversification. MGTO hosted a dinner in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia today (8 September) and announced its appointment of VFS Global Services Private Limited as its new representative in Indonesia. The Office invited 60 guests to the dinner, including members of the travel trade and media in Indonesia as well as Macao’s travel trade. During the dinner, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes remarked that tapping into the potential of the Indonesian market, MGTO has set up its first representative in Indonesia since 2009 to assist the Office in expanding the Indonesian source market and encouraging more international visitations to Macao. This year, after a comprehensive selection process, the Office decided to appoint VFS Global Services Private Limited as its representative in Indonesia. Capitalizing on its experience and competitive advantages, the new representative is expected to keep abreast of the market trends and cater to the needs of various market segments with tailor-made marketing plans to attract more Indonesian visitors to Macao, which will promote diversification of visitor source markets for Macao. MGTO’s new representative in Indonesia is set to begin an array of projects there, from rolling out roadshows, joining travel fairs and seminars, organizing trade networking events and familiarization visits for media and trade to riding on different channels including online and social networks to promote Macao as a travel destination to the travel trade, consumers and media in Indonesia. In addition, as Macao has maintained sound cooperative relations with Mainland cities and provinces as well as other neighboring regions, MGTO will seize the opportunity to promote multi-destination tourism products in Indonesia to expand the source market and promote the tourism brand of Macao and its neighbours as one regional destination. From January to July 2016, Macao registered a record of over 100,000 Indonesian visitor arrivals, a year-on-year surge of 8%. MGTO looks forward to the new representative’s strenuous efforts in destination marketing across Indonesia for steady market growth.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said today the implementation of initiatives laid out in the city’s first Five-Year Development Plan would lay a solid foundation for Macao’s further social and economic success. The Government launched the official document for the Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2020) of the Macao Special Administrative Region during a press conference held today at Government Headquarters. The Plan is effective immediately in order to speed improvements to Macao’s living and working conditions; and for enhancement of the city’s transport, travel and entertainment facilities. The document also contains comprehensive policies designed to fulfil the city’s short-, mid-, and long-term needs, Mr Chui said. The Plan features clear development themes, i.e., innovation, coordination, connectivity and the sharing of the fruits of development, in a bid to advance Macao’s competitiveness internationally. To evaluate the effectiveness of the Plan, the Government has created a set of objectives and indicators, monitoring mechanisms and third-party evaluation. The first evaluation of the Plan will be done this year at the same time as the annual Policy Address, said Mr Chui. Enhancing people’s wellbeing was at the root of the Plan, noted Mr Chui. The Government had dedicated a chapter of the Plan to exhaustive measures to address social concerns, such as the allocation of land resources, local infrastructure, and transportation. The master plan for Macao’s urban planning system would be released in 2019, with a view to optimising the management of land resources and to allocating appropriate resources – according to urgency and priority – for construction projects, said the Chief Executive. He added that following the implementation of Macao’s Five-Year Development Plan, the Government would spare no effort in fostering the city’s economic diversification, in order to offer Macao people a greater number of employment opportunities and to provide more favourable conditions for businesses. Mr Chui said the Plan presented a good start for the city, allowing it further to consolidate its role in the country’s development story and to play a greater role in regional cooperation. The Plan complements the nation’s 13th Five-Year Plan and boosts Macao’s contributions to national strategic development, in particular the city’s efforts in relation to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as the “Belt and Road” initiative). The Plan also lays down a clear blueprint for the transformation of Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure; and to become a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as the “Centre and Platform” policies). Work on Macao’s first ever Five-Year Development Plan began in 2015. The final version incorporates advice from Central Government agencies, scholars and opinions from the Macao public. The latter views were gathered in two rounds of consultation. Copies of the full version of the Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2020) of the Macao Special Administrative Region – in Chinese and Portuguese –are available at the Government Information Bureau; at public information centres; at the headquarters of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; and in the city’s public libraries. The Plan can be viewed online via: the website of the Chief Executive’s Office (http://www.gce.gov.mo); the website of the Committee for Development of the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure (http://www.cccmtl.gov.mo/); the Macao SAR Government Portal (http://www.gov.mo); and the website of the Government Information Bureau (http://www.gcs.gov.mo).

Video:【GCS】Launch of the Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2020) of the Macao Special Administrative Region

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To facilitate the public and philatelists for ordering new philatelic products, please note the followings:(attachment)
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To celebrate the Teachers’ Day 2016, Macao Post announced that a Temporary Post Counter will be set up at our Philatelic Shop located at Macao Post Headquarters, from 10:30 to 17:30 on 10th September 2016 to provide the commemorative postmark cancellation service for the “Celebration of Teachers’ Day”. A commemorative envelope with stamp will be distributed to public. Welcome to visit and collect Macao Stamps.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on diapers, over-the-counter drugs, and milk powder on 7 September for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council’s ‘Supermarket Price Information Platform’ iPhone and Android apps, and on the Council’s WeChat account page. For inquiry, please call the Council’s hotline: 8988 9315.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) organizes the ‘Parade through Macao, Latin City’ every year, providing local arts groups a performance platform to express their creativity while encouraging participants to showcase their creative talent so as to increase competitiveness. It aims to promote the diversified development of Macao’s cultural industries and create opportunities for local artists to observe and conduct exchange activities with international performing groups. In order to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Macao’s Handover to China, this year the ‘Parade through Macao, Latin City’ will be held on Sunday, 4 December. IC invites all local associations registered in the Identification Service Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region to submit performance proposals from 23 to 25 September. The ‘Parade through Macao, Latin City’, themed on the Historic Centre of Macao, has been held annually since 2011. Local and overseas performing groups are invited to participate in this event, celebrating the anniversary of Macao’s Handover to China whilst aiming at establishing the image of Macao as a cultural city. Over the past five years, the Parade has attracted residents and tourists to participate and has become increasingly popular and one of the main trademark festivals of the city. The Parade is themed “VIVA’s Adventure”, narrating the story of how VIVA, inspired by the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), makes a journey from Macao to the East in order to explore customs and traditions from all around the world, only to find that the best destination is the place where he started after all. All outstanding performing groups and audience are now invited to welcome VIVA’s return to Macao on the day of the Parade. The artistic groups can select one of the two categories, namely Parade only or Parade and Closing Performance. Arts groups that participate both in the Parade and in the Closing Performance have to produce a 3-minute performance related to this edition’s theme. An award will be given to the best performance, and the winning group will get a chance to represent Macao in the “Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances" in Hong Kong. Interested local arts groups should submit a programme proposal and all related information to the -2 floor of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Building, located at Tap Siac Square, from 23 to 25 September, from 10am to 7pm. Details of the application regulations may be checked or downloaded at the Cultural Affairs Bureau website at www.icm.gov.mo. For enquiries, please call IC through tel. no. (853) 8399 6699, during office hours.
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Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the “Artworks of the Winners of New Talent Prize of the XXXI Collective Exhibition of Macao Artists - Chan Chong Hei, Un Lok I and Cheong Kit Pan” was inaugurated on 6th September, at 6pm, at the Sir Ho Yin Gallery of the Clube Militar de Macau for the general public, featuring 33 works by the three New Talent Prize winners. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Representative of the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Head of the Department of Exhibitions and Museums, Lei Lai Kio; the Director of the School of Arts of the Macao Polytechnic Institute, Hsu Hsiu-Chu; the Director of the Affiliated School of the University of Macau, Lou Lan Heng; the Director of Hou Kong Middle School, Iao Tun Ieong; and three New Talent Prize winners. Chan Chong Hei started learning Chinese painting at the age of nine. Encouraged by his instructor, he participated in the Collective Exhibition of Macao Artists with the work “Hard work on Painting”. This awarded work will be showcased along with ten of his newly created landscape paintings in the exhibition. Un Lok I, the New Talent Prize winner in the Western Painting category, is keen on technical pen drawing. She loves reading books about muscle structure, and her paintings are largely about the human body and fantasised patterns of different types, demonstrating her high sensibility and creative imagination. Cheong Kit Pan has been learning Chinese Calligraphy for 13 years and is always diligent in perfecting his techniques by imitating different styles of handwriting. He won the New Talent Prize in Chinese Calligraphy twice. His works will be again showcased in this exhibition. “Artworks of the Winners of New Talent Prize of the XXXI Collective Exhibition of Macao Artists - Chan Chong Hei, Un Lok I and Cheong Kit Pan” is held from 7th to 28th September at the Sir Ho Yin Gallery at the Clube Militar de Macau, located at No. 975, Avenida da Praia Grande, and is open from 11 am to 7pm (including public holidays). Admission is free. For enquiries, please call IC through tel. no. 8988 4100 during office hours.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council collects prices of fresh pork and vegetables from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. The mentioned data collected during 31 August to 6 September are used for comparing the selling prices of the same products from Zhuhai and Hong Kong. The relevant data has been uploaded to the Council’s website for consumers’ reference. The 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 selling prices of local fresh pork and vegetables, and comparison on the respective selling prices rom Zhuhai, HK, and Macao. Results of specific product price surveys on refrigerated and frozen pork are released The Council also conducted its specific price surveys on refrigerated and frozen pork on 6 September. Price data of the mentioned surveys have been uploaded to the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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In order to help teenagers develop positive consumption attitudes and enhance their knowledge of consumer rights and responsibilities, Consumer Council holds the Consumer Study Award (2016-2017). Participants are requested to first submit proposals on their reports and the deadline for submission is on 20th October. Introductory talks about this Award will be held in September and secondary students are welcome to participate. The Consumer Study Award aims to stimulate students’ interest in exploring various consumption cultures in the society, and encourages students to conduct a report based on what they have learned and discovered. By holding this Award, the Council hopes to build up teenagers’ sense of social awareness and civic responsibility, and this is also a good opportunity for the Council to promote consumer education. This Award provides a chance for the participants to learn the skills and methods in conducting a project-based report. The Award was first held last year and the result was satisfactory. The Council hopes to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of promoting consumer education and thus more support are needed from secondary schools. In order to let schools know more about the aims, purpose and details of the Consumer Study Award, the Council will be holding introductory talks on 17th , 21st and 24th of September to introduce to the interested parties about details of the activity, and participants are welcome to make enquiries. The Council also invite teachers who have participated in last year’s Award to share their experiences. Teachers and students who are interested in this Award are welcome to register for the talks. Details regarding the Award and the registration forms are available on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo). The Consumer Study Award is an activity targeting junior secondary and senior secondary students. Participants are required to form teams and guided by teachers. Outstanding Award, Best Topic, Best Creativity, and Best Instructor to the respective winners will be awarded from each category (junior secondary and senior secondary). Deadline for proposal submission is on 20th October. Participants whose proposals are chosen will be mentored by the Council’s staff in conducting their study reports. Outstanding reports will be turned into shooting scripts. These short clips will be used by the Council as teaching resources for consumer education. The clips for the Consumer Study Award 2015-2016 have been uploaded and interested parties can browse via the Council’s website. Information and details of the Award are available at the Council’s office. (Av. Horta e Costa, N.º 24-A, Edf. Cheung Heng, R/C). Interested parties can also check with the Council’s official website. The Council encourages secondary students and teachers to participate in the Award. For inquiry, please call 89887316/8988 7352.
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The 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) will be held in Macao on 11 and 12 October 2016. Delegations from mainland China and seven Portuguese-speaking countries, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor will be in Macao for the Ministerial Conference. The theme for this edition of the Ministerial Conference will be: Working Toward Stronger Sino-Portuguese-speaking Countries’ Trade and Economic Relations – Combining Efforts, Jointly Building a Platform, Sharing Fruits of Development. The Ministerial Conference will highlight the opportunities arising from the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (known as the “Belt and Road” Initiative). The two-day Ministerial Conference will start with a welcoming banquet and opening ceremony, followed by ministerial meetings and press briefings. There will also be meetings between entrepreneurs from China and those from Portuguese-speaking countries. Delegates representing the participating countries will sign several memorandums of cooperation. They include the Strategic Plan for Economic and Trade Co-operation (2017-2019). It will outline the development vision and direction for cooperation covering those three years. The 5th Ministerial Conference is expected to complement existing cooperation efforts between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and to boost among the member countries the impetus for development. The Ministerial Conference will also strengthen Macao’s functions as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries; and will provide a fresh driving force for the diversification of the city’s economy. The Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) was founded in Macao in October 2003. It was an initiative of the Central Government, with the collaboration of the Macao SAR Government. Forum Macao’s membership includes seven Portuguese-speaking countries: Angola; Brazil; Cape Verde; Guinea-Bissau; Mozambique; Portugal; and East Timor. Forum Macao aims to build multilateral ties between governmental agencies of its various member countries and places, in a bid to facilitate economic and trade cooperation. It is also aims better to promote Macao’s unique bridging role between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, in order to bolster exchanges in trade services and cultural affairs. Forum Macao has a record of success spanning its 13 years of existence. As well as expanding intergovernmental exchanges, it has also boosted cooperation on: trade; investment; human resources; agricultural and fisheries; and overall economic development. The previous editions of the Forum Macao took place in October 2003; September 2006; November 2010; and November 2013.
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