News

Macao Post and the Macau Water Supply Company Limited jointly organized promotional activity for receiving Electronic Water Bill through SEPBox from 1st May 2015 to 30th April 2016. The applicants were able to enjoy a rebate of MOP $20 on water charge and were eligible for three rounds of lucky draws during the above mentioned period. The third round lucky draw prize presentation ceremony was conducted on 27th July 2016, Director of Macao Post Ms. Derby LAU and Executive Director of the Macau Water Supply Company Limited Ms. Nacky KUAN jointly presented a special prize of “Macao Philatelic Album” (One set of all stamps and souvenir sheets issued by Macao Post from the establishment of Macao Special Administrative Region to 2014 are collected in a prestige stamp album.) to Ms. Lo Wai Heng, while another winner Ms. Lei Kit Man won an “ Annual Album 2014”. In order to encourage the use of Electronic Water Bill through SEPBox, a rebate of MOP $20 on water charge is continuously offering to the successful applicants of the service until 30th April 2017. For more information about the promotional activity, please visit our website at http://seps.macaupost.gov.mo/waterbill. For enquiry, please contact us at Tel:28720029 or email us at: support@seps.macaupost.gov.mo
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Macao’s newborn giant panda cub twins have made their first public appearance at a celebration to mark their one-month anniversary. The pair of male cubs is in good condition: “Dabao” (nickname of the elder cub) now weighs 1,010.5 grams compared to 135 grams at birth; “Xiaobao” now weighs 753.6 grams, compared to 53.8 grams at birth. The twins’ black and white fur has also grown. The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, on Tuesday (26 July) paid a visit to the month-old cubs. She was given an update on their health and progress by the team looking after them. To mark the cubs’ one-month anniversary, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau on Tuesday organised a number of activities. They included inviting a group of kindergarten children and a group of media representatives to the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion. The twins’ mother “Xin Xin” gave birth to the twins on 26 June at the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion. “Xin Xin” and the father of the cubs, a male giant panda named “Kai Kai”, are housed at the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion. A pair of giant pandas was given by the Central Government to Macao as a gift for the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau will carry out renovation/conservation works at the Taipa Houses-Museum, located at Avenida da Praia, Taipa, from Thursday, 28 July. The works include the partial digging of the surrounding ground of the houses in order to place electrical wires and install lighting equipment, so as to improve the outdoor lighting system, as well as the renovation of the façades of the Macanese House, the House of the Islands and the House of the Portugal Regions. Bamboo scaffolding will be set up to allow for the painting of the walls. The Taipa Houses-Museum will not be affected by the abovementioned works and it will remain open to the public. The works are estimated to be completed in September. For enquiries, please call IC through tel. no. 2836 6866, during office hours.
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The European Union Academic Programme in Macao (EUAP-M) recently organised an annual study trip to Europe for a group of 20 university students and faculty members Most of them are students from the University of Macau (UM). The trip provided an opportunity for the students to learn more about the culture of Belgium and Ireland and to acquaint themselves with the European Union’s (EU) main functions and institutions. Highlights of the trip included meetings in Brussels, one with a representative of the European Commission (EC) on the role, functions and legislative process of the EU, and the other with officials of the European External Action Service (EEAS) on its role and functions as well as EU-China and EU-Macao relations. In Brussels, the group visited the Parlamentarium (the European Parliament’s Visitors’ Centre), where the students learned how decisions are made between the European Council and the European Parliament and how they influence the lives of European citizens. The group also visited the Macao Economic and Trade Office to the EU. During the trip, the students participated in a workshop at the Free University of Brussels (ULB), titled ‘EU-China Research and Teaching Co-operation’, which was co-organised by the Institute for European Studies, ULB, and the Institute of European Studies of Macau (IEEM). The students also visited the Trinity College in Dublin, the oldest university in Ireland, where they attended a master class on the EU-Ireland relations given by two professors from the college’s Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Students discussed the possible impact of Brexit on the EU, Ireland, and the Sino-European relations with the professors. The delegation also visited the library of the Trinity College, where the Book of Kells is housed. The group also visited Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and met with researchers from the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin. Established in 2012, the EUAP-M is a partnership between UM and IEEM, co-financed by the EU. It aims to help the general public in Macao, especially students at all levels, to understand more about the EU.
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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is ready to launch a tracking study on family hostel. Starting from tomorrow (28 July) until 29 August, the Office will conduct a questionnaire survey to solicit public opinion and learn more about residents’ latest stance towards opening of family hostels in Macao. The survey includes online questionnaire and street interview to be held concurrently. Residents are welcome to voice their opinions. Residents can fill in the questionnaire (Chinese/Portuguese/English) on the website of Macao Tourism Industry Net: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo during the period between 28 July and 29 August. For street survey, arranged personnel will interview residents in different districts throughout Macao during the aforementioned period, targeting residents who are at age of 18 or above and have lived in Macao for the past 12 months. MGTO had carried out a feasibility study on family hostel in 2014 and collected a total of 2,243 samples through street survey and online questionnaire. Over 60% of the surveyed residents supported the idea of family hostel provided that a range of conditions are met including the criteria for development of family hostels, as well as overall planning and effective regulation of the Government. However, not a high proportion of interviewees were in favor of family hostel operation in their own community districts, while in general they expressed concerns about public security, hygienic conditions, traffic, housing prices and other issues. In short, the society had not reached a general consensus on this widely-discussed topic for development of family hostels at the time. This press release is available at: http://industry.macautourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that both the unemployment rate (1.9%) and the underemployment rate (0.5%) for April-June 2016 remained stable as in March-May 2016. Total labour force was 397,800 and the labour force participation rate stood at 72.3%. Total employment increased by 1,800 from March-May, at 390,400. Number of the unemployed was 7,400, down by 200; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 9.0% of the total unemployed, up by 3.9 percentage points. In the second quarter of 2016, the general unemployment rate (1.9%) remained unchanged as in the previous quarter, while the unemployment rate of local residents (2.6%) decreased by 0.1 percentage point. Total employment increased by 1,400 quarter-to-quarter, with those aged 35-44 rising by 1,200. Analysed by industry, employment in Gaming & Junket Activities (83,600) rose by 3,000, while that in Restaurants & Similar Activities (26,200) dropped by 1,500. Median monthly employment earnings of the employed held stable as in the previous quarter, at MOP15,000 in the second quarter, with those engaging in Gaming & Junket Activities and Construction earning MOP19,000 and MOP15,000 respectively. Moreover, median earnings of the employed residents stayed unchanged from the previous quarter, at MOP18,000.
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To provide Macao citizen with greater convenience when using public services, government departments continue expanding the functions of integrated self-service kiosks through the cross-departmental cooperation mechanism. The Identification Services Bureau (hereinafter referred to as DSI) progressively expands the self-service functions by adding “Contact Information Modification” and “Enrollment for using HK e-Channel” services at integrated self-service kiosks. In addition to the existing DSI self-service kiosks, Macao residents can now modify their address and contact number information and also enroll in advance for using the Automated Passenger Clearance System (e-Channel) in Hong Kong by means of integrated self-service kiosks. The formality of modifying contact information is simple. Electronic Macao SAR Resident Identity Card holders who are aged 18 or above are only required to insert their electronic identity card into the kiosks and verify their fingerprints, and then they can access and modify their current address and contact number information at the kiosks. Besides, applicants can also lodge their application of contact information modification in person at DSI or by “DSI Service Station” mobile application. On the other hand, eligible Macao Permanent Residents Identity Card holders who are aged 18 or above can voluntarily enroll in advance for using the Hong Kong e-Channel at the kiosks. Upon successful enrollment, they can enter and exit the Hong Kong SAR with their valid electronic Macao SAR Permanent Resident Identity Card. Currently, integrated self-service kiosks are located in 36 locations throughout Macao, providing 20 kinds of services involving 8 government departments. Citizens are welcome to visit DSI’s website (www.dsi.gov.mo/kiosk_e.jsp) for the locations of kiosks with the above-mentioned functions.
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The “Forum on Chain and Franchise Business Opportunities of International Brands” will be held on the opening day of the 2016 Macao Franchise Expo (2016MFE) – 29 July – in the Sicily Room of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. The Forum aims to encourage local brands to “go global” and help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enhance their respective brand images and understand the new challenges brought about by the Internet regarding chain and franchise business. The Forum is being held under the theme “New Horizons for Chain Operations and Franchising in the Internet Era”. The Forum organisers have invited experts and senior managers from international franchising associations from around the world to meet representatives of the local industry and young entrepreneurs. This is in order to expand the horizons for chain operations and franchising locally, in a bid to seize opportunities brought by the development of the initiative “Internet+”. Experts to Share Experience on Market Trends Emerging in New Internet Era The Forum is divided into two sessions. In the first session, representatives of leading associations within the industry will take part, including experts from Brazil, Mainland China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. The experts will share their experiences in market development trends emerging in the new Internet era in their respective markets. During the second session, senior managers and experts from around the world will be invited to discuss the new challenges they have had to deal with and how to explore business opportunities under the O2O (Online-to-Offline) platform, a new type of operation model that has become popular in recent years. The Forum will introduce senior managers from several renowned enterprises, including a Hong Kong-based representative of VIPSHOP, a leading Chinese online discount retailer that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and collaborates with more than 18,000 brands. Also attending the Forum will be: the founder of MORE Group, a Portugal-based company with several years of experience in chain operations and franchising, and assisting companies to transform their business; and the Chief Executive Officer of iFood Macau, a local O2O platform that partners with food and beverage brands and provides a one-stop franchising service to help promote the development of Macao’s culinary culture and e-commerce. The Forum serves as a platform that allows international experts, industry representatives and participants – in particular, young entrepreneurs – to exchange opinions and share experiences on the direction and trends in development of the franchising and chain store business models. The aim is to expand the network for the industry and to inspire the Forum’s participants to even greater success. The Forum will be conducted in Mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese, English, Japanese and Korean, with a simultaneous translation service. All are welcome to participate (in particular young entrepreneurs and young business starters). For registration and enquiries, please contact us via, telephone: +853 8798 9127; or fax: +853 2872 8208; or email: ipimpcom@ipim.gov.mo. For more information about the guest speakers and the Forum schedule, please visit the official website at: http://www.mfe.mo/
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The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App with eight suggested walking tour routes for visitors and residents to explore the city has been awarded by the 2016 PATA Gold Awards in the category of Marketing Media – Mobile Travel Application, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced. “The PATA Gold Award is a great encouragement for MGTO’s work. The App has been specially designed to allow visitors and residents to enjoy easy access to information about the eight walking tour routes of our ‘Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities’ project on smart phones, and explore the routes more conveniently. We hope that the PATA endorsement can attract more visitors to download the App and do the suggested walking tour routes, for a more in-depth and rewarding visit to Macao”, said MGTO Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. The winners will receive the prestigious award at a PATA Gold Awards Luncheon and Presentation on September 9, during PATA Travel Mart 2016, to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia. MGTO’s “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App is among the 31 Gold Awards and Grand Awards presented this year by PATA to recognize exceptional achievement in seven broad categories: Marketing Campaign, Environment, Corporate Social Responsibility, Heritage and Culture, Education and Training, Marketing Media and Travel Journalism. This year’s awards attracted 212 entries from 71 organizations and individuals worldwide, with the winners voted by a judging panel of tourism industry experts. The “Step Out, Macao” Mobile App was first launched in December 2013 with four walking tour routes, then upgraded in February 2015 to include eight redesigned walking tour routes, covering Macao, Taipa and Coloane. The Mobile App is an important tool to promote MGTO’s “Step Out, Experience Macao’s Communities”, aiming to encourage visitors and residents to know the diversity and hidden gems of the city, while also diverting the flow of visitors from the most visited spots and fostering community tourism development. Available in Chinese (traditional and simplified), English and Portuguese, the Mobile App offers maps of the eight walking tour routes, descriptions of the tourism spots, including The Historic Centre of Macao, listed by UNESCO, schedule of cultural performances, restaurants, bus routes, Wi-Fi, public washrooms, and other useful information, along the routes. Users can also scan the QRcodes on direction signs along the themed routes and obtain the tourist information offline. The Mobile App can be downloaded for free from App Store or Google Play. Since the launch of the first version of the App with four walking routes until July 24, a total of over 49,500 users downloaded the App on its iOS and Android versions. The top five download regions are (according to number of downloads) Hong Kong, Taiwan region, Mainland China, Thailand and Macao. This is the fourth time for MGTO to be distinguished with the prestigious PATA accolade. MGTO received a 2002 PATA Grand Award for Marketing with the "Macao Welcomes You Passport Campaign", was granted a 2007 PATA Grand Award for Heritage with its "Macao World Heritage Year Campaign", and a 2008 PATA Gold Award for Travel Advertisement Print Media for its “Experience Macao” campaign. Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible development of the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry, including among its members government tourism bodies, travel trade operators and tourism educational institutions. Macao has been a PATA member since 1958. For decades, PATA has been a valuable platform for Macao to promote its tourism image and connect local travel trade stakeholders to the world.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will attend a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly tomorrow (27 July) and answer legislators’ questions on Government policy and social issues. The session will start at 3pm and will be broadcast live on television and radio channels of public broadcaster Teledifusão de Macau (TDM). Members of the public also have the option of watching the proceedings online via: the website of the Legislative Assembly (http://www.al.gov.mo); the Macao SAR Government Portal (http://www.gov.mo); the website of the Office of the Chief Executive (http://www.gce.gov.mo); the website of the Government Information Bureau (http://www.gcs.gov.mo); official channels on YouTube; and Government apps for mobile devices. The Chief Executive pays great attention to communication with the Legislative Assembly. Besides attending plenary sessions of the Assembly every year in order to deliver the Policy Address relating to the following fiscal year, the Chief Executive also attends two similar sessions each year. This is in order to update the public with the progress of Government work; to enhance communication with legislators; and to optimise administrative transparency.
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