News

Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in July on 25 July for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets near Horte e Costa, Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga and Rua da Emenda areas in Santo António 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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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has completed its two-month public consultation for the "Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan” and collected over 1,100 opinions in total. The public consultation on the Master Plan was held from 23 May to 22 July. During the period, two public consultation sessions, two exchange sessions for local trade and organizations as well as two special sessions for relevant advisory committees were held, registering over 180 participants. Over 1,100 opinions were collected through public consultation sessions, email, phone and website, etc. The opinions were given mainly with regard to tourism product development, tourism quality and service, urban development regarding transportation and facility, tourism source markets and target segments, goals and strategies for tourism development, etc. MGTO will organize and analyze the public input to compile a summary report of the public consultation. The 12th Five-Year Plan has clearly stated the Central Government’s support for Macao to position itself as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure along its future development, and the positioning was further confirmed in the 13th Five-Year Plan. In early 2015, MGTO invited public tenders for the "Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan Service Provision”, to propose an integrated scheme for Macao’s tourism development in the short, medium and long run. The ultimate objective is to formulate a comprehensive Master Plan for the development of Macao’s tourism industry and lay a key foundation and direction for its future development in the next 15 years. The "Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan” will analyze the current situation of Macao’s tourism industry on a variety of aspects including city competitiveness, tourism resources and products, tourism source markets and target segments, tourism branding and city positioning, innovative technology and smart tourism, tourism quality and service, regional tourism cooperation, city development, transportation and accessibility. Based on detailed analysis on the above aspects, the Consultation Paper proposes 4 overall goals of the Master Plan and 14 strategies along with various measures to carry out in the short, medium and long term, in line with the goals set in the “Draft of the Macao SAR’s Five-Year Development Plan” (2016-2020) as guiding principles. The Master Plan serves the aim to promote sustainable tourism development in Macao and realize the city’s vision in the tourism field as it strives to become a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The tasks involved in the Master Plan are proceeding along three stages. At the first stage, data was first collected followed by an analysis made on the current tourism situation, and a preliminary draft of the Master Plan was prepared by November 2015. Second-stage tasks mainly comprise launch of public consultation and formulation of a detailed Master Plan, expected to be completed this September; third-stage tasks will then begin at the third quarter of 2016 to amend and complete the final Master Plan, which is expected to come out in mid-2017.
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The University of Macau (UM) will host the Third Forum on ‘Education of Modern Residential Colleges’ on 29 and 30 July. Nearly 300 scholars, faculty members, student affairs staff, and students from more than 40 universities in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan will participate in the event. During the forum, half of the participants will stay at UM’s residential colleges. This year’s event is organised by a residential college alliance and hosted by UM. The alliance was formed in 2014 by residential colleges at eight universities, namely Beihang University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Chengchi University, Fudan University, Tsing Hua University, East China Normal University, and UM. The theme of this year’s forum is ‘Student Development in a Residential College and the Shaping of Its Educational Character’, which includes four sub-topics: 1) the assessment of residential college’s learning outcomes; 2) the collaboration between residential colleges and faculties; 3) educational programmes for student development; and 4) developing the characteristics of residential colleges. The keynote speakers are Prof David Ibbetson, president of Clare Hall at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; Prof Trevor Cairney, master of New College at the University of New South Wales, Australia; Dr Gong Hui, deputy Party secretary at XJTU, mainland China; and Prof Haydn Chen, vice rector (student affairs) at UM, Macao In addition to the four keynote speeches, 61 papers, 10 thematic reports, and a book collection of 34 papers selected by an editorial panel formed by UM and XJTU scholars will also be presented at the forum.
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“Brand Expansion Continues, Business Opportunities To Be Seized” – 2016 Macao Franchise Expo (2016 MFE) will be held at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, (Hall A) from 29 July to 31 July this year. This is the eighth year that the event has been held and it continues to play a role as a regional franchise platform by helping brands to “Bring in” and “Go Global”, MFE is also preparing a series of activities which are keeping pace with current global economic trends. MFE hopes to assist enterprises to open up new ways of thinking and creating new business opportunities through exhibitions, forums, experience sharing, business matching, brand consultancy, professional presentations and competition for start-ups. Portuguese speaking Countries and more than 180 franchise, chain operators and brand agencies have been invited to participate in this magnificent event 2016 MFE is jointly organised by IPIM, the Brazilian Franchise Association, Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion, Taiwan, Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association, Macao Chain Stores & Franchise Association and Licensing & Franchising Association of HK. This year the exhibition space is over 1,900 square metres with nearly 220 stands. It has attracted more than 180 exhibitors participating from Brazil, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mainland China, Mozambique, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, of which East Timor and Mozambique are exhibiting for the first time. The expo will cover businesses within the food and beverage industry, retail, education, entertainment, finance, real estate, accessories, consulting service industries, as well as branding agencies. Business opportunities emerging from diversified activities The “Forum on International Franchise Business Opportunities” will be held on 29 July, the first day of the expo. Themed as “New Horizon for Chain and Franchise in the Internet Era”, experts and senior executives from several countries and regions have been invited to share the Internet development of local franchise industries and to explore how to achieve broader development under the “Internet +” thinking pattern. This forum will help business circles and youth start-ups comprehensively and correctly grasp the operating mode of “Internet +”, as well as allow them to understand how to take advantage of the opportunities to make the industry more international and open up new business opportunities. In addition, on 30 July, Mr. Robert Chua, the general agent of Tim Ho Wan Dim-Sum, Hong Kong and TV producer has been invited to be a guest speaker at the experience sharing seminar. The Franchise & Chain Award Ceremony hosted again to encourage diversified development of local franchise industry Moreover, with the aim of promoting friendly exchanges between Macao and the international franchise industry, Macau Chain Stores & Franchise Association will again hold the 2016 Macau Franchise & Chain Award Ceremony during the event. It acknowledges the outstanding enterprises in different sectors of the franchising business and encourages the diversification of the Macao’s franchise industry. Launching Online Business Matching Self-service Platform This year, with the aim of providing exhibitors and visitors with professional talks and matching services, the expo is launching the Online Business Matching Self-service Platform. Using the Online Platform, enterprises can look for and make appointments with appropriate chain brands prior to the expo, which will increase the matching abilities and provide business opportunities for the development of enterprises, the transition of enterprises and start-ups. Furthermore, building on its preceding reputation, the Band Re-packaging Pavilion will once again be at the expo and provide Consultancy Service to people who intend to start up or expand business through the franchise mode. At the expo site, there will be Professional Promotion Seminar as well as Products Presentation from Korean and Taiwanese exhibitors, where exhibitors will get the opportunity to present their brands or franchise business models. “Competition on chain business for youth start-ups” making youth’s business dreams a reality In order to help youth start-ups and improve the popularity of the chain business mode, 2016 MFE will specifically hold a “Competition on chain business for youth start-ups” and invite energetic youngsters who are dedicated to start a business to prepare investment plans for the brands involved in MFE this year and promote their investment plans to representatives from the venture capital fund sponsors. The competition will be held over three days. On the first day, experts will explain to competitors the skill of writing an investment plan as well as points to pay attention to; subsequently, the competitors need to talk to the exhibitors about co-operation opportunities and write a plan; later the competitor and the representative from the exhibitor need to introduce the project to the venture capital fund, which will decide the outstanding investment plan as the winning team. The “VIP Buyer Forum”, which is a new addition this year, provides a meeting opportunity for venture capital fund investors and MFE exhibitors to discuss the possibilities of investment projects. Golden opportunities created by concurrent events 2016 MFE will be held at the same time as 2016 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair, in order to create golden opportunities for enterprises. Entry into 2016 MFE is free and on the first day (29 July) MFE is open to professional visitors only. On 30 and 31 July it is open to the public. Furthermore, MFE provides a free shuttle bus services with several bus pick up stops in Macau Peninsula and Taipa to transport visitors to and from the expo site; MFE also provides parking spaces at Hall D and Hall E of the exhibition centre with parking spaces limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis. For any further information regarding MFE this year, one can visit the official website at www.mfe.mo or telephone: 853-82946777, fax: 853-82946701, e-mail: expo@mfe.mo, or add the Wechat account of MFE: MFEMacau.
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Due to waterproofing maintenance in the roof and pavilion of the Church of Our Lady of Penha, the pavilion of the Church will be closed on Tuesday, 26 July. Between mid-August and the beginning of September, painting work will be undertaken in the pavilion of the Church, which will be closed for approximately three weeks. The specific dates will be announced later. During the maintenance period, the courtyard of the Church and the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes will remain open to the public.
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The 2016 GMBPF, jointly organised by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, and Department of Commerce of the Guangdong Province, will be staged in Exhibition Hall B, at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from 29 -31 July 2016. This year, the GMBPF, will be held in a new location, and with a more diverse programme, integrating the ‘Belt and Road’ and ‘Nostalgic” elements. The event will also be staged with the Macao Franchise Expo (2016 MFE), tapping the concerted effort to create golden opportunities for enterprises. Exhibition floor extended to 9,000 square metres with a wide array of merchandise Guangdong and Macao have always complimented each other in co-operation, and in recent years, more so on economic and trade, medicine, finance, and e-commerce. In terms of the convention and exhibition industry, Guangdong and Macao have in place a long-term co-operation mechanism, which has achieved pleasing results. The GMBPF is in fact, a successful case. This year, at the 8th GMBPF, both governments of Guangdong and Macao have placed a great deal of emphasis and support, in the enhancement and innovative nature of the event. The carnival style GMBPF will encompass trade, cultural exchanges, shopping, leisure and entertainment. Exhibition floors will be extended to 9,000 square metres, with 357 exhibition booths, translating into a two-fold increase in the number of booths. Major pavilions are: Guangdong Products Exhibition and Sales Area, Macao Products Exhibition and Sales Area and Indonesian Products Exhibition and Sales Area. The Guangdong Products Exhibition and Sales Area takes on 195 exhibition booths, with 148 participating enterprises, to showcasing food, daily necessities and gifts, hotel supplies and home appliances. Participating enterprises were all carefully selected by the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, many of which have obtained the titles of Famous Chinese Brands, Notable Trademarks of China, Famous Brands of Guangdong Province, and ensuring confidence in the quality of the products. Whereas the Macao Featured Products Exhibition and Sales Area has 112 exhibition booths from 112 participating enterprises. These products are mainly “Made in Macao’, ‘Macao Brands’, ‘Designed in Macao’, or Macau Cultural and Innovative Products, and products handled by Macao agents. To encourage the establishment of the ‘Three centres’ and the trade and economic service platform of China and Portuguese speaking countries, there is a dedicated area for food from Portuguese speaking Countries, as well as for sales of products and food with Portuguese characteristics. Newly added Indonesian Exhibition and Sales Area China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative has created greater opportunities for Macao’s economic development. This year, the Indonesia Products Exhibition and Sales Area has been added to GMBPF, to strengthen the trade and economic exchange between mainland China, Portuguese speaking countries and Macao, and the coastal areas along the ‘Belt and Road’. Forty three Indonesian exhibitors and 50 exhibition booths were invited to set up in this dedicated area to Indonesia, featuring local Indonesian food, jewellery and accessories, gifts, fashion, leather goods and handicrafts. Vintage ’Topside down’ Every year, the GMBPF comes up with surprises. This year, the central point of the premises is designed as a ‘Vintage Shopping street, where all are invited to gather at the Banyan Tree to roam about the streets of the 60-80s, have fun watching shows and play games, for a burst of nostalgic memories of Macao. The Celebrity’s kitchen - with famous TV host Maria Cordero demonstrating her cooking skills, classic sing-songs, sugar art, flour dolls making, and street magicians, nostalgic fun games, classic animation, and the old days’ savoury food. Of course, the GMBPF will not be complete without mobile phone games, online prize giving games, where more than 60,000 prizes will be given away in the grand lucky draw. Free entry to the venue “Macau Characteristics Finance and Economic Forum” will be staged to explore how to make use of Macao’s advantages to develop its own finance industry with local features and how to actively help make use of the opportunities presented in the co-operation mechanism with Mainland China. At this forum, the Guangdong and Macao Federation Industry and Commerce intends to sign agreement on the ‘reciprocal setup of co-operation links office’ between the Federation and various prefecture-level cities in Guangdong province. This carnival-style GMBPF, with unlimited business opportunities, and fun event, is something you should not miss. Admission to the event is free with opening times as follows: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, 29 July, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both 30 July (Saturday) and 31 July (Sunday). In terms of transportation, the organiser has arranged a free shuttle bus service for the public. For pick up points on the Macao peninsula, and Taipa island, please refer to the attachment. The organiser has also provided a parking area in Exhibition Hall D and E, but with a limited number of parking spaces on a first-come-first-served. For further information on GMBPF 2016, please contact +853-87989636, or the website at www.guangdongmacaofair.com or via social media wechat : gdmofair.
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The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym) of the Cultural Affairs Bureau presents its 2015-16 Concert Season Closing Concert “Così fan tutte” on Saturday, 30 July, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. The concert is led by Lü Jia and OM invited young singers Jinxu Xiahou, Yunpeng Wang, Louise Kwong, Xiao Yi Xu, Ao Li and Xi Wang to collaborate in the performance of Mozart’s two act opera Cosi fan tutte. Tickets are available through the Macau Ticketing Network. Cosi fan tutte is one of three of Mozart’s well-known operas, side by side with “The Marriage of Figaro” and Don Giovanni. It portrays the story of two brothers who, in order to prove their loved ones’ devotion, make a bet and exchange brides, putting their love and fidelity to the test. “There is no difference between 18th century love and 21st century love. Men and women are still the same...”, “The prelude of this opera quickly intensifies carried out by men and women’s considerations on love, ending on a cheerful note and expressing love’s wisdom and philosophy”. From a modern perspective, this work’s plot seems somewhat absurd, however, thanks to Mozart’s astoundingly perfect music, this has become one of the composers most often staged operas. Six renowned young singers from Mainland China and Hong Kong, each with their own solo, interpret the six characters of this opera where music and arias are beautifully interwoven. Through Mozart’s extraordinary composition technique, not only does music gracefully carry a dramatic action and vividly portray the characters nature but also deeply reflects, reveals and provides insight into the different layers of human psyche, human nature’s grey areas and even ethical and moral paradoxes. In the current times, this work offers even more room for interpretation and has been increasingly hailed by the critics as one of Mozart’s most profound opera buffa. The concert will be led by OM’s Principal Conductor, Lü Jia, and marks the closing of the Orchestra’s 2015-2016 Concert Season. Tickets for OM’s Concert Season Closing Concert “Cosi fan tutte” are on sale at the prices of MOP350, MOP250 and MOP150 and there are several discount plans available. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. The full programme of OM’s 2015-2016 Concert Season is available at www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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The temporary closure of the Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel was in order to protect the safety of tourists, said the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng. There was a risk that Macao’s image as a tourism destination would have been harmed had the Government not acted against the hotel, Mr Tam told reporters on Sunday (24 July). The Government has ruled that Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel must close for six months with effect from 23 July, due to what was considered serious administrative irregularities, including failures to follow essential fire safety procedures. This was not a hasty decision, said Mr Tam. The Macao Government Tourism Office and the Fire Services Bureau had for some time been advising the hotel to improve its facilities; in particular its fire safety measures, in order to comply with Macao regulations, he added. The temporary closure of the hotel – due to the non-compliance with required standards – was just an individual case within Macao’s hotel industry, said Mr Tam. He added that the Government paid close attention to the standards of all facilities in all of Macao’s hotels. Mr Tam additionally gave some comment regarding the future of the site of the former Estoril Hotel. A redevelopment plan for the site would be discussed during a meeting of the Urban Planning Committee to be held today (25 July). The Government’s idea was to turn the site into a recreational and sports centre for young people, said Mr Tam. The results of a public consultation showed a majority of those expressing opinions were not in favour of keeping the façade of the former hotel. He also said the Government would take into consideration architects’ suggestions regarding how to deal with the decorative mosaic on the old building’s exterior.
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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.
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) is paying close attention to the shooting that took place in Munich, Germany. From the information gathered through the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the MSAR, until this moment there is no indication that Macau residents were involved. Until the present moment, GGCT received no request for assistance and 1 request for information. Given the recent security situation in Germany, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Munich have issued a security alert to Chinese citizens. Following is the translated version of the full text: “On the night of the 22nd of July, a shooting took place in the Olympia shopping mall situated in the Bavarian state capital of Munich in Germany, causing a large number of injuries and deaths. A state of Emergency was declared in Munich. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate-General of China in Munich advise Chinese citizens and institutions to closely monitor all security information issued by the German and Bavarian government, take into account the necessary safety precautions and be sensible to their self-protection, as well as to avoid going to areas with large gatherings of people, sensitive areas, locations which might be unsafe or locations that might be dangerous. In places with large gatherings of people, or in sensitive areas, to be aware of suspicious people, avoid leaving their residence for prolonged periods of time, lock their doors and windows before leaving home, pay close attention to the security of their home, maintain contact with family and friends, to always have with them a telephone plus emergency contacts. In case of emergency or unexpected situations, maintain calm and contact immediately the police and Embassy or the Chinese Consulates in Germany for assistance. Germany Police Services: 110 (Chinese citizens with Chinese mobile networks should dial 0049+ City Code where located+110. Within Munich call 004989110) Embassy of China in Germany for Consular Protection and Assistance: +49-1736171063 Consulate-General of China in Frankfurt for Consular Protection and Assistance: +49-15117129745 Consulate-General of China in Hamburg for Consular Protection and Assistance: +49-15171998522 Consulate-General of China in Munich for Consular Protection and Assistance: +49-1755452913 Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China: +86-10-12308 or +86-10-59913991.” The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) alerts Macao residents who intend to travel to Germany to follow closely the situation development, critically assess the security risks and cautiously consider their travel plans. Macao residents already in Germany should strengthen security precautions to ensure their personal safety. If necessary, Macao residents can call: 24-hour Tourism Hotline (853) 2833 3000; The Chinese Embassy and consulates or the Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hour hotline: +86 10 12308 for assistance.
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