News

The Government is committed to ensuring social justice and the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of Macao’s citizens, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. Mr Chui made the comments in his opening remarks on 18 July (Monday) at a reception for high-level officials of judicial and law enforcement agencies from neighbouring countries, invited to discuss judicial and law enforcement cooperation with Macao. A total of 27 senior officials from nine countries – namely Indonesia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Bangladesh – were invited to Macao to share information and experiences regarding their respective legal and judicial systems. The meeting was co-organised by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Macao SAR. Mr Chui said the meeting would help the Government in its own efforts to develop further Macao’s judicial system and laws. Ever since the establishment of the SAR, the Government had been receiving full support from the Central Government, Mr Chui said. He added that the principle of “One country, two systems” continued to demonstrate strong advantages for Macao. The SAR was protected under the Constitution of the PRC, and under the Basic Law of the Macao SAR: the latter additionally recognises Macao as vested with independent judicial authority. Speaking at the reception, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the Macao SAR, Mr Ye Dabo, said that – with the full support of the Central Government – the Macao SAR had been developing further its connections with neighbouring countries. The latest meeting created fresh opportunities for exchanges with judicial and law enforcement authorities from the nine participating countries, said Mr Ye. Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr I Gusti Agung Sumanatha, said at the reception that a strengthened network of judicial authorities and enhanced legislation favouring investment and business would help bring about a more prosperous regional economy. Officials at Monday’s reception included: the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Chen Sixi; the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan; the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Prosecutor-General, Mr Ip Son Sang; the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr Ma Io Kun; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Iao Man Leng; the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security, Ms Cheong Ioc Ieng; and the Chief of Office of the Prosecutor-General, Mr Tam Peng Tong. Representatives of judicial and law enforcement agencies; of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; of consulates serving Macao; and of the Central Government also attended the reception.
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The Cinematheque．Passion, under the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), hosts a talk entitled “Documentary Production—Self-Exploration and Community Records”, conducted by Hong Kong director Tsang Tsui Shan, to be held on Saturday, 30 July, from 3pm to 5pm. Online applications are now accepted. Admission is free. Tsang’s films and videos embrace humanitarian concerns and vary in style. In the talk, she will share how it is possible to explore the community from one’s own perspective and make relevant records, and also she will give an account of her video series against the background of Ho Chung Village in Hong Kong. In 2012, Tsang won Best New Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards; her first feature film, Lovers on the Road, was awarded as the “Best Feature Film” at the South Taiwan Film Festival. Big Blue Lake, her second feature film, was critically acclaimed and secured the Asian New Talent Jury Prix at the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival and Recommended Movie at the 2011 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards. Tsang completed the documentary Flowing Stories and the romance film Scent, a collaboration of Chinese and Korean artists in 2014, both presented in cinemas in Mainland China and abroad. In recent years she has been committed to producing films about environmental protection and vulnerable groups. This year she was awarded the “Humanitarian Award” by Film Aid Asia. There are sixty seats available. All interested parties are welcome to enrol through IC’s Activity Registration System (www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event). For enquiries regarding the talks or the Cinematheque, please contact Mr. Leong, staff member of IC, through tel. no. (853) 2892 4040 during office hours. For details, please visit the Cultural Affairs Bureau website (www.icm.gov.mo) or Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com).
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in July on 19 July 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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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has joined hands with the Supporting Office to the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao) to carry out their tourism training program for civil servants from tourism offices of Portuguese-speaking countries. The training program of 2016 was smoothly held and came to an end last week. MGTO has been persistently offering support to Portuguese-speaking countries to support the city’s goal to become a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” as well as a “commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries”. In addition, through the training program, the Office aims to familiarize government tourism personnel from Portuguese-speaking countries with Macao’s tourism development and MGTO’s daily operation in order to further exchange and mutual learning while assisting the countries to cultivate talent in the field of tourism. Divided into three groups, a total of 25 government tourism personnel from Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, East Timor and Angola came to Macao between April and July this year for training and internship opportunities at MGTO. The program included training at the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) as well as field trips to local attractions and tourism facilities among other activities. The last group of trainees was finished with training last week. Further to that, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Secretary-General (appointed by the Macao SAR Government) of the Permanent Secretariat to the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macao) and Coordinator of the Supporting Office, Cristina Morais, President of IFT, Fanny Vong, and MGTO Deputy Director, Cheng Wai Tong, attended a welcome luncheon hosted for the first group of trainees and delegations from the countries concerned at the Educational Restaurant of IFT. In 2010, MGTO signed the memoranda of understanding on cooperation in tourism with Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, and following that, with East Timor and Angola in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Between 2012 and 2016, MGTO has trained a total of 98 government tourism personnel from the above Portuguese-speaking countries.
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The new issue of the Macao Higher Education Magazine - International Edition has been published. Interested parties can obtain the magazines in specific government departments, public libraries, higher education institutions etc. or access the website of the Tertiary Education Services Office (GAES) to view or download the magazine. The content of the Macao Higher Education Magazine – International Edition is comprehensive and diversified, comprising the discussion of relevant issues on higher education, overview of characteristic academic departments in local higher education institutions, sharing of students’ learning experiences, introduction of higher education students’ activities, information for further education, and the display of individual creations etc. The history of Macao’s modern higher education is not long, but it has been making prominent progress and attracting more and more non-local students to choose to further their studies in Macao. In this issue, the Magazine has interviewed some non-local students, who share their causes and thoughts of studying in Macao. In the meantime, the higher education institutions of Macao introduce their services and support, as well as extra-curriculum activities to non-local students. In addition, the Magazine introduces how the Macau University of Science and Technology presented the overview of Macao’s history through their research on antique maps from around the world in these two years. The University Librarian, Dr Paul Poon, who has recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Michigan, shares with the readers about the benefits and essence of reading. Magazine copies will be given out at GAES, Centre for Higher Education Students, Public Information Centre, Government Service Centre, public libraries, Macao’s higher education institutions, Plaza Cultural Macau, Starlight Bookstore etc. Interested parties can also browse the website of GAES (http://www.gaes.gov.mo/big5/) to view or download the new or previous issues for both the Chinese and International Edition of the Macao Higher Education Magazine.
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As scheduled, the exchange period of the Monkey and Rooster Zodiac Banknotes will end on 22 July 2016 (Friday). In consideration for convenience to the public, a grace period has been set up this year from 25 July (Monday) to 29 July (Friday) 2016. Registrants who have not yet conducted the note exchange are advised to exchange for their subscribed notes during business hours at their previously selected location within the grace period. In respect of the requirements concerning note exchange conducted by authorized representatives, please browse the webpage of AMCM (www.amcm.gov.mo) or call our hotline (Tel: 2856 5071 / 2856 5072) for enquiry.
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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 13 July to 19 July 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. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) is paying close attention to the incident of the attack on a train that occurred in Germany. Until the present moment, GGCT has not received any request for information or assistance. From information gathered through the Macao travel industry, currently there is no indication that Macao tour groups have been affected. 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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The 30th Portuguese Language Summer Course, organised by the University of Macau (UM) Department of Portuguese, kicked off (18 July). The course will last until 5 August. Prof Hong Gang Jin, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, said that the course aims to help students develop four essential skills to prepare them to become competent global citizens: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Vice Rector (Research) Rui Martins welcomed participants from different parts of the world and said in his opening remarks that over the past 30 years, the Department of Portuguese at UM has successfully graduated many competent Portuguese learners who have gone on to pursue other Portuguese-related studies. Prof Jin said that the faculty has spent many months preparing the course to ensure that students will be exposed to different ways of communication. She added that the course will give students an opportunity to work together as a team, to understand world languages and cultures form many different perspective, and to improve their Portuguese language knowledge and skills and apply the skills creatively in real life. The opening ceremony was held in the University Hall (N2). Guests attending the ceremony included João Neves, director of the Portuguese Oriental Institute and representative of the consul general of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong; Chan Ka Hou, acting deputy director of the Tertiary Education Services Office; Ivone Isabel da Senna-Fernandes, representative of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau; Cheong Iok Kuan, acting director of the Macau Security Force Superior School; and Vice Rector (Student Affairs) Haydn Chen. The purpose of the Portuguese Language Summer Course is to promote the knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture. This year's event, in particular, will give participants a chance to learn more about the linguistic, historical, social, economic, political, and cultural developments of Macao through various cultural activities, including visits to local museums and the Historical Centre of Macao. Participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy fun extracurricular activities such as Portuguese folk dance and choral singing. Over the years, the course has attracted many students from around the world. This year's event attracted approximately 400 students from mainland China, Macao, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, East Timor, Australia, and other parts of the world. The course covers five different levels: beginner's level, basic level, intermediate level, advanced level, and superior level (which is introduced this year). Some of the new features of this year's course include a class in translation between Chinese and Portuguese.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will lead an official delegation to Beijing from 20 to 22 July, for the advancement of Beijing-Macao partnership and for discussions on the city’s first Five-Year Development Plan. During his three-day visit to Beijing, Mr Chui will have a meeting with the Secretary of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee, Mr Guo Jinlong. Mr Chui will also have a meeting with officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, to discuss Macao’s Five-Year Development Plan, which outlines proposals for the city’s social and economic development for the period 2016 to 2020. Members of the Macao delegation will include: the Chief of Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; and the Consultant to the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Lei Ngan Leng. While Mr Chui is in Beijing, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan, will be the acting Chief Executive.
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