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Local doctors are likely to have the opportunity to develop their medical skills in Singapore, under a memorandum of cooperation signed by Singapore and Macao. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, signed the memorandum of cooperation with Singapore’s Minister for Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong, in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr Tam was in Geneva to attend the 69th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO). Other items in the memorandum of cooperation included: joint training for medical staff from Singapore and Macao; the establishment of a response mechanism for health emergencies; and the creation of a platform for information sharing and exchanges. In a meeting on 24 May (Tuesday), Mr Tam told Mr Gan that Singapore and Macao maintained a close exchange mechanism on medical affairs. That included Macao medical staff regularly attending seminars held in Singapore, and Singapore doctors providing a number of medical services in Macao. Strengthening cooperation between Singapore and Macao would not only benefit the two places, but also would contribute to the regional development of medical services, Mr Tam said. Mr Gan said the Singapore Government was pleased to provide more training opportunities to Macao doctors. Singapore doctors could also come to Macao – if needed – to provide technical support and deepen exchanges, he added. Earlier on Tuesday in Geneva, Mr Tam met with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Ms Margaret Chan, to exchange views about the development of medical services in Macao. The Secretary briefed Ms Chan about the Government’s proposal to build a centre for treatment of infectious diseases and about the strategies to strengthen prevention and control of communicable diseases. Ms Chan spoke highly of the Government’s efforts in maintaining and improving the city’s public health infrastructure and services over the years. She advised the Government nonetheless to remain vigilant regarding any potential outbreak in Macao of disease. Those diseases already reported in other parts of the world would be a particular focus for attention given that Macao is a popular tourism destination for travellers from all over the globe. Regarding the centre the Government intends to build for treatment of infectious diseases, Ms Chan said she fully understood the plan and expressed her support for the project. Other topics discussed during the meeting included: the development of Macao’s traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry; and the organisation of a seminar on TCM to be held in Macao later this year. The Government delegation concluded on Wednesday its three-day visit to Geneva. During the trip, the delegation attended the 69th World Health Assembly. Mr Tam also had meetings in Geneva with the mainland’s Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Ms Li Bin; and the Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ko Wing-man. Members of the Macao Government delegation included: the Director of the Health Bureau, Mr Lei Chin Ion; the Deputy Director of the Health Bureau and Director of the Conde S. Januário Hospital, Mr Kuok Cheong U; and consultants to the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture. The 69th World Health Assembly, with the theme “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, is being held from 23 to 28 May in Geneva. The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization. Its main functions are to stipulate WHO policies, supervise its finances, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) completed the selection for the 2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums and a total of eight entrants were selected as beneficiaries of the Programme. IC will grant each beneficiary a subsidy of up to MOP210,000 for the production, cover design, marketing and promotion as well as the printing of the song album. In order to cultivate more local music composers and producers and accumulate outstanding music pieces for the groundwork of market development, IC launched the Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums in 2014. A total of 25 valid applications were received this year. The professional adjudicating panel has selected eight eligible applicants as follows (ranked by the order of strokes of the Chinese surname): Ho Ka Wai, Ung Kuoc Iang, Lam Wai Hong, Chan Wing Chon, Chang Heng Ian, Wong Eunice, Tang Chi Fong and Sou Io Kuong. The adjudicating panel invited by IC, was composed by professionals from the music sector from Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Hong Kong music supervisor Schumann, Hong Kong music producer Edward Chan, Kelvin Ngai and Victor Tse as well as founder of Taiwan Colors Music 43 Chang and Taiwan music critic and radio DJ Ma Shih-fang. The Subsidy Programme Series for Macao’s Cultural and Creative Industries was first introduced by IC in 2013, and so far the bureau launched the Support Programme for the Production of Feature Films, Subsidy Programme for Fashion Design on Sample Making and the Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums. It is hoped that these targeted subsidy programmes and supporting initiatives will help to cultivate local talents in the cultural and creative industries, incubate potential cultural and creative products, promote and advertise Macao’s cultural and creative brands and to ultimately promote the growth of the sector. For enquiries about the result of the 2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Song Albums, please call Ms. Lao, staff member of IC, through tel. no. 2892 4040, during office hours.
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In order to meet readers’ demands and enrich the Library’s collections, the Macao Public Library of the Cultural Affairs Bureau launches the “Annual Collection of Recommendations for Newspapers / Periodicals 2017”. Residents are welcome to recommend the subscription of their favourite newspapers or periodicals from today until 30 June. They may complete the “2017 Newspaper / Periodical Recommendation Form” and submit it to any branch of the Macao Public Library or email it to inf.bc@icm.gov.mo. The submission of the desired newspapers and periodicals can also be made through the online recommendation form which can be downloaded at Macao Public Libraryes webpage (on Service Guide – Book Purchase Recommendation). The Library will analyse the recommended materials collected, and include the newspapers and periodicals which are in line with the policy for the development of the library collection and therefore which will be inscribed on the 2017 Possible Acquisitions List. Currently the Macao Public Library holds a total collection of over one million volumes and nearly sixty thousand audio and video materials. It offers around 90 newspapers issued in different regions and about 900 assorted magazines available to the public in its branch libraries . The “2017 Newspaper / Periodical Recommendation Form” can be obtained at any library service desk of the Macao Public Library or downloaded from the Macao Public Library website at www.library.gov.mo. For enquiries, please call through tel. no. 2856 7576 or 2837 7117, during office hours.
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The University of Macau (UM) Moon Chun Memorial College (MCM College) recently received the Macau European Chamber of Commerce (MECC) Award for Euroexcellence in Innovation for its unique European-style approach to education that encourages interaction between different nationalities and cultures. The 2016 MECC Award for Euroexcellence in Innovation was presented to Prof Kevin Thompson, master of the MCM College, by Mr. Lino Ho, Vice President of the Board of Directors of MECC at the Macau European Chamber Gala, in the presence of Vincent Piket, head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao; Dr Ambrose So, honorary chairman of the MECC; and Vitor Sereno, consul general of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong. The MCM College is part of UM’s residential college system that aims to nurture well-rounded individuals whose academic knowledge and scholarly achievements are complemented by the cultivation of interpersonal communication skills, a wide range of interests, and a sense of belonging to a collegial community. The MCM College has shown inspired leadership in founding a unique, innovative European-style college. Its connective partnerships and engagement with international business and cultural communities, reaching out across national chambers, have been resolute. It celebrates diversity, intensifies internationality, and enables a wide range of undergraduates to identify, make sense, relate and engage with collegiate life in the round. The MECC Award for Euroexcellence in Innovation encourages organisations to innovate by embracing Macao’s history of Sino-Western cultural exchange, and to develop new partnerships for the future.
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The two agreements newly signed with the General Administration of Customs had great significance to the development of Macao, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. Mr Chui made his comments during a meeting at Santa Sancha Palace on Wednesday (25 May) with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou. Mr Yu was in Macao for the signing of the two agreements: the “Cooperation Arrangement between the General Administration of Customs and the Macao SAR Government on the Prevention and Fight against Smuggling in Waters Managed by the Macao SAR and within Macao’s Land Boundaries”; and the “Cooperation Memorandum between the General Administration of Customs and the Macao SAR Government on Origin of Transhipment Cargo in the Macao SAR under Free Trade Agreements”. During the meeting, Mr Chui said the General Administration of Customs had established close cooperation with Macao over the years. Such ties had been important in the process – lasting several years – of clarifying Macao’s management responsibility over its nearby waters, said Mr Chui. The Government would continue working closely with the General Administration of Customs on matters relating to the management of Macao’s waters and to the clearance of shipped goods, said the Chief Executive. Mr Yu said closer and deeper ties – such as cooperation on a new supervisory system, on information exchange and on law enforcement – between his department and its counterpart in Macao brought mutual benefits in terms of effective management. Mr Yu added that cooperation on customs matters would reach a new and higher level. This was in line with the Central Government’s vision for optimising customs policy and for further collaboration with Macao. Macao officials attending the meeting included: the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Iao Lek; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security, Ms Cheong Ioc Ieng; and the Deputy Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Sin Wun Kao. Representatives of the General Administration of Customs present at the meeting included: the Chief of the General Office, Mr Zhang Guangzhi; the Chief of the Department of Customs Control and Inspection, Mr Xu Daowen; the Chief of the Department of Supervision and Internal Auditing, Mr Meng Yang; and the Chief of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, Mr Liu Xiaohui.
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Consumer Council conducted its latest ‘Supermarket price survey’ in May on 25 May for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June. Surveyed locations included supermarkets at Lam Mau, Patane and San Kio 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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The Government today signed two agreements with the General Administration of Customs in an effort further to prevent smuggling and boost trade in goods and services with the mainland. The two agreements signed today are: the “Cooperation Arrangement between the General Administration of Customs and the Macao SAR Government on the Prevention and Fight against Smuggling in Waters Managed by the Macao SAR SAR and within Macao’s Land Boundaries”; and the “Cooperation Memorandum between the General Administration of Customs and the Macao SAR Government on Origin of Transhipment Cargo in the Macao SAR under Free Trade Agreements”. The agreement on prevention of smuggling enables Macao’s overseeing agencies to establish closer ties with counterparts on the mainland. The establishment of a mechanism for regular and emergency communications between the relevant authorities should prove an effective way of minimising the risk of smuggling between Macao and Guangdong Province. Such an agreement also helps further to protect legitimate trade in goods and services between Guangdong and Macao. The other agreement aims at simplifying clearance measures for transhipment cargo in Macao, without the need to clear such cargo twice, i.e., under the respective regulatory regimes of Macao and of the mainland. This measure also allows Macao and mainland counterparts to strengthen information sharing and to accelerate transhipment cargo clearance procedures. The two agreements are part of the strategy to help diversify Macao’s economy and to help Macao’s economic development integrate further with the country’s development. The two agreements were signed today at Government Headquarters by the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Iao Lek; and the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou. Officials attending today’s ceremony included: the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On; the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; and the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security, Ms Cheong Ioc Ieng. In addition, the Chief Executive held a meeting at Santa Sancha Palace with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou, to exchange views on strengthening cooperation in customs matters and on work relating to management of Macao’s waters.

Video:【新聞局】海關關長黃有力談海關總署與特區政府簽署的合作安排和備忘錄
Please go to GCS YOUTUBE Channel for more video clips: http://youtube.com/macaogcs

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On 25 May 2016, Moody’s Investors Service published a press release that announced to downgrade Macao SAR’s government issuer rating to “Aa3” from “Aa2”. Macao has remained in the “double-A” rating category, reflecting that the international rating agency recognises Macao’s sound economic fundamentals. “Aa3” is three notches lower than the highest rating. Moody’s also assigns “Aa3” rating to Mainland China and Belgium. The Monetary Authority of Macao reiterates that Macao’s economic and financial conditions are fundamentally sound and the SAR is able to deal with fluctuations. On public finance, the fiscal balance for the first four months of 2016 stayed in surplus, valued at MOP15.5 billion, after registering a surplus of MOP29.3 billion in 2015. At the end of the first quarter of 2016, Fiscal Reserve assets were preliminarily estimated at MOP436.0 billion, which was equivalent to 59 months of 2016 budgeted government expenditure. In addition, the SAR Government has no debt. A credible linked exchange rate system and sufficient foreign exchange reserves have lent crucial support to the SAR’s external financial position. As at the end of April 2016, Macao’s foreign exchange reserves were preliminarily estimated at MOP151.8 billion, representing 12 times the currency in circulation or 106.9% of Pataca M2 at end-March 2016. The SAR’s financial system has remained stable. In the first quarter of 2016, banks’ profits reached new high and continued to maintain good asset quality and adequate capital level. Banks’ operating profits before tax increased 16.1% year-on-year to MOP3.5 billion in the first quarter of 2016. At the end of the first quarter of 2016, the non-performing loan ratio remained at an ultra-low level of 0.12% and the capital adequacy ratio, mainly composed of tier-one capital, marked at 15.5%. Meanwhile, the SAR’s economic fundamentals have remained positive. In a period of deepened economic adjustment, especially when Macao’s gross domestic product recorded a negative growth of 20.3% in 2015, its employment situation remained stable as the unemployment rate stayed below 2.0%. Its GDP per capita reached USD71,984, which was one of the highest in the world. Over the long term, Macao’s economic resilience and creditworthiness will continue to be effectively supported by its fiscal strength, solid external financial position, credible policy framework, reliable linked exchange rate system, sound financial system and strong economic fundamentals. The SAR Government will continue to monitor the overall economic development, and will orderly drive Macao forward with proper economic diversification and sustainable development by capitalising on opportunities arisen in a period of economic adjustment.
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The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the Sports Bureau (ID), the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), all under the governance of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. Government, cooperate in the “Anim’Arte NAM VAN Project” in order to create a leisure space by the lakeside for building the Anim’Arte NAM VAN into a distinctive leisure plaza. In order to enhance the cultural and creative ambience and beautify the facilities of the Nam Van Lake area, IC will invite local professional art group to create art in the same area. Therefore, IC invited the local professional art group GANTZ 5 to create graffiti artwork at the Anim’Art NAM VAN Graffiti Display Area in the period between end of May and early June. The work is themed “Discovery”, alluding to the inspiration and new experiences the visitors may enjoy at the Nam Van Lakes, such as creative and leisure activities, dining, performances and entertainment offered there. GANTZ 5 is a local professional graffiti art group, founded in 2004, which has been cooperating with local and foreign organizations in order to promote local graffiti art and culture. In conjunction with the development in the Nam Van Lakeside district, IC hopes to introduce more creativity and vitality elements through the cooperation with the art group. This year the Macao S.A.R. Government implements a planning of shops and facilities along the Nam Van Lake Plaza and Promenade, located at Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van, through cross-departmental cooperation. The district will combine elements such as specialized dining, pedal boats, cultural and creative products, outdoor performances, among others, in order to transform the Nam Van Lakeside into a leisure plaza with a rich and distinct ambience. The project aims to provide residents and tourists with more diverse experiences and tourism services, thereby creating more elements of culture, tourism and leisure in Macao.
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For the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12 June, Consumer Council collects prices of vegetables from wet markets and supermarkets for consumers’ reference. Prices of vegetables including choy sum, lettuce, potato, tomato, and onion are collected. The weekly average prices of the said vegetables are now available in the spreadsheet report on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo). Further, the Council compares local vegetable prices with those in Zhuhai for the past week, and the data can be found on the mentioned spreadsheet available on the Council’s website. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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