News

The Green Public Day, an activity under the 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2016MIECF) will be held tomorrow (2 April). Through a series of parent-child activities, coupled with a variety of performances, the said event aims to encourage the public to practise green living and develop good habits to reduce waste, and thus jointly create a green living environment. The theme adopted for this year´s Green Public Day is “Reducing Waste for a Green Lifestyle”. A series of activities encompassing environmental education, leisure and fun activities has been arranged, including educational workshops, stage events and a lucky draw, as well as small tips on waste reduction in our daily life, through the way we wear, eat, shelter and move, in the expectation that through this series of family activities and diverse environmental performances, the public could be encouraged to put into practice environmentally friendly behaviour. Furthermore, there is an onsite counter for the registration as “Green Fun” member. All existing and newly registered members can enjoy 50 points as bonus (limited only to Macao residents and each member is only eligible for one prize). During the Green Public Day, green guided tours have been specially arranged for local schools (including universities, secondary and primary schools). The guides at the venue will introduce to the visiting teachers and students the concept of MIECF, the reason behind the exhibition zone separation and their characteristics, so that the visitors could, through this annual local environmental event, acquire deeper understanding of waste reduction at source, as well as cutting-edge waste treatment technology, to raise their environmental awareness. In addition, this being a platform for environmental education, the Organiser hopes that the public could apply environmental protection concepts in their daily life. In view of this, a special “Green Life Market” has been set-up, where about 20 enterprises selling environmental products will introduce on site green products suitable for domestic use, so that the public can learn more about the products and purchase suitable daily necessities, and jointly share environmentally-friendly Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS). As a way to promote green travel and in order to facilitate participation of the general public, free shuttle bus service will also be provided tomorrow. Four routes are available as follows: departures from Avenida do dr. Pedro José Lobo (Macau Square), Avenida Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida (in front of Pak Vai Parking Lot), Avenida Marginal do Hipódromo /near Royal Supermarket at Areia Preta) and Avenida de Guimarães at Taipa (Central Park, in front of Nova Park), to and from the MIECF venue (Macau Venetian Resort Hotel). Besides, people driving their own car to the venue are recommended to take other passengers. Free parking spaces are available at Exhibition Hall D, on a first-come first-served basis (to enjoy this offer, drivers should have their admittance tickets validated by chop at the Reception Counter of the Green Public Day). For further information, please visit the official website: www.macaomiecf.com/miecf2016.
…

The seminar on “EU and Fundamental Rights – A Complicated Relationship”, will take place on April 5th to 8th from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, in the auditorium of the Civil Service Training Centre located on Alameda Dr. Carlos D' Assumpção n.° 322-362, Cheng Feng Commercial Centre, 7th floor. This first seminar will mark the beginning of the third Macao SAR - EU Co-operation Program in the Legal Field. The 3rd Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between Macao SAR and the European Union, runs for 48 months, from November 2015 till November 2019, has as its main objective to “Promote the Development and Modernisation of the Macao SAR’s Legal System”. The execution of the Co-operation Programme is coordinated by the Legal Affairs Bureau, together with other entities and public departments of the Macao SAR, namely the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Economic Services and the Institute of European Studies of Macao. The current seminar is co-organised by the Legal and Judicial Training Centre and the Institute of European Studies of Macao. It will feature as a speaker Professor Miguel Poiares Maduro, Professor of the European University Institute, Visiting Professor of the Yale University, the College of Europe, the Catholic University of Portugal and the New University of Lisbon. This seminar will be conducted in Portuguese with simultaneous translation into Cantonese. Amongst other topics, the following items will be analysed: 1. The Origin and History of Fundamental Rights in the EU 2. The Scope of Fundamental Rights in the EU 3. Democracy and Fundamental Rights in the EU 4. Social Justice, Crisis and Fundamental Rights in the EU In addition to the legal training, the dissemination of legal issues has been one of the cornerstone activities under the Co-operation Programme. In order to take advantage of this seminar’s topic on human rights, a special edition of the Macau Law Journal (MLJ) regarding the application of seven of the core international human rights treaties in the Macao SAR will be displayed to the general public. In these publications, it is possible to find the main documents related to the international obligations derived from the application of these treaties to the Macao SAR, as well as a short record of policies, normative acts and practices concerning the protection of human rights in the Macao SAR. These documents were assembled in a systematic manner in the Chinese, Portuguese and English languages, with the aim of producing a ground-breaking compilation with user-friendly accessible material. The MLJ Special Edition aims to provide legal advisers, law students and researchers with a useful working tool, in order to enhance and to encourage the study of Human Rights in the Macao SAR as well as to disseminate them among the population in general.
…

The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym) under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the concert Shakespeare’s World – ZhangYi and Volodin, part of the “Shining Virtuosos” Series, to be held on Saturday, 9 April, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, featuring internationally renowned Russian pianist Alexei Volodin. Tickets are on sale at the Macao Ticketing Network. This year marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death and the Macao Orchestra specially presents thematic concerts about this master of literature. Led by highly acclaimed Chinese conductor Zhang Yi, the Orchestra joins hands with internationally renowned Russian pianist Alexei Volodin to perform the most well-known piece of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43, which is also the soundtrack of the movie Somewhere in Time, creating a romantic, poetic and fascinating illusion. The programme of the concert also features two extraordinary pieces about Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky’s Overture-Fantasia “Hamlet”, Op. 67 and the Suite No. 3 in G Major, Op. 55, which demonstrate the sensibility and ecstasy of the composer by the master, offering aficionados an evening of fantasy and romance. Tickets for the concert are priced at MOP200, MOP150 and MOP100, with various discount plans available. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For more details and programme enquiries, please contact OM through tel. 2853 0782 during office hours or visit the Orchestra webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.
…

To accelerate the development of the One Centre, One Platform and working in line with the major national development strategy are the priority tasks undertaken by Macao. Over the past two years, ongoing efforts have been made on the development of the Three Centres of the Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (namely a commercial and trade service centre for SMEs of PSCs, a food product distribution centre for PSCs, a centre for conventions and exhibitions for economic and trade co-operation between China and PSCs). After the opening of the Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (the Portal) in April last year, the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre (the Centre) was officially opened today (31 March) at the Macau Tap Seac Square business center (commonly known as the "Glass House"). The Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre provides comprehensive online and offline (O2O) services, as well as a series of business matching and market information services for trade visitors and the general public from Macao, PPRD provinces and regions as well as the PSCs. Showcasing over 700 PSCs food products with the participation of more than 60 enterprises The opening ceremony and contract signing ceremony of the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre was held at 3 pm today. Officiating guests included the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR Government, Leong Vai Tac; Director General of the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Sun Tong; Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People´s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Pan Yundong; Deputy Head of the Economic Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Kou Ming; Ponto Focal e Director para Ásia e Oceânia do Ministério das Relações Exteriores de Angola, Samuel Cunha; Ponto Focal, Chefe de Divisão China e Mongólia do Ministério das Relações Exteriores, Orlando Leite Ribeiro; Embaixadora de Cabo Verde em Pequim, Tânia Romualdo; Embaixador da Guiné-Bissau em Pequim, Malam Sambú; Ponto Focal e Director para a Ásia e Oceânia do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros e Cooperação, Belmiro José Malate; Embaixador de Portugal em Pequim, Jorge Torres Pereira; Embaixador da República Democrática de Timor-Leste em Pequim, Bendito Freitas; President of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Jackson Chang; Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat for the Forum on Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) Chang Hexi; Decano dos Embaixadores dos Países de Língua Portuguesa em Pequim, João Garcia Bires and the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce Ho Teng Iat. IPIM’s President Jackson Chang said that IPIM has been actively promoting the development of the Three Centres through the provision of online and offline services. The Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre currently showcases more than 700 products from over 60 enterprises. Complemented by the functions and services provided by the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Database under the Economic & Trade Co-operation and Human Resources Portal between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, it will enable more enterprises to explore business related to food products distribution through Macao. Services to assist suppliers to seek for agents through the Macao service platform IPIM’s Executive Director Gloria Ung introduced the services of the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre and said that onsite staff provide business negotiation, matching and networking services to trade visitors from Macao, PSCs and from around the world, as well as providing “line up” services to investors intended to be the agent or introduce PSCs products. Certain participating PSCs food product companies have expressed intention of seeking agents in Macao. To facilitate trade visitors and the general public in acquiring information about the products, each product in the Centre has a unique QR code. By scanning the code with a mobile phone, visitors can directly access online information about the manufacturer/agent and the information of the product. Certain products also support B2C transaction, enabling the visitors to have access to the online shopping platform by scanning the QR code. Six contracts signed to explore business opportunities for Portuguese-speaking Countries food products On the opening day, IPIM signed co-operation documents with 6 E-commerce companies, business associations and enterprises. Among which, three E-commerce companies, namely the Macau Eshop Co Ltd, Easynet Retail Co Ltd and Acer Co Ltd, will work with the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre and provide the first batch of PSCs food and beverages for B2C online sales. An agreement was also signed between IPIM, Macau Importers and Exporters Association and the Macao Federal Commercial Association of Wine and Food Industries in Portuguese Speaking Countries and Regions. The two business associations will set up Macao and Portuguese-speaking Countries Commodities Exhibition Centre and Pavilion for Portuguese-speaking Countries and Areas in Guangdong, Shanghai, Changsha in Hunan, Chongqing and Haining in Zhejiang respectively, to provide exhibition space for PSCs food products. In addition, four subsidiary hotels and 1 restaurant under the Macao CTS Hotel Management (International) Ltd will also provide exhibition space to showcase PSCs food products. The Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre Opens six day a week The Centre is open from Monday to Sunday and closed every Tuesday. It opens from 11am to 7pm from Monday to Friday, and from 2pm to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday. All local and overseas trade visitors, the general public and anyone interested in Portuguese-speaking Countries food products are welcome. For further enquiries, please call 2836 6827.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that visitors on package tours totalled 569,000 in February 2016, down by 34.0% year-on-year and 0.2% month-to-month. Package tour visitors from Mainland China (438,000) decreased by 36.7% year-on-year, and those from the Republic of Korea (34,000) and Taiwan (40,000) dropped by 18.8% and 24.2% respectively. In the first two months of 2016, visitors on package tours totalled 1,139,000, down by 33.2% year-on-year. Outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 105,000 in February 2016, down by 23.2% year-on-year. Residents travelling on package tours decreased by 23.1% year-on-year to 44,000; the main destination was Mainland China (75.3% of total), down by 22.6%, followed by the Republic of Korea (8.2%) and Hong Kong (5.7%). In the first two months of 2016, outbound residents using services of travel agencies totalled 207,000, down by 16.9% year-on-year. There were 106 hotels/guesthouses operating at the end of February 2016, an increase of 8 year-on-year. Number of guest rooms totalled 32,000, up by 4,000 (+13.9%) year-on-year, with rooms of 5-star hotels (20,000) and 4-star hotels (8,000) together accounting for 87.5% of the total. A total of 872,000 guests checked into hotels/guesthouses in February 2016, up by 15.9% year-on-year. Guests from Mainland China increased by 9.1% to 562,000, while those from the Republic of Korea (23,000), Hong Kong (130,000) and Taiwan (36,000) recorded double-digit growth. The average length of stay of guests held stable at 1.4 nights as in February 2015. The average occupancy rate of hotels/guesthouses was 78.6%, down by 1.8 percentage points year-on-year; 5-star hotels had the highest occupancy rate at 80.5%, down by 3.2 percentage points, while the rate for 4-star hotels rose by 5.1 percentage points to 79.7%. In the first two months of 2016, guests of hotels/guesthouses totalled 1,767,000, up by 13.8% year-on-year. The average occupancy rate of hotels/guesthouses stood at 77.5% and the average length of stay of guests was 1.4 nights, down by 2.5 percentage points and 0.1 night respectively. Visitor-guests accounted for 71.1% of the total overnight visitors, up substantially by 5.0 percentage points year-on-year.
…

The Infrastructure Development Office announced on Wednesday the establishment of a new dredging site – with the support of the authorities of Guangdong Province – to supply sand for the land reclamation work in Macao relating to the new urban zone known as Area A. The new dredging site is located south of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Sand extraction at the new site is however technically more challenging than in the area previously used. The Office said it would strive to develop new solutions in the coming months to ensure a stable supply of sand for the Area A land reclamation project. Land reclamation works for Area A were originally due to be completed by last December. The schedule however was affected by the February 2015 closure of the dredging site that supplied sand for the works. The former dredging site was located north of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. It was closed due to works related to the bridge’s construction.
…

The result of the consumer study award (Year 2015 to 2016) held by Consumer Council has been announced. Two teams from Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima (English Secondary) are awarded two Outstanding prizes in the senior high section, teams from Pui Ching Middle School and the Affiliated School of the University of Macau are also awarded Outstanding prizes in the junior high section. The Chinese Educators Association of Macau, Macau Catholic Schools Association, Macao New Chinese Youth Association, and Associate Professor of Faculty of Education, University of Macau, Vong Sou Kuan Ph.D. have been invited to form a jury together with the Executive Committee of Consumer Council. The evaluation was conducted on 18 March, Outstanding prizes, Best topic, Best creativity, and Best instructor were selected. The list of winners is available on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and attached. The Consumer Study Award requires participants to inspect, experience, think, analyze, discover, and review on consumer behaviours affecting the society. Participants are asked to prepare a research report and the Council hopes to build up healthy consumer values in teenagers’ minds. The Council indicates that reports submitted cover a variety of topics, motives and psychology of consumers are explored, suggestions and conclusions are also included. The Award is held for the first time but is well-received, the Council will continue to organize the Award to promote consumer education. For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
…

The Government strived for a balance between environmental conservation and development by building Macao a green, low-carbon city, said today the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. Mr Chui delivered a keynote speech this morning at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF) themed “Green Economy – Opportunities for Waste Management”. Environmental protection was a major policy of Macao, i n order to enhance waste management, the Government had been taking all types of measures, including to implement the “Macao Solid Waste Resource Management Plan” and promote “reduce waste at source; separation for recycling” policy, said the Chief Executive Such measures are in line with the vision of transforming Macao into a city with more favourable conditions for living, tourism, business, travel and recreation, said Mr Chui. One of the goals for Macao’s sustainable development was to achieve significant performance in environmental protection, he stated. The Government would step up efforts to support growth of local green industries, he added. Mr Chui said the Government was in the process of formulating Macao’s first Five-Year Development Plan, with the aim to transform Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure and a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (collectively known as “Centre and Platform” policies). He also said Macao’s development caused opportunities since the State Council recently released a guideline for promoting closer cooperation within the Pan-Pearl River Delta area. There were also development opportunities arising from the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan and from the nation’s Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative). Following the demarcation of Macao’s maritime and land boundaries, approved by the State Council on December of 2015, Macao would be provided more space and development opportunities to enhance the city’s long-term sustainability, he said. Mr Chui said the Government was making great efforts to promote industrial integration, further economic development and closer regional cooperation amid the ongoing adjustment period of Macao’s gaming industry. The 2016 MIECF is held in Macao from 31 March to 2 April. It is an annual event since 2008 that gathers specialists and academics to share their experience in promoting green industry and protecting environment. The 9th edition of the Forum is hosted by the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region, with special support from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. It is also co-organised by the provincial/regional governments of the Pan-Pearl River Delta, namely Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Hong Kong.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for February 2016 amounted to MOP710 million, up by 3.0% year-on-year; value of re-exports (MOP617 million) grew by 10.2%, while value of domestic exports (MOP93 million) dropped by 28.3%, with that of Non-knitted or non-crocheted garments (MOP0.88 million) falling by 82.4%. Total merchandise import declined by 24.6% year-on-year to MOP4.93 billion, the lowest single-month record since June 2011, of which imports of Mobile phones and Watches decreased by 54.2% and 40.8% respectively. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP4.22 billion. In the first two months of 2016, total value of merchandise export rose by 2.1% year-on-year to MOP1.68 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP1.45 billion) increased by 9.1%, but that of domestic exports (MOP232 million) decreased by 27.1%. Total value of merchandise import fell by 21.2% to MOP11.86 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP10.18 billion for the first two months of 2016. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Mainland China (MOP234 million) and Hong Kong (MOP1.04 billion) in the first two months of 2016 increased by 2.0% and 1.0% year-on-year, while export to the EU (MOP29 million) and the USA (MOP20 million) decreased by 27.7% and 40.6% respectively. Exports of Non-textiles increased by 1.8% year-on-year to MOP1.55 billion, of which value of Electronic components (MOP152 million) soared by 112.8%, but that of Machines, apparatus & parts (MOP145 million) dropped by 33.9%. Exports of Textiles & garments totalled MOP134 million, up by 6.3%. By place of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP4.31 billion) and the EU (MOP2.90 billion) in the first two months of 2016 decreased by 25.5% and 19.1% respectively year-on-year. Imports of Consumer goods dropped by 13.7% to MOP7.64 billion, with imports of Watches (MOP758 million) and Motor cars & motorcycles (MOP225 million) decreasing by 36.4% and 38.4% respectively. Moreover, imports of Mobile phones (MOP1.01 billion), Fuels & lubricants (MOP848 million) and Construction materials (MOP336 million) declined by 50.2%, 27.5% and 37.0% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP13.55 billion in the first two months of 2016, down by 18.9% compared with MOP16.71 billion a year earlier.
…

Macao is seeking further cooperation with cities in the Yangtze River Delta regarding the training of researchers in scientific fields, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, during the second day of his visit to Jiangsu Province. Such cooperation would help advance Macao’s economic competitiveness, he stated. Cooperating with Changzhou Prefecture would help Macao realise its vision for moderate economic diversification as well as bringing major benefits for Changzhou. The two places had complementary strengths, Mr Chui noted. Mr Chui’s comments were made this morning (Wednesday) during a meeting with the Secretary of the Changzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, Mr Yan Li. Mr Yan said during the meeting that Macao’s connection with other economies, especially with the Portuguese-speaking countries, would be a useful platform to help promote Changzhou’s cooperation with international partners. The Secretary said there were also opportunities to expand partnership regarding tourism between Changzhou and Macao. Changzhou, as an important city of the Yangtze River Delta, received more than 54 million visitors last year, generating income of more than 73 billion yuan. He noted Macao’s favourable conditions for the promotion of mutual cooperation on tourism. They included Macao’s geographical position linking China with the rest of the world, and local people’s language skills, as well as the considerable number of talented local people available to support such cooperation. Services for the elderly, and areas related to medical services and healthcare were other possible fields for cooperation between the two places, Mr Yan added. Later in the afternoon, the Government delegation visited the Changzhou West Taihu Lake Science and Technology Zone, before returning to Macao. The Zone, also known as Jiangsu Wujin Economic Zone, is located near Changzhou’s city centre, and covers an area of 90 square kilometres. The Zone was designed to be a science innovation centre for the whole country, showcasing industries such as those researching and developing new materials, those developing medical equipment, and firms pursuing e-commerce. On Tuesday, the first day of Mr Chui’s visit, the Government of Jiangsu Province and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region endorsed a memorandum regarding formation of a joint taskforce for the establishment of a Jiangsu-Macao industrial zone. During Tuesday’s meeting, Mr Chui said the Government would work closely with the Jiangsu Government – via the newly formed taskforce – regarding research into possible fields of cooperation and the positioning of the future zone in the country’s overall development. Integrating Macao’s development efforts within the framework of regional cooperation would also help realise Macao’s “Centre and Platform” policies. The policies were mentioned in the recently published framework of the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan. “Centre and Platform” policies refer to the strategies to transform Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure, and a commercial and trade service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr Chui stated on Tuesday that a memorandum signed on that day between Macao and Jiangsu regarding civil servant training was a breakthrough in sought-after regional cooperation. The Government would work closely with its Jiangsu counterparts in several areas, including an arrangement whereby Macao’s civil servants would receive training in Jiangsu. Members of the delegation on the two-day tour included: 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 Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Mr Cheong Chou Weng; the Director of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, Mr Kou Peng Kuan; and the Acting Director of the Macao Economic Services, Mr Tai Kin Ip.
…