News

In order to further promote fundamental rights and duties of Macao residents, Nationality Law, consular protection and consular services, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR (hereinafter called Office of the Commissioner of MFA), the Identification Services Bureau (hereinafter called DSI), the Legal Affairs Bureau (hereinafter called DSAJ) and the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (hereinafter called IFT) jointly organized a discussion forum at IFT on 29 March 2016. With the aim of creating relaxing atmosphere for discussion, the forum is conducted in a form of casual gathering for university students to exchange their views with the speakers on issues of fundamental rights and duties of Macao residents, the Nationality Law, consular protection and consular services. This forum is an extended activity of “Constitution and Basic Law –Fundamental Rights and Duties of Macao Residents, Nationality Law, Consular Protection and Consular Services” thematic seminar held at IFT on 22 March 2016. It aims at providing another channel for university students to explore the above-mentioned issues. Mr. Weng Jinshan and Mr. Huang Jianbin, representatives of the Office of the Commissioner of MFA, Ms. Wong Pou Ieng, Head of Department of Residents Identification, Mr. Ng Chi Meng, Head of Department of Travel Documents of DSI, Ms. Lao Un Cheng, Acting Head of Public Relations Division of DSAJ, and Mr. Chu Chan Weng, Head of Technical and Academic Support Division of IFT, have participated this forum and had close interactions and exchanges of views with more than twenty IFT students. Some students who had studied or worked abroad took the opportunity to consult the speakers about some frequently encountered problems when travelling abroad. Right after listening to the students’ questions, the speakers answered them in detail, making that the students deepen their knowledge on consular protection and consular services further. In addition, the speakers shared some true cases regarding the consular protection and services and cases of Macao residents requesting assistance in emergency overseas, which left deep impression to the students. The organizer will continuously organize different kinds of promotion activities to enrich the knowledge of Macao residents on the Constitution and the Basic Law, as well as consular protection and consular services.
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The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) organized a seminar on promotion of integrity for its staff on 18th March in order to strengthen and further instill in them the knowledge and awareness for integrity and righteous conducts. Mr. Clement Chow, Head of Research Department of the Commission Against Corruption of Macao, was invited to be the speaker of this seminar. On the part of AMCM, Ms. Esther Lei and Ms. Luíza Man, both Members of the Board of Directors, Mr. Cary Lei, Deputy Director of the Internal Audit Department and also acting as the Coordinator of the working group on “Integrity Awareness Training Programme”, and managerial, as well as operational staff of various departments attended this seminar. During the seminar, Mr. Clement Chow gave an introduction on the proper public procurement procedures and also on the importance of awareness for integrity and law-observance. Mr. Chow also elaborated in details the major applicable legal provisions and basic principles governing public procurement, the obligations, disciplinary liability and criminal liability of public servants, as well as the recusal system that is currently in place. Besides, case studies of corruption and law infringement offences identified in the public sector were also presented with the objective of arousing the awareness for observing integrity at all times by civil servants in the execution of their duties. During the interactive session that followed, participants of the seminar raised questions and also shared their experiences relating to the public procurement process. On the whole, this seminar is informative and its contents are highly relevant to the great benefit of the staff of AMCM.
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The exhibition “One Century of Austrian Art 1860-1960” hosted by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), will be coming to an end this Sunday (3 April). Featuring 89 masterpieces by pivotal Austrian artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, the exhibition depicts a hundred year of the most stunning progress of Austrian painting, which enables viewers to appreciate iconic works by big names in the history of European art. A trilingual exhibition guide APP is available for free. The evolution of the Art Nouveau movement highly popularized across Europe and North America at the end of the 19th century is considered the most influential large-scale artistic revolution after the Renaissance. Vienna Secession is one the most important streams of the movement, which has engraved a fascinating chapter on the art history of the period. Founding members of the Secession included outstanding Austrian artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Koloman Moser, amongst others, The exhibition focuses exactly on this eventful century, with artists becoming narrators and their work the epitome of that special era. This exhibition brings together a trove of masterpieces by 54 prominent figures selected from the collections of 34 institutions and connoisseurs across Austria, including masterpieces by core members of the Vienna Secession, revealing various phases of the movement, as well as the mutual influences between its distinctive style and other arts. This exhibition is co-organised by the MAM under IC, the Beijing World Art Museum and the Chinese-Austrian Academy of Fine Arts. The MAM is located at Av. Xian Xing Hai, and is open from 10am to 7pm (no admittance after 6:30pm; closed on Mondays). The admission fee is MOP5.00, and admission is free on Sundays and Macao public holidays. For enquiries, please call MAM at 8791 9814, during office hours, or visit its webpage at www.MAM.gov.mo.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today said the establishment of a joint Jiangsu-Macao taskforce – to study options for building an industrial zone – would raise ties between the two places to a new level. Mr Chui, who is on a two-day visit in Jiangsu Province, made the comments this evening (Tuesday) during a meeting with the Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Mr Luo Zhijun. The joint taskforce aimed to study the positioning and possible fields of cooperation of the proposed industrial zone, before the two governments take further steps, Mr Chui said. The Chief Executive said strong cooperation with Jiangsu had already been supportive to Macao’s economic development and would further help to develop and maintain the sustainability of the city’s economy in the long run. Strengthening regional cooperation was one of the particular strategies that would help 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), said Mr Chui. The Centre and Platform policies were mentioned in the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan. The Centre and Platform policies would bring Macao new opportunities. Such opportunities would include special roles in helping to advance the nation’s Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road strategies (collectively known as “Belt and Road” initiative), said Mr Chui. During the meeting, Mr Luo said Macao was an effective platform to link Jiangsu and the Portuguese-speaking countries. For future cooperation, Jiangsu would draw on Macao’s advantages in education, science and technical knowledge, finance and cultural affairs. Macao would draw on Jiangsu’s strengths in economic development and technology, said Mr Luo. Following the meeting, the Government of Jiangsu Province and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region jointly endorsed two memorandums of understanding. A memorandum regarding formation of a joint taskforce for the establishment of a Jiangsu-Macao industrial zone was signed by the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam, and the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Jiangsu Province, Mr Fei Shaoyun. A memorandum between the two places regarding civil servant training was endorsed by the Chief-of-Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Iao Man Leng, and by Mr Fei. Earlier in the afternoon, Mr Chui visited the Nanjing Jiangning High-Tech Industrial Park to learn about the latest economic developments in the Province and its successful development of industrial zones. Nanjing Jiangning High-Tech Industrial Park was established in 1997 and covers an area of 195 square kilometres. The Park is the only nationally approved zone containing high-tech industries, higher education facilities and tourism attractions. Officials accompanying Mr Chui in Jiangsu Province included: 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.
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The Government would form a taskforce with the authorities of Jiangsu Province, to study the establishment of a planned Jiangsu-Macao industrial zone, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On. Mr Chui made the comments this morning (Tuesday) before he flew to Jiangsu Province for a two-day visit. The trip would explore further cooperation opportunities with Jiangsu Province and help Macao officials gain a better understanding of the economic development achieved by the Province via its industrial zones, Mr Chui told reporters. The Chief Executive disclosed that the two governments had not yet decided on the location of the proposed Jiangsu-Macao industrial zone and what forms such cooperation might take. Forming a taskforce would allow for scientific study of such issues before further moves were made, he added. Both governments were working closely in order to strengthen mutual cooperation, including via enhancement of existing cooperation mechanisms, Mr Chui said. Jiangsu occupies a leading position in the country’s development of industrial zones. Mr Chui gave as an example Jiangsu’s successful development of the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park. Jiangsu-Macao cooperation would advance Macao’s efforts to achieve the goal of moderate economic diversification, he said. It would also help Macao to integrate further in the whole country’s development, by making use of Macao’s special role and advantages. With the support from the Central Government and regional authorities across the country, Macao would deepen regional cooperation, including that relating to Guangdong and Macao, and to development opportunities arising from the Pan-Pearl River Delta region. Mr Chui also commented on the recent proposal by the State Council to optimise the facilitated individual travel scheme, whereby visitors from the mainland are able to travel independently to Macao and Hong Kong. He said maintaining the quality of life of the residents and maintaining for tourists a pleasant experience while they are visiting in Macao were key principles of the Government’s tourism policy. The Government had been conducting an annual review of the city’s capacity to accommodate tourists, so as to improve the application of such tourism policy principles, said Mr Chui. The Government would coordinate resources for the long-term development of Macao’s tourism sector, rather than pursuing short-term growth of visitor numbers, he stressed. Regarding other matters, Mr Chui said the Government was working closely with the authorities in Guangdong in seeking a solution to a shortage of sand for construction. Since 20 March, supply of such material to Macao from the mainland had been suspended. This suspension was in order to maintain sufficient supplies for the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The Government would strive to cope with any delay to land reclamation work in Macao related to the sand supply issue for the new urban zone known as Area A, he said. The Chief Executive was asked by reporters about the Government’s plan for a centre to monitor and control infectious diseases in order further to protect public health. He said the building housing the centre would have facilities in line with the World Health Organization’s standards. He added the Government was considering inviting experts and scholars from overseas to provide the public with more information regarding the equipment and measures used in similar centres around the world, and that have proved effective elsewhere in containing and controlling diseases and viruses. Such information sharing would be a way to ease concerns among those people living near the new building. Mr Chui additionally said the Government was now working on an update to the mechanisms used to calculate cash premiums payable for Government-issued land concessions. This update process was in accordance with the terms of the new Land Law, which came into force on 1 March, 2014. It requires such mechanisms to be reviewed and updated every two years. Regarding the work of Macao’s Urban Renewal Committee, the Chief Executive said he would suggest a summary of proceedings be issued to the public after each meeting, as a way to help local people better understand the work of the Committee.
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The 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2016MIECF) will be held at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel from 31 March to 2 April. The Green Forum will comprise of six forums and a keynote presentation by a world-renowned guest, the pioneer in a circular economy and founder of cradle-to-cradle and performance economy concepts, Professor Dr. h.c. Walter R. Stahel. Professor Stahel will give a keynote speech at the opening ceremony in the morning of 31 March, speaking to the audience in depth on the major developments and trends about circular economy. Professor Stahel’s view is that, just like a flowing river, in a linear industrial economy, products made from raw materials that finally end up in the hands of the consumers are the cause of excess and waste at every stage of their lives, due to an imbalance of supply and demand along the way; moreover, manufacturers also bear these risks. A circular economy starts with the main emphasis on “paying attention” and stresses maintaining value of products and improved inventory management practices. Each resource should be used effectively, reused, repaired and regenerated. Professor Stahel will also explain the benefits that a circular economy brings to businesses and how new technologies can assist with the growth of a circular economy within enterprises. Interactive exchange platform with the keynote speaker An interactive session with Professor Stahel has also been scheduled by the organiser on 1 April (14.00 p.m.), themed around the “Enhancing Waste Management through the Internet Plus”. In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionised business and society in many diverse ways no less than in the manner in which products and services are being allocated and supplied to their respective customer networks. The most important innovations among these changes are happening within the waste management industry, where sensors and smart modules are being used to automate the administration and control of waste and are aiding in cost-saving measures. Issues pertaining to rubbish sorting and recycling and landfill management are also being tackled through IT solutions and great benefits are being witnessed; wherein businesses are increasing their revenues by higher logistical efficiencies. MIECF organisers aim to give everyone the chance to reflect on how the latest technologies are working to achieve Professor Stahel’s pioneering vision of a circular economy and in relation to global strategies for waste management. 6 forums at 2016MIECF offer penetrating insight from a gathering of renowned industrial VIPs In addition to this year’s outstanding keynote speaker, 2016MIECF has also scheduled six forum events to which it has invited many industrial experts from diverse fields to get together at this one venue, to jointly explore in depth the commercial opportunities posed by waste management. Forum sessions include “Zero Waste and High Efficiency” - Blue Ocean Strategy for Business Success; “Turning Green into Gold” - Green Business Opportunities for the Hospitality Industry; “From Waste to Resources and Rewards” - The Roadmap towards a Circular Economy; “Building with Less” - Sustainable Waste Solutions for Green Construction; the “Green Chemical Forum – Treatment of Chemical Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste” and the “Pan Pearl River Delta Region (PPRD) Session –Solid Waste Management Policies and Technology in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region”. Members across all related industries are invited to attend these discussions and forum sessions to gain greater insight into the developments being made today in the waste management industry and the opportunities which these present. Please visit http://www.macaomiecf.com/miecf2016 and follow related page links for full details of this year’s programme.
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Only Macao residents are entitled to free vaccinations against the diseases scheduled under the "Macao Vaccination/Immunisation Programme", and Government-procured vaccines will not be given to visitors, the Health Bureau reiterated in a statement on Monday. The Bureau released the statement in response to public worries there could be a shortfall in vaccine supply if tourists came to Macao seeking vaccinations. The Bureau assured the public that the Government has sufficient reserves of vaccines and that visitors would not be eligible for free vaccinations at public health clinics. The only vaccinations available for a fee to visitors are medical emergency-related vaccinations, such as those against tetanus. The Government is committed to providing comprehensive vaccination services to Macao residents, said the Bureau. Macao residents can get free vaccinations against the diseases scheduled under the "Macao Vaccination/Immunisation Programme" at public healthcare centres and at Kiang Wu Hospital. The Health Bureau also sends each year medical staff to places with high concentration of people – such as schools and major institutions – to conduct vaccination campaigns. Among Macao residents, aside from those under 18 years old, women of childbearing age and people with high risk of hepatitis B may also receive free vaccines for the diseases scheduled under the "Macao Vaccination/Immunisation Programme". To ensure sufficient vaccines for Macao residents, the Health Bureau has also required the Workers’ Clinic and Kiang Wu Hospital to provide vaccinations procured under the "Macao Vaccination/Immunisation Programme" only to residents; visitors cannot purchase these vaccines. According to Executive Order No. 148/2013, there are 13 diseases covered by the "Macao Vaccination/Immunisation Programme". These include: tuberculosis, hepatitis B, whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, German measles, measles and other diseases. The programme also includes vaccination for the prevention of pneumococcal disease, haemophilus influenzae (which causes meningitis in children), chickenpox, and cervical cancer.
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At 2:00 p.m. on the first day (31 March) of the 2016 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2016MIECF), the “Green Business Co-operation Day”, organised by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), will be held in the Sicily Room of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. Leaders of chambers of commerce and business associations, representatives of listed companies and experts from home and abroad have been invited to discuss topics, such as business strategies in waste management and environmental protection measures adopted by the hospitality industry, as well as analysing the opportunities given to the related sectors in the industry chain, especially the SMEs. A series of activities to help companies explore green business opportunities The “Green Business Co-operation Day” is one of a series of activities at the 2016MIECF. Events this year include the Green Forum, networking cocktail and signing ceremonies. The Green Forum is divided into two sessions, as follows: Session I – “Zero Waste and High Efficiency – Blue Ocean Strategy for Business Success” The moderator of this session is Mr. António Trindade, Founding President of Macao Association of Environmental Protection Industry. Speakers include Mr. Ricardo Neto, President and Iberian Manager of the European Recycling Platform, Mr. José Pedro Salema, CEO and Chairman of EDIA – Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infraestruturas do Alqueva, S.A., Mr. Wang Deying, Executive Director and Chairman of China Water Industry Group, Ms. Yawei Chen, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at Delft University of Technology and Ms. Veronique Rochet, Regional Sustainability Manager at Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) Shanghai. The panel will analyse the success stories of large local and international enterprises, and discuss how to make components of the value chain highly efficient and achieve zero waste, in a bid to successfully develop new markets and new growth, to ultimately create a “blue ocean” for the enterprises. Session II – “Turning Green into Gold” – Green Business Opportunities for the Hospitality Industry With Macao being a tourism destination, sustainable development of its hotel industry has significant impact on the local economy. Mr. Sean Lee-Davies, TV Programme Producer and Host will be the moderator of this session. Ms. Fran Hughes, Director of the International Tourism Partnership, Professor Daniel M. Cheng, Managing Director, Durwell Enviro-Techn Holdings Ltd., Mr. Joshua Ho, Vice President, Property Services, Melco Crown Entertainment Limited, Ms. Rebecca Donnellan, Director of Sustainability at MGM (Macao) and Mr. Syed Mubarak, Director of Sustainability at Sands China Ltd. have been invited to explore how to develop business, reduce waste, improve operational efficiency and increase profit in an environmentally-friendly manner. This session will also explore the green business opportunities open to the related sectors in the industry chain and how related SMEs can find business opportunities from the business development strategy of the hospitality industry. Building a Green Business Network and Witnessing the Growth of Green Business Opportunities “Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception & Signing Ceremony” will take place immediately after, at 5:30 p.m., in Expo Hall A of the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. A series of co-operation agreements in environmental protection will be signed. This event will provide an opportunity for exchange and business discussions for enterprises from different parts of the world, to further promote co-operation in the environmental field, between local and overseas enterprises. Local enterprises, professionals and the general public are all welcome to participate in the “Green Business Co-operation Day”. Please register early as seats are limited, interested parties please contact Ms. Kuan of IPIM’s Research and Information Division on 8798 9127, fax: 2872 8208, e-mail: ipimcom@ipim.gov.mo. For further information about the “Green Business Co-operation Day”, please visit the official website: www.macaomiecf.com.
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The highly-acclaimed concert “Weekend Music Party” presented by the Macao Orchestra, under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau will proceed this Saturday (April 2) at 4pm at the Dom Pedro V Theatre. The performance of the concert “Weekend Music Party – Back in Time” features various ensembles which will perform a selection of popular American songs from the 70’s and 80’s. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at the Macau Ticketing Network. The programme of the concert features new string and brass arrangements of songs such as “Yesterday”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Love Me Tender”, etc.; combining the delicacy and beauty of classical music with modern pop sounds presenting a new sensory experience that can be enjoyed by everyone. Complementing the concert, an antiques’ market will be held outside the Dom Pedro V Theatre, featuring local boutiques including MissKai’s Vintage, The Things Studio and Naka Shop, among others. Entrance to the antiques’ market is free of charge. Tickets for the concert “Weekend Music Party – Back in Time” are on sale at the prices of MOP100 and MOP120. Ticketing hotline: 2855 5555. For more information and the programme, please visit the Macao Orchestra’s website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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The deliberation of the “Promoting Honesty” video contest targeting secondary students, organised by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC), was completed recently. The Champion, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up of the Senior Secondary Group are from Yuet Wah College (Cheating‧Game), the Workers’ Children High School (1st Runner-up) and the 5th School of the Diocesan College of Saint Joseph (Father and Son) respectively. The three finalists of the Junior Secondary Group are from Hou Kong Middle School (Mummy Understands), the 5th School of the Diocesan College of Saint Joseph (A Moment of Greed) and the Workers’ Children High School (Contentment Brings Happiness) respectively. The videos of the Workers’ Children High School (Bribery‧A Dream) and Hou Kong Middle School (Social Newsflash) received the most “Like” by the online voters and were awarded the “Most Popular Video Award” of the Senior Secondary Group and the Junior Secondary Group respectively. In addition to the above awards, the complete list of awards with the Merit Awards and Awards for shortlisted videos has been uploaded to the CCAC’s website (www.ccac.org.mo). The CCAC will notify the winning students about the arrangements of prize collection. The contest received satisfactory response, a total of 89 entries from 18 schools were collected from the students. The deliberation meeting was held recently. The judge panel, comprising Professor of Department of English of the University of Macau, Tan See Kam, Chairman of the supervisory board of Association of Audiovisual CUT, Ho Ka Cheng, art and cultural worker, Joe Tang, local young director, Ao Ieong Weng Fong and Head of Education and Awareness Division of the CCAC, Ao Man Wa, selected 15 videos from each group based on the theme expression, creativity and inspiration, as well as filming techniques of the videos. Subsequently, the Champion, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up and Merit Awards were selected from the shortlisted videos. The judges praised highly the entries and believed that a lot of them are creative and with high standard. The filming skills and editing techniques are quite good as well. They also agreed that through organising this contest, the CCAC is able to guide the students to recognise the importance of integrity and to establish a correct value of money.
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