News

In order to enrich the knowledge of Macao university students on the fundamental rights and duties of Macao residents, the Nationality Law and consular protection and consular services under the framework of the Constitution and the Basic Law, 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 held a seminar on “Constitution and Basic Law – Fundamental Rights and Duties of Macao Residents, Nationality Law, Consular Protection and Consular Services”, which is part of the thematic seminar series for higher education institutions. Since the launching of the thematic seminar series for higher education institutions last year, prominent results have been made in promoting the Constitution and the Basic Law. In order to enhance the relevant knowledge of more university students, the organizer held the fifth thematic seminar for higher education institutions at IFT on 22 March 2016. The keynote speakers of this seminar are Mr. Weng Jinshan, the first class secretary of the Office of Commissioner of MFA, and Ms. Wong Pou Ieng, Head of Department of Residents Identification of DSI. Mr. Huang Jianbin, representative of the Office of the Commissioner of the MFA, Mr. Ng Chi Meng, Head of Department of Travel Documents of DSI, Ms. Lo Cheng Peng, Head of Legal Dissemination and Public Relations Department of DSAJ, Mr. Chu Chan Weng, Head of Technical and Academic Support Division of IFT, and more than 100 students have attended the seminar. In the seminar, Ms. Wong Pou Ieng introduced the composition of Macao Residents and their fundamental rights and duties, as well as the implementation of the Nationality Law in the Macao SAR. On the other hand, Mr. Weng Jinshan introduced the main tasks of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in regard to consular protection and consular services and shared the cases of consular protection happened in recent years. In particular, he explained how Chinese citizens request assistance from the embassies or consulates of China in case of emergency in other countries with specific examples, enabling students to deepen their knowledge on consular protection and consular services further. In addition to this thematic seminar, the organizer will hold a small discussion forum as an extended activity, which creates relaxing atmosphere for students and scholars to exchange thoughts and opinions on the issues of the Constitution and the Basic Law, fundamental rights and duties of Macao residents, Nationality Law, as well as consular protection and consular services.
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The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) is paying close attention to the explosions occurred in Brussels’ airport and metro, and maintaining close contact with the Macao travel industry for further developments. From information gathered through the Macao travel industry, there is currently no Macao tour group in Brussels. Until the present moment, GGCT has not received any requests for information or assistance. If necessary, Macao residents can call the 24-hour Tourism Hotline (853) 2833 3000.
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Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality and Qingyuan Municipal Tourism Bureau held a “Joint Sales Mission of Guangdong and Macao – Bangkok, Thailand” in the capital of Thailand today (22 March) to build up connections with travel trade in Thailand and promote multi-destination travel to Guangdong and Macao. The authorities jointly rolled out the Mission to expand their international visitor markets and foster regional tourism development. Head of Communication and External Relations Department of MGTO, Kathy Iong; Vice Director of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Section, Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Huang Guangzhi; Deputy Inspector of Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality, Xu Ying, and Deputy Director General of Tourism Bureau of Qingyuan City, He Zhifang, engaged in the “Joint Sales Mission of Guangdong and Macao – Bangkok, Thailand” in Bangkok today (22 March) together with other delegates and trade representatives from travel agencies, airlines and hotels in Macao. The Joint Sales Mission includes destination product presentations by Guangdong and Macao to introduce their tourism resources and products to Thailand travel trade. The program also comprises a networking luncheon and media interviews. The Mission enables travel trade to extend their business network, exchange industry news and forge new partnerships. In the media session, Guangdong and Macao tourism officials met up individually with local media for an in-depth interview about the current tourism situation in Guangdong and Macao, which helps promote multi-destination travel. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Executive Director of the East Asia Region, Runjuan Tongrut, and the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) President Suparerk Soorangura attended the networking luncheon, during which they communicated with the Guangdong and Macao delegates to update each other on their destinations’ latest tourism development. Guangdong and Macao have maintained a stable and long-term collaborative relationship in tourism. By leveraging a range of cooperative platforms, sharing booths in travel shows, holding joint promotion activities as well as other projects, the two destinations make sustained efforts to promote multi-destination travel and expand their source markets at home and abroad, with the goal to brand the region as one destination. Last July, MGTO rolled out destination product presentations and travel marts in Malaysia and Singapore to promote multi-destination itineraries together with Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province, Tourism Administration of Guangzhou Municipality, Zhuhai Culture Sports and Tourism Bureau, Tourism Administration of Shaoguan Municipality as well as Zhongshan Municipal Tourism Bureau. Following the event, various travel agencies in Malaysia successfully launched new multi-destination tour products into the market. Guangdong and Macao now rolled out another Joint Sales Mission, this time in Thailand, as part of their continuous endeavor to promote multi-destination travel hand in hand this year. MGTO is dedicated to diversifying sources of visitors to Macao. Embracing a new theme in 2016, the Office promotes Macao around the world and invites visitors to “Experience Macao Your Own Style”. The Office also continues to leverage the Belt and Road opportunities and various tourism cooperation frameworks including Pan Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong/Macao, Guangdong/Hong Kong/Macao, Guangdong/Macao as well as Fujian/Macao to develop multi-destination tours and build the brand of regional destination with unique gems to offer, striving to expand international source markets.
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The International Conference on Teaching and Learning Portuguese as a Second Language will be held at the University of Macau (UM) on 8 April and 9 April. The conference aims to enhance communication among Asian universities in the teaching and learning of the Portuguese language. Topics to be discussed at the conference include interaction in the classroom; profile of Chinese students; grammar and communication; methods of teaching Portuguese as a second language; teaching Portuguese by contents; didactic materials analysis and production: written and oral production and comprehension; Portuguese for specific purposes; proficiency and assessment; language teaching and language policy in China; translation as an instrument of teaching Portuguese; new technologies in teaching and learning Portuguese; curriculum design for foreign language teaching; teacher training in Asian contexts; teaching Portuguese as a transnational language; and literature and culture in second language teaching. The conference is organised by the University of Macau (UM), the University of Lisbon and Beijing Foreign Studies University.
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The Cinematheque．Passion under the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) will host a talk entitled “How can a story be told through film editing?”, conducted by experienced Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Hoi, to be held on 23 April, Saturday, from 3 to 5pm. Online applications are now accepted. Admission is free. Experienced Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Hoi will talk about film editing, including filmmaking techniques and creativity in film editing, the issue of how editors assist directors to conceive a complete film universe, and examples of film editing, etc. As a veteran filmmaker, he edited Initial D, Bodyguards and Assassins and As The Light Goes Out. With Cold War, he won the “Best Film Editing” award at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Awards and the 50th Asia Pacific Film Festival. He has worked for a number of TV operators and broadcasters in Hong Kong. There are sixty seats available. All interested parties are welcome to enrol through IC’s “Activity Registration System” (www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event) by 20 April (Friday) at 12pm. For enquiries regarding the talk 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 the Macao Cultural and Creative Industries Website (www.macaucci.com).
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The online registration and exchange process of the Monkey and Rooster Zodiac Banknotes for the two Issuing Banks will be conducted jointly. For those who are interested to exchange for such banknotes (only limited to valid Macao permanent and non-permanent identity card holders), they can log onto the joint registration system of the two Issuing Banks via the webpage of the Monetary Authority of Macao (www.amcm.gov.mo) to conduct a one-time online registration within the registration period from 9:00 am on 29 March until 6:00 pm on 15 April 2016. Each Macao resident can only conduct a single registration, but it will simultaneously cover the exchange for both Monkey and Rooster banknotes of the two Issuing Banks. Each Macao resident can proceed with the tentative exchange quantity for a maximum of 30 pieces of Monkey and 30 pieces of Rooster Banknotes of each Issuing Bank, namely a maximum of 60 pieces of Monkey and Rooster Banknotes respectively from the two Issuing Banks. Hence, each Macao resident can tentatively exchange for a maximum of 120 notes in total after completing the online registration. The abovementioned exchange quantity is projected on the basis of the current number of Macao identity card holders (permanent and non-permanent), and the actual quantity to be exchanged by each Macao resident will be announced after the end of registration period. Registrants are required to conduct the exchange for the two types of Zodiac Banknotes in one go, with no provision for separate exchange for only one type of note. While registrants should retain their registration records, they can also log onto the online registration system for inquiry of their confirmed registration details. The exchange period is between 9 May 2016 and 22 July 2016. Apart from the two Issuing Banks, other exchange locations include the selected branches of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau) Limited, Tai Fung Bank Limited, OCBC Wing Hang Bank Limited, Luso International Banking Limited, Banco Comercial de Macau, China Construction Bank Macau Branch and China Guangfa Bank Macau Branch. Under the current arrangement, the exchange for the Monkey and Rooster banknotes of the two Issuing Banks can be conducted at the chosen location in one go. Registrants should bring along their valid ID card and can proceed in person to exchange for the notes by cash at the chosen location on the selected day. In respect of the note exchange conducted by authorized representatives, the latter will need to bring along their original ID card and submit the following documents to conduct the note exchange on the selected date and location: 1. Authorization form [downloaded from AMCM’s website] signed by the registrant; 2. Registrant’s ID copy bearing his / her signature; 3. Representative’s ID copy bearing his / her signature. At designated branches of Bank of China and Banco Nacional Ultramarino, online registration service will be provided for those elderly citizens who require assistance. For enquiries regarding the online registration arrangements, please call our hotline at Tel: 2856 5071 / 2856 5072, or browse our website: www.amcm.gov.mo.
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Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) is holding Irish Food and Whiskey Week from 21 to 24 March in collaboration with Consulate General of Ireland, as one of the events to celebrate Irish Festival and promote Irish culture in Macao. In order for local hospitality professionals and the public to better understand and experience the gourmet, wine and culture of Ireland, a renowned chef from Ireland, Mr. James Fox, is invited to be the guest chef to prepare a variety of Irish cuisine at IFT Educational Restaurant, while Mr. Martin Moran, Master of Wine from Ireland, is the guest speaker of the Irish whiskey seminar. On 21 March, the Irish Whiskey Seminar was held at IFT Wine & Tea Room, taught by Mr. Martin Moran, Master of Wine. Over 40 participants from the local hospitality sector attended the seminar. After the seminar, participants had a better understanding of Irish Whiskey; knowing more about whiskey distillation/production, as well as different styles. A guided tasting of whiskey from different regions of Ireland was also included in to enable participants to better understand the specific characters of Irish Whiskey. On the other hand, IFT Educational Restaurant is hosting an Irish Food and Whiskey Week from 21 to 24 March. A renowned chef from Ireland, James Fox, specially came to be the guest chef of the event. During the period, people can enjoy the unique Irish set lunch and dinner buffet featuring a variety of Irish cuisine and wine. For reservations, please contact 8598 3077/3076. Mr. James Fox, the invited guest chef, has over twelve years’ experience in professional kitchens, including some of Dublin's best restaurants and establishments in the south of France. Having profound experiences in diverse cuisines and cooking techniques, James completed a master’s degree in Safety, Health and Welfare at Work at Dublin City University, and currently works as the Lecturer of Culinary Arts in Dublin Institute of Technology. IFT has been striving to enhance the skills and knowledge of local tourism and hospitality professionals as well as to bring in new culinary elements and experiences to Macao. Through organising this event, it is believed that the culinary knowledge and horizon of local citizens and professionals will be enhanced. Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 97 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has the most bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
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The Government would allocate more resources to the teaching of the Portuguese language in the city, in an effort to turn Macao into a training hub for such education and a centre of cultural exchange between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, made the comments on Saturday (19 March), on the sidelines of an event celebrating the 35th anniversary of the University of Macau. The Government is committed to increasing – via training – the number of people with the talent to be bilingual in Chinese and Portuguese, as a way to support also Macao’s development as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, he said. Mr Tam stated Macao had a favourable environment for learning Portuguese: the language is one of the city’s two official languages. He also noted that the city had media outlets reporting in Portuguese; and that there were a large number of Portuguese citizens living and working in Macao. Also on the sidelines of Saturday’s event, the Secretary was asked by reporters about a decision by the Cultural Heritage Committee not to classify the former Estoril Hotel as part of the city’s architectural heritage. Mr Tam said he respected the decision of the Committee. He added the Government would soon proceed with its redevelopment plan for the Estoril Hotel site. It would turn the building and the adjacent swimming pool into a youth recreation and sports facility; a proposal supported by a majority of members of the public. Committees and consultative bodies under his portfolio worked and operated in a transparent way, stressed the Secretary. In the case of the former Estoril Hotel, the Government had held more than 20 sessions inviting the public to share comments regarding the Government’s redevelopment plan, he said. The Government always paid great attention to local people’s opinions and sought to introduce policies that were in the best interests of local residents, Mr Tam added.
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In order to conform with the urban planning and development of Macao, we would like to announce that the UM Post Office located at Avenida da Universidade, Ground floor of University Mall, Room G004, Taipa, Macao, will commence service with effect from 24th March, 2016. The office hours and the services are as follows: Postal Services (Posta Restante) and PO Box Services : Monday to Friday 12:00 ~ 19:00 Money Transfer Services - Western Union : Monday to Friday 12:00 ~ 18:00 That post office will also use the New Label with Franking Impression and Publicity Slogan Impression of Postal Label Printer as below. This label is applicable only to mail correspondences, small packets and printed matters at postal counters, and it is not for individual sale. * Please find attached file
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The Macao Orchestra (OM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents the Easter Concert on Thursday and Friday, 24 and 25 March, at 8pm, at St. Dominic’s Church. OM invited specially for these concerts renowned conductor Peter Tiboris, who performs frequently at Carnegie Hall, the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus, internationally renowned soprano Eilana Lappalainen, and three Korean soloists, mezzo Yang Songmi, tenor Shin Dongwon and bass Yoo Ji Hoon, to perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Mass in C Major and sacred works by Franz Schubert. Admission is free. The Mass in C Major performed in these two concerts is Beethoven’s first mass. The work is appreciated by music critics for its sweet and captivating melodies conveying a sense of tranquillity, devotion and purity. The concerts’ programme also features two sacred works by Franz Schubert, the Stabat Mater, D. 175 and Tantum ergo, D. 962, ritual traditional pieces written for the ceremony of the mass. In these concerts, OM, the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus and several international singers propose an unforgettable evening of stunning sacred music. Admission to the two Easter concerts of the Macao Orchestra is free. Tickets will be distributed at the venue one hour before the performance. Distribution is on a first come, first served basis and is limited to a maximum of two tickets per person. For details and programme enquiries, please visit the OM website at www.icm.gov.mo/om.
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