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The Macao Special Administrative Government is fully dedicated to boosting the substantial development in politics, the economy and culture to enhance the people's livelihood. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said this today when he addressed some 900 guests at the National Day reception hosted by the Government. He said government would bolster economic and social development and facilitate people's livelihood by establishing a long-term effective and protective mechanism. The Government has the determination to solve housing problems, to ensure employment opportunities for locals, to take care of the needy and to share the economic achievements of the region. The Government will put more efforts in dealing with transportation and flooding problems, and other politics relating to the people's livelihood, he pledged.
Mr Chui said the country's prosperity has further promoted the stable development of Macao's politics, economy and culture. On politics, 14 direct and 12 indirectly legislators have been successfully elected in the fifth Legislative Assembly election. The new legislature would continue to fulfill the duty of formulating laws and monitoring government's policies. Mr Chui stressed the Government would have more interaction with the Assembly and work harder to contribute to the region.
New opportunities have been created for the people of Macao to start businesses in the Mainland with the implementation of the Framework Agreement on Co-operation between Guangdong and Macao and the 10th Supplementary Protocol to CEPA signed this year.
The Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic Co-operation Forum (Macao) would be held in Macao soon, and Macao would once again act as a bridge and platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. With the full support of the Central Government, Macao is actively serving as a world tourism and leisure centre and a commercial and trade platform for China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries in speeding up economic diversification.
Through regional co-operation, the multi-destination travel scheme would also enhance the tourism benefit of the entire region, Mr Chui said. Guests attending the reception included the Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr Ho Hau Wah; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Bai Zhijian; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Hu Zhengyue; the Commander of the Macao Garrison of the People's Liberation Army, Senior Colonel Zhu Qingsheng; the President of Legislative Assembly, Mr Lau Cheok Va; and the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai. In the morning, some 200 guests attended the flag raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square. A number of government departments have also organised celebratory events, including a variety show organised by the Macao Sport Development Board, at Macao East Asian Games Dome, at 2 pm. Pyrotechnics displays of the 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, by teams from France, Italy and China, will take place on the waterfront near Macau Tower at 9 pm, 9:30 pm and 10 pm.
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The Macao International Music Festival (MIMF), organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, opens its 27th edition with a Latvian National Opera production of Richard Wagner's opera Das Rheingold, to be held on October 2nd, Wednesday, at 8pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth. The MIMF brings 22 outstanding shows to the territory from October 2nd to November 3rd 2013. Das Rheingold, the first opera in the cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring cycle), introduces Wagner's vast, mythical world. In legendary times, Northern Europe consisted of three realms: the underworld, where the Nibelungs lived; the earth's surface, inhabited by giants and mortals; and the cloudy heights, home of the gods. The dwarf Alberich renounces love and steals the gold guarded by the maidens of the Rhine. He forges a magic ring from the gold, but it soon becomes an object of desire for Wotan, the ruler of the gods, who wants to save his wife's sister from the giants. The infuriated Alberich lays a curse on his lost treasure – anyone who possesses it will eventually meet their doom… This modern version of Das Rheingold by the Latvian National Opera, together with a strong cast and exquisite sets, will certainly enrapture the audience. The 27th MIMF's opening ceremony will take place before the opening performance, at 7.45pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre lobby. The public is welcome to attend. Tickets for the 27th Macao International Music Festival can be purchased at all Kong Seng Ticketing outlets, both by telephone and online. A variety of discount plans is offered. For more information pertaining to the 27th MIMF, please visit the Festival's website at: www.icm.gov.mo/fimm.
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Consumer Council conducted its specific price survey on cooking oil on 27th July for the implementation of Section 2b), Article 10, Law 4/95/M of 12th June. Result of the mentioned survey has been uploaded to the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and is available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. For inquiry, please call the Council's hotline: 8988 9315.
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The Civil Aviation Authority of Macao SAR (AACM) is presently participating in the 38th Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly where representatives from 181 member states and major international and industry organizations gather together to hold discussions in separate commissions to deliberate safety, security, economic, environment and regional cooperation issues relating to the future development of the global air transport systems. The 38th Session was declared open on 24 September 2014 at the ICAO Headquarters in Montreal. It will be concluded on 04 October 2014. AACM is participating as member of the delegation of the People's Republic of China. According to ICAO statistics, the global air traffic will rise from 100,000 aircraft movements per year to 200,000 aircraft movements in the next twenty years. In his welcome address for the opening ceremony, the President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Roberto Kobeh González pointed out that the rapid increase in air traffic will pose significant challenges to system safety, efficiency, security, economic viability and environmental protection. The Assembly therefore urges all member states and administrations to collaborate with the industry to take measures to improve both oversight and operations in order to manage the upcoming capacity expansion without sacrificing the overall system safety and convenience. In aviation safety, the Assembly defined runway safety, controlled flight into terrain and loss of control as the three main focuses for the next three years. The Assembly also reviewed and approved the two revisions of the Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP) and the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP), both of which have already been endorsed by the ICAO Council previously. The GASP is a framework for guiding and assisting the Aviation Safety Groups in different regions, ICAO's member states and administrations, as well as the airlines worldwide, in the formulation of their aviation safety plans, for improving international safety. The key objective of the 2013 GASP is to continually reduce the aviation accident rate through effective safety oversight, safety management and risk assessment. The GANP is a strategic plan that presents all states and administrations supporting a harmonized global air navigation system. Together with the Aviation System Block Upgrades that has been incorporated into the Plan, the new GANP provides a comprehensive planning tool for the modernization of air traffic management in contemporary and future times. Furthermore, the Assembly also urges all states and administrations to actively take part in regional sub-groups to promote safety at all levels and share information among themselves. In aviation security, ICAO will continue to drive all states and administrations to further secure aircraft, passengers and cargo and implement facilitation to avoid obstructions to traveler convenience and trade flows. In the environmental protection area, aviation now contributes just 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions each year. Despite this, ICAO and all states and administrations have dedicated much effort to reduce CO2 emissions. Aircraft today are at least 80% more fuel efficient than they were in 1960s. The Assembly reviewed the CO2 emission reduction activities carried out by the states and administrations. All parties will continue to implement a broad range of measures including operational refinements, alternative fuels, new technologies to significantly improve protection capacity. The ICAO Assembly is held every three years with the participation of all contracting states and major international and industry organizations. About 1,400 delegates from a total of 231 delegations, who are coming from 181 states and 50 international and industry organizations, unions and associations, are now attending the event. Election for the new 36-seat Council took place on 28 September 2013, which will run for three years till 2016. The People's Republic of China has been elected as a Council member. The new Council will continue to serve as ICAO's governing executive body in the coming triennial period.
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Spanning a week (1 – 7 October), 1st October Golden Week will start tomorrow officially. Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has been actively preparing for its arrival in various aspects including food guide publication and activation of the tourism notification system. The Office has also increased its inspection duties and launched an online system for hotels and guest houses to report their room rates. Through a series of measures, MGTO makes a great effort not only to cater for citizens and visitors' needs but also to improve service quality in the tourism industry. The tourism notification system for 1st October Golden Week will officially come into operation between MGTO and Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province since 28 September until 8 October. MGTO will release related information online as a platform, which includes updating every previous day's Mainland and total visitor arrivals at various ports in Macau. The highest room rates offered by different hotels during the Golden Week will also be posted online. Both tourism authorities will maintain close communication with each other during the aforementioned period. MGTO regularly releases the reported room rates of different room categories offered by hotels and guest houses in Macau online. Citizens and guests can browse MGTO's website for further information and room rates of hotels and guest houses. Before 1st October Golden Week arrives, the Office has also introduced a room-rate report system online for industry partners to update their room rates on the Internet in order to raise the report system's efficiency and enable visitors to obtain the latest information. MGTO publishes the "Macau Food Guide for 1st October Vacation" (Chinese version only) together with General Union of the Macau Neighborhood Association, The United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau, The Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District as well as The Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macau. The guide offers a contact list of restaurants open during 1st October Golden Week for visitors to get their operation info conveniently. MGTO has also launched the first four walking tour routes themed as "Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities" lately, encouraging visitors to stroll around Macau leisurely and explore different neighborhoods for hidden gems. The new routes are expected to divert visitors off the beaten tourist track in order to alleviate the burden and foster community tourism. Visitors can download the food guide and the four walking tour maps from MGTO's website: http://www.macautourism.gov.mo or acquire the printed copies for free from the Office's Tourist Information counters. For Mainland visitors who plan to visit Macau during the Golden Week, MGTO will advise them via WeChat and mobile messages to make room reservation in advance and check local room rates on MGTO's website if needed; the Office also encourages visitors to download travel information online before their trip to Macau or acquire the printed materials at MGTO's Tourist Information counters upon arrival so that they can obtain more useful information in hand. Meanwhile, MGTO will strengthen its inspection duties at various sightseeing attractions, ports and areas while increasing the manpower at Tourist Information counters. MGTO's Tourism Hotline 2833 3000 will maintain its 24-hour operator service as usual with inspectors standing by round the clock to help visitors with their enquiries, whereas visitors can browse MGTO's website for travel tips and related information. The Office has also sent a written reminder to industry partners regarding concerns about health and hygiene, food safety, fire safety, opening hours, occupational guidelines for tour group operators, requirements for hotel room-rate report and so on. MGTO also maintains communication and exchanges news with Consumer Council, Public Security Police Force, Macau Customs Service, Marine and Water Bureau, Transport Bureau and so forth. Through the "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports" offered by Public Security Police Force, visitors can check the real-time border-crossing images at the arrival & departure halls and traffic lanes of Barrier Gate, Outer Harbour and Cotai Frontier Post by visiting the platform webpage: www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/pspmonitor on phone or computer. Visitors can therefore choose a suitable timing to leave or arrive in Macau flexibly. MGTO has posted a direct link to Public Security Police Force's webpage "Real-Time Information Platform of Border Ports" on its website as well. In addition, the "Tourism Law of the People's Republic of China" will take effect on 1st October. MGTO thus invited a policy expert from China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to address explanation sessions in Macau for related official departments and travel industry partners on July so that they could gain a clearer understanding of the Tourism Law and its relations with both destinations' tourism development. MGTO will persist in carrying out its relevant duties properly in accord with the new law, hoping that the concerted efforts of all sectors will steer the tourism market toward a sound development course.
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The distribution work of 2013 Wealth Partaking Scheme had basically finished on 30 September this year. In the course of implementation, 102,751 beneficiaries had received the cash premium by means of bank transfer, accounting for MOP$ 818,945,600, while 531,333 crossed cheques had been mailed, which summed up to MOP$ 4,041,985,600. Until the present time, 454,955 cheques were withdrawn, representing 85.6% of the total number of cheques written out. In line with the scheme, a Support Centre for Wealth Partaking Disbursement entered into service on 1 July to cater for enquiries and deal with procedures related to the cash disbursement. As of 30 September, some 28,805 enquiries had been handled, with the majority of which being personal visits, summing up to 19,535 enquiries, around 67.8% of the total. The second most popular channel was telephone enquiry, which stands for 31.7% or 9,128 enquiries. Personal visits to the Centre were mainly for re-issuance of cheques, which totalled 4,829 cases, whereas 434 came for the purpose of alteration of address. The Support Centre operated until 30 September. From 3 October onwards, residents can go to the Service Centre of Civil and Municipal Affairs Bureau located in Avenida da Praia Grande, China Plaza, 2/F for assistance regarding procedures associated with the Wealth Partaking Scheme of present and previous years. The opening hours of this Service Centre are from 9am to 6pm straight, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Telephone enquiries are available at 8795 2675 and 8795 2676. The service hotline 2822 5000, fax 2822 3000 as well as the official website of Wealth Partaking Scheme http://www.planocp.gov.mo will be retained to provide relevant information.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that total merchandise export for August 2013 amounted to MOP719 million, down by 12% year-on-year to mark the first decline after five consecutive months of increase; value of re-exports (MOP543 million) and domestic exports (MOP175 million) decreased by 14% and 7% respectively. Total merchandise import reached MOP6.99 billion, up by 17% year-on-year. Merchandise trade deficit amounted to MOP6.27 billion for August 2013. In the first eight months of 2013, total value of merchandise export increased by 12% year-on-year to MOP6.05 billion, of which value of re-exports (MOP4.69 billion) increased by 23%, but that of domestic exports (MOP1.37 billion) decreased by 14%. Total value of merchandise import grew by 14% to MOP52.39 billion. Merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP46.33 billion for the first eight months of 2013. Analysed by destination, merchandise export to Hong Kong (MOP3.26 billion) and Mainland China (MOP1.09 billion) in the first eight months of 2013 increased by 19% and 25% respectively year-on-year, while export to the USA (MOP244 million) and the EU (MOP191 million) decreased by 30% and 16% respectively. In addition, exports of Non-textiles (MOP5.47 billion) expanded by 17% year-on-year, of which exports of Electronic components (MOP672 million) and Diamond & diamond jewellery (MOP409 million) surged by 86% and 121% respectively. Exports of Textiles & garments (MOP584 million) decreased by 21%, of which exports of Knitted or crocheted garments (MOP196 million) declined by 32%. By country of origin, merchandise import from Mainland China (MOP17.18 billion) and the EU (MOP12.03 billion) increased by 14% and 12% respectively year-on-year in the first eight months of 2013. Imports of Consumer goods rose by 20% to MOP33.56 billion, with imports of Gold jewellery (MOP6.19 billion), Watches (MOP3.98 billion), Beauty, cosmetic & skin-care products (MOP1.65 billion) and Tobacco (MOP413 million) increasing by 32%, 22%, 71% and 37% respectively. External merchandise trade reached MOP58.44 billion in the first eight months of 2013, up by 14% compared with MOP51.44 billion a year earlier.
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Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) inaugurated the Pyrotechnics Industry Forum today (29 September). As the speakers, fireworks industry professionals and experts have come together to explore fireworks industry development and discuss how it benefits the tourism industry during the Forum. As a supporting event to the 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, the Pyrotechnics Industry Forum is held in Macau from 28 September – 1 October to lead discussions about pyrotechnics industry development and its benefits toward the tourism industry. Industry partners, experts and scholars from the Mainland, Portugal and Canada attend the Forum as speakers. In addition to the importance of fireworks shows to the travel industry, their presentations also cover a range of topics about the fireworks industry from its development, impact, culture, laws and regulations to environmental protection and applied technology. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and MGTO Deputy Director Manuel Pires together with other guests officiated the opening ceremony of the Forum. In her opening speech, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes remarked that Macau highly values cultural inheritance while the fireworks and firecracker industry has an important place in local culture. In order to carry on the beautiful fireworks history and culture, MGTO launched the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest since the 1980's. Today, the contest has developed into one of Macau's spectacular international events not to miss each year, having a positive effect on the city's tourism development and reputation building. As one of the Forum's speakers, Senna Fernandes addressed the "Importance of Fireworks Contests and Festivals for the Development of Local Tourism" as her key topic. Another guest speaker, Technical Consultant of the 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest and Observer of National Mega Fireworks Display Expert Group of the Ministry of Public Security, Zhao Weiping expressed his views about integration and development of the fireworks industry in China. President of National Association of Enterprises of Explosives Products (ANEPE) from Portugal, António Joaquim de Melo Rodrigues presented a speech about a pyrotechnics industry forum to celebrate the 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest. Existing for nearly three decades, the Montréal International Fireworks Competition is the largest fireworks contest in the world today and attracts three million spectators every year. Director of L'International des Feux Loto- Québec presented by TELUS, Martyne Gagnon shared about the event's journey to success. As the first global gathering for fireworks industry partners, the Pyrotechnics Industry Forum provides an opportunity for industry professionals to exchange and discuss their latest technology and development course. Chairman of International Symposium on Fireworks, Ettore Contestabile gave a presentation about the International Symposium on Fireworks (ISF) and its influence on the industry. Other speakers include: Director and PhD Student Instructor of Pyrotechnic Research Centre of Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Professor Pan Gongpei; Assistant Professor at Mechanical Engineering Department of the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, José Carlos Miranda Gois; Expert of Fireworks Display Expert Group of Public Security Department of Guangdong Province, Huang Gang; Chairman of Fireworks Association of Anhui Province, Chairman of the Board of Anhui Shenghong Fireworks and Firecrackers Group and Member of National Fireworks Technology Standardization Committee, Su Yun; Director of Hunan Fireworks Product Safety and Quality Control Centre, Chairman of National Fireworks Technology Standardization Committee and current Secretary of International Organization for Standardization/Fireworks Technology Committee, Huang Chaxiang; Senior Engineer of the Public Security Department of Guangzhou Municipality and Expert of National Mega Fireworks Display Expert Group, Wang Nianxing; Chief of Police in the Explosives Division of the Explosives and Firearms Department of the Portuguese National Directorate of Public Security Police, Armando Ferreira dos Santos; Chairman of the Board, Senior Industrial Artist, Fireworks and Fireworks Display Supervisor of Xiangxing Class A Fireworks Export Factory in Liuyang, Hunan Province, Zhou Jian; Chairman of the Board, Fireworks Display Supervisor, Senior Industrial Artist and Senior Engineer of Sunny Group, Shi Jingzhong; and Manager of PROPYRO – Produtos Pirotécnicos, Lda, Alexandre Rocha Simão.
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(Macao—29 September 2013) The Macao SAR Government will hold a string of celebratory events on 1st October to celebrate the 64th National Day. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will officiate the flag-raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square at 8 am, to be attended by representatives from the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR, the Macao Garrison of the People's Liberation Army, heads of the legislature, judiciary, principal officials, community leaders and members of the public. This will be followed by a reception at Macau Tower at 9:30 am, to be attended by government officials, representatives of Central Government agencies in Macao and community leaders. A number of government departments will also hold celebratory events, including the National Day Fun Run starting at Golden Lotus Square after the flag-raising ceremony, and a variety show organised by the Macao Sport Development Board, at Macao East Asian Games Dome, at 2 pm. Pyrotechnics displays of the 25th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, by teams from France, Italy and China, will take place on the waterfront near Macau Tower at 9 pm, 9:30 pm and 10pm.
Commemorative covers will be on sale and a stamping service will be offered at the Post Office from 9 am to 5.30 pm.
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(Macao – 27 September 2013) The fifth-term Legislative Assembly election highly reflected the principles of "One Country, Two Systems", "Macao People Governing Macao", "A High Degree of Autonomy" and the Macao Basic Law had been further implemented in Macao, the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said in a note on the 15 September election.
Mr Chui pointed out that the Legislative Assembly election also symbolised that the development of Macao's political system had borne fruit.
All sectors from the society and the general public had shown their active participation in the election.
He expressed his gratitude and compliments on behalf of the Government to all participants and voters, conveying his cordial congratulations and greetings to all elected legislators including 14 directly-elected and 12 indirectly-elected.
He also expressed his wholehearted gratitude to the Electoral Affairs Committee for the Legislative Assembly Election, the General Vote Count Committee, staff from different Government departments, voting station officers and schools who had contributed to this successful election.
He said that during the election period, Macao media had fully played its role in disseminating the Government's election information, policy platforms of different electoral groups to the public, promoting civic awareness of Macao residents and voting wills of electors.
Mr Chui noted that with the completion of the election, the Legislative Assembly would open a brand new chapter, adding that the Government would as ever continue to maintain a good communication and close co-operation with the Legislative Assembly in the near future in a bid to improve efficiency and quality in legislation, for the welfare and happiness of Macao residents and the long-term prosperity and stability of Macao.
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