News

The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. will hold the Celebration of the 13th Anniversary of Macao's Handover to China "Parade through Macao, Latin City" on the 20th of December, the day marking the establishment of the Macao S.A.R. The Parade continues under the banner of last year's theme, "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration", with a new slogan: "An annual celebration for the entire city – VIVA!". This year's cultural feast will attract even more residents and tourists, inviting them to dig deep into the diverse cultural atmosphere of Macao and its legacy of integration between China and the West. On the afternoon of 12th November, the Cultural Affairs Bureau hosted a press conference regarding the "Parade through Macao, Latin City" at the Tourism Activities Centre. The President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Dr. Ung Vai Meng, President of the Executive Board of the Macao Association for the Promotion of Exchange between Asia-Pacific and Latin America Gary Ngai Mei Cheong, Department Head of the Cultural Events Department Kent Ieong Chi Kin and Division Head of the Special Projects Division Boyce Lam Chon Keong were present at the press conference to introduce this year's parade. Also attended in the conference were representatives from various local performing groups. Last year's parade took the Region by storm, attracting an aggregate viewership of several million which includes the audience present at the parade, those who watched the live televised broadcast and the simulcast on outdoor screens at various locations, plus those who tuned in to the special Parade programme on TV. This exciting event is now close at hand once again, ready to wind another legendary route through the Latin City. The "Parade through Macao, Latin City" is organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and is co-organised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Macao Government Tourist Office, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of Macao, the Public Security Police Force, the Transport Bureau, the Fire Services Bureau, the Social Welfare Bureau and the Macao Association for the Promotion of Exchange between Asia-Pacific and Latin America. It is also supported by various organisations, including the Macao General Union of Neighbourhood Associations, the Macao Sam Pa Mun Residents Mutual Aid Association, the Macao Soi Ho Cheok Residents Mutual Aid Association, the Macao Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre, the Casa de Portugal em Macau, the Macao Flying Eagles Association, the Scout Association of Macao, the Macao Community Youth Volunteers Development Association, the Association of Social Service Volunteers Macao, the General Volunteers Association of Macao, the Macao Civil Servant's Association and the Recreation Club of the Bank of China, Macao Branch. In addition, TDM (Teledifusão de Macau, S.A.) is serving as the designated television broadcaster. "100 Dancers" get things started; Grand Finale brings "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration" to Tap Seac Square
The opening ceremony takes place at 4pm in front of the Ruins of St. Paul's, with bells, beautiful voices and shouts of 'VIVA' ushering in a joyous exchange between the Chinese and Western cultures. One hundred dancers will gracefully inaugurate the momentous occasion, setting the stage for foreign performers from various corners of the world to join hands with local artists and lead everyone on a colourful and dazzling journey. The Parade route differs slightly this year, beginning on Rua de S. Paulo and winding its way past St. Anthony's Church, Companhia de Jesus Square, Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro, Rua dos Artilheiros, Rua de Sanches de Miranda, Calçada da Igreja de São Lázaro, the Old Ladies' House (Albergue), Rua de São Roque, Rua Nova de São Lázaro, St. Lazarus Church, Rua do Volong, Rua do Tap Seac and Rua de Afonso de Albuquerque. Residents and tourists are welcome to join and follow the parade at any point on the route, to experience and share in the joyous ambience of this extravaganza! This year's Parade embraces performing groups from over 20 countries and regions including Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia, among them the Association Colombie Côte d'Azur, Les Chimères from France, Ballet Folclórico del Estado de México, Qhapaq Negrole Chanta A La from Peru, Sbandieratori Principi D'Acaja from Italy, and Diabolo Dance Theatre from Taipei. Joining them in the Parade are 40 local groups, bringing the total estimate of performers and staff to an amazing 2,000 creative participants, each of them striving to delight audiences with their very best performance. Realisation of Cultural Integration between China and the West; giant puppet 'VIVA' to entertain at Tap Seac Square This year's parade features several highlights taking place at various stations, allowing followers to join in at any point on the route. The typically calm Rua de S. Paulo will be transformed into a Puppet Playground for the delight of children and adults alike. The Magic Show at St. Anthony's Square will surprise audiences with wonderful illusions, while the Musical Salon sets up on Companhia de Jesus Square to style visitors with a variety of coiffures and hairdos against a musical soundtrack. The Bollywood Dances at Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro take audiences to exotic India, while the Artists on Stilts at Rua de Sanches de Miranda deliver a thrilling performance. Performing groups will gather for the Colourful Show in St. Lazarus featuring dazzling Chinese Dunhuang dance and the Portuguese Tumbala drums, coupled with guqin performances and live painting, created on spot. Finally, at Tap Seac Square, the giant Italian puppet 'VIVA' welcomes the Parade followers to the Grand Finale "Peace, Love and Cultural Integration", which brings the event to a close with a multi-media performance. The giant puppet VIVA will remain on Tap Seac Square from 21st to 26th December. Related Events and Enquiries To promote this extravaganza far and wide and create a joyous ambience throughout the entire city, TDM will transmit a live broadcast of the event. Furthermore, the Cultural Affairs Bureau will install outdoor screens at several locations – St. Dominic's Square, Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, Areia Preta Park, Avenida do Infante D. Henrique and Travessa de S. Paulo (Tourism and Cultural Activities Centre) – displaying a live simulcast from 4 to 7pm on 20th December, for the convenience of residents from other parts of the city. The organiser is also holding a series of related events in parallel, including a photography contest (divided into student and public categories) and a downloadable mobile game app (with the chance to win prizes). The organiser has recruited nearly 500 volunteers this year and is providing them with advance off-site and on-site training in preparation for the big show on 20th December. Streets along the parade route will be temporarily closed to traffic on parade day, and first-aid stations and service centres (for souvenirs and information) will be available along the route. For convenience and environmental health, residents are encouraged to walk to the parade venues on foot or use public transportation. For more details about the event and its contents, please visit the Bureau's website at www.icm.gov.mo/macaoparade or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/macaoparade.
…

Consumer Council released its latest specific price survey on canned foods, the result showed that prices of various brands of canned foods remained stable, price difference of the same brand of canned food in different retail outlets ranged from 20% to 30% respectively and the highest price difference recorded at 50%. Consumer Council conducted a price check on 11 different brands of canned foods from 20 retail outlets on 8th November. In comparison with the data collected in September, prices of 6 out of 11 brands of canned foods remained unchanged, the result reflected that prices of canned foods tended to be stable. On the other hand, the highest and lowest selling prices of "Narcissus Brand Spiced Pork Cubes (142g)" recorded in the recent survey were $13.00 and $19.90 respectively, with a percentage difference of around 53.08 %. In addition, the highest and lowest selling prices of "Swanson Clear Chicken Broth (250ml)" in different retail outlets were $4.50 and $6.50 respectively, with a percentage difference of 44.4%, the result indicated that price difference of the same band in different retail outlets varied from 20% to 30% respectively whereas the minimum price difference was about 7%. In comparison with the data collected in last survey, the selling price of Tulip Pork Luncheon Meat (340g) recorded an increase in price at 28.5% as a result of the cancellation of the special offer in two retail outlets of Supermercado San Miu. Consumers are advised to check with the survey data to make practical consumption. The specific price survey on canned foods is now available on Consumer Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps.
…

The 3rd Permanent Committee of the Legislative Assembly is conducting a public consultation regarding the bill on "The Cultural Heritage Conservation Law". Those who are interested can present opinions or suggestions in written form via mail, e-mail (info@al.gov.mo) or fax (28973753) addressing to the President of the 3rd Permanent committee from 13th November to 31st December 2012.
…

The Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee, together with the Public Security Police, organized the Seminar on "Combating Human Trafficking: Labour Exploitation". This 2-day seminar takes place from November 12 at the hall of the Immigration Department of the Public Security Police. Experts from the International Organization for Migration are invited to share their experience in combating human trafficking, especially in the area of labor exploitation. Topics of the seminar include Labour exploitation as a global and regional trend in human trafficking, IOM's experience in addressing labour exploitation, etc. Participants of the seminar include frontline officers from the Unitary Police, Macao Customs, Labour Affairs Bureau, Public Security Police, Judicial Police, Social Welfare Bureau and Health Bureau, as well as representatives from non government organizations including the Good Shepherd Centre, Caritas Macau and Macau Women's General Association. Through the seminar, the participants will be able to have a deeper understanding of the definition and global trend of labor exploitation, so as to handle such cases more efficiently, and offer immediate help to trafficking victims.
…

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will deliver his Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2013 on Tuesday (13 November) at 3 pm in the Legislative Assembly. This will be followed a press conference at Government Headquarters at 5 pm where Mr Chui will take questions from the press. The following day (14 November) Mr Chui will attend the plenary meeting of the Legislative Assembly between 3 pm and 6 pm to explain his policy blueprint to legislators and to answer their questions. The Address will be broadcast live on the Portal Website of the Macao SAR (http://www.gov.mo), the website of the Office of the Chief Executive (http://www.gce.gov.mo), the website of the Government Information Bureau (http://www.gcs.gov.mo) and the website of the Legislative Assembly (http://www.al.gov.mo). Chinese and Portuguese versions of the Policy Address will be available for downloads on these websites. The five Secretaries and their subordinates will present their 2013 policy guidelines to the legislature from 3 pm to 8 pm, on the following dates:
Secretary for Administration and Justice: 20-21 November, Secretary for Economy and Finance: 22-23 November, Secretary for Security: 26-27 November,
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture: 29-30 November, and
Secretary for Transport and Public Works: 3-4 December.
These presentations will be broadcast live on the website of the Government Information Bureau and the Portal Website of the Macao SAR. Teledifusão de Macau (TV and radio) will broadcast live the presentations as well.
After the Chief Executive's address on Tuesday, members of the public can pick up the text and pamphlets of the 2013 Policy Address from Auxiliary Department of the Government Headquarters, Government Information Bureau, Government Printing Bureau, Public Information Centre, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Central Library and Macao Post.
To ensure the public have a better understanding of the policies, Macao Post will deliver pamphlets of the 2013 Policy Address with highlights to all households in Macao.
In addition, Chinese and Portuguese versions of pamphlets of the 2013 Policy Address with highlights and pamphlets of policy guidelines of different areas will be available in some 200 locations such as libraries of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, citizen service centres, centres of the Social Welfare Bureau, centres of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, and various associations and schools.
…

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the population of Macao was 576,700 as at 30 September 2012, an increase of 8,000 (+1.4%) compared with end-June. In the third quarter of 2012, number of live births increased by 19.2% quarter-to-quarter to 1,973, with 1,036 male babies. Gender ratio of the newborn was 110.6, corresponding to 110.6 male babies per 100 female babies. In the first three quarters of 2012, a total of 5,206 live births were recorded, up by 27.0% year-on-year. There were 399 mortality cases in the third quarter, down by 15.5% quarter-to-quarter; the top three underlying causes of death were Neoplasms (130 cases), Diseases of the Circulatory System (85 cases) and Diseases of the Respiratory System (65 cases). In the first three quarters of 2012, mortality cases dropped by 0.6% year-on-year to 1,388 cases. Non-resident workers totalled 109,038 at the end of the third quarter, up by 6,481 quarter-to-quarter. Individuals authorized to reside in Macao recorded a net inflow of 262 in this quarter. In the third quarter of 2012, there were 1,477 immigrants from Mainland China, up by 484 quarter-to-quarter. Meanwhile, 308 illegal Chinese immigrants were repatriated, an increase of 28 quarter-to-quarter. A total of 819 cases of marriage registration were recorded, down by 8.2% over the second quarter of 2012. In the first three quarters, there were 2,801 cases of marriage registration, up by 12.1% year-on-year.
…

Owing to the strike action taken by the workers of the public sector and air transport in Greece, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) from Macao to Greece are subject to delay until further notice. Thank you for your kind attention.
…

Owing to the flooding in Thailand, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) from Macao to Thailand, particularly for the areas with postal codes bearing the prefixes below are subject to delay until further notice. Postal Code Prefixes
73 Thank you for your kind attention.
…

2013 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF), hosted by the Macao SAR government, will be held from 21 to 23 March 2013. The event aims to develop Macao as a co-operation platform for the environmental industry between Pan-PRD region and countries overseas. In order to strengthen the publicity of MIECF, the official co-ordinators, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and Macao Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), visited relevant departments and organisations in Beijing, to appeal for their continuing support and participation in the event. Organisations Visited Continued Support 2013 MIECF A delegation of seven, including Mr. Jackson Chang, IPIM's President, Mrs. Irene V.K. Lau, IPIM's Executive Director and Ms. Vong Man Hung, DSPA's Deputy Director, visited the National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC) and met Mr. Zhao Penggao, Deputy Inspector of the Department of Resources Conservation and Environment Protection. The delegation explained the theme of 2013 MIECF, details of activities and the progress of the organisation of the event. Zhao agreed that MIECF plays the role as a platform for the green industry between Mainland and the rest of the world. The theme for 2013 is Sustainable Cities – The Way Towards a Green Future, which is in line with the current international environmental trend. NDRC will continue to support MIECF and its related activities. During the trip to Beijing, the delegation also visited Mr. Wan Jifei, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and both parties exchanged views on 2013 MIECF co-operation, the direction of Macao's economic development and collaboration with the convention and exhibition industries of the two sides. Wan said that IPIM is an important co-operation partner of CCPIT in Macao; the two have developed far-reaching reciprocation through the mechanism of Entrepreneurs Meeting for Commercial and Economic Co-operation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries as well as the Mainland and Macao Chamber of Commerce Joint Committee and achieved favourable results. It is hoped that the two organisations will further enhance collaboration in various areas and jointly develop more co-operation platforms to foster trade and economic exchanges between the two sides and to provide quality services for enterprises. The delegation also visited the Ministry of Commerce, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) to introduce 2013 MIECF. Leaders of the above-mentioned departments, business associations and organisations were invited to organise delegations to take part in the exhibition, as well as conduct friendly discussions on the co-operation with Macao's convention and exhibition industry. 2013 MIECF Themed on the Sustainable Development of Cities In its sixth year, the theme for 2013 MIECF will be Sustainable Cities – The Way Towards a Green Future, promoting international co-operation, fostering the development of low carbon societies, with the ultimate goal of Thinking Green, Going Clean and Living Cool. Major forums, themed exhibitions and networking activities will be held to serve as a platform to promote networking between local and international environmental industries, and foster business opportunities for the latest green technology and projects. MIECF has been successfully held in Macao for five consecutive years, with constant growth in terms of participating enterprises, exhibition area and attending professional representatives. 2012 MIECF attracted the participation of over 8,500 people, including more than 6,400 professionals, a total of 398 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions were set up covering a total area of 16,900 square metres. During the three-day event, 702 business-matching sessions were conducted and the signing of 35 contracts completed. MIECF has become a major platform for participating enterprises to showcase green technology, establish customer networks and explore green business opportunities.
…

The fireworks displays on Nov 10, 14 and 18 will be rescheduled, with the display on Nov 10 revised to Nov 16, while the other two displays remain unchanged. To add sparkles to the festive carnival atmosphere of the Grand Prix week, MGTO arranges 3 firework displays at 9pm on each date at the waterfront in front of the Macau Tower.
…