News

The Institute for Tourism Studies' Bachelor Degree Programme emphasises on the balance between theory and practice. Students are required to complete certain hours of practical tasks related to their specialisations every year. One of the tasks given to the Tourism Business Management students is to provide free guided tour to tourists and local residents. The activity, with the theme of "Tour around Macao with IFT Students", is organised by year two students of Tourism Business Management Degree Programme. With the assistance from the instructors, five different itineraries have been designed and each lasts about one hour and thirty minutes. This free guided tour service will be provided to all tourists and local residents on Saturday and Sunday, from 13 October – 3 November. The main objectives of the activity: I. It allows the students to put what they have learnt about tourism into practice. The whole project, from itinerary design to time control to the actual tour guiding, is planned by the students themselves with assistance from instructors. By coordinating the activity, their communication skills can also be enhanced. II. To promote Macao to the tourists by offering the free guiding service at the city centre and tourist attractions. Residents will also be made aware of the importance of tourism to Macao. IFT is the only public higher education institution in Macao that cultivates talents for tourism and service industry. It endeavours to promote Macao through various activities and to leave a good impression to everyone who visits the place.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that Value of Industrial Production & Other Receipts of Macao increased by 4.4% year-on-year to MOP9.31 billion in 2011, the first rebound since 2006, mainly spurred by the impetus of Manufacture of Food Products & Beverages and Manufacture of Other Non-metallic Mineral Products. Intermediate Consumption (MOP6.14 billion) rose by 4.6% year-on-year; Gross Value Added that measures the sectoral contribution to the economy (MOP3.17 billion) increased by 3.9%, while Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP482 million) dropped by 43.8%. In 2011, there were 900 establishments operating in industrial production, a decrease of 11 over 2010, of which 894 were Manufacturing establishments. Total number of persons engaged decreased by 852 year-on-year to 13,828, with Compensation of Employees (MOP1.71 billion) rising by 6.0%. Analysed by industry, Value of Production of the Manufacturing sector (MOP6.29 billion) increased by 9.5% over 2010, with that of Manufacture of Food Products & Beverages (MOP1.07 billion) rising by 18.9% upon continuous rise in visitor arrivals. Due to notable increase in cement and concrete production, Value of Production of Manufacture of Other Non-metallic Mineral Products (MOP775 million) surged by 1.5 times year-on-year. On the other hand, sluggish demand from the European and US markets drove the Value of Production of Manufacture of Wearing Apparel (MOP1.40 billion), an export-oriented industry, down further by 18.6% year-on-year. Meanwhile, Intermediate Consumption (MOP4.83 billion) and Gross Value Added (MOP1.53 billion) of the Manufacturing sector increased by 11.2% and 4.4% respectively year-on-year, with Gross Value Added of Manufacture of Food Products & Beverages and Manufacture of Wearing Apparel were MOP424 and MOP270 million. On account of reduced electricity generation in 2011, Value of Production (MOP2.90 billion) and Intermediate Consumption (MOP1.29 billion) of the Electricity, Gas & Water Supply sector decreased by 6.2% and 14.7% respectively year-on-year, whereas Gross Value Added (MOP1.63 billion) went up by 2.9%. In 2011, the Industrial Survey covered all establishments engaging in activities under Manufacturing, Mining & Quarrying, and Electricity, Gas & Water Supply.
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Members of the public can again visit the front block and gardens of Government Headquarters at the Open Day, on 20 and 21 October between 9 am and 6 pm. The Public Security Police Band and students from the School of Music and School of Dance of the Macao Conservatory will perform for visitors during the two-day opening. There will also be guided tours of the first floor of the Headquarters and a photo exhibition of old Macao in the multi-purpose conference room. For more details, please browse www2.gcs.gov.mo/openday or www.gov.mo.
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In order to strengthen the role of Macao SAR as an economic and financial platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) has invited the central bank governors of various Portuguese-speaking countries to Macao for a Financial Forum with the theme: "Exploit the Platform Function of Macao in Promoting Economic and Financial Development between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries". The Forum will allow extensive communications about the theme. Meanwhile, to further reinforce Macao's role as a bridge, AMCM has also invited representatives from the Financial Services Offices of Shanghai and the Guangdong Provinces to the Forum for introducing the current developments and financial market conditions in those regions. The Forum will also introduce the economic and financial developments of participating countries. Central bank governors from Portugal, Mozambique, Cape Verde and East Timor, as well as the heads of the Financial Services Offices in Shanghai and Guangdong Provinces have signed up for the Forum. The above-mentioned Forum will be held on 10 October 2012 (Wednesday), from 2:00pm to 6:00pm at the Conference Center on the 2nd floor of Hotel Mandarin Oriental. Ms. Gao Yan, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR and Mr. Feng Tie, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao SAR will be the officiating guests of the Forum. More than 120 participants including representatives of local financial institutions, consuls or honorary consuls of Portuguese-speaking countries in Macao and representatives of relevant departments of the MSAR Government will also be present.
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With the aim of strengthening the knowledge of all practitioners in the legal field on fundamental rights issues, the Legal and Judicial Training Centre (CFJJ) is going to organise a seminar under the theme "The System of Fundamental Rights". This initiative will take place on October 15th in the Auditorium of the CFJJ, Rua Dr. Pedro José Lobo, n.° 1-3, Banco Luso Internacional building, 18th floor, between 5 pm and 7 pm. Integrated as part of the 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, the seminar will feature as its keynote speaker Professor José Alberto de Melo Alexandrino, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, Portugal. This event will be conducted in Portuguese with simultaneous translation to Cantonese. During the five daily sessions, which will take place until October 19th, the following topics will be discussed: 1. Introduction: the concept, value and function of the fundamental rights • Constitutional nations' concept of fundamental rights;
• The multidimensional value of fundamental rights;
• The function of fundamental rights;
• The requirements and overall provisions of fundamental rights;
• The definition of the subjects of the study. 2. Fundamental Rights System under the Macao Basic Law: specificities and approximation in a comparative legal context • The characteristics of the Macao's legal order;
• The distinctiveness of the Macao's legal order;
• The Basic Law as a Constitution in the functional sense;
• The uniqueness of the fundamental rights affirmed in Macao;
• The status and provisions of the fundamental rights and freedoms in the Basic Law. 3. The defining elements in Macao's System of Fundamental Rights • The fundamental options made by the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law;
• Joint Declaration as a baseline standard and reference for the Fundamental Rights System;
• Systematisation of the fundamental rights and freedoms in the Basic Law:  The statutes of fundamental rights and the statutes involving fundamental rights;
 Listed and disseminated rights in the Basic Law;
 The principal content of the listed rights in the Basic Law;
• The openness of the Fundamental Rights System;
• The nature and function of the principle of inviolability of human dignity;
• Any unified system for fundamental rights?
• Elements for the composition of the Fundamental Rights System. 4. Definition and scope of the Fundamental Rights System • The principle of universality;
• The principle of equality;
• The principle of appropriateness;
• The principle of the protection of expectations;
• The principle of access to law and effective judicial oversight;
• The principle of direct applicability of the statutes of fundamental rights;
• The principle of constraint of public entities; • The principle of legal reservations;
• Amendment of the Basic Law to safeguard fundamental rights and freedom;
• Prohibition of restrictive "Ex post facto" laws. 5. The feasibility and complications of the protection of fundamental rights • The importance of the protection mechanism that existed until December 19, 1999;
• The protection function of the Joint Declaration;
• The protection function of the statutes of the international human rights law;
• Judicial protection;
• Non-judicial defensive mechanism. The 2nd EU-Macao Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field, which incorporates this workshop, has as its main objective the "Consolidation of the Macao Legal System" and will take place until December 2013. The execution of this Programme is coordinated by the Law Reform and International Law Bureau, with the participation of several other MSAR's entities and public departments, namely the Legal and Judicial Training Centre, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Economic Services, the Financial Services Bureau and the Institute of European Studies of Macao.
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Consumer Council conducted a price check on 12 brands of beverages from 24 retail outlets earlier. Survey result showed that price difference of up to 200 percent was recorded for the same product sold in different retail outlets. Survey data has been uploaded to the Council's 'Specific Product Price Platform' website and is also available in the Council's 'Supermarket Price Information Platform' iPhone and Android apps. The Council collected prices of 12 brands of beverages from 24 supermarkets and convenience stores on 4th October. Surveyed items include soft drinks, bottled water, beer and other kinds of beverages. The current survey revealed that 4 of the surveyed beverage brands, namely 'Cool Distilled Water/750ml', 'Bonaqua Mineralized Water/770ml', 'Watsons Water Pure Distilled/430ml' and 'Aquarius Isotonic Rehydration Drink/500ml', recorded significant price differences. 'Aquarius Isotonic Rehydration Drink/500ml', which recorded a price difference of 63 percent last time, now differed for about 109 percent in different outlets (from $5.5 to $11.5). Price differences of about 23 percent to 75 percent were also recorded in other beverage brands. In comparison with the data collected in last survey, both price increases and decreases were recorded in most of the surveyed items. Consumers are advised to check with the data provided by the Council on its website (www.consumer.gov.mo) and its 'Supermarket price platform' apps to make price comparisons. The specific price survey on beverages is now available on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). For enquiry, please call 8988 9315.
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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
13, 25, 26, 60, 65, 66 Thank you for your kind attention.
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The Macau Grand Prix Committee invited current Extrication Consultant Dr. Jean Jacques Issermann and FIA Medical Delegate Dr. Jacques Tropenat to conduct a two-day training course for the local Rescue Team on October 6th and 7th. The Doctors provided professional instruction, shared their experiences, and gave practical demonstrations. Both Doctors are highly-experienced in the field and have taken part in rescue situations during FIA races. Extrication plays a crucial role during motorsports events, and the training and experience of the Rescue Team is a key factor during the races. Team leaders and members must react professionally and calmly, while the reactions of Track Marshals and other staff must be fast and accurate, working closely to execute rescue exercises in the most efficient and effective way possible. A total of 40 doctors and 48 firemen took part in three sessions, which covered the various features and important elements of motorsport rescue: equipment operation; instantaneous problem-solving in the event of an incident; an introduction to the equipment and skills required for rapid intervention medical rescue; and communication with race control during a rescue situation. In addition, the Rescue Team also carried out simulated incident exercises and completed practical procedures, during which their skills were evaluated. All members of the Macau Grand Prix Rescue Team received certification from the FIA. This confirms that the local Rescue Team has attained an international standard, and also ensures each team member is equipped with the required knowledge and ability to carry out medical, extrication and rapid intercept rescue procedures.
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Coverage of the 2011 Service Sector Survey included Real Estate Management Services, Security Services, Cleaning Services, Advertising, and Conference & Exhibition Organising Services. There were 184 establishments operating in Real Estate Management Services in 2011, an increase of 7 year-on-year; number of persons engaged decreased by 2% to 4,803. Total Receipts (MOP 808 million) and Total Expenditure (MOP 700 million) decreased by 2% and 1% respectively. As a measure of the sectoral contribution to the economy, Gross Value Added decreased by 2% to MOP 468 million; Gross Fixed Capital Formation amounted to MOP 5 million, up by 11%. A total of 16 establishments were engaging in Security Services, an increase of 2 from 2010; number of persons engaged increased by 7% to 4,731. Total Receipts amounted to MOP 673 million, up by 26% year-on-year; Total Expenditure soared by 36% to MOP 636 million, of which Compensation of Employees amounted to MOP 494 million (78% of total). Gross Value Added (MOP 530 million) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 4 million) increased by 14% and 76% respectively. Number of establishments operating in Cleaning Services, at 102, held stable as 2010; number of persons engaged increased by 10% to 3,839. Analysed by size of establishment, a total of 16 large establishments with 50 or more persons had 2,765 workers (72% of total). Total Receipts and Total Expenditure amounted to MOP 384 million and MOP 353 million, up by 13% and 16% respectively. Gross Value Added increased by 15% to MOP 307 million, while Gross Fixed Capital Formation decreased by 31% to MOP 2 million. There were 337 advertising agencies operating in 2011, up by 10 year-on-year, of which 301 were small size establishments with 5 or less persons. Number of persons engaged totalled 972, up by 12%, with only 67% being paid employees. Total Receipts rose by 7% year-on-year to MOP 369 million, of which receipts from Advertising Services amounted to MOP 252 million (68% of total). Total Expenditure edged up by 1% to MOP 307 million, with Purchases, Commission and Other Expenses amounted to MOP 163 million (53% of total). Gross Value Added (MOP 151 million) increased by 33% whereas Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 7 million) decreased by 45%. A total of 26 establishments were operating in Conference & Exhibition Organising Services in 2011, up by 2 from a year earlier; number of persons engaged increased by 14% to 134. Total Receipts dropped by 34% year-on-year to MOP 133 million, with receipts from Provision of Conference & Exhibition Organising Services amounting to MOP 115 million. Total Expenditure decreased by 41% to MOP 112 million, of which Purchases, Commission and Other Expenses amounting to MOP 77 million. Gross Value Added (MOP 40 million) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (MOP 5 million) surged by 38% and 251% respectively year-on-year.
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In order to encourage local secondary school students to employ their theoretical scientific knowledge on practical experiments, the Electronic Device Construction Competition, the Communications Museum of Macao and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers will launch this month an Electronic Device Construction Competition. This year the proposed subject will be Wall Climber Device. Full-time students of Macao secondary schools can compete individually or as part of a group (maximum of 4 members), divided into two competing categories: Junior Secondary Group or Senior Secondary Group. Each of the top three winners will be presented with trophies, winning certificates, book coupons and attractive prizes. All entries will be displayed at the Museum. Two explanatory sessions in Cantonese will be held in the Communications Museum Auditorium at 14:00 (Junior Secondary Group) and 16:00 (Senior Secondary Group), on November 10, 2012. Reservations can be made through the phone lines 28718570 / 28718063 or email to info@macao.communications.museum
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