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The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government announces the 17th Macao Arts Festival (MAF) to be held between 11 March and 1 April 2006. This year the Macao Arts Festival beats all its previous performance records. In 22 days, Macao will host 39 performances of 18 different shows. Artists from every corner of world will present shows mixing tradition and modernity from Macao, Mainland China, Vietnam, Portugal, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Guinea-Conakry, and Canada. In this 17th edition of the Festival, two companies highlighting the circus show why these arts have found new audiences all over the world. Circus Baobab, the first of its kind in Africa, opens the festival. Emerging from a cultural collaboration between France and Guinea-Conakry, they employ modern circus techniques to distil the purest essence of African tradition. On 11 March, Sai Van Lake Square will be decorated with a baobab, a tropical tree the branches of which will be the stage for jugglers, dancers, and acrobats. Marinated in a cauldron of many arts, the drama of Balagan -- a circus extravaganza to be staged at the Macau Tower on 30 and 31 March -- is peppered with humour and sensuality. This recipe for dreams from the creative mind of Sebastiano Toma (Tiger Lilies Circus) gathers dancers, acrobats, and circus artists from many countries to swim and stir in the brew of dreams that is Balagan’s stage. There are many local performances this year with the Bamboo Bazaar making a fresh entrance in the festival’s programme. During the weekend of 25 and 26 March, a stage for local Macao performers will call attention to the Senado Square. Over 160 local artists are being given the chance to present their work in the 2006 Visual Arts Annual Exhibition. Display will cross the Tap Seac Gallery borders reaching up to the Mount Fortress Access. The opening is on 25 March. Drama promises to attract many to the Cultural Centre with two local performances. The Dóci Papiaçám di Macau Drama Group presents an enticing new play in Patois entitled “Paradise Village” (25 and 26 March). Like the Macanese troupe, Theatre Farmers also stage a story, “Everlasting Beauty,” that humorously investigates Macao society. Cantonese opera has its own place in the festival with the performance Trading Twins (18, 19 March at Alegria Theatre) by the Chinese Opera Troupe of the General Union of Neighbours’ Association of Macao. A sense of humour and liveliness enrich this performance. Dynamic and imaginative, the story mixes the gentle and poetic with stirring battle scenes and comic relief, appealing to a diverse audience. In the musical world, The Macao Orchestra will take the public on a grand tour, from the familiar romantic settings of Brahms to faraway Scandinavia and Russia. Under the baton of Tsung Yeh, the Macao Orchestra will present a string of pearls from 50 years in the life of the father of new music in Hong Kong, Macao’s own Doming Lam. Reflections of East and West sparkle as one in these gems of Chinese contemporary music written by a man hailed by Tan Dun as one of today’s most important composers. From Mainland China comes one of the best contemporary drama theatre troupes. The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre will serve up “The Flavour of Cappuccino” on two nights (16 and 17 March, with surtitles in Portuguese and English) at the beautiful Dom Pedro V Theatre. Inspired by the human fabric of urban existence, this ultra-caffeinated “cappuccino” stimulated sold-out audiences for the first 20 days of its debut in Shanghai. Chinese dramatic brilliance will illuminate the Cultural Centre as it hosts a performance by the Wuhan Beijing Opera Theatre. Only recently have The Golden Lotus Feet (with surtitles in Portuguese and English) worn their miniature shoes upon the stage. This is a lost tradition lately restored to the public eye by this Beijing Opera troupe, now performing for the Macao Arts Festival. A troupe of 12 puppeteers will portray Vietnamese legends while dragons and fairies dance behind the puppet theatre’s bamboo curtain. Over 150 puppets of the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre give new life to one of the most ancient art forms in all of Asia, born almost a thousand years ago in the lakes of the villages of Vietnam. Handed down from generation to generation, this ancient art will be presented to the public in over 15 performances at the Barra Square (with surtitles in Chinese, Portuguese and English). Europe is the most featured continent in this year’s programme. On 18 March at the Cultural Centre, accompanied by the Septet La Habana 99, Portuguese popular singer Vitorino relives his childhood memories of boleros like Las Tres Palabras and Guantanamera. The bolero crossed the border from Madrid to Portugal decades ago and incited the people to dance to their rhythm. In a marriage of two cultures enamoured with one another for centuries, the Portuguese group Ala dos Namorados will join the delicate traditional sounds of The Macao Chinese Orchestra at the Mount Fortress stage on 17 March in a concert that will also include solo performances by the two groups. From the Czech Republic, Theatre Image will create on March 25 and 26 poetic illusions by setting colours in motion, by unfolding mysteries with magic tricks that leave the stage and enter into the audience. Appealing to families, this combination of dance, music, and the other circus arts have worked in harmony within the black velvet scenery of Theatre Image’s more than 6000 performances worldwide for the past decade. They now bring the very best of this black magic to Macao, to challenge the audience‘s imagination. It is from their own land that the Slovak National Folkloric Ballet draws its inspiration. For the past 50 years they have opened eyes and ears all over the world to the typical dances and sounds of their Eastern European country. This group of 30 dancers, joined as a rule by a band and choir, is reputed to be the highest expression of Slovak culture and said to weave the very fabric of tradition from living colour; strong arguments that make this one of the most important groups to perform in Macau, at the Cultural centre, closing the Arts Festival with a golden key.
Workshops and conferences will be held to promote public interest and participation in the arts. Similar to previous years’ festivals, rehearsals for some shows will be open to the public. The Macao Government Tourist Office kindly supports the 17th Macao Arts Festival promotion in Mainland China and overseas. The performances held at the Macao Cultural Centre are supported by the Macao Cultural Centre’s rental subsidy scheme. Tickets for the 17th Macao Arts Festival will be available after 10am on 27 January 2006 at all Kong Seng Paging outlets. There will be a variety of discount plans (up to 40%). Chinese New Year envelopes will be offered on tickets purchased before the Chinese New Year. Detailed publicity materials are available at ticket counters.
For more information please check the website of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at www.icm.gov.mo Information (853) 555 555 in Macao; (852) 2380 5083 in Hong Kong
Online Reservations: www.macauticket.net
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah today meet with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Vanuatu, Mr Sato Kilman. Mr Ho was accompanied by Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen. The meetingwas followed by a banquet hosted by Mr Ho at the Government Guest House. After their arrival in Macao this afternoon, Mr and Mrs Kilman visited the Macau Tower, the Macau Grand Prix Museum, the Wine Museum, The Ruins of St Paul Church and the Handover Gifts Museuum. Mr Kilman is scheduled to leave Macao tomorrow. The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation located in the Islands of Melanesia in South Pacific Ocean, consisting of aboaut 80 Islands, 68 of them inhabited. The Republic of Vanuatu had established diplomatic ties with China on 26 March 1982.
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that Composite CPI for December 2005 was 101.06, up by 0.43% compared with November 2005. The increasing charges of medical services, rising prices in jewellery and air tickets pushed the indices of Health; Other goods and services; and Transport and communications up by 0.92%, 0.76% and 0.60% respectively. On the other hand, Education and leisure was the only section that recorded a decreasing index (-0.02%) in December, as a result of price reduction in video and sound equipment. Composite CPI for December 2005 registered a significant year-on-year increase of 5.61%. For the fourth quarter of 2005, Composite CPI recorded a 1.34% increase over the third quarter. In comparison with the same quarter of 2004, Composite CPI rose by 5.56%. In 2005, the annual average Composite CPI went up by 4.40% over 2004, with marked increases in the indices of Rent and housing expenses (+8.27%); Education and leisure (+4.07%); as well as Foodstuff and beverages (+3.99%). Compared with the previous month, CPI(A) and CPI(B) for December 2005 increased by 0.39% and 0.38% respectively. In addition, the annual average CPI(A) and CPI(B) for 2005 rose by 4.50% and 4.20% respectively over 2004. CPI(A) relates to 54% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of MOP3,000 - MOP9,999. CPI(B) relates to 26% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 - MOP19,999.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, has accorded honours and awards to 33 people and organisations for their significant contribution to the city. The presentation ceremony was held today at the Cultural Centre. The recipients come from all walks of life. They were honoured or awarded in recognition of their to Macao or for their dedicated public and community service. The Medal of Honour is awarded to outstanding individuals and organisations for their contribution to the image, reputation and development of the MSAR. The recipients are: Tong Chi Kin (Golden Lotus); Cheong Chou Kei (Silver Lotus); Lo Weng (Silver Lotus); The Medal of Merit, in seven categories including Profession, Industry and Commerce, Tourism, Education, Culture, Altruism and Sport are given to outstanding individual and organisation that have distinguished service in promoting the development of the relevant sectors in Macao. The recipients are: Pedro Manuel Batalha (Profession);
Chan Hio Wan (Profession);
Ho Kuai Leng (Industry and Commerce);
Sin Chi Yiu (Industry and Commerce);
Chui Yuk Lum Antonio (Industry and Commerce);
Sio Un I (Industry and Commerce);
Andrew Walter Stow (Tourism);
Li Pik Ki (Education);
Au Tin Heong (Education);
The Chinese Educators' Association of Macau (Education);
Fr. Luis Sequeira (Culture);
Tong Mui Siu (Culture);
Association Piedosa Asilo de São José de Macau (Altuism);
The Scout Association of Macau (Altuism);
Zeng Tieming (Sport);
Huang Yanhui (Sport);
Cheang Veng Kin (Sport); Distinguish Service Medal is given to outstanding individual and organisation for their fulfillment in duty. The recipients are: The Macao volunteer medical team of the China International Rescue Team for the South Asian Earthquake. (Bravery) The Interlectual Property Department of the Macao Custom Service (Bravery);
Cheang Kuok Keong (Dedication); Commendations of Prestige and of Merit are given to individuals who have contributed to the development of MSAR. The recipients are: Alan John Hackett (Prestige);
Saba Payman (Prestige);
Wong Wing Cheung, Victor (Merit);
Qin Zhijian (Merit);
Au Wai Hong (Merit);
Cheong Chi Un (Merit);
Chan Chi Chon (Merit);
Mak Pui In (Merit);
Vong Heong Lon (Merit);
Yang Houqin (Merit);
Jia Rui (Merit);
Paula Cristina Pereira Carion (Merit);
Chong Ka Lap (Merit);
Kuan Sok Mui (Merit);
The Macao Women’s Small Dragon Boat Team in the 4th East Asian Games (Merit); The Macao Men’s Small Dragon Boat Team in the 4th East Asian Games (Merit); The Macao Roller Hockey Team in the 11th Asian Roller Hockey Trophey (Merit).
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Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that total number of visitor arrivals reached 1,667,520 in December 2005, up 9.8% year-on-year. Visitors from Mainland China and Hong Kong increased 10.2% and 13.0% respectively, whereas those from Taiwan, China decreased 16.6%. Meanwhile, same-day visitors accounted for 49.9% of the total arrivals, at 831,625. The majority of visitors came from Mainland China (55.5% of the total), Hong Kong (31.0%) and Taiwan, China (6.1%). Among the Mainland visitors, 457,262 (49.4%) travelled to Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme. In 2005, visitor arrivals reached an all-time record of 18,711,187, up 12.2% over 2004. Visitors from Mainland China increased 9.8% to 10,462,966 (55.9% of the total), with 5,331,419 arriving in Macao under the Individual Visit Scheme. Moreover, visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan, China shared 30.0% (5,614,892) and 7.9% (1,482,483) of the total arrivals respectively. Same-day visitors accounted for 51.8% of the total, at 9,697,123. Analyzed by mode of transport, visitor arrivals by sea went up 6.6% over 2004 to 6,719,895 in 2005, with 6,503,195 arriving at the Outer Harbour (+5.4%); the majority of these visitors were from Hong Kong (59.0%) and Mainland China (29.6%). Visitor arrivals at the Inner Harbour rose 58.7% to 216,700, within which 67.3% were from Mainland China. In 2005, arrivals by land increased 15.2% to 10,951,191, with 10,341,814 arriving through the Border Gate. The majority of these visitors came from Mainland China (76.4%) and Hong Kong (16.4%). In addition, arrivals by air were 1,040,101, up 20.7% compared with 2004, with 1,029,540 arriving at the Macao International Airport (+22.0%). Visitors from Taiwan, China (67.6%) and Mainland China (17.0%) were the major users of this access.
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(Macao – 19 January 2006) US Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, Mr Daniel Glaser, today visited the Macao Special Administrative Region. During his brief visit, he met separately with the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen and the Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Macao, Mr. Anselmo Teng Lin Seng. Mr Glaser was briefed on the latest developments of Macao SAR and the progress of anti-money laundering legislation: proposed legislation has been submitted to the Legislative Assembly and discussion was in progress. Mr Daniel Glaser was also met by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today that the current Macao SAR Government officials and entrepreneurs visit to Jiangxi has helped to enhance trade and tourism co-operation between the two places. On the last day of leading the delegation for the three-day visit to Jiangxi, Mr Ho said the trip had “enhanced the communication between the two governments and built a strong foundation for further co-operation”. He said the Macao SAR’s Trade and Investment Promotion Institute had signed a co-operation memorandum with their counterpart in Jiangxi on providing information and technical assistance to the business communities in Macao and Jiangxi. “After this visit we can expect more constructive co-operation between the business communities in Macao SAR and Jiangxi,” he said. "One of the significant feature (of the visit) is to promote Macao as the platform for Portuguese-speaking countries: both the Jiangxi Government and the Jiangxi business community were very interested". Mr Ho said visiting Jinggangshan had also deepened the delegation members’ understanding in the history of the Chinese revolution. Jinggangshan had rich tourism resources and the delegation had "explored significant opportunities for exchanges in tourism and culture," he said. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, said the visit had also shown the more than 60 Macao entrepreneurs in the delegation Jiangxi’s abundance in human resources. And with the enhancement of traffic network in the province, it could prove favorable to Macao exporters who might wanted some of the secondary work on their products done in the province, Mr Tam said.
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The Macao SAR Government will donate one million patacas towards the development of the city of Jinggangshan. The donation, through the Macao Foundation, was announced today during the welcoming dinner hosted by CPC Jinggangshan Municipal Committee and the Jinggangshan Municipal Government for the visiting Macao SAR delegation, headed by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah. In addition to the MSAR Government donation, 10 Macao entrepreneurs would donate to Project Hope for the building of one primary school each. Two of them would donate another 250,000 patacas each for the development of the province. Meanwhile, Mr Ho and his delegation continued on the second day of their three-day visit in Jiangxi: today they visited several scenic spots and memorial of the China Communist Party Revolution, including the former residence of Chairman Mao Zedong in Dajing, Huang Yangjie, Jinggangshan Mountain, and the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery.
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Macao had been enjoying significant economic growth since the Handover in 1999, with its GDP surging from 45 billion patacas to more than 80 billion patacas in 2004, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah said today in Nanchang, Jiangxi. Having arrived in the morning for his three-day visit, Mr Ho met the Secretary of Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Mr Meng Jianzhu, and Governor of Jiangxi Province, Mr Huang Zhiquan. After visiting a few scenic spots, Mr Ho the Macao delegation attends a meeting with the high-ranking officials of Jiangxi Province, headed by Mr Meng Jianzhu, and Mr Huang Zhiquan in the afternoon. Addressing the officials of the province, Mr Ho said the introduction of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) and the Facilitated Individual Travel (FIT) scheme had fueled the development of Macao, especially in the tourism and gaming sectors. Mr Ho said the introduction of the Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional (PPRD) co-operation had enhanced the relationship between Macao and Jiangxi, adding that businessmen from Macao had set up 88 companies and invested more than US$200 million in the province. He also praised the Jiangxi people for the development of the province since the reforms and opening up of the Mainland, especially in their effort to streamline their industries and increasing employment. Mr Ho said he hoped that his visit would further strengthen the relationship and understanding between the businessmen of Macao and Jiangxi, and would forge a foundation for further co-operation. Macao was eager to assist Jiangxi province and other provinces to develop connections and trade with the Portuguese-speaking countries, he said. During the meeting, officials from the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) signed Memorandums of Understanding with their counterparts of the Jiangxi Provincial Government for further co-operation. Mr Ho and the Macao SAR delegation is scheduled to visit Jinggang Mountains tomorrow, a popular tourist destination in the province. His visit ends the day after tomorrow.
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The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah left for Jiangxi this morning with a high-level government delegation on the start of a three-day visit to promote bilateral co-operation in economy, tourism and other areas. Mr Ho told the press before his departure that he hoped that the visit would further enhance understanding between Macao and Jiangxi, both of which are members of the Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Region. He also encouraged the more than 60 Macao entrepreneurs who were going on the same visit to explore new business opportunities in Jiangxi. Mr Ho said there were plans to send a MSAR Government delegation to Hunan later this year, in addition to sending a delegation to Yunnan for the third Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum in mid-2006. Heading the entrepreneur delegation, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Francis Tam Pak Yuen, said as implementation of CEPA continued, the MSAR Government had prioritised co-operation with neighbouring cities and provinces in implementing its regional co-operation policy and PPRD regional co-operation was a very important drive for Macao’s economic development. He said the bond between members of the PPRD had strengthened since they signed the “Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation Frame Agreement” and he hoped that Macao entrepreneurs would seek to strengthen trade and economic co-operation between Macao and Jiangxi during this visit. Mr Tam said Macao would also promote its role as a service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries to the whole PPRD region, and that significant results have been achieved in this aspect so far.
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