News

Since the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation" took effect on August 13 2010, the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has sealed a total of 141 premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally. Two more operators were seized and one occupant failed to fulfill his duty of cooperation. Inspections involved investigations to a total of 649 occupants of premises suspected to provide accommodation illegally, including 35 overstayers and 29 illegal immigrants, whose cases are being follow up by police authorities. Macau Government Tourist Office has waged a total of 141 sanctions and 29 operators who provided accommodation illegally were fined 200 000 patacas each according to the law on "Prohibition of Providing Illegal Accommodation". To date, two operators have voluntarily paid the fine of 200 000 patacas within the statutory period. At the same time, 18 occupants who failed to fulfill their duty of cooperation were fined 3,000 patacas each, among which nine have already paid the fine. For those who failed to pay the fine within the statutory period, MGTO has notified the Financial Services Bureau to enforce the collection of fine and informed PSP to deny reentry of the involved persons into Macau if they are non-residents. MGTO, together with PSP, will carry on operation to crack down illegal accommodation. Staff of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) continues to check the premises to ensure they remain sealed and supply of water and electricity suspended. MGTO stressed that damaging the seal and resuming supply of water and electricity is a criminal offence which will be submitted to judicial entity for follow up.
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For Chinese, food plays a crucial role in their daily life. Most of Chinese, in particular, Macao people are quite critical in terms of food quality and taste. Although Macao is such a small city, people living here are still considered as the lucky ones as their appetites can be easily satisfied with the variety of gourmets in Macao. Restaurants serving Asian and European Cuisines of China, Thailand, Japan, Korea, France, Italy, etc, can be found everywhere in Macao. However, if all in a sudden, you would like to try something new and more exotic, you won't be disappointed by the Mozambique Food Promotion Week co-organised by IFT and Mozambique Association from 20 to 24 June. Mr. Carlos Graça, a famous Mozambique chef was invited to Macao bringing us some fabulous Mozambican delights. Mozambique food promotion week is one of the events during the Mozambique Culture Week 2011 to celebrate the national day of Mozambique. The Mozambique Association, which is one of the organisers, was found in 1992. Since 2006, the association has held the Mozambique Culture Week every year in June to share the happiness of Mozambique national day with local people and tourists. Chef Carlos Graça has rich cooking experience and superb cooking techniques. He cooked for many celebrities including former South African President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. He worked in international well-known hotels for years. He also has experience in hosting culinary TV programmes and was awarded in many cooking competitions. He is also the President of Association Chefs and Pastry Cooks of Mozambique. Chef Carlos Graça once worked in Hong Kong and Macao. During the Mozambique Food Promotion Week, he definitely brings you delicate African gourmets. Specialties for the food promotion include mouth watering dishes such as Boiled Crab of Costa do Sol Style, Chicken and Spicy Cashew Salad, Braised Fish of Lumbo Style, Beef Curry with Peanuts, Roasted Peanut Sweets, Sweet Potato and Coconut Pudding and lots more. The food extravaganza is from 20 to 24 June for lunch buffet and dinner buffet. Please call 85983 076/ 077/ 168 for reservation and enquiries. Details are as below:
Lunch buffet: 1230 -1500 (MOP180 per adult；MOP90 per child(4-12 yrs old)
Dinner buffet: 1900 -2230 (MOP230 per adult；MOP115 per child(4-12 yrs old) IFT has always been dedicating to organise gourmet promotions of different ethnic cuisines for the public. At the same time, it arouses the interests of food services industry in Macao as to explore more ideas in cooking. Along with the Mozambique Food Promotion this week, Chefs Carlos Graça will host a Culinary Workshop on 22 June at IFT, which local chefs and IFT students will have valuable opportunity to learn and experience the Mozambique cuisine. It aims to inspire the participants to create more spectacular gourmets and to promote the tourism in Macao.
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Consumer Council released its latest 'Supermarket Price Survey Report' and specific price survey report on canned foods. In comparison with last month's data, the recent 'Supermarket Price Survey Report' showed minor price rise and price drop in most items; on the contrary, the specific price survey report on canned foods showed significant price increase in certain brands. The current 'Supermarket Price Survey Report' was conducted on 14th June, surveying over 240 product samples from 14 retail spots. Among the surveyed product samples, 75 samples recorded decrease in prices and 64 items remained unchanged. Obvious increases in average price were observed in milk products and snacks: average price of 'Vita Silken Tofu (350g)' had increased over 25% while that of 'Nestle Coffeemate (700g)' had increased over 8.2%. For snacks, prices of the several chips samples had also increased from 1.9% to 7.8%. Consumer Council also conducted a specific price survey report on canned foods on 13th June. Prices of 10 canned food items were recorded in 22 retail outlets. 'Hong Mei Brand Ox Tail Soup (298g)', 'Ma Ling Premium Ham Luncheon Meat (340g)' and 'Narcissus Brand Spiced Pork Cubes (142g)' all recorded price increases. A price difference of the same brand selling in different retail outlets amounted to 5.8% to over 50% was observed. Consumers are therefore advised to check with the above mentioned reports for the most updated price. Consumer Council has optimized its website with regard to the online search of data on its 'Supermarket Price Survey Report' and specific price survey report. Consumers can choose the items of their interest and use our online search function to interactively compare the retail prices of their chosen items at various retail outlets. The latest 'Supermarket Price Survey Report' and specific price survey report on canned foods are now accessible on the Council's website (www.consumer.gov.mo). Reports are also available free of charge at the offices of Consumer Council, IACM's Iao Hon and S. Domingos Markets, bookstores and libraries. Consumers may also access the resources through WAP channels on their mobile phones. For inquiries, please call 8988 9315
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(Macao—19 June 2011) The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today described his trip to Fujian as fruitful as consensus on co-operation had been reached. Speaking to the media this evening at Macao International Airport at the end of his three-day visit, Mr Chui said trip was successful as it had been decided that a high level official meeting would be held regularly and a liaison office would be set up in Fujian to boost bilateral co-operation. He disclosed that an official meeting to seek ways to work out better implementation of co-operation would soon be held, to be chaired by the Secretary for Economy and Finance and the Deputy Governor of Fujian Province. Regarding co-operation on tourism, Mr Chui said that using Macao as the trading service platform, Macao and Fujian would jointly promote the tourism attractions to the Portuguese-speaking countries. The holding of "The Ninth China Straits Technology and Projects Fair in Fuzhou" had helped to further strengthen bilateral as well as regional co-operation, and the substantial development. Mr Chui said the success of the Fair was a good example for Macao. He also told reporters that sales of Macao's products and commodities were good at the Macao Week and Dynamic Macao promotion in Fuzhou. The Government would continue to support Macao's Small- and Medium-Enterprises (SMEs), and help them to promote their products outside Macao, he added.
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(Macao—18 June 2011) The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, continued on the second day of his visit to Fujian by officiating the opening ceremony of "The Ninth China Straits Technology and Projects Fair in Fuzhou," after paying a courtesy call on the China's National People's Congress Vice Chairman, Mr Jian Shusheng. Afterwards, Mr Chui attended the opening ceremony of the "Macao Week and Dynamic Macao promotion." He and the official delegation then toured the booths at these two events. Mr Chui then went on to Ping Tan, the experimental zone where he was briefed on the latest development and the future planning of the special business area. The aim of this field trip was to look for the business opportunities between Macao and Fujian entrepreneurs.
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High ranking officials from Fujian and Macao will have a regular meeting annually to boost tourism and trading co-operation. This consensus was made today when the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, and his official delegation met with the Secretary of CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, Ms Sun Chunlan, soon after they arrived in Fuzhou. Ms Sun introduced her counterparts the latest development in the province and briefed the Macao officials on the latest trade status between the two places. She said Fujian and Macao could enhance co-operation in tourism, trade, conventions and exhibitions, and using Macao as a platform to establish co-operation with the European and Portuguese-speaking countries. Mr Chui said Macao would reinforce the role of business service platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. He said Macao would continue to organise Macao and Fujian's entrepreneurs to Portuguese-speaking countries to promote their businesses and to look for opportunities for co-operation. He said the Macao Government would organise Macao's entrepreneurs to seek business opportunities in the newly developed zones of Fujian, such as Ping Tan and Wu Yi. He also said that Macao and Fujian would enhance tourism co-operation, such as to jointly hold international tourism and marketing promotions overseas. The Government Spokesman, Mr Alexis Tam Chon Weng, said after the meeting that the two governments have agreed to set up a liaison office in Fuzhou, to be run by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institutes. He said the Secretary for Economy and Finance and the relevant officials would have a regular working meeting with Fujian officials. Today's meeting was also attended by the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council and Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Ms O Lam, the Director of Macau Government Tourist Office, Mr João Manuel Costa Antunes, and the Director of Macao Economic Services, Mr Sou Tim Peng. The Macao delegation attended The Ninth China Straits Technology and Projects Fair in Fuzhou" banquet after the meeting. Mr Chui will attend the opening ceremonies of the Fair and the Macao Week and Dynamic Macao promotion.
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In order to raise the Culture and Creativity atmosphere around the campus and to let the staff, students and public get to know more about Acrylic Painting, IFT is going to hold an exhibition on campus in IFT Educational Restaurant showcasing art work by Acrylic Painting class participants from 17 to 30 June. There will be more than 20 pieces of painting displayed during the period. On the first day of the exhibition, class participants who painted the drawings, lecturers and some journalists were invited to join together for sharing the fruitful result from their learning. The exhibition opens to the public from 12:00 to 22:30, Monday to Friday, in the exhibiting period. All are welcome. IFT has been offering the Community and Education Development Programme (CEDP) since September 2009. It aims to provide relevant knowledge and essential trainings for those who are interested in the tourism and service industry. It also expands the human resources pool for the industry and improves the general quality of Macao citizens which is in line with Macao Government's Lifelong Learning Policy. In order to cope with the government policy of promoting Culture and Creativity Industry in Macao, the CEDP began offering a variety of culture and creativity courses for the public in 2010. These courses combine theory studies and practice, which enable the participants to master the techniques. The Institute has received excellent feedback from participants who have attended the Culture and Creativity courses. Registrations of these courses are satisfactory. The total number of participants of related courses in 2010/2011 academic year is over 550 persons. In addition, CEDP works closely with more than twenty local associations and industry partners and orgainses collaborative courses as per their requests. As one of the motivation to encourage the participants to study hard and stimulate their creativity, IFT has organised similar art exhibitions to showcase their art work. IFT is planning to hold an integrated exhibition at the showroom on First Floor of Pavilhao de Exposicoes e Espectaculos Artisticos para Jovens from 5 -21 July for the display of CEDP Culture and Creativity students' (under 29 years old) art work. The exhibition will include art work from courses like Photography, Mosaic Art, Creative Acrylic Painting, 3D Paper Modeling, Macao Souvenir Design, Silver Clay Art, etc. Through this public exhibition, we hope to let the public know more about our Culture and Creativity courses and also to share students artistic achievements. The exhibition opens from 12:00 to 20:00, Tuesday to Sunday. All are welcome.
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Owing to the ash cloud caused by the volcano eruption in Chile has blown over South America, the operations of major airports across South America are affected and there is disruption to flights, particularly for Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (including Correspondence, Printed Matters, Small Packet, Parcel and EMS) from Macao to South America are subject to delay until further notice. Thank you for your kind attention.
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Owing to the reprovisioning of mail processing in Rwanda, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (excluding EMS) from Macao to Rwanda are subject to delay until further notice. Thank you for your kind attention.
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Owing to the strike action taken by the workers' union in Canada, Macao Post announced that mail delivery services (excluding EMS) from Macao to Canada will be suspended until further notice. Thank you for your kind attention.
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