6,456 apply for Hato vehicle tax rebate

According to data provided by the Transport Bureau (DSAT), the government has received 6,456 applications for its vehicle tax rebate scheme for vehicle owners affected by Super Typhoon Hato, Si Nei Na, deputy convener of the Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council, said yesterday during a post-meeting press briefing at the Islands District Public Services Centre in Taipa.Hato hit Macau on August 23, killing 10, injuring 244 and causing massive damage. The typhoon triggered a

October 11, 2017 | BY admin

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241 taxi offences over Golden Week holiday: police

The Public Security Police (PSP) yesterday said in a statement that they cracked 241 cases of offences by taxi drivers over the National Day-Mid-Autumn Festival Super Golden Week holiday, 90 percent of which involved overcharging and refusing passengers.The statement said that the Public Security Police beefed up their crackdown on taxi driver offences and illegal cab operations, the latter colloquially known as “white card” cars, from September 29 to October 8 to ensure locals and

October 11, 2017 | BY admin

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HK’s ‘Smart Departure’ scheme includes Macau

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s Immigration Department announced yesterday that self-service departure for visitors to Hong Kong – “Smart Departure” – will be launched at Hong Kong International Airport today.The list of eligible travel documents for the department’s Smart Departure e-Channel service includes Macau. Among the world’s eight Portuguese-speaking countries, Brazil and Portugal are included in the scheme, which also includes all EU member states and the US. Mainlanders are

October 10, 2017 | BY admin

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Govt starts ICT products recycling scheme today

The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) is launching a one-year pilot scheme today for the recycling of computers, mobile phones, televisions and various other ICT (information and communications technology) products. The bureau aims to obtain experience through the pilot scheme for the possible launches of recycling schemes of other electrical products in the future.A press conference about the scheme was held yesterday at the bureau in Estrada de D. Maria II.According to the bureau, items

October 10, 2017 | BY admin

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Tam says his portfolio budget will rise

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng said yesterday that the budget for the government entities under his portfolio would rise next year.Tam made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of an exhibition in commemoration of late civic leader Chui Tak Kei, at a day nursery run by Tung Sin Tong Charitable Society in Areia Preta district.Chui, the uncle of Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On, was one of Macau’s most popular

October 10, 2017 | BY admin

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Govt releases details of health education platform

The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) yesterday released details of its new “primary and secondary pupils health education guideline platform”.DSEJ Director Leong Lai said in opening remarks during a meeting with school representatives that with the launch of the platform earlier this year, her bureau was providing systematic information and support to schools, parents and pupils to improve children’s health.The meeting was open to the media.According to the platform’s website,

October 10, 2017 | BY admin

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920,631 visit Macau during Golden Week: MGTO

Macau recorded 920,631 visitor arrivals during the mainland’s eight-day National Day/Mid-Autumn Festival Golden Week holiday on October 1-8, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said in a statement yesterday.The statement pointed out that due to the fact that National Day on October 1 and the Mid-Autumn Festival on October 4 took place in the same week, the Golden Week this year lasted eight days, whereas last year’s had a duration of seven days.Compared to the October 1-7 period last

October 10, 2017 | BY admin

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3 sham marriages uncovered: police

Three bogus marriage cases involving seven locals and four mainlanders have been discovered, Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman Wong Wai Chon said at a regular press conference yesterday.Four of the suspects acted as go-betweens, two surnamed Cheong, one surnamed Kwok and the other surnamed Kuang, according to Wong. They are local women in their 50s who all know each other and work as casino dealers. The quartet allegedly arranged fake marriages for two local women and a

October 10, 2017 | BY admin

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Govt to consult public on minimum wage next month: labour chief

Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Director Wong Chi Hong said yesterday the government would launch a public consultation next month on the long-proposed implementation of a statutory minimum wage for all workers.Wong made the remarks while speaking to reporters yesterday on the sidelines of a public session for the ongoing public consultation on proposed amendments to the Labour Relations Law. About 20 residents attended yesterday’s session at the Civil Servants Training Centre run by the Public

October 9, 2017 | BY admin

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Forum divided over off-duty gaming staff casino entry ban

Guest speakers and members of the audience at yesterday’s Macau Forum were starkly divided over a government-proposed ban on off-duty gaming staff entering local casinos.The weekly open-air debate is hosted by government-owned broadcaster TDM in Areia Preta Park every Sunday.The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) launched a one-month public consultation period late last month on the proposed ban on off-duty gaming staff entering all local casinos, with the aim of reducing the

October 9, 2017 | BY admin

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Consultation attendees call for more maternity leave

A number of those attending yesterday’s public session for the ongoing public consultation on proposed amendments to the Labour Relations Law said that the government’s proposed 14 unpaid days in addition to the current 56 days paid maternity leave were insufficient.The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) launched a 45-day public consultation late last month on proposed amendments to the Labour Relations Law, which proposes three to five days paid paternity leave and 14 unpaid days in addition to

October 9, 2017 | BY admin

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Govt rejects ‘irresponsible comments’ by US

The Macau government has strongly rejected the “irresponsible” and “unfounded” comments about Macau in the 2017 Annual Report of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, released by Congress in Washington, DC, last week.According to a statement by the Government Spokesperson’s Office on Friday, the government “categorically repudiates” the report. The statement reaffirms that “no foreign country has the right to interfere” in China’s internal affairs.As in previous

October 9, 2017 | BY admin

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Health Bureau probes Wynn for skirting smoking ban

The Health Bureau (SSM) has announced that it is investigating Wynn Macau for allegedly skirting the government’s casino smoking ban in an area known as Pit 96 on its ground-floor premises.According to the statement, the US gaming operator also failed to put up clearly visible non-smoking signs in the area.The statement said that officials of the Health Bureau and Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) recently inspected the casino after receiving a telephone complaint about illicit

October 9, 2017 | BY admin

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Macau passport holders can enter UK faster

The Identification Services Bureau (DSI) has announced that the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong has confirmed that Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) passport holders are eligible to join the UK’s Registered Traveller Service (RTS).Successful applicants do not need to fill in a landing card anymore. Instead, they can use the ePassport gates or the UK and EU entry lanes at designated airports when they enter and exit the country, according to a DSI statement on Friday.An RTS

October 9, 2017 | BY admin

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