Leong expects economy to show ‘modest’ growth

Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac says the government is confident that Macau’s economy will record “modest” growth this year.Leong made the remarks on Friday at the headquarters of the local branch of Bank of China (BOC) on the sidelines of a Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Macau Association of Banks (ABM), saying that while Macau’s economy in the first half of last year continued the downward trend seen in 2015, the second half of 2016 recorded a

February 13, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

USJ to teach local Creole

The Lifelong Learning Office of the private University of St. Joseph will launch a three-month course on Patuá, Macau’s critically endangered Creole.According to the university’s website, the course will be taught by Alan Baxter, a creolist and dean of the USJ Faculty of Humanities.The 20-hour course, which will be taught in Portuguese and English, will run every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 21:00 p.m. from next week to April 12. The course fee amounts to 1,600 patacas.Cover of a brochure

February 13, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Forum backs 2-stroke engine bike subsidy

Panellists at yesterday’s Macau Forum supported the government’s subsidy which aims to scrap motorcycles with two-stroke engines, but urged the government to implement longer-sighted plans to improve Macau’s air quality.The weekly open-air debate is hosted by government-owned broadcaster TDM in Areia Preta Park every Sunday.The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) has launched a 3,500 pataca subsidy to encourage residents to give up their vehicles with two-stroke engines which produce

February 13, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Group aims to enhance youth’s spirit of humanity

The Rotaract Club of Macau announced yesterday that it will organise its annual “Macau Goodwill Ambassador Programme”, with the theme this year being “humanity in action”, which aims to enhance young local people’s humanitarian concerns.Rotaract, which originally began as a Rotary International youth programme in 1968, is a service, leadership, professional and community service organisation for young men and women between the ages 18 and 30, according to Wikipedia.The Rotaract Club

February 13, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Govt finishes study on manufacturing development

The Economic Services Bureau (DSE) has finished a study on how Macau should reposition itself in the development of its industrial sector, according to a statement from the bureau yesterday.Macau’s industrial sector consists of manufacturing, public utilities (electricity, gas and water supply), plus mining and quarrying. According to the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC), mining and quarrying are a negligible part of the city’s industrial sector.The city’s manufacturing sector was once

February 13, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

High death rate for lung cancer: surgeon

For many years lung cancer has been the biggest killer compared to other cancers in the city, local surgeon Chu Wai Kuok said yesterday.Chu made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a forum organised by the Macau Medical and Health Federation. The forum, about the latest cancer treatments, was held at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention & Exhibition Centre.Chu said that according to data from the Health Bureau (SSM), lung cancer has been the number one killer of

February 13, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Hospitals must have 20 million pataca insurance cover: health chief

Health Bureau (SSM) Deputy Director Kuok Cheong U said yesterday that the regulatory framework of the Medical Malpractice Law states that every hospital as a legal entity is required to buy at least 20 million patacas worth of medical liability insurance cover.The legislature passed a government-initiated medical malpractice bill on August 12 last year. The law will take effect on February 26, which requires mandatory medical insurance for health care workers.Kuok, who is also the director of

February 13, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Graffiti smeared on S. Domingos Church: police

Graffiti has been found on an outer wall of S. Domingos Church, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesperson announced during a regular briefing yesterday.According to the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) website, the church was erected in 1587. It was originally built of wood, and its name in Chinese, Pan Cheong Tong, means “Church of Wooden Planks”.The spokesperson said some IC staff members discovered the graffiti on the wall of the church when

February 10, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Make it grand on Valentine’s Day at Grand Hyatt

Grand Hyatt Macau is known for doing things in a splendid style and Valentine’s Day is no exception.For the celebration of love and romance, the hotel has flown in some big, bright and beautiful Ecuadorian roses for customers to order for their loved ones on Valentine’s Day.Instead of putting the roses in a bouquet, the roses, available in a variety of vibrant shades as well as the rare black, are placed in a black box for a sleek and chic presentation. The roses are available for purchase

February 10, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Film director playing the Chinese card in Hollywood

The film awards season is underway with the Oscars as the finale later this month. Race and gender issues have been ongoing in Hollywood, particularly noticeable through the list of nominations and winners, but Thomas Lim, who made his directorial debut in Macau four years ago and is now working in Hollywood, offers a different perspective for Asians looking to break into the US film industry as he shares his journey to the international film mecca. Chasing dreamsOriginally studying finance in

February 10, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

581 vehicles clamped in Jan, down 18 pct

A total of 581 vehicles were clamped last month, a decrease of 18.1 percent year-on-year, Northern District Community Service Consultative Council deputy convener Leong In Pong said yesterday.Leong made the remarks while briefing reporters after attending the government-appointed council’s regular closed-door meeting at the Government Service Centre in Areia Preta.He quoted the statistics from Transport Bureau (DSAT) representatives who attended the meeting to report the results of the steep

February 10, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Police nab Taipa burglary suspect

Judiciary Police (PJ) officers arrested a man from the mainland on Wednesday on suspicion of burglary, a PJ spokesperson said yesterday.The spokesperson announced the case at a special press conference. The 24-year-old suspect, surnamed Luo, reportedly works in a barbershop in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.The spokesperson said that PJ officials received a report from the burglary victim on December 31. The victim’s flat is on the second floor of a building in Estrada Governador Nobre

February 10, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Sexual touching with any object is harassment: lawmakers

During yesterday’s meeting of the legislature’s 3rd Standing Committee, lawmakers agreed that a government-initiated Penal Code amendment bill on sex crimes defines non-consensual sexual touching with any object as sexual harassment, Cheang Chi Keong, who chairs the committee, said.Cheang briefed reporters after a closed-door meeting with government officials, including Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan Hoi Fan, at the Legislative Assembly (AL).The committee is reviewing

February 10, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0

Govt urges public to visit ageing bear more often

The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) hopes residents will visit ageing Asian black bear Bobo more often, U Ka Man, a senior staff member of the Division of Parks and Gardens, said yesterday.U said that locals and Bobo “shared many memories”.The bureau invited the media to visit Bobo for a briefing on his physical condition outside his enclosure in Flora Garden.According to U, the average lifespan of black bears is 25 to 30 years. She described Bobo as an “old man” as he is

February 10, 2017 | BY admin

Comment: 0