Ho denies intention to benefit from outsourced contracts

Standing accused of leading a criminal organisation with the aim of obtaining illegal advantages by granting a string of outsourced services and projects for the Public Prosecution Office (MP) to 10 “shell companies” over the past decade or so, former ex-chief prosecutor Ho Chio Meng said last week that he did not pay attention to the details on the proposals granting outsourced contracts, submitted by his subordinates, before signing them.Ho made the remarks

December 19, 2016 | BY admin

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6 groups, 2 residents to protest tomorrow: police

A total of six groups and two individuals will hold protests tomorrow, the 17th anniversary of the 1999 establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), a statement of the Public Security Police (PSP) said yesterday.According to the police, the Macau Workers’ Power Union, Union for the Protection of the Employment Rights of Local Workers, Macau Bar Benders Association, Macau Workers’ Alliance Association, Macau Democratic Action Association and two residents plan

December 19, 2016 | BY admin

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Forum debates life poultry, bird flu dilemma

Panellists and members of the audience at yesterday’s Macau Forum discussed the dilemma of striking the right balance between providing consumers with live poultry and avoiding the avian influenza virus (AIV).The open-air debate is hosted by government-owned broadcaster TDM in Areia Preta Park every Sunday.The topic was inspired by last week’s discovery of AIV-infected silkie chickens, which led to the city’s first human AIV patient.Panellists and members of the audience attend

December 19, 2016 | BY admin

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Lawmakers pass tougher anti-drug bill

The Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday passed a government-initiated amendment will which toughens the anti-drug law, slated to take effect 30 days after its promulgation in the Official Gazette (BO).The anti-drug law was enacted in 2009.The bill will increase the minimum prison term for the selling of drugs from the current three to five years.Judiciary Police (PJ) Director Chau Wai Kuong (left, front) speaks during yesterday’s plenary session in the legislature’s hemicycle as Secretary

December 16, 2016 | BY admin

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Union to march for locals’ job rights on Dec 20

The new Union for the Protection of the Employment Rights of Local Workers announced yesterday, at the office of grassroots lawmakers Au Kam San and Ng Kuok Cheong, that it will organise a protest march on December 20, the anniversary of the 1999 establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), urging the government to give priority to the employment of local residents.The union’s President Wang Weize and several members jointly presided over yesterday’s press conference

December 16, 2016 | BY admin

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Macau will heed Beijing’s ‘instructions’ on building height near lighthouse: Ung

Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Guilherme Ung Vai Meng said yesterday that the Macau government will follow “instructions” by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) in Beijing about a suspended residential building project near Guia Lighthouse.After the lighthouse was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005, an executive order, gazetted in 2008, restricted the height of buildings surrounding the lighthouse, to a maximum of 52.20 metres.Built in 1864/65, it is

December 16, 2016 | BY admin

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Grassroots duo’s sex bill rejected

Only five out of 29 lawmakers voted yesterday in support of an amendment bill on sex crimes, listed in the Macau Penal Code, proposed by grassroots lawmakers Antonio Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San.Nine lawmakers abstained from voting on the bill. There are a total of 33 lawmakers in the Legislative Assembly (AL); three were absent and, as is customary, the speaker of legislature did not vote.The duo’s bill proposed a separate category for indecent assault. Grassroots lawmaker Antonio Ng Kuok

December 16, 2016 | BY admin

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Japan might be threat to local casinos: Leong

Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac said yesterday that Japan’s future casino operations were potentially a threat to the local gaming industry.Leong made the remarks when speaking to reporters after a closed-door meeting of the government’s Convention and Exhibition Industry’s’ Development Committee at the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).Lifting a long-standing ban on casino operations to boost the country’s economy, the upper house of

December 16, 2016 | BY admin

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Group urges sex assault victims to speak out

Many victims of sexual assault are reluctant to talk about their experience as local society is relatively conservative, Posso Ip Kam Po, who heads the Sheng Kung Hui (SKH) Gambling Counselling and Family Wellness Centre, said yesterday.The Anglican Church is known as Sheng Kung Hui in Cantonese.Ip made the remarks when addressing a press conference at the centre in Patane about the services the centre provides for victims of sexual violence.Macau Sheng Kung Hui (SKH) Gambling Counselling and

December 16, 2016 | BY admin

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Chef revisits classic Macanese flavours at ‘Flamingo’

One of the most well-known Macanese restaurants, Flamingo, has re-opened at Regency Art Hotel and Chef Marco Chan Pou Meng is bringing back the classic flavours using the original recipes.The return marks the 30th anniversary of Flamingo, which is famous for its African Chicken, Curry Crab and Duck Rice among others.Chan said knowing many old customers would be dining at the restaurant for a nostalgic experience and to reminisce over the flavours they used to know, he has spoken to many chefs

December 16, 2016 | BY admin

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‘Why we sing’: CCM Children’s Choir to share joy of singing

Over three dozen kids just can’t wait to tell the audience on Sunday why they like singing and being part of the Macau Cultural Centre Children’s Choir so much through songs they have been practising for months.The choir has been around since 2004 and its annual concert in December has become a tradition, giving the children a chance to shine, and also giving them a stage performance experience in front of a big audience.About 40 children will be performing in this year’s concert to be

December 16, 2016 | BY admin

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Wife of city’s 1st human bird flu victim tests negative: govt

The 57-year-old wife of the city’s first avian influenza virus (AIV) victim tested negative for the H7N9 strain, the Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday.The victim, a 58-year-old poultry stall owner at the Nan Yue Supply Market, tested positive for the virus on Tuesday after handling infected chickens that morning.SSM officials contacted the man in the afternoon at his home in Ilha Verde after discovering the H7N9 strain in silkie chicken samples at the market earlier on

December 15, 2016 | BY admin

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130 PSP officers being probed for loafing

Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman Lam Keong confirmed yesterday that 130 PSP officers are being investigated for having left their posts without permission while they were on duty during Chinese New Year this year.Lam revealed the ongoing investigations when asked by the media about the cases during a regular press conference at the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters yesterday. The Public Security Police also released a statement about the issue yesterday.Lam said 19 officers were

December 15, 2016 | BY admin

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Ex-chief prosecutor denies fraud about 10 women’s travel expenses – also denies heading criminal org

Standing accused of renting office space using public funds for the operation of a criminal organisation, former ex-chief prosecutor Ho Chio Meng insisted yesterday that he was not “close” to the landlord of the units – a man with whom Ho spent time in a sauna parlour.Ho made the remarks in his defence on the third day of his trial by the Court of Final Appeal (TUI) yesterday.The trial is being conducted by a three-judge panel comprising TUI President Sam Hou Fai, TUI judge Song Man Lei

December 15, 2016 | BY admin

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