MGTO changes from ‘tourist’ to ‘tourism’

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) will be officially known in English as Macao Government Tourism Office, the government announced yesterday. The government announced the name change after its top advisory body, the 10-member Executive Council, completed its discussion of a by-law (administrative regulation) on travel agencies and tour guides which refers to the office by its new official English name in two of its annexes. The by-law will take effect on November

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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Tourism office clarifies Golden Week visitor figures

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) clarified yesterday its official statistics on the number of visitor arrivals in the mainland’s National Day Golden Week holiday from October 1-7. According to the adjusted figures, based on data provided by the Public Security Police (PSP), the number of Golden Week visitor arrivals reached 770,000, an increase of 19 percent year-on-year. The number of visitor arrivals from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan rose 19 percent to 720,000,

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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Groups to hold contest to fight money laundering

A contest for bank staff on measures to fight money laundering and terrorism financing will be held by two groups from the banking sector, with the aim of strengthening their awareness of the need to prevent and combat the two kinds of crimes. The competition, jointly organised by the Macau Banking Employees Association and Macau Association of Banks, will be held on Saturday next week at the headquarters of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (commonly known as Gung Luen) in Rua da

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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Govt bans 5 dog breeds & other animals

Tibetan Mastiffs, Filas Brasileiros, (Brazilian Mastiff), Dogos Argentinos, (Argentine Mastiffs), Tosas (Japanese Mastiffs) and Pit Bull Terriers and their cross-breeds have been banned by the government as part of the Animal Protection Law, according to an executive order published by the Official Gazette (BO) on Tuesday. The order took effect on Wednesday. The executive order is based on Article 13 of the Animal Protection Law that came into force in September. Civic and

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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Pupils consider job prospects when choosing subjects: group

Local pupils primarily consider whether they will be able to find a certain kind of job when pondering which subject they are going to study at university, the General Association of Chinese Students of Macau (AECM) said yesterday.Victor Hoi Chin Lei, who heads the Higher Education Counselling Centre jointly run by the association and the Macau Foundation (FM), made the remarks yesterday during a press conference about an event in which pupils can receive advice on choosing a subject at

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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Taiwan court convicts cat killer from Macau

A former National Taiwan University (NTU) student from Macau, surnamed Chan, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, with the option of paying a NT$600,000 (151,000 patacas) fine to escape the jail term, for killing two cats in Taipei, according to Taiwan media reports yesterday.The Taipei District Court handed down the ruling yesterday after Taipei prosecutors had sought two six-month sentences for Chan in September. According to the reports, the ruling can be appealed.The judge said yesterday

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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MGM says ‘VIP operators’ to stay in Nape

MGM China CEO and Executive Director Grant Bowie said yesterday that the company’s VIP junket operators would remain at its Nape property as its upcoming Cotai resort would focus on diversification to appeal to the mass market.Bowie made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of attending the opening of the company’s annual Oktoberfest that will run for 11 days at MGM Macau in Nape. Asked if MGM would be adding more non-gaming entertainment to its Nape property, Bowie

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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‘Thriller Live’ a thrilling Michael Jackson experience

The moonwalk, the gravity-defying lean, the spin are just some of the iconic dance moves of the late Michael Jackson that performers from “Thriller Live” are presenting as they sing and dance to the King of Pop’s timeless songs, giving the audience and fans goose bumps as they watch the show in awe.The cast and crew of “Thriller Live” from London’s West End are currently in town for their six-week tour at the newly opened Parisian Theatre.During a special media backstage visit

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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Oktoberfest band debuts sing-a-long Macau song

This year, besides singing along to “Ein Prosit” even though the majority of us don’t understand what it really means, beer-drinkers and party-goers at MGM Macau’s Oktoberfest can now also sing along to a new song that Michael Högl has written in English and Cantonese. Högl is the frontman of the Högl Fun Band from Munich, the birthplace of the Oktoberfest, which was originally about people celebrating a royal wedding in Bavaria in 1810.Since then, the Oktoberfest has become an

October 14, 2016 | BY admin

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Li pushes for diversification, vows to return

Premier Li Keqiang waves at the local airport upon departure yesterday morning. Photo: GCS  On the last of his three-day inspection visit to Macau, Premier Li Keqiang elaborated on 19 measures to support Macau’s development, including the implementation by the end of this year of a policy to allow Macau-registered vehicles to enter Hengqin Island, as well as the implementation by June 30 next year of a policy to allow both Macau-registered and Guangdong-registered yachts to dock in

October 13, 2016 | BY admin

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New federation helps deepen Sino-PSCs co-operation: vice-minister

Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Yan said yesterday that entrepreneurs from China and Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) would use a newly-set up federation as a platform to deepen bilateral trade and investment.Gao made the remarks in a speech at the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Entrepreneurs and Financiers Meeting at Macau Tower.A co-operation agreement between trade promotion organisations in China

October 13, 2016 | BY admin

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CE to attend delta conference in Nanchang

Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On will leave for Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province, today to attend the 2016 Pan-Pearl River Delta (PPRD) Regional Co-operation Chief Executive Joint Conference tomorrow. The PPRD consists of eight provinces and one autonomous region (Guangxi) as well as Hong Kong and Macau. Officials accompanying Chui are Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac; Chui’s Chief-of-Cabinet O Lam; Government Information Bureau (GCS) Director Victor

October 13, 2016 | BY admin

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More mentally disabled get job interviews: group

More employers have invited mentally disabled residents for interviews recently, probably due to the economic downturn in Macau, Sandra Lio Sao Wa, general secretary of the Association of Parents of People with Intellectual Disabilities of Macau (AFEDMM), said yesterday. Lio made the remarks on the sidelines of a press conference at the group’s office about the launch of a series of events to be held by the group, in which its members will sell their artwork and stage a concert. Lio

October 13, 2016 | BY admin

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Leong urges entrepreneurs to use Beijing’s ‘gift’ well

Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tak yesterday called on local industry players to use the 19 measures that the central government has gifted to the city well and put them to full use.Leong, who made the appeal during a special press conference at Macau Tower yesterday afternoon, was referring to the 19 support measures Premier Li Keqiang had revealed in the morning before returning to Beijing. “The 19 measures are a gift from the central government, considering Macau

October 13, 2016 | BY admin

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