Fusing facts and fiction, ‘A Fragrant Dream’ sets prequel to ‘Peony Pavilion’

With some references to Macau in playwright Tang Xianzu’s (1550-1616) four poems and masterpiece, local playwright Lawrence Lei I Leong got into Tang’s dream realm to create “A Fragrant Dream” that is almost like a prequel to Tang’s famous “The Peony Pavilion”.Tang, dubbed “China’s Shakespeare”, was an official and poet from the Ming Dynasty. Last year marked the 400th anniversary of Tang’s death, as well as Shakespeare’s.For the occasion, the Cultural Affairs Bureau

October 13, 2017 | BY admin

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Dean & DeLuca debuts in China with first café at Galaxy Macau

Upscale grocery store from New York Dean & DeLuca opened its first café in Galaxy Macau earlier this week, marking its debut in China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan.Founded by Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca in 1977 who opened its first ever store in Manhattan’s SoHo district, Dean & Deluca has become known for curating innovative food products with the finest ingredients from around the globe, and over the years has earned a reputation as an icon for New York City culture and

October 13, 2017 | BY admin

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‘Woman’ blackmails 1,500 nude photo victims: police

The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a local man on Tuesday for extorting at least 100,000 patacas from netizens after the victims had sent their naked photos to the suspect who pretended to be a woman and sent photos of naked women to the victims, PJ spokeswoman Yeung Sau Chan said during a special press conference yesterday.Yeung identified the suspect as a 33-year-old surnamed Tam working in a casino club membership department.According to Yeung, the police believe that Tam blackmailed at

October 12, 2017 | BY admin

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Councillor urges govt to rethink proposed bus fare hike

Central District Community Service Consultative Council member Ho Weng Hong said yesterday the government’s proposal to raise public bus fares was contrary to its own policies and the city’s current social conditions.Ho, a senior member of the Macau General Union of Neigbhourhood Associations, commonly known as Kai Fong, made the remarks during a regular meeting of the council at the Central Districts Residents’ Service Centre in Rotunda de Carlos da Maia.According to the first phase of

October 12, 2017 | BY admin

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IMF forecasts 13.4 pct GDP growth this year

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast of Macau’s gross domestic growth (GDP) to 13.4 percent for this year, according to its World Economic Outlook – October 2017.Back in April, the Washington-based fund had predicted GDP growth of just 2.8 percent for Macau this year. The revised predications were released this week.The fund also upwardly revised its forecast for Macau’s GDP growth for next year to 7.0 percent. In April, the lender had forecast a 2018 GDP growth

October 12, 2017 | BY admin

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IACM to build pumping station between Piers 25 & 26: vice-convener

Quoting an unnamed Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) official, Un Sio Leng, deputy convener of the Central District Community Service Consultative Council, said yesterday that the bureau will build a water pumping station on the waterfront between Pier 25 and Pier 26 in the Inner Harbour.Un spoke to reporters during a post-meeting press briefing of a closed-door meeting at the Central District Residents’ Service Centre in Rotunda de Carlos da Maia.According to previous media reports,

October 12, 2017 | BY admin

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IFT plans to launch postgraduate programmes

Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) President Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan said yesterday that her tertiary education institution plans to launch postgraduate degree programmes.Vong made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the institute’s graduation ceremony at Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion.According to an IFT statement yesterday, 391 students graduated this time.According to Vong, the passing of the Tertiary Education System bill in July will allow her institute to run

October 12, 2017 | BY admin

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Govt gathers views on 2018 Policy Address

The government started to collect opinions yesterday from residents for the drafting of the 2018 Policy Address, the Government Spokesperson’s Office (GPV) said in a statement yesterday.The opinion-gathering process will last 15 days.The statement did not say when Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On will present his 2018 Policy Address to the Legislative Assembly.PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN OUR PRINT EDITION.

October 12, 2017 | BY admin

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Govt expects to meet public housing demand in 2023

The government said yesterday it expects the number of public housing units to meet demand in 2023.The Housing Bureau (IH) yesterday released details of a study about the city’s demand for public housing. According to the report, the government expects the number of public housing units in 2023 to meet residents’ needs at that time, even expecting a surplus of more than 13,000 public housing units in 2026.The report can be downloaded on the bureau’s website: http://www.ihm.gov.mo, in

October 11, 2017 | BY admin

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Outgoing lawmaker calls for indirect elex reform

Veteran lawmaker-cum-unionist Kwan Tsui Hang, who retires at the end of the current legislative term on Sunday, urges the government in a written interpellation to study possible changes to the way the legislature’s indirect election is run. The directly-elected legislator says in her interpellation that there is a lack of competition in the indirect election.The copy of Kwan’s written interpellation was sent to the media yesterday.The upcoming legislative term will start on Monday. The

October 11, 2017 | BY admin

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Cleaners & doormen’s wages rise 20 pct: labour chief

Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Director Wong Chi Hong said yesterday that the wages of cleaners and doormen employed by the property management sector have risen 20 percent since the statutory minimum wage for them was implemented early last year.Wong made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a regular closed-door meeting of the Standing Council on Social Concerted Action at the Macau Business Support Centre (MBSC) in Nape.According to the council’s website, the council, chaired by

October 11, 2017 | BY admin

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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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