UM to present Hengqin campus project to lawmakers

UM to present Hengqin campus project to lawmakers

The University of Macau (UM) is going to clear public doubt by presenting the preliminary conception of the establishment of a new campus in Hengqing Island to the Legislative Assembly at 3pm today.

There have been several reports on Hengqin Island's exploitation project, including statements claiming the “removal” of the university was already underway. The university also officially released a statement to express that Hengqin Island is an “ideal” place for a new campus.

However, the removal of the university has prompted students, parents, scholars, media and netizens' concerns as there are discrepancies between the laws in the two places and further detail of the new campus has not yet been disclosed.

According to a source, the university held a seminar to elaborate on the university's development strategy to students, in which plenty of students expressed various concerns on the new campus, saying that they are afraid of the freedom of information retrieval and of speech would be confined after moving to Hengqin Island.

Apart from the matter of liberality, the matter of clearance, traffic, campus atmosphere, public consultation and establishment of a specific surveying group on the campus removal were also brought up by students during the seminar, said the source.
Moreover, the concern of whether students have the right to vote for the removal of the university was also raised by the attended students.

In the university's previous statement, the reason of the campus expansion was due to the lack of space at its current facilities in Taipa.

It said that the UM's campus areas, classrooms, offices, laboratories, dormitories and the student recreation areas are very limited, and as such the university has requested for more land from the government since 2005.

The Hengqin Island thus is the ideal place for the university to cope with its development plan mentioned in the university's 10-Year Development Strategy, it added in the statement.

UM said that if the issue of the removal of the University of Macau is confirmed, it will be a good news for the University and it also shows the mainland and the local government’s support and affirmation on the University’s effort in education.

The university also emphasised that its mission will not change due to the location of campus.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Specialist disapproves of Macau's energy market liberalisation

Specialist disapproves of Macau's energy market liberalisation

A specialist from a US electricity consulting firm said Macau does not possess conditions to liberalise its energy market, according to the Oriental Daily News in Hong Kong.

Senior partner of Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. Woo Chi-keung said yesterday that competitors might not be introduced into Macau as the cost of investment in an electricity industry was "massive".

Hence, Woo said monopoly could be created after the electricity market is opened in 2010.

At the same time, the expert also pointed out that it is necessary for CEM to increase its own power generation capacity in order to ensure its status in the Macau market.

The private utility company announced last week that an investment of 718 million patacas had been put into building and expanding a number of substations throughout the territory in 2008.

As well, its net profit was reported at 434 million patacas for last year.

When compared with international enterprises CLP Group and Hongkong Electric Holdings which are both headquartered in Hong Kong, CEM only accounted for three to four percent of the overall energy supply in Macau, whilst imported electricity from the mainland weighed as much as 66 percent last year.

However, Woo expressed a "strong reservation" for completely relying on imported electricity, adding that stability of the current energy supply in the mainland still needs to be improved, the Chinese daily reported.

He also forecast that the electricity markets of China, Hong Kong and Macau must be "integrated" in the future, but at the same time emphasised the importance for the two SARs to enhance and develop their own power supply capacity so that the service stability could be guaranteed.

At the night of March 16 about 20,000 people were in the dark for nearly one and a half hours due to a major blackout in Macau's north spreading to Ilha Verde, Fai Chi Kei, the Border Gate and Areia Preta.

CEM announced on the next day that the power interruption was caused by simultaneous short circuits of two transformers at the Macau North Substation.

Chief Executive Officer Franklin Willemyns said it was the first time for two transformations to have experienced a short circuit at the same time for the past 25 years.

He also said that in order to meet the growing demand in the northern district, CEM is planning to build a new substation and inject more investment into improving grid operations and power supply system.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

SAFP holds seminar on Global Financial Crises

SAFP holds seminar on Global Financial Crises

The Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP), invited professor Wangjian, an expert in economics, to speak at a seminar on "Chinese Government strategies to face the global financial crisis". This seminar intends to help government employees, better understand the global financial crises as well as the measures taken by the Chinese government to deal with it, the

The seminar will take place tomorrow and Wednesday from 10am to 13pm in the Tourism Activities Center.

The lecturer is the department head of Education and Research of National Economy Institute of the Administration of China, as well as teacher for PhD candidates at Peking University and the Renmin University of China, specialising in Western economics, macroeconomics and State economics and has published more than ten works, such as New Keynesian economics, panorama of contemporary doctrines of economics, Western political theory and the Chinese government regulation.

In this seminar, Professor Wang will also explain the following topics: China's macro-economy, causes of high-risk mortgages (supreme lending) in the United States, the impact of high-risk mortgages (supreme mortgage) in world and China economy, the materials of general interest for China's economy in the global financial crisis and major tasks in the field of China's economy in 2009 as well as their policies.

SAFP, as organiser, hopes public employees can better understand the global financial crisis, particularly the impact on the Chinese economy and the measures taken by the government, to broaden workers views on the matter and give them a better understanding on the current economic situation.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Public entities display green policies and measures

Public entities display green policies and measures

Ten government bodies took the opportunity of 2009 Macau International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2009 MIECF) to show their efforts in bringing a cleaner and greener environment to Macau in the past decade.

Visitors would be able to learn about Macau’s green policies and measures in the areas of transportation, energy, infrastructure, ecology and tourism at the booths of the ten public bodies at Macau Pavilion, which was right behind the entrance of the exhibition hall of 2009 MIECF at the Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel.

A video about Macau’s efforts in greening the city and striving for sustainable development in the past ten years was also be shown to visitors.

The Environment Council presented their works including the Green Hotel Award, the Establishing a Water Conservation Society Working Group presents advocate their goal and plans while the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau showed its work in urban greening.

The University of Macau exhibited its contribution to various environmental-friendly projects. Office for the Development of the Energy Sector showed the future planning for adopting natural gas and solar energy.

Transport Bureau displayed the ambition of building a greener transportation network, such as the introduction of light rail system in the future, while Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre exhibited a shirt made from plastic bottle and a shirt that helps lower body temperature.

Except the booths of the government bodies, those of Macau Chamber of Commerce, Macau Importers and Exporters Association, Macau Association of Banks and some organisations were also situated at the Macau Pavilion.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

MIECF exceeds 2,5 billion in green deals

MIECF exceeds 2,5 billion in green deals

In all, the amount of green deals matched in the event exceeded 2.5 billion patacas. The business matching team of the organiser successfully arranged 55 meetings and one of them secured the signing of a 50-million patacas contract. Business meetings between exhibitors and visitors continued until the closing of the event. Today the Organising Committee will announce the event's final turnover.

The Public Open Day of 2009 Macau International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2009MIECF) drew a large number of visitors, entertained by the exhibits, games and performances.

Most visitors showed special interest in the latest environmental-friendly products and technologies such as green vehicle, air purification appliance and energy-efficient lamps.

Some visitors said that 2009MIECF broadened their horizons by gathering green product companies from different countries and regions.

They also hoped that Macau could apply more innovative technologies to build a better environment for the public, they said.

Visitors could learn more about environmental protection and energy reduction from panels and games. Some visitors said that 2009MIECF provided an opportunity for them to educate their children about the importance of protecting the nature.

The organizer said that this year’s MIECF brought a fruitful result, and it would be useful for the preparation of next year’s MIECF.

The 2009 MIECF, Macau International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition in its closes with an overwhelming success and fruitful outcomes for both exhibitors, visitors and forum delegates. As for 2008 MIECF, over 111 business were witnessed matching meetings to date.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Cecilia Ho wins Macao Indies 2009

Cecilia Ho wins Macao Indies 2009

The Macao Cultural Centre (CCM) yesterday awarded the best local films and documentaries screened throughout the weekend at its Macao International Film and Video Festival (MIFVF), Macao Indies section.

The 36 videos, documentaries and short-movies screened over the weekend showcase a variety of local audiovisual productions, including animation works, music videos, conceptual and experimental projects. These feature various topics ranging from the economic boom and its consequences, dreams and disillusions as well as memories and common stories.

In yesterday's Macao Indies awards ceremony, the Jury's Award went to “HERstory-Jeritan” by Cecilia Ho, which also received the Audience Awards with the highest number of votes from viewers.

“Losing Existence” by Kou Man Chong and “The Key” both won the Jury's Commendation award.

The four judges CCM invited were local film and video enthusiast Tai-Ah, Taiwan's “Island Etude” director Chen Huai-en, mainland film producer Chow Keung as well as Hong Kong director Patrick Tam, who was awarded Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay for his “After This Our Exile” at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards.

The Macao International Film and Video Festival runs throughout the coming weekend, featuring international selections from the 33rd Hong Kong Film Festival. Finish directors of “The Home of Dark Butterflies,” Dome Karukosi and Jerzy Skolimowaki, as well as Polish film-maker of “Four Nights with Anna,” will be in Macau for meet-the-director session after having their productions' screened on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

The Macao International Film Festival and Video Festival 2009 is organised and presented by the Macao Culture Centre until April 12.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Logistics sector expected cargo throughput in 1Q to drop

Logistics sector expected cargo throughput in 1Q to drop

The export throughput of the air-sea-land cargo is speculated to drop twenty to seventy percent respectively in the first quarter of the year, said International Logistics and Forwarding Association of Macau director Lei Kuok Fai.

The director therefore said he hopes the government will carry out some assistant measures in order to help the sustainability of the logistics, said TDM news.

He hopes the government to take the neighbouring city such as Hong Kong as a reference on the rescue of the logistics in the territory as the sector was incapable of vying with the adjacent cities.

“Unlike Hong Kong, we [Macau]don't have a specific department to deal with the problems in logistics sector,” he said.

Lei added that he wants the government to put more efforts on the development of the logistics industry and a specific department is requested as well.

He said he believes by holding the regular meeting with the sector, the specific department can unify the logistics sector and be able to together seek for measures for the industry.

The director also expressed that he is not optimistic about the prosperity of the logistics sector in this year. However, he believes that the situation will be ameliorated once the global economy recovered, said the news.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Lawmaker questions Galaxy's land concession

Lawmaker questions Galaxy's land concession

Lawmaker Au Kam San inquired the government into the justification of granting casino companies large land parcels at very low prices, especially when the financial crisis has crippled Macau's business environment.

The Official Gazette last week consolidated six land parcels occupying about 30,000 square metres near Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança on the Cotai Strip, and transferred them from the government public property to the government private property.

In that way a larger land parcel as large as 440,000 square metres was formed and then granted to Galaxy Casino, S.A. as a private company's own asset for its flagship property construction.

According to the lawmaker's interpellation, Macau's gaming industry has been slowing down, but the government's action to grant a gaming company a "massive piece of land" without going through an open tender was "shocking".

At the same time, Au also pointed out that the construction of the Galaxy Macau resort had already started before the land concession was completed.

The mega resort, however, has its opening date postponed, which was originally scheduled for 2008, due to economic impact.
Au said there are only about a few hundreds of workers at the construction site, and with this small number of workers the property "will be unlikely to begin operation even in three years time."

However, the lawmaker said meanwhile the government granted such a large land parcel to the company by exempting a public tender, which he added was "ignorant of the current situation and unbelievable."

Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lau Si Io said last week that there was no “special situations” with the consolidation for the Galaxy Macau project

He also said that the land concession process of Galaxy was "the same" as that of other gaming operators, in which "construction always starts before the concession is completed."

On the other hand, Au criticised the government on how land premium is calculated.

The 440,248 square metres of land granted to Galaxy Casino, S.A. should be worth a market value of at least 30 billion patacas, the lawmaker said.

However, he said that the premium of that land parcel was calculated at a maximum amount of some three billion patacas based on the calculation method revised a year ago.

Au also claimed in the interpellation that among the few hundreds of Galaxy Macau construction workers, only six were locals but were already dismissed at the end of March, whilst those who stayed working were all "imported or illegal workers."

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Land subsiding maintenance to be carried out on Cotai Strip

Land subsiding maintenance to be carried out on Cotai Strip

In order to repair effects of natural land subsiding and ensure traffic safety, the Infrastructure Development Office (GDI) will carry out road maintenance in multiple areas on the Cotai Strip starting this week.

Works are going to be conducted in phases in Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus near Rotunda da Harmonia, Rua da Patinagem near Rua da Flor de Lotus, Avenida do Aeroporto and also Rua do Tiro.

During the maintenance periods, temporary traffic controls will be imposed in surrounding areas.

According to a GDI statement released yesterday, natural settling of land took place during the sand consolidation process on the reclaimed Cotai Strip.

However, following the rapid development of the area in recent years, GDI said traffic had grown busy there and thus effects of land subsiding were most notable on roads where the repairs are to be implemented.

Works will start this week for an estimated period of 40 to 115 days. They are mainly to fill and level up road surface, repair road side kerbs as well as pavements.

Drivers are reminded to be aware of the special traffic controls during the maintenance periods.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Neighbourhood Association completes emergency alarm installation

Neighbourhood Association completes emergency alarm installation

The General Union of Neighbourhood Association said yesterday that 85 of over a hundred cases of emergency alarm installations have been completed and also assumed that approximately 300 eligible senior citizens will receive the government's allowance on the emergency alarm installation.

According to the Chinese radio broadcast, the neighbourhood association said the Social Welfare Bureau has been planning to dispense allowance to elderly people aged over 65, receiving pension and are living alone. Those eligible will be exempted from 100 patacas rent for the alarm as well as the charge of the service from next month onwards.

The emergency alarm service centre supervisor Leong Weng Ian said the centre has received around an average of 30 to 40 calls a day from the elderly since its commencement in late February.

She added that she thinks the users were still not familiar with the function of the emergency alarm service, so that the number was not that significant.

“They usually think that the alarm is only used for something urgent, but it is not the right thinking. We actually hope that they [the elderly people] can communicate more with us,” she said.

Therefore, the centre is considering to do more promotions to educate the public about the meaning and use of the alarm.

According to her, the centre currently has 12 operators whose working hours are divided into three shifts a day and the second batch of operators are ongoing training, and as such she said she believed there should be no problems in dealing with the increasing number of calls.

She also added that there are still a hundred of applicants on the waiting lists and approximately 1,000 people will receive the installation in the year.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Public works bureau to revitalise Coloane

Public works bureau to revitalise Coloane

To ensure revitalisation, development and protection of Coloane's old district, the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) hired a consultant firm to complete a study. The company showed two proposals.

The first project aims to transform it into a recreational area with ancient and modern culture's through rehabilitation of the existing yard to improve trade, the second aims to transform Coloane into a tourism and free-style suburban area, with the introduction of a hotel and additional recreational facilities.

To gather public views, the DSSOPT will hold a public consultation between today and April 20. The same department will also invite Coloane residents, to attend a meeting that will take place this afternoon at 3pm.

Monday, 06 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Shun Tak Holdings profit down 90 pct in 2008

Shun Tak Holdings profit down 90 pct in 2008

Shun Tak Holdings Ltd., the property developer and ferry operator controlled by Stanley Ho Hung Sun's family, said Thursday its 2008 profit plunged 90 percent because of the cost of inventories and after it wrote down the value of investment properties.

Net income was 101.4 million Hong Kong dollars, or 4.3 cents a share, down from 1.01 billion Hong Kong dollars, or 43.9 cents, in 2007, the company said in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing Thursday.

Sales rose 31 percent to 4.35 billion Hong Kong dollars from 3.32 billion Hong Kong dollars.

Property prices and sales in Hong Kong and Macau have slumped amid the global recession, hurting stocks of land and apartments held by developers.

The cost of property inventories for Shun Tak jumped to 1.4 billion Hong Kong dollars last year, from 342 million Hong Kong dollars, according to the statement.

Shun Tak's ferry unit suffered as Macau 's visitor arrivals dropped 15 percent to 22.9 million last year.

It posted an operating loss of 150 million Hong Kong dollars last year from a profit of 259 million Hong Kong dollars in 2007 as the Macau-Hong Kong route carried eight percent fewer passengers and fuel costs rose 42 percent.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Gov't wants to use MICE to emulate conomy structures

Gov't wants to use MICE to emulate conomy structures

by Anni Lam

The government wants to borrow MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) to emulate the single industrial mode in the territory and reinforce its role as a business and trade service platform, said secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tan Pak Yuen.

The secretary attended “The Round Table Conference on International Co-operation of Convention and Exhibition Industry” on Friday, saying in his speech note that the MICE industry was still in its growing stage but he vowed that both the government and the sectors have been putting all out to goad the development of conference and exhibition industry.

He went on to say that “the government will make use of the CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) and the Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta to achieve the objectives of promoting moderate economic diversification and developing the territory into a leisure and tourism hub as well as a regional business and trade service platform.”

The vice president of the China Council for the Promotional International Trade (CCPIT) Dong Songgen said that the MICE industry in China has been growing more mature, after the 30 years of endeavours, and that the annul growing rate has reached up to 20 percent in a year-on-year basis.

However, he did not deny that the global financial downturn has brought a significant detriment to the industry as it dampens investors' investment and consumption confidence and the macroeconomic policy also dragged down the industry's development.

He added that it is because of the hit of the financial crisis, that China's economy has been showing a downturn sign in the past five consecutive quarters.

Therefore, he continued to say that he hopes to use Macau as a platform to communicate and exchange experience with overseas sectors so that it can achieve a mutual benefit in the “economic blizzard”.

The Round Table Conference was held on Friday at the Venetian Macau wherein around 60 representatives of industry organisations and specialists from Singapore, Thailand, Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau participated.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Energy efficiency in Macau, Hong Kong

Energy efficiency in Macau, Hong Kong

During the “Energy-Saving, Emission-Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium” held Friday, as part of the ongoing 2009MIECF, Arnaldo Ernesto dos Santos, director of Office for the Development of the Energy Sector and Katherine M. Y. Choi, principal assistant Secretary for the Environment Bureau in Hong Kong, respectively introduced work on promoting energy conservation and expanding energy efficiency in the two regions.

Santos addressed issues on energy and said that the final energy types are electricity, kerosene, gas oil and diesel, and gasoline, and the largest consumers of energy are transportation and tourism and service industries.

The director of the Office for the Development of the Energy Sector said that his office's main objectives are to ensure the safety and stability of clean energy supply at a reasonable price. To this end, the diversification of energy, infrastructure modernisation and the deepening of regional co-operation would play important roles, he added.

In addition, Santos stressed that Macau has actively promoted energy conservation and efficiency in recent years by educating the public, promoting new technologies in public and private sectors, and creating legal frameworks and standards.

His office is researching on guidelines for public lighting and construction of building, and regulations for price signal, energy labels, vehicles emissions and power plant emissions.

Meanwhile, Katherine Choi, said that almost 90 percent of Hong Kong’s electricity consumption is building-related, since the neighbouring SAR is full of high-rise buildings.

The Hong Kong government is now preparing a legislative proposal aiming to introducing the mandatory implementation of Building Energy Codes (BEC), which covers lighting, air-conditioning, electrical, and lift and escalator.

“With the widely-developed energy-efficient technologies in the past decade, promoting energy efficiency becomes one of the most cost-effective measures to address the issue of climate change,” she said.

She also said the active collaborations of the government, business sectors and the general community in promoting energy efficiency would bring us a greener and sustainable future.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Etchings convey teenagers' impressions of ancient Macau

Etchings convey teenagers' impressions of ancient Macau

A total of 62 copperplate etchings created by local high school students is on display at the are now on display at the “Heritage of Ancient Macau” at the Beijing Macao Centre.

The China Daily yesterday reported that the artworks will be exhibited until April 16.

"In 1601, a missionary brought copperplate etching skills from the West to China and the art form played an important role in China-western cultural exchange. The Catholic School of the Sea and Stars gratefully accepted the invitation from the Macao Center to show this ancient aspect of Macau's culture in Beijing and share the achievements of the Art and Design Department of our school," Choi Chi U, principal of the high school, said at the exhibition's opening ceremony on Thursday.

According to the report, the high school started the etching course in their Art and Design Department in 2007 and the first intake of students on the course are now in the third year of senior high.

Yang Qianfei, one of the first students to take up the course, was quoted as saying it “had been a really fantastic opportunity to be able to learn this art form from their teacher Wong Cheng Pou, who is very famous in the field.”

Yang Qianfei has one of her etchings, called Hebian Xinjie (The New Street by the River), at the exhibition in Beijing. She said it took her three weeks to complete. Unlike the other teenagers who had chosen subjects of real places in Macao, except hers, she had been inspired by an old photo of Hebian Xinjie and the beautiful scenery had been fixed in her mind. There is a grand hotel on the site she depicted and she said she hoped people would protect Macao's ancient architectural heritage before it is all lost.

According to the report, art teacher Wong Cheng Pou traveled to Beijing with 24 high school students, and was quoted by China Daily as saying this was a great opportunity for students to show both the beauty of Macau and their own outstanding achievements.

The report also added that the Catholic School of the Sea and Stars was the first and so far remains the only school in Macau to offer an etching course.

The exhibition was organised jointly by the Penha Creative Arts Centre and the Catholic School of the Sea and Stars.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Local residents honour deceased relatives, ancestors

Local residents honour deceased relatives, ancestors

Ching Ming Festival is one of the 24 segments in Chinese calendar and it normally falls on April 4 or 5 after the vernal equinox, and on this day the whole family visits their ancestors or relatives' graves.

In ancient times, people celebrated Ching Ming with dancing, singing and picnics. Coloured boiled eggs would be broken to symbolise the “opening of life.” In the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate the renewing nature of spring.

With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to honour past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children.

Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food.

Some superstitious people even carry willow branches with them or hang it on the front door. It's believed that willows help to get rid of evil spirits, when Ching Ming is one of the days that ghosts and spirits wander about.

Honouring ancestors begins with proper positioning of a grave-site and coffin. Feng Shui experts determine the quality of land by the surrounding aspects of streams, rivers, trees, hills, and so forth. An area that faces south, with groves of pine trees creates the best flow of cosmic energy required to keep ancestors happy.

While bland food is placed by the tombs on Ching Ming, Chinese regularly provide scrumptious offerings to their ancestors at altar tables in their homes. The food usually consists of chicken, eggs, or other dishes a deceased ancestor was fond of.

Accompanied by rice, the dishes and eating utensils are carefully arranged so as to bring good luck. Sometimes, a family will put burning incense with the offering so as to expedite the transfer of nutritious elements to the ancestors.

Ancestor worship is a Chinese tradition that goes back thousands of years. Ching Ming or “Remembrance of Ancestors Day” is therefore a key holiday in the Chinese calendar.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

CEM steps up on recycling

CEM steps up on recycling

Local electricity company, CEM on Friday signed an agreement with OMNI Limited on printer cartridge recycling agreement. The signing ceremony was held at the 2009 Macau International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF) and it was officiated by CEM executive director Jorge Vieira and OMNI Limited GM Partner Rui Pereira.

By recycling, refurbishing, and reusing printer cartridges, CEM can avoid sending the empty cartridges to local landfills and conserve the resources in manufacturing new ones. Also, OMNI Limited will collect the printer cartridges that are not recyclable in order for them to be disposed properly to minimise the potential hazard to the environment.

Every year, CEM uses over 200 printer cartridges and according to statistics, it takes more than two pints of oil to create a new toner cartridge shell and it takes hundreds of years for the cartridges to decompose in a landfill.

Over the years, CEM has made outstanding progress in various environmental protection areas such as waste processing and recycling.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Two kilos of heroin found in Macau Airport

Two kilos of heroin found in Macau Airport

The Judiciary Police (PJ) yesterday arrested a man at the Macau International Airport who was caught with two kilograms of heroin in his luggage. The drugs are believed to have a street value worth two million patacas.

The suspect, a 36 years-old self-proclaimed football player from Guinea-Conakry, resisted arrest but was taken in by the PJ.

His journey started in Bangladesh with one stop in Malaysia, and police believe the drugs would then head from Macau to the mainland.

The PJ believes that the man works for an international trafficking network, and that he has previously been in Macau also trafficking drugs, according to suspicions from investigators.

The case is now with the Public Prosecutions Office for further investigation.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Air Macau partners with Air China

Air Macau partners with Air China

Macau-based airline Air Macau shares code with Air China Ltd., the nation's aviation giant, on all the routes to the mainland as of Thursday, according to Trading Markets online news. Passengers of the two airlines can now buy air tickets conveniently.

“Air China has a nation-wide ticket sales network in major cities across the mainland”, said a top Air Macau executive.

Air Macau has partnered with Thai Airways International for code sharing for five years. It now is in code sharing talks with other airlines such as Korean Air and Philippine Airlines.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Legislative Assembly vetoed Union Basic Right Law

Legislative Assembly vetoed Union Basic Right Law

by Anni Lam

The Legislative Assembly yesterday vetoed the proposal to legislate the “Trade Union Basic Right Law”, acknowledged “Trade Union Law” as the assemblyman panel and concluded that it is not the ripen time for such a bill.

A comprehensive public consultation on the matter is required and the current term of the assembly does not have adequate time to carry out further deliberated discussions for the law.

Lawmaker José Pereira Coutinho presented the proposal again to the Legislative Assembly, stating the reason to urge the implementation of the law is because he believes that general labour associations do not have the legitimacy to represent workers for labour affairs disputes and having the law will enabled the union to be the bridging platform to foster communication between employers and employees.

However, the proposal has been reproached by several lawmakers such as Tsui Wai Kwan, Chan Chak Mo and Leong Heng Teng as they pointed out that the proposal was cursory and ambiguous, and there were too many contentious items.

Tsui said that the law is inclined to be destructive as he thinks that the law will engage the union to have rights to convoke workers to go on strike, and that could create detriment to the whole the industry.

Also he added that he thinks the law will aggravate the disagreement between the two parties and create the uneasiness to the business sectors if the law was not properly regulated.

Chan's point of view was quite akin to Tusi's arguments and continued to say that he does not agree with the establishment of the union could reduce the friction or mistrust between the two parties.

He went on to say that there are too many ambivalences in it and commented that the proposal was hasty.

“I hope that the detail of the law could be clear and lucid before we cast the favourable vote, as we don't want to dissipate time on something that has no substantial foundation.”

And Leong disagreed with the proposal saying that associations and Labour Affairs Bureau did not put efforts into mediate labour disputes.
He added that he “principally agrees with the legislation of the Union Law. However, there are too many befuddlement in the lawmaker's proposal.”

Countinho held on his ground and refuted that the union would have rights to force workers to go on strikes against their own wills, and added that the “collective negotiation” and “Law of strikes” were not included in the bill as currently these are impossible to be regulated in the same legislation.

“I hope to have an union which can represent labours to fight for justice in the labour dispute without any worries of receiving retaliations afterwards,” he said.

Lawmaker Kwan Tsui Hang, Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San buttressed Countinho's proposal and expressed that he thinks the government did not put enough effort to make a legislative foundation for the law.

They said that the law has been broached almost for ten years, even though it has been raised for three times at the Legislative Assembly, all of which were vetoed.

The assemblyman panel yesterday presented 24 lawmakers, among which seven cast favourable votes, eight were veto and nine were discarded.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Visitor arrivals jump to 30.1 million in 2008

Visitor arrivals jump to 30.1 million in 2008

The number of visitor arrivals and non-residents reached 30.1 million in 2008, with visitor arrivals totalling 22.9 million, the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) announced yesterday.

The majority of visitors came from the mainland at 11.5 million, followed by Hong Kong at seven million, Taiwan at 1.3 million, Malaysia at 428,603, and Japan at 366,920.

The number of mainland visitors under the individual visit scheme totalled 6.5 million, taking up 57 percent of the total mainland visitors. Same-day visitors were 12.3 million, sharing 54 percent of the total visitor arrivals. Visitor arrivals in package tours accounted for 21 percent of the total at 4.9 million.

In 2008, the number of residents travelling outbound in package tours increased by eight percent over 2007 to 229,188 and those travelling under individual arrangements using services of travel agencies dropped by three percent to 377,229.

In light of the opening of three new hotels last year, the hotel guest rooms availability rose by eight percent year-on-year to 17,490 whereas the average occupancy rate decreased by 2.7 percentage points to 74.5 percent.

The number of hotel guests increased by 14 percent from 2007 to 6.5 million with an average stay length of 1.44 nights, up by 0.10 night compared with 2007.

Per-capita visitors spending was 1,729 patacas in 2008, up by 6 percent over 2007, with mainland visitors having the highest per-capita spending of 3,571 patacas.

Per-capita visitors non-shopping spending excluding gaming expenses amounted to1,027 patacas, up by nine percent over 2007, with that of the mainland visitors leading at 1,378 patacas. Expenses on accommodation and food and beverage took up 46 percent and 36 percent respectively of the per-capita non-shopping spending.

Per-capita visitors shopping spending went up slightly by one percent over 2007 to 702 patacas, with mainland visitors leading at 2,193 patacas. Spending on local food products and clothing took the largest share of 29 percent and 19 percent respectively.

Per-diem spending of visitors went up by 3 percent over 2007 to 1,506 patacas; visitors from mainland China had the highest per-diem spending of 2,521 patacas. The average length of stay at 1.1 days was the same as in 2007, while the respective average for tourists and same-day visitors was 1.7 days and 0.2 day.

Per-capita visitor spending arriving by sea and by land was 1,361 patacas and 1,989,patacas respectively, up by two percent and 10 percent over 2007, while per-capita visitor spending by air dropped by nine percent year-on-year to 3,865 patacas.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Gov't expands tourism crisis management scope

Gov't expands tourism crisis management scope

In order to provide timely and effective assistance to both Macau residents travelling outbound and inbound visitors to the SAR in cases of emergency or distress, the government has expanded the competence and scope of its tourism crisis management agency, according to the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Chui Sai On during yesterday's presentation of the "Tourism Crisis Management Office."

"The Tourism Crisis Management Office has formulated a more comprehensive mechanism of strategy and coordination through which the office is able to respond to and handle tourism crisis in a systematic and effective manner, so as to minimize any negative effect caused to Macau residents and tourists by crisis", said Chui Sai On during his presentation speech.

Headed by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, the Tourism Crisis Management Office consists of one coordinator, the director of Macau Government Tourist Office João Manuel Costa Antunes and 28 members from 25 government departments, public agencies and organisations, such as a representative from the Office of the Secretary for Security, a representative from the Unitary Police Services, a representative from the Health Bureau, among others.

The office is divided into seven expert groups responsible for official liaison, travel industry liaison, emergency support, operation and logistics, family liaison, media communication, administration and the secretariat.

It also provides a 24-hour hotline in Cantonese, Putonghua, Portuguese, English and Japanese, and any Macau resident travelling outside the territory or inbound visitor can call (853) 2833 3000 for enquiry or help.

Thus, if a Macau resident encounters a serious accident or disaster during his travel outside the territory, the office will take immediate and effective measures to offer assistance and cope with the situation and will also arrange the return of the affected person to Macau.

As for inbound visitors who are in distress, the office will also offer assistance and coordinate in sending the affected visitor back home.

"Since establishment, our office activated the crisis management mechanism at the end of November last year for the incident at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport [when the Thai government declared its capital city in a state of emergency]. During that time, we received a total of 151 calls seeking assistance and we eventually managed to charter a plane and bring home 173 Macau residents who were stranded in Bangkok. Another five residents returned to Macau smoothly through other ways under the assistance of the Office’s Secretariat", added Chui Sai On.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Companies express their views on green energy

Companies express their views on green energy

by Irina de Carvalho

Several companies represented at the the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2009 MIECF) spoke with Macau Daily Times.

Joao Marques Cruz, CEO of the recently formed company EDP Energy Solutions, joint venture between EDP International and Stanley Ho's group, explained he was invited to participate because of the partnership agreement with the government to provide clean energy solutions.
He also addressed the Forum on sustainable energy. “We have to be realistic since China is primarily a coal energy producer. It's more efficient to create a way to produce cleaner energy from coal than to consider a new way to produce energy. It's more coherent to help coal production,” he said.

Meanwhile, American company Honeywell, represented by Leo Leong, sales director for North Asia, also represented a huge investment on power saving energies. “More than 50 percent of our work has to do with helping people save energy. We help our clients measure their energy consumption's and optimise it as a saving aimed at energy spending,” he said.

He also stressed their objective is to extend the efficient solutions.

“In the second year of MIECF [this year], Macau authorities are focusing on environmental solutions but it can also represent setting conservation requirements to use in public facilities like airports, universities, hospitals.”

He emphasised the important role that public companies can play by setting the example on saving energy since he agrees most of the thinks related with clean energies depend on the government's support.

Currently, he said Honeywell works with Venetian Macau, providing controls and software to control the buildings air-conditioners and the fire alarm system, Wynn Macau providing security fire alarm systems and some small projects from Start World.

As for Smart Rise Environment Limited, a company also focused at smart technology to save energy and to recycle plastic products, Gary Zhang, rector CEO, said he believes Macau has the same development as that of Taiwan and that it is the right place to promote environmental protection and agrees that it's also very important to make changes but with the government's support. He also added it is fundamental to create green investments and to reach out to save more energy.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Macau directly affected by Pearl River Estuary

Macau directly affected by Pearl River Estuary

Studies have shown that global warming is one of the reasons causing sea level rising the region of Pearl River estuary during the past 50 years. Experts have estimated around 2030 the average sea level of the Pearl River Estuary will increase 13-17cm comparing to1980-1999, since Macau is one of the most sensitive areas which are affected by the sea-level rise.

In addition, considering the situation of the Pearl River Basin within recent years, the Xijiang and Beijiang River Basin are experiencing persistent drought during dry season, the precipitation from 2003 to 2005 is only 150-200 mm, representing a sharp drop of 40 and 50 percent comparing to a normal year, the river flows reduce by 30 and 40 percent, resulting in a substantial decrease of the salty pressure flow. Under the double influences of the decreasing water flows during dry season and rising sea-level, the backward salt tide at Modaomen will become even more serious, posing a new threat to the security of water supply at Macau and Zhuhai.

Therefore,the two professors suggested the Government should start to have a special study, making a comprehensive assessment of the risks and probabilities various types of water hazards that might be faced, such as prevention for both government and public; carrying out water hazard prevention and control project and non-engineering measures planning; studying and establishing early warning and monitoring system and response plans; carrying out research of regional co-operation mechanism, and promoting regional hazard prevention co-ordination mechanism.

In addition, Professor Lotilla, former Minister of the Philippines’ Department of Energy, presented a workshop on " Integrated Coastal Management as a Framework for Natural Disaster Management".

Professor Lotilla currently serves as Executive Director of the " Partnership for Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asian ", which is supported by the United Nations Development Program and relevant organisations. During his term he was taking charge of the government's energy independence and power industry reform plan, and took the lead to legislate the related reforms into the Biochemical Fuel Act, and promoted the legislature to consider the draft of renewable energy.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Experts warn on water hazards

Experts warn on water hazards

Global warming and frequent extreme weather, with socio-economic development in the Pearl River, are likely to increase the threats of water-related hazards in Macau, said Professor Wo Xiaoming, of Pearl River Water Resources Institute of Science and Technology.

He emphasised the importance of the government's envolvement to prevent and control water hazards.

During the "Natural Disaster Management Workshop" held yesterday, Professor Wu Xiaoming, published the "Macau Water analysis and research recommendations.", which he jointly wrote with the president of the institute, Professor Wang Xianfang. In the paper, they said changes in global climate caused many impacts to Macau, including the rising of sea-level, the aggravating of backward salt tide, the increasing of extreme weather events, as well as the increasing experience of different weather hazards.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

EU boosts green economy

EU boosts green economy

Meanwhile Magnus Gislev, first secretary of European Union Representative at Beijing, and Marie-Hélène Fandel, policy analyst of European Policy Center, introduced the EU’s policy of energy-saving, emission reduction, carbon emissions trading and energy usage.

Addressing the issue on “EU Policy on Energy Saving, Emission Reductions and Carbon Trading”, Magnus Gislev said environmental protection and commercial competitiveness are not fundamentally contradicted.

“Far-sighted environmental policy will open up commercial market for technology innovation and increase employment opportunities,” he said.
“Any country investing in environmental protection and energy-saving projects will benefit, because it can improve the standard of living, create business opportunities and reduce reliance on imported energy.”

He said that sustainable development is the future of human society, thus EU is determined to play a leading role and will prepare proposals for the long-term objectives during the Copenhagen Climate Summit to be held in December.

In her speech "Policies to Encourage the Rational Use of Energy in the EU", Marie-Hélène Fandel said that there is a great deal that Europe can achieve by using energy more rationally and developing a competitive advantage in eco-innovation and green products.

“But the potential gains have not been fully exploited, because there are numerous obstacles and barriers which prevent the public sector, business and consumers from tapping into that potential,” she said.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

China, EU officials discuss green policies in Macau

China, EU officials discuss green policies in Macau

During the Energy Saving, Emission Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium at the 2009MIECF yesterday China and representatives from the European Union introduced energy-saving and emission reduction targets and policies.

He Bingguang, deputy director of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection Division of National Development and Reform Commission, said that energy-saving and emission reduction is an urgent and long-term strategic task for the Chinese government.

“It is imperative to combine the usage of legal, economic and administrative means to guarantee a desirable result of energy-saving and emission reduction,” he said.

As stipulated in the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan Outline", the Chinese government puts energy-saving and emission reduction as a goal.

By using public resources and administrative power, the government is committed to eliminate outdated production techniques and promote the application of energy-saving and emission reduction technologies.

From the three aspects of restructuring, technology upgrading and supervision and management, China has made some progress in energy-saving and emission reduction, He said.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Macau to enhance environmental, regional coopeartions

Macau to enhance environmental, regional coopeartions

Macau is expected to enhance regional cooperation of the Pan Pearl River Delta Region as well as that of the Big Pearl River Delta through the establishment of an the Environmental Protection Bureau, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lau Si Io said yesterday.

Speaking at the luncheon of the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2009 MIECF), Secretary Lau said environmental protection is the critical issue that nowadays demands everyone's attention.

With Macau having signed the Kyoto Protocol in 2007, the government has taken different measures and strategies, a move which is set to continue, Secretary Lau said, adding that Macau would enhance the regional cooperation of the Pan Pearl River Delta Region as well as the Big Pearl River Delta,.

Secretary Lau also said that the local government would continue to put efforts in promoting the concepts of “Thinking Green, Going Clean and Living Cool”.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Jilin hopes to seek for further co-operation

Jilin hopes to seek for further co-operation

by Anni Lam

The Jilin-Macau Economic & Trade Co-operation Conference 2009 was held yesterday at the Venetian Macau wherein the vice governor of Jilin Provincial People's Government Chen Wei Gen told reporters that he wants to partner with Macau to seek for further industry exploitation.

He said that he would like to borrow Macau as a bridging role to communicate with foreign countries and added he believed that it will also bring Macau a new concept on the industry's development.

The vice governor also added that the further co-operation can emulate and diversify various catering and hospitality industry in the territory so that it would bring a win-win situation to both cities.

“I also hope that the Macau sectors will make a visit to Jilin in order to understand more about the development of the province and seek a novel investment opportunity in it,” he added.

Wang Min, secretary of CPC Jilin Province Committee said in the opening speech that he hopes the two cities can complement each other as Jilin possesses the advantages in heavy industry development and agricultural produce processing and Macau has the privilege to bridge with the Lusophone countries.

Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam Pak Yuen said that he hopes Macau make use of its bridging role to cultivate the overseas economic and trade for the counterparts.

After the conference, the Jilin delegation also met with the Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah at the government headquarters, wherein the CE expressed that he will lead the SAR government official delegation to visit the counterparts in May.

Also the CE added that he hopes the local sectors can exploit the development opportunities in Jilin.

The Jilin delegation arrived in Macau yesterday, and attended a string of meetings with the local officials as well as visited the tourism spots, and will return to Jilin today.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Macau delegation to visit Jilin next month

Macau delegation to visit Jilin next month

Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah announced during a meeting held yesterday with the Secretary of the Communist Party of Jilin province Wang Min and his official delegation, that he he will head a delegation to Jilin in May, to help local entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities.

The delegation attending the meeting included the sub-director of the People's Central Government Liaison Office in Macau, Gao Yan, the secretary for Finance and Economy Affairs, Francis Tam, the head of the Chief Executive Office, Ho Veng On, the president of IPIM, Lee Peng Hong, among others.

The Jilin province delegation arrived Thursday in Macau to participate in some activities and visit tourist attractions, and will leave Macau today.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Coloane illegal constructions suspended

Coloane illegal constructions suspended

The Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) in co-operation with the Public Security Police Force (CPSP) yesterday ordered the embargo of 15 unlicensed works in Coloane, in defense of the island's natural resources.

Supervisory actions recently undertaken by DSSOPT staff discovered several illegal works in Coloane, mainly in Coloane Village, Lai Chi Vun, Hac-Sá and Ka-Ho that included works of demolition, reconstruction, expansion and construction of superstructures on land whose ownership is not yet confirmed.

The bureau ordered the immediate suspension of the illegal works.

If the owners fail to deliver the documents required for the legalization of these works within the stipulated period, they must then proceed with the removal of all materials deposited and the demolition of buildings and improvements built and restore the land to its original aspect.
In addition, the bureau said that these works have not been approved by DSSOPT or licensed by the administration, thus seriously violating the law.

Among the 15 works investigated, 10 are building-construction works and five are hills or ground levelling works.

Since Coloane is a significant area of natural reserve in Macau, its development must meet the guidelines established by the government.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Music Box selected to be screen amongst 36 projects

Music Box selected to be screen amongst 36 projects

The International Film and Video Festival of Macau selected 36 projects which will be screened today at the Macau Culture Centre (CCM), among these is “Music Box.”

The “Macau Indies” was held yesterday and continues today. Since January CCM as received short movies, videos and documentaries (included in the competition “Macau- The power of the documentary”) animation movies, video-clips and conceptual works as well as experimental.

“Music Box”, a project from directors Catarina Cortesao and Tome Quadros, did not win the competition but instead was selected among other projects to compete in CCM's category for local documentaries.

Tomorrow the winner will be announced by the jury of the International Film and Video Festival.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Open day at 2009 MIECF

Open day at 2009 MIECF

Today the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2009MIECF) will hold an “Open Day” with many free gifts for all who will visit the exhibition at the Resort Hotel Venetian Macau, in Taipa.

The opening hour for the Public Open Day is from 9am to 6pm. Visitors may get free admission passes at Hall A of Exhibition Center of the Venetian.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Nine 3 billion pataca agreements signed

Nine 3 billion pataca agreements signed

During the second day of the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2009MIECF), 193 procurement and business matching sessions were conducted, while nine projects were signed on-site, involving an amount of about 294 million patacas.

The contracts signed involved production of renewable energy, distribution of fire and emergency signs, green carpets and floors and recycling of printer toner cartridges. The signing parties were from Brazil, Mainland China, Macau and Belgium.

Saturday, 04 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

China objects to labelling Hong Kong, Macao tax havens

China objects to labelling Hong Kong, Macao tax havens

China opposed labelling Hong Kong and Macau as tax havens in a list proposed at the London G20 summit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing yesterday.

“China actively supports the international community's efforts to tighten financial regulation, crack down on tax evasion, and international co-operation to prevent tax evasion,” Qin told a regular press conference.

However, “it is groundless to label China's Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao as tax havens, to which China expresses firm opposition,” he said.

At the ongoing G20 summit, some countries proposed a blacklist of tax haven areas, in order to take measures against areas considered uncooperative with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

As a responsible country, China proposed at the very start of the global financial crisis the international community should enhance co-operation and weather the financial crisis together, Qin said.

“China plays an active and constructive role in the international community's discussion on tackling the international financial crisis, reform of the international financial and monetary system, and tightening financial regulation,” he said.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Central banks, regulatory authorities to meet in conference

Central banks, regulatory authorities to meet in conference

Central banks and regulatory authorities of Portuguese-speaking countries are set to meet on Monday, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Monetary Authority for a conference themed on “Establishing a Platform for Financial Cooperation and Promotion of Economic and Commercial Development.”

“It is hoped that a financial cooperation mechanism can be established subsequently whereby economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries can be further enhanced,” a statement released yesterday by the Monetary Authority said, adding that “the move will certainly underline the function of the government as the service platform for liaison between China and Portuguese speaking territories.”

At the conference, representatives from central banks and financial institutions of Portuguese-speaking countries in four continents will make their addresses surrounding the main theme.

So far confirmation has been received from representatives of Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste.

“To reinforce the effectiveness of this conference, AMCM has specially invited the Commercial Attachés of Chinese Embassies in the aforementioned countries to participate in the conference, whose presence will certainly of great help in our subsequent follow-up action in this respect,” the statement added.

Through the conference, the Monetary Authority said it hoped that a financial cooperation mechanism between China and Portuguese speaking countries can be set up at an earlier date whereby economic and trade relationship can be further strengthened.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Thumbs up for going green message

Thumbs up for going green message

by Irina de Carvalho

“I think the Chinese government has been conveying a clear message to reduce energy spending for some time now,” said Peter J. Kalas, head of official delegation of the Czech Republic which is on the Rotating EU presidency (January to June, 2009), the Czech Republic Prime Minister's advisor, former Minister of Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic, when he spoke with the Macau Daily Times.

After the official opening of the officials from the national development and reform commission, the state environmental protection department and the Czech Republic government spoke on specific topics about policy, results and prospects of environmental protection industry and energy-saving and emission reduction in China and the European Union.

“During my presentation I tried to convey two messages. The first is that there is a very close relationship between saving energy and environment in particularly the climate change

second is the environment and energy provides a huge business opportunity for our industries, local and foreign,” he said.

He also said he believes the combined increasing views on energy and the emissions need to be addressed very dramatically meaning implement a change in our actions through technologies or society.

In his conference he mentioned the five years program to reduce Gross domestic Product (GDP) by 20 percent and emphasised that the important issue lies in the economic goal of energy reduction as well the environmental impact in China's energy consumption and imports.
The strategic factor for the Chinese government and it seams the provinces start sharing this to combining energy issues with environmental issues according to the head of official delegation of the Czech Republic.

“I think we need to see the energy changes now because in 2013 it will be by 75 percent concentrated and demand from China will increase. For that China is absolutely the most important partner for the rest of the planet”, he explained.

For the European Union China is one of the most important partners and it includes several partnerships could be several areas like dialogue in policy framer

“The main objective is to propose a reliable and sustainable energy supply which addresses also the environment,” he added.

Meanwhile, Han Yongwen, secretary-general of national development and reform commission, said that while China is resolute to cope with the international financial crisis and maintains steady economic growth, the government attaches great importance to the development of a recycling economy, and will take further steps this year to promote the development of recycling economy.

Han also pointed out the recycling economy, energy-saving and emission reduction are closely related, with the joint efforts at all levels throughout the country.

In recent years, the work of energy-saving and emission reduction and environmental protection has achieved significant progress, he said.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Gov't aiming for green quality living

Gov't aiming for green quality living

by Irina de Carvalho

Based on the reform and development for the Pearl River Delta issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the government will work with Guangdong and Hong Kong on policies towards a green and quality living in the region, Chief Executive, Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said yesterday during the opening of the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2009 MIECF).

The environment and sustainable development have become urgent issues as regional climate change presents real threats to our environmental well-being and economic development, he added.

He also warned about the cost of inaction was too great and the threats to the environment could not be ignored.

The CE also emphasised the 2009 MIECF importance as a timely opportunity for addressing these threats, with enormous contributions from governments, experts and industry leaders worldwide.

Meanwhile at the launch of the Green Business Co-operation Day held alongside the 2009 MIECF, Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam explained the government was also trying to ensure sustainable development to foster service industries and emerging industries, including the green industry and the convention industry.

Advanced economies now regard the green industry as a new growth engine, with the market of new renewable growing up to 30 percent every year, and make every endeavour to tap the market, said Vice-Chairman of Korea Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCCI), Ethan Ji Win Tzou.

Korea also plans to actively cope with climate changes and foster green industry projects in order to boost its national economic recovery. The government has launched 17 projects supported by fiscal spending in three sectors including the Green New Deal Project, according to Ji.
Stewart J Ballard, Business Development Director (Asia) of Sindicatum Carbon Technology Limited, introduced the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) during the symposium.

CDM allows industrialised countries to meet their emission reduction targets by paying for green house gas emission reduction in developing countries. A CER, or Certified Emissions Reductions, is issued by the CDM Executive Board to projects in developing countries to certify they have reduced green house gas emissions by one tonne of carbon dioxide per year.

Developed countries buy CERs from developing countries under the CDM mechanism to help them achieve their Kyoto targets.

Nigel Hall, Technical Adviser of Regional Office for the Pacific of European Investment Bank (EIB), said they provided loans and financing services to environmental and renewable energy projects across the world. Through its Carbon Funds, EIB engages in Clean Development Mechanism and promotes participation of CDM by the related industries.

Michal Pastvinský, Director of the Development and Project Co-operation Department of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, also took part in the symposium.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Korean budget airline to fly to Macau, Bangkok

Korean budget airline to fly to Macau, Bangkok

Jin Air, Korean Air's budget affiliate, has selected China and Thailand as its first two destinations for international service, the Korean Times reported yesterday.

The budget carrier, which started domestic service last July, said it would start international operation starting in October to Macau and Bangkok. Airfare will be about 80 percent of that of full service carriers.

“We are also considering operating to cities in nations with which Korea has made 'open sky' pacts, such as Osaka in Japan and the Shandong Peninsula in China. We'll add three more destinations by the end of this year,” Kim Jae-kun, president and CEO of Jin Air, was quoted as saying in the report.

According to the Korean Times, Kim said Jin Air's competitor on the international routes to Southeast Asia is not Korean Air but foreign carriers which take up 60-70 percent of the market, especially low cost ones.

The airline also expanded domestic operations between Seoul and Jeju to 24 from 16 last Sunday, and will newly provide eight daily service between Busan and Jeju today.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Graft buster's power extension bill merely passed in first reading

Graft buster's power extension bill merely passed in first reading

by Natalie Leung

The bill to extend the graft buster's jurisdiction to the private sector was passed just beyond the 50 percent margin necessary in the first reading at the Legislative Assembly yesterday.

Of the 27 lawmakers attended in the plenary meeting, 15 cast a favourable vote, two opposed the power expansion, whilst 10 abstained from voting.

Legislative Assembly president Susana Chou said such voting results were seen for the first time over the past decade.

She also said to the Commission Against Corruption's (CCAC) representatives that she hoped lawmakers' concern and opinions could be looked at thoroughly, and adequate communications could be maintained when the bill is taken to the standing committee level.

Jose Pereira Coutinho said a lot of complaints were made in society against the CCAC's lack of transparency.

Despite the commission has to keep most of its information confidential, Coutinho said "basic details must have to be released, or otherwise public trust could not be gained".

Meanwhile, Fong Chi Keong deemed the bill as "being drafted very hastily and immature". He questioned CCAC Deputy Commissioner Tou Wai Fong of whether corruption was "prevalent" in the current private sector of Macau.

Fong said he was concerned that once the anti graft commission's jurisdiction was extended, residents would be "distributed" by the officers or investigators.

Ung Choi Kun also criticised the bill for its "ambiguous provisions", adding it would impact local business' normal operations.
Chow Kam Fai was one of the 10 who abstained from voting.

He said he supported the purpose of the bill which is to combat bribery activities in the private sector, but CCAC's existing manpower "will not be able to afford the increase in workloads after the power extension".

Chow praised the graft buster's efforts in investigating former secretary Ao Man Long's massive corruption and money laundering case, however at the same time he pointed out that the bill was "under prepared".

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Gov't's efficiency in doubt as Commercial Code revision comes late

Gov't's efficiency in doubt as Commercial Code revision comes late

by Natalie Leung

The government proposes to revise the Commercial Code in order to boost business operations flexibility, enhance corporate governance and also allow the application of modern information technologies amid the socio-economic growth in Macau.

Chief of the Legal Reform Office Chu Lam Lam and several other government officials presented the bill to the Legislative Assembly yesterday.

It was passed in its first reading but some lawmakers questioned the government's efficiency as the public consultation was carried out four years ago.

Among the proposed changes, the government suggests to exempt new companies from providing a lawyer statement if their setting up process is handled by a public notary.

Between shareholders' general meetings the 15-day interval is proposed to cut down to seven days in a bid to increase "flexibility and efficiency."

In addition, board of directors could be formed in even numbers.

The bill also proposes to allow electronic documents or electronic signatures to replace the use of hard copies, but both forms shall bear the same legal effects.

The current Commercial Code regulates that shareholders, administrative organs and board of supervisors meetings must be held in the company's office or other venues in Macau.

However, in face of the establishment of cross-regional firms and advancement of information technologies, the government wishes to allow the above meetings to be held by video conferences or other kinds of long-distance data transmission methods.

Also, the bill proposes to give shareholders permission not only to access minutes of shareholders and administrative committees' meetings, but also those of the board of supervisors.

Chu said the greater right of information to shareholders was to make companies' management "more transparent and effective, as well as to protect minority shareholders' rights and interests".

Lawmaker Chui Sai Cheong inquired the government officials into why no consultation was conducted with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce or professionals from other business sectors such as accountants, bankers and lawyers who always had to work closely with the Commercial Code.

The legal reform chief responded that the first round of public consultation was held in 2005, followed by in 2007, and in which the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, judges, legal advisers, auditors, insurance practitioners, and bankers were invited to give opinions about the proposed revision.

However, Tsui Wai Kwan doubted whether the opinions made four years ago would still meet the ever-changing business and commercial environment in Macau.

Legislative Assembly president Susana Chou also criticised the government for having taken four years on a consultation and only in 2009 could the bill be presented.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times

Local sentenced to death in mainland

Local sentenced to death in mainland

A local man has been sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking and possessing and illegal fire arm.

According to Portuguese reports, the 46-year-old man Lau Fat Wai is a Macau permanent resident, who holds both a Portuguese passport and ID card. The man was sentenced to death by a Guangzhou court.

His lawyer Vasco Passeira was quoted as saying that authorities in both Macau and Lisbon, Portugal are being contacted to come to some sort of agreement so that the man can serve a life sentence instead of facing the death penalty.

A date for his execution was not yet been set because his lawyer has appealed the Guangzhou court's decision.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times