City Archives | Macao News

The government intends to toughen up gambling laws

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 00:20:29 +0000

A new bill clarifies rules around parallel betting, explicitly prohibits online bets, and significantly raises maximum prison sentences for offenders.

The mainland updated its mask policy. Will Macao?

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 23:59:53 +0000

As respiratory illness spreads in mainland China, officials are taking action. But Macao’s government says it’s already ahead of the game.

The taxi licence tender was conducted properly, says the Transport Bureau chief

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 07:36:18 +0000

Lam Hin San has strongly denied the allegations of wrongdoing, following a complaint lodged by a legislator to the anti-graft commission.

Convicted Suncity boss purportedly pens an open letter to Xi Jinping

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:02:02 +0000

Alvin Chau is currently spending 18 years behind bars after being convicted on dozens of counts of racketeering.

The Taipa-Barra LRT extension has opened

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 23:29:46 +0000

The newest addition to Macao’s Light Rapid Transit system allows passengers to travel between the peninsula and Taipa by rail for the first time.

Cabbies want a fare hike, while bidders query the integrity of the latest licence tender

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 06:43:39 +0000

Residents can expect a taxi price hike sometime next year if the taxi association’s new application is approved.

The LRT journey from Barra to Taipa will take only four minutes

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 07:27:18 +0000

Scheduled to open this Friday, the Taipa-Barra extension line will allow residents to travel between Taipa and the Macao Peninsula by rail for the very first time.

Macao students are (almost) the world’s best at maths

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 23:56:15 +0000

Local secondary school students performed exceptionally well in the OECD’s triennial ranking of academic performance – coming second in maths and third in science.

The minimum wage hike could increase some companies’ costs by almost 3 percent

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 23:45:42 +0000

Macao’s minimum wage is going up to 34 patacas per hour next year. That extra money has to come from somewhere.

Crime is up 32 percent since last year

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 23:41:38 +0000

The fastest growing areas of criminal activity are telecommunications fraud – including phone scammers impersonating government officials – and illegal currency exchange activities.

Macao aims to have three doctors for every 1,000 residents. Will that be enough?

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 23:52:32 +0000

Lawmaker Che Lai Wang is concerned that a marginal increase on the current ratio still remains significantly below what most developed healthcare systems have.

‘Never cease to innovate’: UM congratulates new postgraduates

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 23:40:40 +0000

Some of these now-former students have already made useful contributions to the emerging health and high-tech industries.

Mandatory mask-wearing reinstated in Macao’s care facilities

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 05:15:57 +0000

The Social Welfare Bureau has reinstated mandatory mask-wearing in care facilities to minimise festive season infection risks.

New bus routes are going to service Barra LRT station

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 04:40:48 +0000

The long-awaited station opens on 8 December, connecting Taipa and the Macao peninsula by rail for the first time.

Will 500 new taxis be enough to meet demand? ‘Maybe not’ says Rosário

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 23:38:08 +0000

Officials say that even 700 additional cabs won’t solve Macao’s desperate taxi shortage, which will take time to rectify.

The Walk for a Million makes a return

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 23:30:09 +0000

The charitable fundraiser is scheduled for 10 December. Funds donated go towards helping society’s most vulnerable.

Officials are hinting at easier rules on bringing pets to mainland China

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 23:10:21 +0000

Pet ownership among Macau New Neighbourhood’s soon-to-be residents is sparking a conversation on broader policy.

Expect cooler weather in the coming days

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 07:34:22 +0000

Falling temperatures will be a welcome change after a summer that saw temperature records broken and heavy rainfall.

Macau New Neighbourhood flooded with 500 applications in one day

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:16:05 +0000

Demand for the flats has been high, with local residents drawn by the development’s affordability and proximity to Macao.

The government aims for a 12-week maximum wait for specialist health consultations

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:30:47 +0000

The current average is less than four weeks, though it takes much longer for a first consultation with certain specialists.

Inner Harbour flood prevention works begin soon, with detours and delays expected

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:20:55 +0000

Drivers, pedestrians, and bus users will be impacted by five months of construction that’s set to start this weekend.

The Commission Against Corruption could soon see its powers broadened

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 00:00:33 +0000

The government has responded to a number of recent high-profile graft cases with a proposal to widen the CCAC’s remit.

The LRT’s Barra Station will open on 8 December

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:22:51 +0000

Passengers will finally be able to make that long-awaited trip between the Macao peninsula and Taipa via the train network next Friday.

Taxi tender: the bids are in

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 00:00:49 +0000

Four bids were submitted for each licence up for grabs. The end could be in sight for Macao’s desperate taxi shortage.

Appeals court reduces sentence of former public works chief Li Canfeng

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 07:34:05 +0000

Li will see his sentence reduced from 24 years to 17 years, while several other businessmen involved in the graft case will also have their jail terms reduced.

The Barra LRT extension will open next month

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 07:18:28 +0000

The unveiling is a watershed moment for public transport in Macao, as passengers will be able to take the train between the Macao Peninsula and Taipa for the first time.

UM and SMG are teaming up to bring artificial intelligence to weather forecasting

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 23:59:48 +0000

A new cooperation agreement aims to improve the ways in which extreme weather events are managed.

Macao can expect cool weather over the next two days

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 06:43:43 +0000

Macao is feeling the effects of a northeast monsoon, which will cause the temperature to drop to a low of 14 degrees over the next 48 hours before rising again the following week.

Cyberattacks in Macao are soaring but officials say most are being foiled

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 23:30:47 +0000

The city’s critical infrastructure was hit by an average of 5,800 cyberattacks a day in the first nine months of this year. Just 0.12 percent of those resulted in a security breach.

Smoking prevalence has dropped 36 percent over the past decade, officials say

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 23:35:36 +0000

This means Macao has done better than the World Health Organisation’s target. However, use of e-cigarettes has risen over the last 10 years.

No sandwich-class housing, for now

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 23:30:30 +0000

The government says it is putting plans for its affordable housing project on hold, due to lacklustre demand.

Recruitment guidelines for overseas talent in the arts and sport have been released

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:00:15 +0000

Talented foreigners who wish to work in Macao under the government program will be assessed through a points based system that consists of six categories.

Macao’s population is now bigger than it was pre-pandemic

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 23:40:43 +0000

While 2023 is seeing far fewer babies than 2022, migrant worker numbers are well and truly on the up.

Expect road closures and disruptions during the Macau Grand Prix

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 04:12:02 +0000

The races kick off this weekend – and that means congestion and longer travel times for commuters and motorists.

Macao is to pay more for its water

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 04:00:25 +0000

Guangdong province will charge more for supplying the city, but fortunately the increased costs will not be transferred to residents any time soon.

Proposed parking fee hike draws ire from lawmakers

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 23:15:44 +0000

The government is raising hourly rates in seven car parks. But lawmakers say the move is ‘lacking justification’ and a cruel extra cost for residents already struggling financially.

Macao adds 16 new drugs to the list of banned substances

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 07:02:39 +0000

The move comes as security officials warn of an uptick in illicit drug use in Macao, particularly among tourists and visitors to the territory.

Autumn, what autumn? Last month, Macao recorded its hottest October day ever

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 23:20:00 +0000

October was unseasonably hot and rainy, seeing the month’s highest temperature on record and its third wettest day in 71 years.

Owners of old buildings are being asked to urgently inspect their properties

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 23:10:39 +0000

In the first 10 months of this year, the number of repair notices issued to building owners exceeded all of 2022’s by more than 40 percent.

Revamped Resident Identity Cards will be harder to counterfeit

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 23:37:00 +0000

The new BIRs – available from mid-December – will be more visually streamlined and have ‘cryptographic features and anti-forgery characteristics.’

LRT passengers averaged just 6,800 per day in October

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:46:03 +0000

Lack of passenger numbers has always dogged Macao’s rail system, hitting a low of less than 2,000 riders per day during the pandemic years.

Islands hospital starts recruiting, with 90 vacancies listed

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:50:17 +0000

Cotai’s new hospital is now seeking staff, who must be Macao residents and who must complete their applications by 10 November.

Official claims drug use in Macao is ‘not serious’

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:40:37 +0000

Authorities say that there were just 61 registered users during the first half of the year, but the regular apprehension of drug traffickers suggests the actual number of users is far higher.

More parking spaces for Taipa by year’s end

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:08:00 +0000

With the number of vehicles on the road outnumbering publicly available spaces, finding a spot is a daily struggle for many motorists.

Expect worsening traffic on the Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro next year

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 22:40:14 +0000

Construction of the Inner Harbour pumping station – a much needed facility to combat frequent flooding – is set to start blocking off roads in the area for the first half of 2024.

Prices revealed: Macau New Neighbourhood apartments to go on sale in November

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 22:50:37 +0000

According to the developer, units will be priced “so low it is close to cost” with several Macao banks providing home loans with just a 10 percent down payment.

There could soon be 500 more taxis on city streets

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 23:00:43 +0000

A tender process for new taxi licences has begun in response to public outcry over the difficulty of finding a taxi in Macao.

Construction of the northern section of the LRT’s East Line has begun

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 06:11:21 +0000

The line will connect six stations upon its expected completion in 2028, from the Taipa Ferry Terminal up to the Border Gate.

The judicial year opens with a pledge to combat graft

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:20:13 +0000

Charges against a senior public prosecutor have marred a year that otherwise saw the conclusion of several complex cases.

A court has increased the compensation to be paid by Alvin Chau

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 04:03:13 +0000

The sometime junket king has been acquitted of fraud but has had sentencing upheld in respect of the crimes of criminal association and illicit gambling.

Macao’s rickshaw drivers are struggling. Can this nostalgic form of transportation be revived?

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 23:30:14 +0000

The city’s distinctive yellow and green rickshaws were once one of its main means of transport. Veteran drivers say more could be done to secure the rickshaws’ survival.

A date has been set for the opening of the Macao peninsula’s biggest shopping mall

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 04:25:25 +0000

The 37,000-square-metre Treasure Island Resort World Shopping Centre will be home to high-end stores, restaurants, movie theatres, and more.

Gaming operators are reporting more suspicious transactions than they were pre-pandemic

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 00:22:05 +0000

In the first nine months of this year alone, casinos filed more reports of suspicious transactions than they did across all of 2019, according to the official figures.

Final management agreement signed for Cotai hospital

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 08:04:27 +0000

A deal setting the seal on the partnership between Macao and the Peking Union Medical College Hospital has been signed at a ceremony in the Chinese capital.

Phone scammers stole 160 million patacas in the first eight months of 2023

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 06:52:15 +0000

Scams in Macao are on the rise this year, with the fraudsters commonly targeting their victims by pretending to be a government official.

A senior public prosecutor accused of running a criminal syndicate has denied the charges

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 23:23:14 +0000

Assistant Prosecutor General Kong Chi and his three alleged co-conspirators have been accused of dozens of crimes leading to the obstruction of justice.

The Transport Bureau has updated its Macao Smart Go app with a taxi locator

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 06:45:55 +0000

The update is the latest initiative to help frustrated residents and travellers with one of the city’s most pressing problems: finding a ride.

Brace yourself for bad air today

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 23:00:30 +0000

The authorities are urging people with heart and respiratory illnesses, the elderly, and children to stay indoors as much as possible.

Children as young as 11 are victims of online fraud in Macao

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 08:17:46 +0000

Kids as well as older people are being scammed in Macao, new information from the Judiciary Police reveals.

Plans are underway to construct a 90 metre building on Taipa petrol station land

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 03:38:47 +0000

If all goes according to plan, the gas station land located in Taipa’s Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen may soon be replaced with a new towering building.

Expect weekend tailbacks on the approach to the Sai Van Bridge

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 06:56:59 +0000

Essential maintenance work on the bridge for the next five weekends will see traffic reduced to a single lane at the Macao Peninsula approach.

Juvenile crime is on the rise in Macao, official data reveals

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 04:36:53 +0000

The Social Welfare Bureau says youths are committing more crimes than prior to the pandemic, and that sexual offences make up a large percentage of them.

Officials say recent life-threatening bacterial infections are not linked to a sewage spill

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 23:13:59 +0000

Two residents were recently stricken with necrotising Vibrio vulnificus infections after coming into contact with dead fish at Coloane beaches.

Health officials urge residents to get jabbed as flu cases rise

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:52:09 +0000

Residents in priority groups can get free vaccinations at local health centres without prior booking.

Two injured as Typhoon Koinu skirts Macao

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 23:12:01 +0000

At least two people have been injured due to severe weather brought on by Typhoon Koinu, which pummelled Macao overnight with gale force winds.

Typhoon Signal no. 8 hoisted as Macao battens down the hatches

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 01:19:42 +0000

Public transport has been suspended, flights cancelled and emergency shelters opened as Typhoon Koinu skirts close to the territory.

Fireworks and other outdoor events scrapped as Typhoon Koinu approaches Macao

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 08:00:17 +0000

Typhoon signal no. 1 is in force, with meteorologists saying there is a ‘relatively high’ chance of a no. 3 signal being hoisted early on Saturday morning.

Sands China will help revamp the former Iec Long firecracker factory

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 23:20:44 +0000

The company is the latest gaming concessionaire to partner with the government on a series of urban regeneration projects.

Typhoon signal no. 1 has been raised as Tropical Cyclone Koinu edges westwards

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 23:00:05 +0000

Meteorologists say the signal will remain in force today, with Macao set for unsettled weather as the weekend approaches.

Winds and hot weather brewing as tropical cyclone Koinu moves closer to Macao

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 23:15:30 +0000

Unsettled weather is forecast for later in the week as the storm enters the South China Sea on its journey toward coastal Guangdong.

Reports say two senior bank officials and another suspect have been detained

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:28:52 +0000

The Judiciary Police have refused to release further details about the case, saying that it is still under investigation.

Galaxy has signed up for a further upgrade of the Lai Chi Vun Shipyards

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 23:48:53 +0000

The concessionaire will partner with the government on the addition of a cycling park, ice rink, and performance venues to a site that was already partly refurbished earlier this year.

More details about Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro’s revitalisation have been made public

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 23:15:05 +0000

The government is partnering with SJM in the latest in a series of collaborations with gaming concessionaires to gentrify older parts of Macao.

Applications have opened for more than 5,400 public housing units

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 23:00:47 +0000

Most of the units have two bedrooms, but prices for the newly built flats will not be disclosed until the fiercely competitive selection process has started.

Information on crowd levels around Macao will be available in Golden Week

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 22:45:17 +0000

Visitors are being asked to go online to check the flow of people at tourist attractions and border checkpoints as they plan their trip.

Rua da Felicidade will be open to foot traffic only on Friday

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 23:15:32 +0000

The temporary pedestrianisation will make room for art exhibitions and a night market in the hopes of boosting business in the area.

Yes, this has been an exceptionally wet summer

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 22:45:46 +0000

This year, data shows more rain fell on Macao between June and September than it had during any summer since 2008.

Favourable loan terms for Macau New Neighbourhood units are being negotiated

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 07:37:49 +0000

Macau Urban Renewal Limited is optimistic that an 80 to 90 percent loan-to-value ratio will be possible for prospective buyers who need a mortgage for the Hengqin development.

The government may put even more taxi licences up for tender

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 23:34:14 +0000

Authorities have already promised to add 300 more taxis to the city’s fleet. Demand might see that number grow to 500.

Online scam victims lost 95 million patacas in the first half of this year

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 23:20:15 +0000

Officials say cooperation with local banks to halt suspicious transactions has shown some success, but warn the public to stay vigilant.

Melco Resorts is backing the restoration of Piers 23 and 25

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 23:55:34 +0000

The Inner Harbour regeneration project is part of a wider plan by the government to involve gaming concessionaires in urban gentrification.

Your Macao One Account just got even more useful and now reaches Hengqin

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 23:30:37 +0000

Nineteen additional government departments have joined the app’s appointment booking service and the Macao One Account has extended its reach into Hengqin.

There are new income limits for affordable housing

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 23:30:02 +0000

The upper income threshold has gone down by seven percent, making it harder to qualify for Macao’s subsidised housing scheme and suggesting a call-out for the next round of applicants is imminent.

More details of the Barra gentrification scheme have been announced

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 23:26:08 +0000

Plans are afoot to transform the historic quarter into a ‘cultural and creative park’ through a public-private partnership.

Macao police deny a Hong Kong musician’s account of his expulsion from the city

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 23:28:03 +0000

Officials say that Oliver Ma, who has been linked to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, was deported for not following the conditions of his entry permit.

A senior public prosecutor and three others have been charged with graft

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 23:34:33 +0000

This is the most serious case involving the Public Prosecutions Office since prosecutor general Ho Chio Meng was sentenced to 21 years in 2017.

Macao hit with heavy downpours and flooding

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:14:40 +0000

The remnants of Typhoon Haikui are being felt in the city, with meteorologists warning of bad weather for most of the day and advising residents to monitor for updates.

Better work conditions for food delivery riders could reduce accidents, survey implies

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:09:49 +0000

Thirty-seven percent of riders’ surveyed reported feeling exhausted by their jobs. Even more bemoaned their employers’ weak worker protection measures.

More fraud is being committed now than there was before the pandemic

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 23:48:47 +0000

The latest crime statistics are out, showing a year-on-year increase in the scams and other deceptions that are becoming a serious problem in Macao.

The Islands Healthcare Complex has budgeted 13 billion patacas for equipment

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 23:44:34 +0000

The new hospital will also start recruiting doctors, nurses and administrators in October – about half the headcount required for its first phase of operations.

Domestic workers renew calls for wage protection as their earnings fall

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 08:06:55 +0000

Facing rising costs and wages that decreased during the pandemic, domestic workers in Macao say their situation is ‘very difficult.’

Global climate change is behind the rise in severe typhoons

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 23:41:51 +0000

Macao must prepare for storms beyond the scale of Saola – which let the city off lightly – meteorologists say.

Fancy flying for a living? Air Macau seeks prospective pilots

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 23:30:44 +0000

The airline has a staff shortage and is currently accepting applicants for a new pilot training programme.

Typhoon Saola moves away from Macao, leaving the city mostly unscathed

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 06:10:03 +0000

The no 8 typhoon signal has been lowered to a no. 3, with businesses and transport services slowly resuming operations.

There is a ‘relatively high’ chance of Typhoon Signal No. 8 this weekend

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 09:00:04 +0000

Prepare for wind, showers, thunderstorms, and storm surges over the coming days, as Super Typhoon Saola makes its way closer to Macao.

There are more unwanted dogs and cats in Macao but fewer adoptions

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 04:24:41 +0000

The number of stray and abandoned animals has seen a spike, with fewer people willing to offer them a home.

A run on iodised salt has prompted the authorities to call for calm

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 23:10:32 +0000

The plea comes after salt sells out on Chinese e-commerce platforms and local stores raise prices in spite of what the government calls a ‘steady supply.’

The Macau Taxi ride-hailing app could return as early as next month

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 23:15:00 +0000

The app was suspended during the pandemic but is being relaunched amid public complaints that it is too hard to find a taxi in the territory.

Macao’s ban on Japanese food imports: Your questions answered

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 23:30:51 +0000

Japan is releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean. The UN says it’ll be fine, China insists we can’t be sure. Who’s right?

The discharge of Fukushima water has led to a ban on many Japanese food imports

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 23:38:11 +0000

Live and fresh food products from ten of Japan’s prefectures will be off the menu in Macao – a move motivated by fears around public health.