Community Archives | Macao News

The 40th Walk for a Million returns with a bang

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 07:22:53 +0000

This year’s Walk for a Million saw more participants than ever as well as a record-breaking 18 million patacas in donations.

There’s only one candidate for the Casa de Macau presidency in Portugal

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 23:54:00 +0000

Carlos Piteira says he will revitalise Lisbon’s hub for the Macanese community. That will entail appealing to a younger demographic and finding new ways to fund the association.

The government wants to build a new Portuguese school in Macao, report says

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:37:45 +0000

The need for lusophonic language skills will only increase, claim officials, who also promise support for students undertaking further education in Portugal.

Rita Santos will remain head of the regional council of the Portuguese Communities

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 23:10:50 +0000

Santos ran unopposed, but said the impressive voter turnout was an indication of support for her position and advocacy on a number of issues.

’Tis the season: Christmas Market returns to Tap Seac Square

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 23:30:55 +0000

Get into the Yuletide spirit at Macao’s 17-day Christmas Market, featuring stalls, festive snacks, rides and – of course – Santa.

Macao’s prize-winning 5G Smart Campus Network launches at MUST

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 23:10:07 +0000

A collaboration between Huawei, CTM, and the university gives staff and students secure, high-speed intranet access wherever they happen to be.

AustCham holds its second Movember quiz night

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 07:30:52 +0000

Dozens took part in a jovial evening of trivia and good food, while helping to raise funds for charities dealing with men’s health.

‘All Portuguese must have the same rights’: petition delivered to Lisbon

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 23:54:05 +0000

Hundreds of Macao’s Portuguese residents have signed a petition expressing their frustration with the local Portuguese consulate. It’s been hand delivered to Portugal’s government.

Sports Bureau sorry for underage drinking on Macau Grand Prix podium

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 23:44:58 +0000

When the bureau gave F4 winner Arvid Lindblad celebratory champagne on Sunday, it broke a law enacted just days earlier.

Daycare centres to install video surveillance systems

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 23:44:54 +0000

Following a four-month-old’s death, authorities approve video surveillance in daycare centres, though details are yet to be finalised.

Two Macao universities have climbed up the global ladder

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 06:46:58 +0000

The University of Macau and the Macau University of Science and Technology have seen a sizable leap in their positions in this year’s QS World University Rankings.

Calls mount for the preservation of Macao’s rickshaws

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 23:25:42 +0000

Community leader says residents must ‘not let one of Macao’s most famous transport systems die or be forgotten.’

The government is being urged to boost Macao’s birth rate

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 06:39:25 +0000

With the population ageing rapidly, Legislator Wong Kit Cheng says the government needs to offer additional incentives to residents to have children.

Eligible residents are to get 7000 patacas towards their retirement

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 05:28:35 +0000

The cash injection will be made into Central Provident Fund accounts next year, following the government’s earlier announcement of a budget surplus in 2024.

Women’s association wants family mediation enforced by law

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 03:38:33 +0000

Drawn-out divorce proceedings are bad for kids. Mediation could make these difficult situations much easier – but the practice is not currently backed by Macao’s legal system.

Applications for government senior housing project begins today

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 06:38:51 +0000

Local residents over 65 who meet the government’s criteria are now able to start applying for a senior housing flat through the online system or in person.

Lord Stow’s Bakery raises funds for breast cancer research

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 06:38:46 +0000

Macao’s iconic egg tart maker donated half of the earnings generated by last month’s sales of Pink Ribbon cookies and rose coffee.

Movember in Macao kicks off with expert talk on men’s health

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:28:51 +0000

Two health professionals spoke to an audience at a lunch event, highlighting key issues related to men’s health such as loneliness and hypertension.

Young professionals don’t feel like the government invests enough in them, survey shows

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 22:10:29 +0000

They feel unequipped to thrive in the city’s four target growth industries and more should be done to cultivate local talent, says the survey organiser.

Emily Yau of Macao has been crowned Miss International Asia Pacific

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:14:17 +0000

The 28-year-old tourism management graduate picked up her new title hot on the heels of her win at the 2023 Miss International Macao pageant.

Five things to know about Movember

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 11:00:50 +0000

Before you grow a mo, why not have a look at five facts about it and see how much you know?

Dates for the next Macanese Encontro have been announced

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 22:40:03 +0000

The traditional reunion of the Macanese diaspora will go ahead after a long hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

New income rules have reduced public housing applications this year

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:37:16 +0000

Applications for subsidised apartments have totalled a little over 500 so far in 2023, a sharp drop compared to previous years.

“The UN is not something far away.” Marking United Nations Day in Macao

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 04:36:50 +0000

The United Nations University International Institute for Software Technology in Macao is one of only three such institutions in Asia.

Government-built housing for seniors is too expensive, some elderly say

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:45:46 +0000

A housing project for seniors is sparking concern, with many saying the rent is beyond the reach of pensioners and retirees.

The Macau Portuguese School could be getting a new director

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 23:00:42 +0000

Acácio de Brito, from Portugal’s Ministry of Education, has been offered the role – and if he accepts would come with a wealth of experience.

The Chief Executive says Macao has a ‘different’ view on residency for Portuguese

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:22:51 +0000

Lisbon and Macao are currently embroiled in talks over the sharply falling number of Resident Identity Cards issued to Portuguese nationals in the territory.

The University of Macau is now one of the world’s top 200 universities

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 23:45:16 +0000

UM has gradually moved up the rankings in recent years, earning high scores for its international outlook and the quality of its research.

Figures show a steep decline in the number of Portuguese citizens granted residency

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 23:35:47 +0000

The SAR government issued 309 Portuguese citizens with Resident Identity Cards in 2013. Ten years later, it has issued fewer than 60.

A prestigious touring exhibition of luxury watches kicks off in Macao

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 23:41:05 +0000

The first in a series of seven to be held globally in the run up to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards slated for 9 November.

Portuguese officials offer hope, but no details, for Portuguese citizens seeking residency

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 23:15:19 +0000

On his recent visit to the SAR, Nuno Fazenda, Portugal’s tourism and commerce secretary, emphasised the benefits Portuguese expats bring to Macao.

The French chamber announces the winners of its inaugural ESG Awards

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 23:43:48 +0000

Local initiatives in neurodivergent rights, eco-friendly materials and corporate responsibility take home the honours.

The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre has been dismantled

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 04:21:49 +0000

Many of the centre’s functions, including public enquiry services, will now be handled by the Health Bureau.

Residency permits for Portuguese nationals come under the spotlight

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:09:25 +0000

It’s become much harder for a Portuguese citizen to obtain a new residency permit for Macao. The situation is currently being discussed by officials from both sides.

A fifth of secondary school students have sent or received sexually explicit messages

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 23:00:53 +0000

Organisers of a student survey blame the rise of the internet for increasing ‘risky online behaviour,’ cyberbullying, and addictive tendencies among young people.

There is now a website dedicated to improving Macao’s mental health

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 06:25:26 +0000

The new Mental Health Information Network contains an array of resources – from tips on stress relief, to ways to reach professional help.

These are the best tips for getting a taxi in Macao

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 13:58:25 +0000

Finding a cab in Macao is never easy these days. But there are some things you can do to increase the odds in your favour.

More single-use plastics will be banned from the start of 2024

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 23:34:02 +0000

The government has confirmed that the next tranche of its plastics ban – including non-biodegradable plastic plates and cups – will come into force on 1 January.

The French chamber’s annual gala dinner will raise funds for a food waste charity

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 23:00:57 +0000

Scheduled for MGM Macau on 15 September, the event will also see the launch of the inaugural Macau ESG Awards.

The Portuguese Consulate will have a new booking system by the end of the year

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 23:00:41 +0000

As of now, there’s a hefty waitlist for appointments – with Portuguese passport holders complaining they’ve been left in the lurch.

Francisca Matos of Macao has been named a finalist in the Miss Portugal pageant

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 09:31:03 +0000

The 20-year-old is the second youngest of the 15 finalists and says she is “mentally prepared” for the changes that victory might bring.

The government is ending the subsidised purchase of RAT kits

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:15:10 +0000

However, a scheme that offers discounted surgical masks to eligible groups will run until at least September, reports say.

Mostly female and glued to Facebook: A snapshot of social media usage in Macao

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:55:56 +0000

A new study uncovers the social media habits of Macao residents, breaking down the data by age, gender and preferred social media platform.

More primary schools should offer Portuguese, the chief executive says

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:51:21 +0000

Ho Iat Seng tells lawmakers that the promotion of the Portuguese language is ‘a responsibility of the education sector.’

Macao’s labour laws leave workers in the lurch, survey finds

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 00:12:44 +0000

Wages get withheld, working hours are excessive, wrongful dismissal cases get handled poorly, and there’s not enough annual leave – according to the majority of respondents.

Your Macao One Account has another new function: ‘My Education’

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:07:31 +0000

As of yesterday, residents can enrol their kids in kindergarten, apply for scholarships, and look for new jobs at schools from the comfort of their own phone.

Macao-based academic’s new book explores the ‘most notorious corporation in the word’

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:03:57 +0000

Joshua Ehrlich’s book on the British East India Company hailed as “thought provoking” must-read.

How can we make e-ID certificates more usable?

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 23:25:49 +0000

Civic leaders offer solutions to problems with the ‘Macao One Account’ mobile app’s e-ID certificate service.

Assisted reproductive technology will be banned outside of hospitals

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 23:55:17 +0000

With Macao’s birth rate the lowest it’s been in decades, it’s about to get even harder to make babies.

This is the worst year to be a stray cat since 2007

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 23:49:12 +0000

An animal welfare group blames the government, claiming it’s stopped sterilising Macao’s stray cats and dogs.

MGTO launches new schemes to boost community tourism

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:14:59 +0000

Three government-subsidised programmes will enhance the city’s food, sea, and community-based tourism options – helping out smaller-sized local operators.

Details of two major sports and recreational projects have been revealed

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 23:00:35 +0000

A large youth camp at Hac Sa Beach, and a ‘sports park’ to be built on the site of the old canidrome, will boost leisure options in the city.

A local dog rescue organisation is appealing for funds to keep going

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 23:45:21 +0000

More than 110 dogs are currently being sheltered by the Macau Association for Stray Dogs and Animal Welfare, but costs are mounting.

Timelines for middle-income housing may be announced soon

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 06:50:05 +0000

But no clues have been given as to the prices of the units, which are designed to help eligible permanent residents get on the property ladder.

Macao’s sustainability conference is back with four days of talks and green exhibitions

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 03:53:48 +0000

Organised with high-level support from central government agencies, the event offers green-themed talks, discussions, exhibitions and business matchmaking.

Language courses will be offered to local students wishing to go to a Portuguese university

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 22:30:22 +0000

Officials say the four-year Portuguese language course for Macao high school students will help them get the most out of their degrees.

Macao needs to start charging households for rubbish disposal, an environmentalist says

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:09:19 +0000

The head of a local recycling operation adds that residents have become more environmentally aware and would probably be willing to pay for a home recycling service.

Portugal’s consul-general Alexandre Leitão has appointed an advisory council

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:34 +0000

The 12-member body will give opinions on issues affecting the Portuguese community in Macao and Hong Kong and has already held its first meeting.

More needs to be done for babies and young children facing developmental difficulties

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 23:16:15 +0000

Members of a government appointed council say the government needs to step up resources and financial support for parents.

Many seniors in Macao are without a financial safety net, a new poll shows

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 23:15:37 +0000

Macao’s population is rapidly ageing and researchers warn that the number of seniors dependent on family members is set to pose significant economic problems.

After a three year hiatus, the Na Tcha Festival is back

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 09:08:25 +0000

The traditional celebration is one of a number of festivals that have made a comeback with the easing of Covid curbs.

Bilingual, on WeChat and kind of happy: a portrait of the youth of Macao

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 23:50:03 +0000

The results of a sweeping survey, conducted toward the end of last year, provide a revealing snapshot of residents of the territory aged under 35.

Waiting times for Portuguese passport renewal could get easier

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 23:20:57 +0000

In a bid to trim six-month delays, measures have been introduced to prevent people from booking multiple appointment slots, while some services are now available online.

The Portuguese are an ‘essential’ part of Macao, Ho Iat Seng says

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:38:05 +0000

Speaking at a reception to mark Portugal Day, Macao’s top official hailed the territory’s unique mix of Portuguese and Chinese cultures as one of its core strengths.

Entry deadlines loom for the XIV Macau International Short Film Festival

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:30:39 +0000

The official selection will be made by a jury of local and international directors, producers, and film experts, and will be screened in December.

The Procession of Saint Anthony will be held this weekend

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:45:50 +0000

The ceremony, observed in Macao for centuries, commemorates the life of the Franciscan monk who became the patron saint of lost people and lost things.

The French chamber is launching an ESG awards programme

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:42:09 +0000

The scheme aims to honour what it calls ‘exceptional commitment to ESG principles’ from organisations that are ‘leading the way in terms of their business practices’.

Complaints over the slow renewal of Portuguese passports are being taken to Lisbon

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 07:56:36 +0000

A half-year wait to renew travel documents via the consulate in Macao is testing the patience of many local Portuguese citizens.

The Macao Cultural Centre has unveiled its summer activity programme

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 01:11:01 +0000

A special series of summer-themed events and performances, for residents of all ages, is taking place at the CCM from July to September.

The Municipal Affairs Bureau is starting reforestation work on a new site in Coloane

Tue, 30 May 2023 00:58:19 +0000

Around 35,000 saplings are to be planted south of the Hac Sá Reservoir as part of an overall programme to reforest 120 acres of woods in 2023.

Macao’s famous drunken dragon dance returns after a three-year hiatus

Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:14 +0000

The iconic dance, included on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Macao’s annual student English essay contest spotlights ‘an inclusive world’

Tue, 16 May 2023 00:30:52 +0000

Over 1,000 Macao students participated in the latest Macao-wide English Essay Competition, with entries covering global issues like climate change, food waste, gender inequality, poverty and sustainability.

Single-parent families are struggling to make ends meet, a new study says

Mon, 15 May 2023 10:06:36 +0000

Nearly 8 in 10 single parents polled in a survey by the Women’s General Association of Macau say “economic pressure” is their biggest problem.

The Procession of Our Lady of Fátima returns to the streets of Macao

Mon, 15 May 2023 00:44:01 +0000

Commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary to three children in Portugal in 1917, the procession is considered part of Macao’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Sands China’s latest project aims to encourage local entrepreneurs

Fri, 12 May 2023 05:10:42 +0000

The goal of the Sands Resorts Incubation Centre is to give budding tech wizards a chance to try out their ideas in the real-world setting of a Sands property.

Lawmaker says former firecracker factory is in a state of ‘complete abandonment’

Tue, 09 May 2023 07:01:30 +0000

José Pereira Coutinho accuses local authorities of letting the facility fall into disrepair, despite its refurbishment and reopening as a museum last December.

Conservationists say not enough is being done to protect the Guia Lighthouse

Tue, 09 May 2023 00:36:07 +0000

A proposed reduction in the height of certain buildings in the vicinity of the UNESCO-listed structure is insufficient, advocates say.

Macao marks International Museum Day with a special series of activities and events

Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00:54 +0000

Workshops, special exhibitions, guided tours and a family carnival have been lined up to celebrate a day devoted to the ‘transformative power’ of museums.

The surge in tourist numbers is leading to complaints from residents

Wed, 03 May 2023 09:28:50 +0000

Impassable streets and roads jammed with tour buses have aroused the ire of some neighbourhood associations, reports say.

The government hopes to replant at least 120 hectares of forest by next year

Tue, 02 May 2023 04:40:27 +0000

A Municipal Affairs Bureau initiative aims to replace many of the trees damaged in recent years by disease and severe weather.

Students pitch their technology projects in the hopes of securing startup funding

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:44:56 +0000

The local heats of the One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition saw several teams make their bids for capital injections.

We’re getting warnings about snakes. It must be spring.

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 08:25:15 +0000

The reptiles love the warmer weather, the Municipal Affairs Bureau says. And if you get bitten, don’t try to suck the venom from the wound – that’s a piece of Hollywood tomfoolery.

Macao’s neurodivergent community comes out in support of a greener planet

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 00:48:26 +0000

This is the third consecutive year that Macau IC2 has joined forces with the Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau for the event.

Will Macao’s reforested slopes withstand the next super typhoon?

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 07:35:13 +0000

A local student group says the government’s reforestation plan is inadequate and that the possibility of landslides remains ever present.

Hong Kong vendors return to the spring craft market at Tap Seac

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:50:08 +0000

Traders from across the estuary have not been able to participate at the much loved market since 2019 because of pandemic travel restrictions.

Macao will finally ban the sale of (most) alcohol to minors

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:35:15 +0000

While there is a prohibition on the sale of cigarettes to those under 18, there is currently no law against selling booze to minors in Macao.

The people of Macao are getting far less exercise than they should, a new survey shows

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:52:02 +0000

A poll conducted by a group of neighbourhood associations found that a shockingly high percentage of people haven’t exercised at all in the past three months.

The government is mulling further pedestrianisation projects, social affairs secretary says

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:47:33 +0000

The streets in the vicinity of the Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro could be closed to vehicular traffic on a temporary basis in a bid to revitalise the area.

Macao’s low birth rate is “beyond the government’s control”, Ho says

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 10:10:02 +0000

In a meeting with the Legislative Assembly, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said he hoped society could “provide solutions”.

The right to strike won’t be in Macao’s first trade union bill

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 08:27:57 +0000

The exclusion of the right comes as a defiant riposte to a UN rights committee and the US State Department, both of which lambasted Macao’s inadequate labour laws earlier this year.

Authorities plan to launch a new treatment programme for Parkinson’s disease

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 06:53:51 +0000

The announcement was timed to coincide with World Parkinson’s Day on 11 April and promises to widen local treatment options.

Emergency rooms are swamped as Macao struggles with a major flu outbreak

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 00:36:00 +0000

The ending of the mask mandate has seen a steep rise in local flu cases, with 60 percent more people than usual turning up at hospitals seeking treatment.

UM is a “world leader” in electronics, its vice rector says

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 08:00:09 +0000

A world beating number of research papers from the University of Macau were accepted at a top electronics conference this year.

Portuguese diplomatic staff call off a planned strike

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:38:54 +0000

Industrial action over pay and conditions threatened to affect legations worldwide, including in Macao, but protests have been staved off following a breakthrough in talks.

A first-of-its-kind development centre for teachers opens in Macao

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:57:28 +0000

The Teachers’ Professional Development Centre at the University of Saint Joseph looks set to transform teacher training in the territory.

Financial help could soon be available to couples seeking medically assisted reproduction

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:25:15 +0000

The government’s consideration of a trial subsidy scheme comes as Macao grapples with an ageing population and its lowest birth rate since 1985.

A high profile symposium on data is to take place in Macao

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 07:43:16 +0000

A satellite event of this year’s United Nations World Data Forum is scheduled for April at the United Nations University Institute in Macau.

Construction of a large hospital complex in Cotai is mostly finished

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 07:08:17 +0000

When fully operational, the Islands Healthcare Complex will increase the number of available hospital beds in Macao by nearly 50 percent.

Digital ID cards are set to come into use this summer

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:42:47 +0000

Authorities have plans to usher in electronic identity documents as early as June or July, to be accessed via the Macao One Account smartphone app.

Macao’s birth rate is super low. This is how experts say we should fix it

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:06:23 +0000

The latest figures put Macao’s birth rate at its lowest level in 37 years. If that’s allowed to continue, it will pose big problems for the city.