Zhuhai Is Charging Its Own Residents for Covid-19 Tests but Footing the Bill

FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Kowie Geldenhuys EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paulo Coutinho www.macaudailytimes.com.mo

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THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH AFFAIRS HEALTH AUTHORITY HINTS CASINO OPERATORS GALAXY AND BUREAU LEARNED OF THE MOST RECENT MELCO REPORTED STEEP DECLINES IN CASE OF TEACHER DISMISSAL ONLY COVID-19 IS HERE TO STAY FIRST QUARTER REVENUE CAUSED BY THE FROM A COURT DECISION IN THE LONG-TERM ONSET OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS P2 P2 P4 AP PHOTO

WHO An official said DOUBLE STANDARDS the debate between protecting health and Zhuhai is charging its own residents for Covid-19 tests but footing reviving economies is a “false dichotomy” and P3 that countries must the bill for Macau ID holders on the mainland. Why? remain vigilant as they lift restrictions. Takeshi Kasai, WHO’s Western Pacific director, said the reopening of economies shouldn’t be rushed and must be done cautiously. He said the world must “create a new normal in which we don’t have to choose between health and livelihood.” WHO also said yesterday that “this virus may never go away.” More on p6-7

Australia says it will continue to push for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus even if it hurts trade relations with China. Prime Minister Scott Morrison had been accused of playing “deputy sheriff” to the United States after calling for the inquiry. But he brushed off the criticism. “We have always been independent, we have always pursued our national interests, and we always will,” he told reporters. AP PHOTO

Japan Experts on Japan’s coronavirus task force approved a government plan to lift a state of emergency in most areas ahead of schedule except for Tokyo and several other BLOOMBERG high-risk areas. Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said after the task force met that the experts approved lifting the emergency in 39 of the country’s 47 prefectures. Emergency measures would remain for eight others, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido, where risks still remain HK economy struggles to break free Why open a store? Chinese merchants high. from worst slump on record go livestreaming instead More on backpage P5 P10 page 2 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 15.05.2020 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Health authority hints Covid-19 is here to stay in the long-term

ANTHONY LAM province. Recently, the province reported some new Covid-19 ca- ACAU must adapt its co- ses which were believed to be the Mronavirus response for the result of community transmis- long-term, Dr. Alvis Lo Iek Long, sion, causing another lockdown. medical director of the public Replying on behalf of the Cen- Conde São Januário Hospital, said ter, Dr. Leong Iek Hou, coordina- at yesterday’s daily health briefing tor at the local Center for Disease in reference to the comment of a Control and Prevention, said that WHO expert, who said that Co- the authority had tightened heal- vid-19 was here to stay, like HIV/ th supervision measures on tou- AIDS. rists from the province. “Let’s assume that the disea- “As far as we know, the only af- se may remain in existence like fected cities are Jilin and Shulan,” the flu with fluctuating severity,” the coordinator said. “We have Lo said. “That’s the reason why coordinated with border control we have to change our mentality [authorities] to gain information to long-term infection contain- on whether tourists have been to ment.” the two cities.” “[But] we shouldn’t be too pes- As border control measures simistic” the doctor added, be- mary school students residing in quarantine waiver status. “These de of their regular residences in were tightened during the start of cause “there may be a vaccination Zhuhai but studying in Macau students and an accompanying Macau, Zhuhai or Zhongshan to the outbreak in Macau in late Ja- emerging.” Virologists, epidemio- will be identical to those levied on guardian should register their return to their residences in these nuary and early February, causing logists and scientists around the secondary school students in a si- personal particulars with our bu- cities as soon as possible. a relatively long Lunar New Year world have been working to in- milar situation. reau in advance,” Leong stated. Meanwhile, the authorities holiday period, many had already vent a vaccination that is effective Currently, students in posses- “[With their consent], the infor- have been in constant communi- arranged or even left on holiday. on the virus and safe to use. sion of a Macau ID card, Zhuhai mation will be passed to the Uni- cation with their counterparts in These individuals may still be The stance comes as primary or Zhongshan Residence Card, tary Police Service and the Macao Zhuhai and Zhongshan to ensure overseas. education is due to resume soon. or student ID card, as well as a Customs Service [to facilitate the that all primary school students When asked whether these The Education and Youth Affairs Green Health Code and a negative border crossing].” have a place to undergo manda- people have any means of re- Bureau (DSEJ) was represented Covid-19 test result from the last Leong stressed that the accom- tory Covid-19 viral testing on the newing their Macau ID, Lo refer- at yesterday’s briefing by Leong seven days can cross the border panying guardians should possess mainland. red to the information posted on I On, chief of the Division for freely without being quarantined a verification document issued by With regards to incoming tou- the website of the Identification Secondary, Technical and Voca- for 14 days on either side of the their children’s schools to prove rists from Jilin Province, the Novel Bureau (DSI), before explaining tional Education of the bureau. border. their relationship. Coronavirus Response and Coor- that “the DSI has online channels Leong explained that the border Student must undergo cer- In addition, the DSEJ is again dination Center has been closely for inquiry and even document control measures affecting pri- tain procedures to acquire this urging students currently outsi- monitoring the situation in the renewal.”

RENATO MARQUES EDUCATION HE director of the TEducation and You- th Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), At least six cases of teacher MARQUES RENATO Lou Pak Sang, has ack- nowledged that the DSEJ has so far received six dismissal counted by DSEJ complaints from tea- appeal in the Court of more cases of this kind. cau’s Youth Policy was chers in relation to the Second Instance (TSI) Lou also said that the being prepared following payment of compensa- regarding the school’s DSEJ is currently gathe- an evaluation of the pre- tion for contract termi- improper use of the tea- ring more information vious plan (Macau Youth nation without cause. cher’s pension funds. The on all the cases reported Policy 2012-2020) which Lou made the acknow- school had used the tea- and will soon “issue gui- ends this year. ledgment yesterday as he cher’s co-participation delines to schools [on the According to Cheong, addressed the media on payments to the school’s topic].” those present at the mee- the sidelines of the ple- private welfare fund to The director stressed ting discussed the con- nary meeting of the You- pay due compensation schools must always res- tents of the new plan, th Affairs Committee. for the dismissal. This la- pect the labor law and which will have a public According to the di- test instance brings the follow its provisions. consultation period in rector, the six reports the number of cases up to at Meanwhile, also at the the last quarter of this DSEJ Director Lou Pak Sang DSEJ received were not least seven. plenary meeting of the year (Q4). related to the recently According to Lou, it Youth Affairs Commit- “The policy is going for the active presen- tions for the Youth Poli- disclosed case of the was only after the TSI’s tee, the head of DSEJ’s to be submitted for pu- tation of opinions on it cy.” same kind. decision was published Department of Youth, blic consultation in the from all social sectors so The new 10-year plan In the recent case, that the DSEJ became Cheong Man Fai, said fourth quarter of 2020,” we can have comprehen- will run from 2021 to a teacher from a local aware that there were that a new plan for Ma- Cheong said. “We hope sive strategies and solu- 2030. private school won an

www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (DIRECTOR)_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBLICATIONS LTD PUBLICATION MANAGING EDITOR_Daniel Beitler [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS_Leanda Lee, Severo Portela, Sheyla Zandonai ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_Albano Martins, Annabel Jackson, Anthony Lam, Emilie Tran, Irene Sam, OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] REACHING OUT! Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, Julie Zhu, Juliet ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. Comercial Rodrigues, 12 Floor C, Risdon, Linda Kennedy, Lynzy Valles, Paulo Cordeiro de Sousa, Renato Marques, Richard Whitfield, Viviana Seguí MACAU SAR Telephones: +853 287 160 81/2 Fax: +853 287 160 84 DESIGNERS_Eva Bucho, Miguel Bandeira | ASSOCIATE CONTRIBUTORS_JML Property, MdME Lawyers, Advertisement [email protected] +18,000 PokerStars, Ruan Du Toit Bester | NEWS AGENCIES_ Associated Press, Bloomberg, MacauHub, MacauNews, Xinhua For subscription and general issues: [email protected] | Printed at Welfare Printing Ltd Like us on facebook.com/mdtimes SECRETARY_Yang Dongxiao [email protected] send newsworthy information and press releases to: [email protected] website: www.macaudailytimes.com.mo www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 3 fri 15.05.2020 澳門 MACAU

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Dead dolphin found in Coloane waters BLOOMBERG Following the sighting of a dolphin off the coast from the Kun Iam Statue in the city’s NAPE District two days ago, the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) was notified by the Macao Customs Service yesterday afternoon that a dead dolphin of the same species had been found near the coast off the Tam Kung Temple area in Coloane. The DSAMA then notified the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) to arrange a body retrieval operation. In a related statement from the DSAMA, the bureau did not disclose any conclusions as to the cause of death. Usually the IAM conducts an autopsy on animal bodies found in Macau. In response to an inquiry made by the Times, the DSAMA stated it did not see any “evidence to suggest that is the same [dolphin from two days ago].”

Fire burns on allegedly illegal roof structure near Border Gate Videos showing an iron structure on the roof of a low- rise residential building on fire Zhuhai residents unhappy with near the Border Gate went viral yesterday. The incident was authenticated by the Fire Services Bureau (CB) when test price double standards inquired about by the Times. The CB received a report about the re] is good news for those in “Be satisfied Macau people, policy at the end of March. JULIE ZHU incident at 4:36 p.m. The report need,” said Lo. you get a free test every six Two days after the Guang- was made by a member of the HUHAI local residen- Lo did not reveal which days, I pay 160 yuan for each dong government announ- public, according to the bureau. ts have been dissatis- government was paying for test,” a third person mocked. ced the policy, the province Although a significant amount fied with the double Zhuhai’s tests for Macau local The measure has not only granted Macau residents who of smoke and a fuming blaze standards applied to residents. angered local Zhuhai residen- lived in Zhuhai a conditio- were captured in the videos, ZMacau and Zhuhai residents Earlier this week, mainland ts, mainland residents from nal exemption. At the time, the extinguishing operation by by the Zhuhai government for workers were finally able to other parts of China are also no exemptions were given to the CB took about half an hour. some time now. return to mainland China wi- irritated. Zhuhai local residents. Due to the fire, 55 people were Earlier this week, the thout having to undergo the “Why [is it] free for Macau “We are finally synchroni- evacuated from the building. Zhuhai Hygiene and Heal- 14-day quarantine period, residents but mainlanders zing with some countries now, There were no casualties or th Department announced but only if they were in pos- have to pay?” another person we also have double stan- injuries following the incident. that six types of Macau local session of proof of a negative questioned. dards now,” another person The CB declined to comment on residents could undergo Co- Covid-19 test. Amid the outrage from commented online. whether the structure was illegal. vid-19 testing free-of-charge However, some Zhuhai re- Zhuhai residents, the Zhuhai According to Zhuhai’s po- in Zhuhai. These groups are sidents felt the situation was government suddenly made licies, the test is free perma- Forex reserves climb also exempt from Zhuhai’s 14- unfair. The Zhuhai govern- changes to the policies yes- nently for those eligible. Tho- 1.4% to 179 billion day quarantine policy if their ment provides free tests for terday, including Zhuhai resi- se who qualify must be tested patacas Covid-19 test results are nega- the abovementioned Macau dents working in Macau in the every six days and testing will tive. residents, but not for Zhuhai free scheme. always be free. An individual The preliminary estimate of the According to the policies, residents. This Covid-19 test poli- can only have one free test Macau SAR’s foreign exchange people from the Macau SAR “The Zhuhai government’s cy marks the second major every six days. The Zhuhai reserves amounted to 179 billion are eligible to enjoy the main- measures exclude Zhuhai lo- controversy in the neighbo- government will cancel the patacas ($22.43 billion) at the land financial privileges, but cal residents, but still provi- ring region of the Macau qualification for anyone who end of April 2020, according to not people from Zhuhai. As des free tests for Macau resi- SAR. The first incident whi- takes two or more tests within data released yesterday by the of yesterday, the Zhuhai go- dents?” one user complained ch garnered the disapproval six days. Monetary Authority of Macao. In a statement, the Monetary vernment granted the same on Weibo. of mainland residents was Currently, only nine hospi- Authority said that the reserves benefits to some Zhuhai local “Are people born into di- Guangdong’s sudden annou- tals in Zhuhai are providing had increased by 1.4% over the residents, but more Macau fferent levels?” another user ncement that they were en- free tests for qualifying indi- revised value of 176.6 billion people are still benefiting. complained. forcing a 14-day quarantine viduals. patacas for the previous month. Questioned about which At the end of April 2020, the government was paying for territory’s foreign exchange the Zhuhai tests for Macau reserves represented 10 times residents, Alvis Lo Iek Long, Those eligible for free testing in Zhuhai Macau resident Business personnel; civil servants for urgent matters the currency in circulation. medical director of the Conde Macau resident Working or studying in Zhuhai but living in Macau Meanwhile, the trade-weighted São Januário Hospital (CH- effective exchange rate index Macau resident Working or studying in Macau but living in Zhuhai CSJ), avoided giving a straight for the pataca rose 0.96 points Seeing a doctor in one of the three designated hospitals in Zhuhai answer and only commended Macau resident month-to-month and 3.52 points the measure. and returning to Macau on the same day year-on-year to 109.4 in April “We have noticed the situa- Macau resident Drivers of cross-border vehicles 2020. This implies that, overall, tion according to mainstream Macau resident Parents accompanying Macau students to cross the Macau-Zhuhai border the exchange rate of the pataca media. Personally, I feel that Zhuhai resident Enlisted Zhuhai residents or Zhuhai residence card holders working in Macau grew against the currencies of this [free-of-charge measu- Macau’s major trading partners. page 4 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 15.05.2020 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

Hengqin gas supply GAMING GAMING to Macau surged in March and April Deal Hengqin’s natural gas supply to Galaxy reports 61% Macau increased 80% in March between SJM and April compared to the same period last year, according to revenue crunch, while and Grand Gongbei’s customs authority. In the first month of 2020, Hengqin Emperor supplied Macau with over 23,000 Melco’s falls 41% extended metric tons of natural gas, DANIEL BEITLER said that it remains “well-ca- billion patacas, according to representing minor growth in pitalized” amid the current data provided by the Gaming for 2 years year-on-year terms. Hengqin’s ELCO Resorts & Enter- business environment and Inspection and Coordination natural gas supply pipeline to tainment reported its that it is able to “effectively Bureau. At the same time, satellite casino arrange- Macau is 12.9 kilometers long. M unaudited financial results control costs.” The casino visitor arrivals have fallen ment between gaming It starts in Hengqin, crosses the A yesterday showing revenue operator also said it has sou- nearly 70% to 3.2 million. concessionaire SJM Holdin- Cross Gate Waterway and ends fell 41% in year-on-year ter- ght to “spread the impact January accounted for the gs Ltd and the Grand Empe- in Taipa. In December last year, ms to $810 million (MOP6.4 of Covid-19 fairly across all vast majority of first quarter ror Hotel has been extended Hengqin’s natural gas supply team members as we prefer gaming revenue and visitor pipeline to Macau was launched. billion) in the first quarter of for another two years. The two pipelines connect to the 2020. Meanwhile, its adjus- not to engage in redundan- arrivals. The service agreement University of Macau campus. Both ted earnings before interest, cies.” At the start of February, was signed by Tin Hou Ltd, pipelines serve as backup supply taxation, depreciation and Last month, analysts at local casinos were ordered a Macau firm indirectly channels for Macau. amortization (adjusted EBI- JP Morgan Securities (Asia to suspend operations for 15 wholly-owned by Emperor TDA) fell by 82% year-on- Pacific) estimated that Ga- days to help curb the trans- Entertainment Hotel Ltd, -year to $75.3 million. laxy had enough financial mission of the virus. Since which is in turn indirectly Distribution of The news follows the fi- liquidity to weather up to six reopening, customers from owned by Emperor Interna- tax refunds start nancial disclosure of Ga- years with “near-zero reve- mainland China, the largest tional Holdings Ltd. today laxy Entertainment Group, nue.” source market for Macau The agreement allows the Starting from today, the which showed revenue dro- In the filing, Galaxy said gamblers, have mostly kept hotel firm to continue to be SAR government will refund pped 61% in the first quar- it had cash and liquid in- away because of quarantine able to use SJM’s gaming professional tax to eligible ter to HKD5.1 billion ($658 vestments worth HKD51.9 requirements for re-entering concession to conduct casi- Macau residents, according million), while the adjusted billion, and their net cash Guangdong Province. no activities on site under a to a statement released by EBITDA plummeted 93% was HKD47.5 billion as of In the filing, Galaxy noted system widely but informally the Financial Services Bureau. to HKD283 million over the March 31, 2020. Meanwhile, that the “outlook for the fo- known as “satellite proper- Pursuant to law No.3/2020, same period. Melco CEO Lawrence Ho as- reseeable future is difficult ties.” which is the 2020 budget law, the The Macau concessionai- sured that his casino opera- to forecast.” The Hong Kong Stock Ex- SAR government will refund the re’s flagship property, Galaxy tor continues to “manage its “This is due to a lack of change was notified of the tax corresponding to the year Macau, saw revenue fall by balance sheet in a prudent certainty around immigra- agreement-extension on We- of 2018. Over 160,000 Macau 62% year-on-year to HKD3.5 manner” with some $1.2 tion, travel and quarantine dnesday. residents are expected to receive billion, while StarWorld Ma- billion in cash and cash equi- restrictions associated with According to the filing, Tin the refund. The refund is part cau registered a 66% decrease valents (HKD9.3 billion). Covid-19. The Individual Vi- Hou will also reimburse SJM of the government’s Covid-19 in revenue to HKD1 billion. Macau casino opera- sit Scheme and group tours for both “costs and expenses economic relief package. The Mass market project Broa- tors have all had significant to Macau are still suspen- concerning the resources tax refund percentage has dway Macau saw net revenue drops in revenue in the first ded, and on returning to allocated [by the license hol- grown from 60% to 70%, or from drop 65% in the first quarter quarter of 2020, caused by the mainland, visitors are der] to the gaming area.” 14,000 patacas to up to 20,000 to just HKD53 million. the onset of the novel coro- required to undergo 14 days The deal also states that patacas. Qualified taxpayers who navirus and the travel res- of quarantine. Until we have have already registered for the These financial results Tin Hou will be entitled to a tax refund program will receive were disclosed in a summary trictions that followed. visibility on these variables share of the gross wins and the refund on May 15. Others filed with the Hong Kong Gross gaming revenue for it is difficult to predict the losses of the monthly opera- will receive their refunds after Stock Exchange on Wednes- the entire territory was down shorter-term outlook for ting performance of the ga- May 22. In the same statement, day. 60% year-on-year in the first Macau,” Galaxy explained in ming area located within the the bureau said that the SAR In the summary, Galaxy quarter, down to just 30.5 the report. hotel. RM government was expediting works in order to distribute financial subsidies to employees, RENATO MARQUES ter an 18-month investi- freelancers and other concerned gation which concluded individuals. tANLEY Au’s Delta with then Under Secre- SAsia Financial Group Banco Delta Asia scores in tary of the Treasury for Free entry to (Banco Delta Asia) Terrorism and Financial Communication has achieved a partial the battle against FinCEN Intelligence Stuart Le- Museum for three victory in its dispute vey stating that the in- days against the U.S. Treasury supporting operations imposition of sanctions freezing of assets at- vestigation had confir- Department of Financial to finance North Korea’s by the U.S. government tempted to resolve the med that the bank had The Communication Museum will Crimes Enforcement nuclear program. was announced, the dispute in exchange for a “willingness to turn a open to the public for free between Network (FinCEN). Additionally, the bank suffered following the disarming of North blind eye to illicit acti- May 15 and May 17. Free-of-charge According to a report same court had rejected a mass bank run. This Korea’s nuclear arsenal. vity, notably by its North entry is being offered to celebrate from local media outlet a request from the de- led the Macau gover- An audit of the bank Korean-related client.” World Telecommunication and Jornal Tribuna de Ma- partment that was pur- nment to replace the was ordered by the Ma- Later that year, the Information Society Day on May cau, which cites a court bank’s board with gover- cau government and as- 17. Between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. suing an end to the legal Monetary Authority of on May 17, the General Post decision from the U.S. dispute, which has been nment appointees in an signed to U.K. accoun- Macao ended its in- Office, and the Post, Telegraph District Court for the ongoing since 2007. attempt to stabilize the ting firm Ernst & Young, tervention in the bank and Telephones Office (CTT) will District of Columbia, the According to the deci- institution. in early 2007. They fou- board and returned it to distribute memorial postmarks and U.S. court approved a re- sion, the U.S. court gave As a result of the nd no evidence that the the ownership of Au. No memorial post stamps for free to quest by the Macau-ba- the bank permission to sanctions, several Nor- bank had facilitated mo- criminal charges were celebrate telecommunication and sed bank to access docu- call upon several high- th Korean companies in ney-laundering. ever filed in Macau over information society. In addition to ments with “improperly -ranking officials from Macau, which had ac- However, a few days the alleged illicit acti- CTT, the city’s telecommunication withheld materials” and the U.S. administration counts with the bank, later the U.S. Treasury vities of the institution. service operators will also launch “confidential informa- to testify in the case. had their accounts fro- Department ordered However, the bank con- various promotions for their tion” about the case. These officials were tho- zen. all American banks and tinues to be blacklisted users. The bureau recommends The case led the U.S. se involved in making A negotiation be- companies to cut their by U.S. authorities and that the public learn about these government to impose the 2007 decision. tween the U.S. admi- commercial relations is unable to perform promotions directly from the sanctions on the bank In September 2005 nistration and the com- with Delta Asia Finan- transactions in U.S. cur- operators. from 2007 for allegedly when the impending panies affected by the cial Group. This was af- rency. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 5 fri 15.05.2020 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER BLOOMBERG

would be a ghost city,” he said. That concern is widespread across the bar and restaurant Hong Kong’s economic crisis sector. Alan Lo, co-founder of the Classified Group of eateries as well as the Michelin-starred restaurant Duddell’s, said the political logjam could be a blow that shrinks the just keeps getting worse city’s food and beverage industry, with owners “down to their last ENDA CURRAN, JINSHAN mic challenges as unprecedented. protesters. for six straight months while in- drop of capital.” HONG & ERIC LAM In the first quarter, the city had its The biggest strain so far has dustry barometers including small Hong Kong’s bustling lifesty- worst slump on record. been on retailers, hotels, bars business sentiment and Markit le, low tax rates and gateway-to- N the ninth floor of a Even pillars of the economy and restaurants. Tourism to Hong PMI hover near record lows. -China status have long attracted building near Hong that had been holding up, like fi- Kong has dried up amid virus- It’s an outlook overshadowing expatriates. There are anecdotal Kong’s old Kai Tak air- nance and real estate, are showing -related travel restrictions, and Hong Kong’s success in containing signs that the appeal is waning af- port, Kung Fu master signs of softening. for months before that mainland the virus, with cases in the city ter months of home schooling and OLam Shu-shing teaches the Wing In the property market – the visitors stayed away because of slowing to a trickle. Hong Kong travel restrictions, though much Chun technique to students, so- world’s priciest - the political dea- the political unrest. Retail sales has confirmed just 1,051 cases and will depend on what happens in mething he’s been doing since dlock is eroding demand from by value slumped by more than four deaths, and hasn’t recorded a coming months. 1978. A banner on the wall nods buyers based in mainland China, 40% for an unprecedented second virus-related death since March. “I think many companies are to a legacy that traces back to his according to Simon Smith, head straight month in March as inbou- Yet the risk of another wave be- still taking a wait-and-see approa- teacher’s master, who also trained of research and consultancy at Sa- nd visitors sank by 99%. came real in recent days as health ch to matters,” said Lee Quane, re- Bruce Lee. vills Plc. To ease the pain, Hong Kong’s officials confirmed two new local gional director for Asia with expat Passing on this cultural touchs- “Obviously, the outbreak really government has announced about cases, bringing to an end a 23-day consultancy ECA International. tone to the next generation is pro- reduced mainland visitors to al- HK$287.5 billion ($37 billion) of streak without a locally transmit- “If you see two years of continued ving to be Lam’s biggest challenge most nothing and the return of the direct virus-related aid this year, ted case. disruption and no real solution in yet as the number of students has unrest will continue to keep them or about 10% of GDP, including a As authorities take a more ag- sight, a lot of companies will think dwindled to a handful. “This is the away,” he said. Wealthy individuals wage subsidy program and a cash gressive approach to rein in pro- twice about it.” toughest moment in the past 40 from China had dominated the hi- handout of HK$10,000 to all per- testers with little sign of compro- To navigate a way out, the go- years that I am teaching Kung Fu,” gh-end home market, with about manent residents age 18 or older. mise to meet their demands, the vernment will need to shake up said Lam, who at almost 70 had to 60% of international buyers hai- Elaine Cheung, who runs Elai- unrest is expected to heat up again the economy by playing to its give up his gym when he couldn’t ling from the mainland over the ne Beauty House not far from the in coming months. strengths in health care and finan- afford the rent. “I don’t see any im- past 10 years, according to Savills. central finance district, recently On Friday, May 8, in the city’s cial services, along with a renewed provement in Hong Kong any time In a sign of weakness, a plot of reopened her beauty salon after popular bar district, the mask focus on high-end manufacturing soon.” land near the former Kai Tak air- a 28-day compulsory shutdown wearing staff at the Honi Honi Tiki that would offer new opportuni- First came months of protest in port failed to sell at auction. to contain the virus. She is racing Cocktail Lounge were hustling to ties, according to Christopher To, 2019 and then the coronavirus ou- Banks are feeling the strain, too. to make the most of pent-up de- prepare for reopening after the en- chairman of the Hong Kong Insti- tbreak, sending Hong Kong spira- Loan risks loom for lenders inclu- mand, while it lasts. forced shutdown. Just 30 minutes tute of Directors. ling. Now, just as other economies ding HSBC Holdings Plc as the ci- “My WhatsApp just kept po- after the doors opened, customers Yet such solutions seem a long around the world look to a reco- ty’s recession grinds on, according pping up messages from clients. began trickling in, adjusting to the way off for those struggling to very as their virus restrictions ease, to Francis Chan, a senior analyst at I’m rushing to serve as many cus- temperature checks and rules on keep their businesses alive now. Hong Kong’s reprieve appears Bloomberg Intelligence. Insurance tomers as possible when the si- spacing as they ordered tropical Back at the gym, while de- fleeting: clashes between police agents and private bankers have tuation is relatively safe,” she said. cocktails in Polynesian tiki mugs. monstrating the flowing move- and protesters are resuming and been hurt by the virus outbreak as “Who knows what will happen Bar owner Max Traverse has ments and quick arm-and-leg at- worries about another virus wave travel curbs blocked potential cus- next?” had to reduce staff. A rental dis- tacks of Wing Chun, Lam worries remain. It’s a dual threat that has tomers from the mainland. Government officials warn the count has helped tide him over. that things may never return to businesses and shoppers on edge At the same time, deteriora- city may see its worst full-year Conditions had been improving the way they were, for him and for and raises fundamental questions ting relations between the U.S. economic performance on record, earlier this year before the virus Hong Kong. about how - or if - one of the wor- and China will squeeze the city’s with a contraction of as much as hit yet now, like others, he’s wor- “I won’t be able to go back to ld’s most storied finance hubs will port if trade tensions resume. 7%, after the economy shrank ried what will happen if either the the past where I have my own regain its past prominence. U.S. lawmakers routinely threa- 1.2% last year. It contracted 8.9% protests or another virus outbreak center,” Lam said. “I will continue Financial Secretary Paul Chan ten to punish China for its actions in the first quarter from year-ago returns. to roam around with my studen- has described Hong Kong’s econo- against Hong Kong’s democracy levels. Unemployment has risen “If the city has to close again, it ts.” BLOOMBERG page 6 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo PANDEMIC 疫病大流行 15.05.2020 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

OPINION TEDROS Rising to challenges UN health agency chief unbowed amid attacks, Trump criticism Wang Huiyao* JAMEY KEATEN, GENEVA The novel coronavirus has become a catalyst for

change. Shocking death tolls and severe economic hea- HE World Health Organiza- AP PHOTO dwinds have compelled countries and world leaders to tion’s director-general has fa- reflect on the state of our multilateral institutions. ced many challenges during We have found that the United Nations, the central the coronavirus pandemic: postwar global institution tasked with maintaining pea- Tracial slurs, death threats, social media ce and sustainable development for humankind, has been limited in its capacity to shape efforts to cope with caricatures — he was once depicted as the global pandemic. After 75 years, the UN has become a ventriloquist’s dummy in the hands stuck in a difficult situation from which it is hard to re- of Chinese President Xi Jinping — and form the organization. This deadlock has compromised U.S. funding cuts. the UN’s ability to deal with 21st-century challenges, in Through it all, Tedros Adhanom turn undermining its authority. Ghebreyesus has endeavored to rise For example, the World Health Organization, the spe- cialized agency of the UN responsible for international above the troubles with a focus on one public health, should have been the core institution to main task: Building international “soli- coordinate international efforts to fight the pandemic. darity” against an outbreak whose con- However, in some areas, it has lacked the power to gal- firmed death toll is nearly 300,000 and vanize a unified response and mobilize global resources. that quelled economic activity in coun- What is worse, some now seek to make the WHO a sca- tries rich and poor. Many health policy pegoat on which to pin blame for the crisis. experts have praised his handling of The international free trade system has also come under fire. There are signs that the pandemic will spur trade the outbreak overall, despite criticism protectionism. While it is understandable that countries of the U.N. health agency by the Trump may want to safeguard domestic supplies of essential administration. goods such as medical equipment and food by using Next week, Tedros’ track record and export restrictions, we should ensure this does not slide background will come under intensi- into more long-term and harmful forms of protectio- fied scrutiny as WHO holds its biggest nism. It is important to remember that trade will serve annual event — the World Health As- as a key engine for the post-pandemic recovery of the world economy. This highlights the need for countries to sembly — in a “virtual” and abbrevia- work together to strengthen the free trade system by ted version that focuses on Covid-19. continuing to lower tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Critics and some analysts cite his Now, with the rising anti-globalization sentiment and background as a government minister calls to restore key productive activities, the pandemic in Ethiopia, with its history of authori- has exacerbated the pressure on global value chains. tarian regimes. Not long after taking of- the U.S. and China. He has shied away Tedros, 55, knows about the pu- Serious decoupling is unlikely and unfeasible due to the fice in 2017, Tedros appointed Zimba- from criticizing the two powerful U.N. nishing sides to both politics and pan- deep and complex linkages that bind countries together. Shifting factories back home would incur high costs at a bwe’s then president, Robert Mugabe, members, and has praised both Pre- demics: A malaria expert with a docto- time of economic difficulty. Nevertheless, we do need to who often traveled abroad to receive sident Donald Trump and Xi — even rate in microbiology from the Universi- find ways to strike a balance between costs and poten- health care, as a WHO “goodwill am- while leaving hints seemingly directed ty of Nottingham in Britain, he served tial risks to ensure that the global value chains are resi- bassador,” only to revoke the appoint- at Beijing and Washington. as health minister and foreign minister lient and inclusive and generate wealth for all. One pos- ment after a wave of outrage erupted. “Don’t use this virus as an opportu- in Ethiopia before his election in 2017 sible outcome is an acceleration of regional integration. Most recently, Trump has faulted nity to fight against each other or score in one of WHO’s most competitive ra- Despite the difficulties outlined above, the novel coro- WHO for being too accepting and prai- political points. It’s dangerous,” he said ces. navirus also offers an unparalleled opportunity for countries to work together to innovate global governance, sing of China’s handling of the early recently, appealing to the world. “It’s He’s the first WHO chief from Africa, which had already fallen behind global realities long be- outbreak, wedging Tedros personally the political problem that may fuel fur- and the first who doesn’t have a medi- fore the novel coronavirus outbreak. in the tense political standoff between ther this pandemic.” cal degree — seen as a hole in his resu- Faced with the current challenges, the international community should be more active in multilateral cooperation and put forward ways to innovate the global governance system and institutions. For example, we need to advance reform of the World Trade Organization to protect and promote international free trade. In the short term, multilateral institutions such as the Mass testing to begin in Wuhan amid fears of virus comeback G20 should play a bigger role in the post-pandemic eco- T least one community in nomy recovery. The International Monetary Fund pro- the Chinese city of Wuhan jects that world GDP will contract 3 percent in 2020 and A the WTO predicts that the world trade volume may de- was to begin testing residents AP PHOTO crease by around one-fifth. For example, the G20 could for the new coronavirus yes- set up a secretariat to coordinate members and shape terday after officials were gi- meeting agendas. ven 10 days to test everyone in The Belt and Road Initiative can be a further shot in the the city where the pandemic arm for global governance and post-pandemic recovery. began, Chinese media reports Encouraging more countries to participate in the Belt said. and Road Initiative would enable the initiative to evolve into a more comprehensive multilateral mode of coope- About 1,000 residents of a ration. Regarding investment, on top of infrastructure compound in Qiaokou district construction such as building roads, railways and ports, were to be tested in groups, ac- “new infrastructure” projects could also be a potential cording to a website of Hubei area to promote international cooperation. TV, the official provincial broa- Last but not least, we should not lose sight of the other dcaster. looming transnational challenges we face, such as cli- No official announcement mate change and environmental degradation. Despite the pains and challenges brought by the CO- has been made, but district VID-19, there remains hope for future global develop- officials have confirmed re- the discovery last weekend of tractions to limited numbers recently, the city of Harbin is ment if countries can nurture a spirit of cooperation. ceiving mass testing orders a cluster of six infected peo- of visitors. quarantining anyone coming With its growing international role, China has the ability from the city’s coronavirus ple at a residential compound Jilin province, which bor- from Jilin for 14 days and and responsibility to contribute to and lead reform of task force, the reports said. It in the city, the first new cases ders North Korea in China’s banning them from hotels. global governance, so we can come out of the current remained unclear if everyone in more than a month. China northeast, has suspended all The sudden order appea- crisis and forge a more inclusive and balanced form of in the city of 11 million peo- has moved quickly to snuff out public transport and imposed red to confuse local officials. globalization. [Abridged] ple would actually be tested new outbreaks wherever they other restrictions as it battles a A man who answered the *The author is the president of and how such a monumental pop up, even as it relaxes res- fresh outbreak. In neighboring mayor’s hotline in Wuhan said Center for China and Globalization campaign would happen. trictions on the movement of Heilongjiang province, which that districts have 10 days to The short order came after people and reopens public at- dealt with its own outbreak arrange the testing in their www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 7 fri 15.05.2020 疫病大流行 PANDEMIC

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tionary note:” Tedros had the job TEDROS when Ethiopia relied heavily on China for economic and political support, as it does today. “As a result, he probably was UN health agency chief unbowed amid attacks, Trump criticism willing to accept at face value what he was being told by China as a rising star of health policy by up to defend Africa. He has blas- “If you criticize the WHO and with perhaps not questioning as Melinda Gates, whose charitable ted the government of Taiwan, Tedros, you’re somehow seen as a strongly as he might have what foundation has become WHO’s which isn’t a U.N. member state, supporter of the Trump adminis- the situation really was,” said No. 2 donor. He has been credi- for allegedly condoning “racial tration and their clearly self-ser- Shinn, an adjunct professor at ted for helping expand Ethiopia’s slurs” against him. Taiwan’s cur- ving attacks to shift blame from George Washington University’s health care workforce as health rent government has faced in- their own failure,” said Jeffrey Elliott School of International Af- minister from 2005 to 2012. tense political pressure from rival Smith, director of Washington- fairs. Tedros often uses wit, feigned China, and has been appealing -based Vanguard Africa, a promo- Tedros appears to have learned ignorance and charm to disarm or for admission as an observer to ter of democracy. “On the other one key thing from his predeces- sidestep critics. He has drawn on the World Health Assembly on hand, if you defend Dr. Tedros and sor, Dr. Margaret Chan of China: the star power of Lady Gaga and Monday and Tuesday. the WHO, you’re seen as somehow Be reactive to outbreaks. Amid garnered support from endorsing his comfort le- the Ebola outbreak in eastern European leaders, and vel with the world’s despo- Congo that’s now seemingly on called Spanish Prime Mi- Political sniping ts and dictators.” its last legs, Tedros traveled over nister Pedro Sanchez “mi between the US and “Yes, Dr. Tedros is the a dozen times to the region. With hermano”: my brother. He product of a deeply au- Covid-19, he has been omnipre- bills himself “Dr. Tedros,” China, and Tedros’ thoritarian regime. And he sent. leaning on his doctorate, has long displayed an affi- “Dr. Tedros has been very much and actively tweets to a own political baggage, nity for dictators,” Smith at the helm in terms of being in million followers. can make it tough to said. “The WHO does criti- almost every single press confe- No stranger to the per- cal work and deserves su- rence, communicating directly sonal anecdote, Tedros cut through the noise pport. And yes, the WHO with the public, tweeting — really once said it was “pure also needs reform. All of speaking directly to people,” said luck” for him to aspire to during a pandemic these things can be true.” Suerie Moon, co-director of the the top WHO job, noting David Shinn, a U.S. Global Health Center at Geneva’s that when he was 7, his younger Political sniping between the ambassador to Ethiopia in the Graduate Institute. brother died from a childhood di- U.S. and China, and Tedros’ own 1990s, said Tedros had a good re- “He’s able to really humanize a sease — and it could just as easily political baggage, can make it tou- lationship with both Beijing and situation that’s quite frightening have been him. gh to cut through the noise during Washington while Ethiopia’s fo- for most people and be a reas- Dr. Lia Tadesse, Ethiopia’s cur- a global health emergency. reign minister. Shinn cited a “cau- suring presence,” she said. AP rent health minister, who worked with Tedros when he had her job, ad me by some critics. said he was known for showing Tedros was born in the city of calm, patience and a good ear. Asmara, before it and the rest of “While he was a minister, he Eritrea split from Ethiopia. Like was known to really care for peo- many Ethiopians, he goes by his ple who are considered at the first name. A father of five, he lowest level of the strata, like the has tweeted about riding bikes cleaner, the security guard and so with his daughter. A few years on,” she said by phone. “He takes ago, he tried out the saxophone, time to listen to their problems, but give it up because of a heavy and really recognize their efforts.” workload. Tedros has played down death Years ago, Tedros was spotted threats against him, but has stood

Mass testing to begin in Wuhan amid fears of virus comeback respective jurisdictions. People were forbidden pulated areas and those But a woman who from entering or lea- with mobile popula- answered later Wed- ving the province, pu- tions, according to the nesday said the tests blic transportation sus- media reports. It wasn’t must be done in the pended and residents clear if that meant only next 10 days. were mostly restricted some people would be A major state-owned to their homes. tested or if they would news website, Jiemian, The lockdown was be prioritized. said it had obtained an lifted outside of Wuhan One expert at implementation plan after two months, and Wuhan University told for the city’s Wuchang in Wuhan itself on April the Global Times news- district that said all resi- 8, after 2 1/2 months. paper that 3 million to 5 dents should be tested The new cases million residents have by May 20. appear to have sho- already been tested, Wuhan was the area cked city officials into which could leave 6 to hit hardest by the coro- action. They dismissed 8 million others for a ci- navirus in China. Of the the Communist Party tywide test. 4,633 reported deaths secretary of the nei- In Beijing, a shor- nationwide, 4,512 were ghborhood where the ter-than-usual ban on in Hubei province, in- cluster was found for drone use in the Chi- cluding 3,869 in Wuhan, poor management of nese capital is being the provincial capital. the residential commu- interpreted as a signal China imposed a nity, the official Xinhua that China will curtail lengthy lockdown on News Agency said. its major political mee- most of Hubei in late The order said the ting of the year because January to stem the testing should focus on of continuing concern spread of the virus. the elderly, densely po- about the outbreak. AP page 8 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo PANDEMIC 疫病大流行 15.05.2020 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER FBI says Chinese hackers might this day in history be targeting virus researchers RGANIZATIONS these sectors pose a signi- The warning also echoes issuing the alert to raise pu- conducting re- ficant threat to our nation’s long-standing U.S. com- blic awareness of the poten- search into CO- response to COVID-19,” plaints that China has enga- tial threat and said additio- VID-19 may be said a statement from the ged in the wholesale theft of nal technical details would Otargeted by computer ha- U.S. Cybersecurity and In- technology and trade secre- be released in the coming ckers linked to the Chinese frastructure Security Agen- ts to build its economy. days. government, according to cy. “This announcement is Institutions that have re- China has defended its the FBI and the Department intended to raise awareness ceived media attention for response to the virus, and of Homeland Security. for research institutions and their efforts related to CO- Foreign Ministry spokes- Neither agency cited any the American public and VID-19, the disease caused man Zhao Lijian denied the specific examples yester- provide resources and gui- by the coronavirus, should government was involved in day [Macau time], but they dance for those who may be assume that they would be any attempt to steal virus- warned that institutions targeted.” targeted and should take -related data on Monday, and companies involved It comes amid heigh- precautions, the Depart- after some media reported in work on vaccines, treat- tened tensions between ment of Justice said. on the warning in advance. ments and testing for the the two countries over the “The potential theft of “We are leading the wor- novel coronavirus shou- source of the outbreak and this information jeopardi- ld in COVID-19 treatment ld take additional security Trump administration com- zes the delivery of secure, and vaccine research,” Zhao measures to protect data plaints that China did not effective, and efficient treat- told reporters. “It is immoral and be aware of the poten- adequately alert the world ment options,” it said. to target China with rumors tial threat. to the danger posed by the The FBI and the cyberse- and slanders in the absence “China’s efforts to target new coronavirus. curity agency said they were of any evidence.” AP

1957 Britain drops its first H-bomb Virus spikes could emerge weeks Britain has exploded its first hydrogen bomb as part of a series of tests in the Pacific, the Ministry of Supply has announced. after US economic reopenings Details of the bomb, described only as a “nuclear device”, are sketchy. The term “device” indicates .S. states are beginning there’s been a steady decli- that it was an experimental explosive rather than a Uto restart their eco- ne. fully developed weapon. nomies after months of AP PHOTO The AP analyzed case It was almost certainly part of the thermo-nuclear paralyzing coronavirus lo- counts compiled by Johns weapons programme which was started in Decem- ckdowns, but it could take Hopkins University, using ber 1954 to develop the megaton hydrogen bomb, weeks until it becomes clear a rolling seven-day average which is as powerful as one million tons of TNT. whether those reopenings to account for day-to-day The test was carried out at high altitude over the will cause a spike in CO- variability in test reporting. largely uninhabited Christmas Island to minimise VID-19 cases, experts said In Geneva, meanwhile, a nuclear fall-out. yesterday [Macau time]. top World Health Organiza- This is the most important range of tests carried The outbreak’s trajec- tion official warned that it’s out by Britain, developed with limited resources tory varies wildly across possible the new coronavi- and in a remarkably short space of time. the country, with steep in- rus may be here to stay. Scientists have taken two years to develop the creases in cases in some “This virus may never tests compared with their American counterparts places, decreases in others go away,” Dr. Michael Ryan who took seven years before exploding their first and infection rates that said at a press briefing. Wi- device. can shift dramatically thout a vaccine, he said, The bomb was dropped by a four-engined jet, Va- from neighborhood to nei- it could take years for the liant of No 49 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, ghborhood. global population to build normally based at RAF Wittering, Northants. The Minister of Supply, Aubrey Jones, was infor- “Part of the challenge is up sufficient levels of im- med of the Pacific nuclear trials by Air Vice-Marshal although we are focused munity. WE Oulton, commander of the task force and WRJ on the top-line national “I think it’s important to Cook, scientific director of the program. numbers in terms of our at- put this on the table,” he Scientists are evaluating the results of the testing said. “This virus may beco- tention, what we are seeing and will make a further statement in the next few is 50 different curves and me just another endemic days. 50 different stories playing the lowest infection num- year, epidemics of CO- virus in our communities” out,” said Thomas Tsai, as- bers in the United States, VID-19 start slow and take like other previously novel Courtesy BBC News sistant professor at the Har- plans to reopen bars and some time to build and be- diseases, such as HIV, whi- vard Global Health Institu- restaurants Friday. Georgia come evident,” Watson said ch have never disappea- te. “And what we have seen was one of the first states in an email. red, but for which effective about COVID-19 is that the where some businesses The outbreak’s trajectory treatments have been deve- story and the effect is often were allowed to open their can vary greatly around loped. very local.” doors again, starting April the country, according to “If you are doing ade- In context A handful of states star- 24 with barber shops, hair an Associated Press analy- quate testing, it will take The tests raised a major debate about the dangers ted easing their lockdowns salons, gyms, bowling alleys sis of confirmed cases. For two to three weeks” to spot of nuclear weapons and led to the founding in 1958 about two weeks ago, and tattoo parlors. instance, steep increases in an increase, Dr. Ashish Jha, of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament which allowing reopenings by es- But it may be five to six daily new cases are occur- director of Harvard’s Global pressed for British, and ultimately international, tablishments ranging from weeks from then before ring in Hennepin County Health Institute, said as he abandonment of nuclear weapons. shopping malls in Texas to the effects are known, said in Minnesota and Fairfax prepared to speak to a con- The Cold War and the arms race between the super- powers reached a peak by the 1960s. beach hotels in South Ca- Crystal Watson of the Johns County in Virginia, while gressional subcommittee Then relations thawed and in 1963 the Soviet Union, rolina to gyms in Wyoming. Hopkins Center for Health in others, such as Bergen on the crisis. the UK, the USA and many other countries agreed a Sparsely populated Wyo- Security. County, New Jersey, and He urged a dramatic in- Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. ming, which has some of “As we saw early in the Wayne County, Michigan, crease in testing. AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 9 fri 15.05.2020 資訊／娛樂 INFOTAINMENT

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YOUR STARS The Born Loser by Chip Sansom

Aries Taurus

Mar. 21-Apr. 19 Apr. 20-May. 20 Uncertainties about your home You can meet potential new mates, may cause tension. Be prepared but make sure that they aren’t to jump quickly if you wish to stay already committed to someone in the forefront of your industry else. Controversial subjects should today. Take time to catch up on be avoided at all costs. Only bite overdue correspondence. off what you can chew.

Gemini Cancer

May. 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 Beware of colleagues who don’t Lend an ear to children; it can have your best interests in mind. make a difference. You can offer Think twice before you volunteer your mate a commitment or information. You can expect to promise that will help stabilize experience delays or additional red your personal life. Call a good tape if you deal with institutions. friend. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sep. 22 Easy Easy+ CHINA Don’t overextend your self You will not impress others by Beijing 22 cloudy in order to add luxury items being foolishly generous. Be 14 to your entertainment center. innovative. However, you should be Harbin 0 15 cloudy New methods and innovative concerned about what they want in technology will make your job return. Trust in your close friends Tianjin 14 21 overcast far easier than you anticipated. and familly. Urumqi 15 26 shower Xi’an 36 cloudy Libra Scorpio 20 Lhasa 8 17 cloudy Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chengdu 22 31 drizzle Secret information will be eye Visitors may relieve the tension. Chongqing 23 31 drizzle opening. You will reap the benefits Don’t let your emotions if you put money into upgrading interfere with completing your Kunming 14 27 clear your residence. Socially, you chores. Things will be hectic Nanjing 33 cloudy need a fast paced form of and family members will be 23 entertainment. erratic. Shanghai 23 32 clear Wuhan 23 34 cloudy Sagittarius Capricorn Medium Hard Hangzhou 22 35 cloudy Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Taipei 23 27 cloudy Use your creative abilities to Go over their important documents Guangzhou 24 34 clear come up with new ideas and and take the time to suggest directions. Your willingness to alternatives. You may find that you Hong Kong 25 31 cloudy help others can and will lead to are a little lucky today. If you’re fatigue if you don’t learn to say already in a relationship, use this no. added energy passionately. WORLD Aquarius Pisces Moscow 12 21 drizzle Frankfurt 6 18 drizzle Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Paris 10 19 clear Your stubbornness coupled You should get out and meet with your mate’s jealousy don’t some of those clients that you London 7 15 drizzle make for a favorable time. Love only speak to on the phone. You could develop with someone of will communicate easily and New York 11 25 drizzle a different cultural background. should be able to accomplish Get involved in groups all that you set out to do.

CROSSWORDS USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

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MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Why open a store? Chinese merchants go livestreaming instead ZEN SOO, HONG KONG short period of time.” Adam An, who works in marke-

T the height of China’s AP PHOTO ting in Hangzhou, finds them a coronavirus outbreak, relaxing form of retail therapy. Wa- the skincare-products tching a Li livestream “feels almost maker Forest Cabin clo- as if a friend is chatting with me, sedA more than half of its 300 sto- recommending me great products res across the nation as shoppers to buy,” he said. stayed home. With sales plunging, Livestream sales are a godsend founder Sun Laichun decided it for small entrepreneurs like Dou was time to reach his customers Ma, who sells discount clothing, more directly. mostly costing less than 50 yuan “We knew it was time for us to ($8), from the comfort of her focus on an online strategy to sur- home in the southwestern city of vive,” Sun said. But the company Kunming. After putting her two didn’t launch an online ad blitz or young children to bed, she hops announce big giveaways. Instead, online and streams from her living it trained hundreds of its sales- room for about three hours. people to begin hosting live video All Dou needed to get started streams where viewers could get was her mobile phone. Her ear- skincare tips and buy products wi- Song Huiyan shows her fashion dresses for her online clients while live-streaming at her clothing shop in Beijing liest streams in late March drew thout ever cutting away from the fewer than 20 viewers a night, but online patter. Within just a month, yuan ($136 billion), according to livestreaming,” he said. That plus you, it’s the most popular flavor,” recently, they’ve begun drawing Sun said, Forest Cabin’s February Chinese market intelligence firm instant sales makes livestreaming Huang said, holding up a piece to more than 100. Dou streams at sales were up by 20% compared to iiMedia Research. an excellent marketing tool, he ad- the camera before biting into one. a leisurely pace, warmly welco- a year earlier, despite a plunge in Livestreaming has also created ded. Within seconds, viewers snat- ming every viewer who joins and store sales. a profitable new niche for existing Some Chinese retailers host ched up 70,000 boxes, their pur- thanking them for their support. These days, shoppers are livestream stars who are now rea- their own streams. Others hire li- chases benefiting a Wuhan reco- “It’s okay if you don’t buy any- making their way back to once ping hefty commissions as their vestreaming celebrities with large very charity initiative. By the end thing from me today, you’re wel- deserted malls and shops as Chi- shows draw millions of viewers. followings. Viya Huang and Li Jia- of her four-hour stint, Huang had come to just chat with me if you na emerges from its long winter The trend might even suggest al- qi, for instance, are full-time lives- hawked everything from sugar- want,” Dou told nearly 100 viewers of coronavirus shutdowns. But so ternatives for battered retailers in treamers with tens of millions of -free cookies and Hello Kitty-bran- in a recent stream, as she held up many of the region’s retailers en- the U.S. and Europe as those re- followers who boast hundreds of ded mints to sanitary napkins and a winter coat priced at just 59.90 ded up embracing livestreaming gions cope with stay-at-home or- millions of dollars in sales via li- pairs of white Skechers sneakers, yuan (about $8.50) with shipping. that they’ve kicked off a new boom ders and customers remain wary vestreaming each year. almost all of which sold out their When a viewer asks about the in Chinese “shoppertainment” of crowds. Both go live on the platform for limited inventories. sizing of a dress via the comments that lets retailers interact with dis- Commercial Chinese lives- about four hours, five to six nigh- For viewers, the fast pace of ce- section, Dou whips out her mea- tant customers in real time. treaming goes well beyond the ts each week. Millions of viewers lebrity livestreams provide a cons- suring tape, rattling off measure- Some of China’s largest e-com- American formula pioneered by tune in to catch their suggestions tant sense of urgency that they’d ments. During her streams, she merce companies are betting big the Home Shopping Network and on skincare, snacks and hou- be missing out on great deals if chats with her viewers, talking on livestreaming. Alibaba’s Taobao QVC, which play infomercials sehold products. they don’t act quickly. about everything from parenting Live platform saw more than a se- around the clock, said Michael On a recent evening, Huang’s “It’s really exciting to watch,” tips to previous vacations she’s venfold increase in first-time busi- Norris, research and strategy ma- live online audience had reached said Coco Lu, a civil servant in taken. ness customers in February, while nager at the marketing firm Agen- nearly 20 million people when Chongqing, a city roughly 400 “Because of this pandemic, li- Pinduoduo’s livestreaming ses- cyChina. she lifted a box of spicy duck ne- miles (643.74 kilometers) west of vestreaming has become a good sions grew fivefold from February In China, “there’s actually edu- cks — a specialty of Wuhan, the Wuhan, who is still avoiding sto- option,” she said. “It’s no longer to March. Overall, livestreaming cation about products and how Chinese city where the coronavi- res. “The hosts are very persuasi- practical for newcomers like me e-commerce revenue will likely to use them, and elements of en- rus was first reported. “These will ve and there are giveaways, plus to open an offline store anymo- double this year to 961 billion tertainment wrapped up in the be prepared fresh and shipped to deals are only available for a very re.” AP

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MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Reports: Chinese Super League the set to kick off in late June BUZZ The Chinese Super League is reportedly set to kick off in the ce-style competition to make up for the time lost while China last week of June, two weeks after lower-tier leagues are schedu- was locked down after being the epicenter of the virus outbreak. led to begin in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has The number of new cases of COVID-19 in China has been on shut down sports globally. the decline and domestic travel restrictions are being gradually Chinese state media report the top-flight season could begin eased. But the borders remain closed to non-citizens, meaning June 24 if case numbers continue to subside, while the People’s some of the high-profile foreign players and coaches could be Daily newspaper reported the proposed starting date as June 27 absent when the league gets underway. OPINION in a Twitter post yesterday. There has been speculation that fans will be allowed into sta- World Views The 16-team league is likely to play a compressed, conferen- diums from when the league commences. Bloomberg

Vast numbers of VONGFONG unemployed will undermine China’s AP PHOTO recovery on NPC’s watch Strong typhoon slams Millions of Chinese people are being thrown into pandemic-hit out of work by the collapse in global demand and a slow restart of the domestic economy. A lack of clarity about exactly how many is making Philippines it harder to gauge the chances for recovery. India The Indian army is From the amount of coal burned to the leng- JIM GOMEZ considering a proposal to th of traffic jams in Beijing, signs are emerging offer civilians a voluntary

that an industry-led rebound is underway. More strong typhoon slam- AP PHOTO three-year term of military loans are being extended, and auto sales are up. Amed into the eastern service, Press Trust But whether those signs can translate into a Philippines yesterday after of India reported. The domestic economy strong enough to withstand authorities evacuated tens proposal being considered the downward forces coming from the stopped of thousands of people is seen as an answer to global economy depends a lot on whether fac- unemployment as well as while trying to avoid the tories and shops can keep workers employed a shift from permanent virus risks of overcrowding and able to spend their earnings. As China military service toward a heads toward its annual political centerpie- emergency shelters. temporary experience. ce next week, the true state of the labor market The first typhoon to hit The home ministry has is obscured by incomplete official data. the country this year rapi- asked all Central Armed The surveyed urban unemployment rate, due dly gained force as it blew Police Forces to sell only for release Friday along with April industrial from the Pacific then bar- Indian-made goods in their canteen store production and retail sales data, leaves out ged ashore in San Policar- about half of the nation’s workforce. Though departments, an effort pio town in Eastern Samar that is seen to promote the official rate is forecast to decline to 5.8% Workers fold up a billboard to prepare for the coming of typhoon province around noon, Vongfong, in Manila, yesterday local products. for April, analysts from BNP Paribas SA said the weather agency adminis- real unemployment rate including non-urban trator Vicente Malano said. residents could have reached 12% in the first The typhoon came as Far-flung Jipapad is pro- quarantine facilities with quarter, and as many as 130 million people cou- AP PHOTO ld have suffered some kind of job disruption. the Philippines is trying to ne to landslides and floo- medical equipment in case The outlook for the labor market is “not op- fight COVID-19 outbreaks ding. The town in Eastern of outbreaks but may have timistic” as the recovery in some sectors will largely by locking Filipinos Samar province is surrou- to be rearranged back into have to wait until a global reopening, and the in their homes and prohibi- nded by mountains and evacuation centers if large official jobless data leaves a considerable part ting gatherings that can set planked by two rivers that numbers of people need of the workforce off the radar, said Liu Peiqian, off infections. More than often swell in storms. The shelter, Evardone told The a China economist at Natwest Markets in Sin- 11,600 infections, inclu- only evacuation centers for A P. gapore. “The current recovery is largely poli- ding 772 deaths, have been its 8,000 villagers are a gym- Northern Samar provin- South Korea has cy-driven. The repair pulled by the economy’s reported in the country. nasium and the town hall cial Gov. Edwin Ongchuan inner strength hasn’t started.” confirmed 29 more Typhoon Vongfong, whi- where residents could be said he has asked for twice UBS Group AG is forecasting the worst job coronavirus cases over ch was packing maximum sheltered from the typhoon. the usual number of school market for China in more than two decades, the past 24 hours as it with the number of jobs shrinking by more sustained winds of 150 Ver, who also is the town’s buildings to be turned into battles a spike linked to than 10 million this year. That’s in contrast to kilometers per hour and only doctor, said he has se- typhoon shelters to ac- nightlife spots in Seoul. the usual government target to create a net in- gusts of up to 185 kph, was cured enough face masks commodate about 80,000 The additional cases crease of at least 10 million jobs a year. forecast to blow northwes- to protect his villagers from residents who were being pushed the national total to 10,991 with 260 deaths. Aside from job creation being a key political tward and barrel across the virus in the town hall forcibly evacuated from hi- Most of the new cases concern for the Communist Party, it has kno- densely populated eastern when the typhoon hits. gh-risk coastal villages. were people infected ck-on effects through the economy. provinces and ci- “If we used 10 locally while three came “We think weaker employment and income ties before exiting school buildings from overseas. South growth will weigh on consumption,” UBS eco- in the north Sun- All emergency before, we now Korea’s caseload has nomist Wang Tao wrote in a recent note. While day. need 20 to accom- climbed in the past week, the impact will likely be temporary and recover shelters have Overcrowding modate the eva- with new cases linked to from the second half, Wang still expects private nightclubs in Seoul. consumption to contract in 2020. in emergen- been turned into cuees with social If that’s the case, it’d mean the nascent reco- cy shelters is a distancing,” Ong- very seen in energy use and infrastructure-re- common scene quarantine facilities chuan said by tele- lated sectors can hardly last, indicating more in the archipela- in case of outbreaks phone. AP PHOTO stimulus will be necessary to blunt the shocks. go hit by about The govern- The government will offer some clarity on that 20 typhoons and but may have to be ment weather front at the upcoming National People’s Con- storms annually agency warned gress meeting starting from May 22. Bloomberg and regularly ex- rearranged back into that “along with reported the government is considering dro- periencing volca- large swells, this pping a numerical growth target, giving poli- evacuation centers nic eruptions and storm surge may cy makers more freedom in setting the size of earthquakes. cause potentially stimulus. This month the People’s Bank of China ple- Many officials faced a Observing social distan- life-threatening coastal Israel Mike Pompeo met with Benjamin Netanyahu dged to roll out “more powerful” monetary difficult dilemma on how cing “is almost impossible” inundation” and added that yesterday to discuss the stimulus, and fiscal authorities are expected to shield villagers from if all the villagers are cram- sea travel would be dange- country’s plans to annex to issue a record amount of special-purpose the double threats. Video ped in the town hall, but Ver rous in regions expected to parts of the West Bank, bonds. The latter is expected to help drive in- showed fierce rain and said he would see what else be battered by Vongfong, a as Israeli troops shot and frastructure investment. Data for fixed-asset wind swaying coconut can be done. Vietnamese word for wasp. killed a Palestinian teen investment in the first four months of the year trees, rattling tin roofs and Jipapad and the entire Metropolitan Manila will in a clash with stone- is also due Friday. obscuring visibility in Eas- Eastern Samar, a province not be hit directly by the throwers in the occupied “The recovery so far has been largely driven by tern Samar, where some of half a million people, for- storm but may be lashed by territory. The visit came supply,” Larry Hu, head of China Economics at towns lost power. tunately remain free of co- strong winds. Officials were at a tense time, as Israeli Macquarie Securities Ltd in Hong Kong, wrote “This is very complica- ronavirus infections unlike advised to remove many troops searched for the in a note. “It might continue for another couple killers of a soldier killed of months, but the demand headwinds, espe- ted,” Mayor Benjamin Ver neighboring regions, pro- medical quarantine ten- a day earlier by a rock cially from exports and deflation, could cause of a town in the typhoon’s vincial Gov. Ben Evardone ts set up outside hospitals dropped from a rooftop the recovery to stumble later.” path told The Associated said. All emergency shel- that could be blown away, during an army raid of a Press by telephone. ters have been turned into Malano said. AP West Bank village.