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Calendar of Events in 2014 CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN 2014 Calendar of Events in 2014 Calendar of Events in 2014 January 6 H7N9 avian influenza viruses are detected in environmental samples from Zhuhai and Guangzhou markets. The Health Bureau, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Macao Customs hold an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures. 9 Li Gang succeeds Bai Zhijian as Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region. Bai returns to mainland China for his new post with the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC). 10 The Transportation Infrastructure Office begins a 45-day opinion solicitation exercise on the Seac Pai Van (SPV LRT) Line Feasibility Study. 20 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with the President of the Congress of the Republic of Peru, Fredy Otarola. The Government signs the Supplementary Protocol on the Guangdong-Macao Water Supply Agreement with the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, to determine the price of and process of paying for raw water imported from mainland China during 2014-2016. 22 The Civil Servants Salaries Council is restructured, and chaired by the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University of Macau, Professor Hao Yufan. The Macau Government Tourist Office announces that Macao recorded more than 29.3 million visitor arrivals in 2013, up four percent year on year. 23 The Second Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly for the first time discusses the bill on the Welfare Package for Incoming, Incumbent and Former Chief Executives and Principal Officials. 27 The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau conducts serum tests for H7N9 avian influenza viruses on live chickens from farms supplying poultry to Macao, to monitor the situations of poultry imports, thus strengthening disease prevention and control. Chief Executive Chui Sai On publishes an executive order to establish the Talents Development Committee, which he chairs. On 2 April, the committee holds its first ordinary meeting. The Chief Executive says three standing special taskforces are formed, and strives to launch a pilot programme for cultivation of elites and people with practical talents within the year. 23 Macao Yearbook 2015 February 3 Macao receives a huge number of visitors on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. In all, border checkpoints receive a record high total of over 390,000 border-crossings by 9 pm. 12 The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau records the lowest temperature of 4.8ºC in February since the previous record set in 1996. The Housing Bureau announces the confirmed list of about 12,000 accepted applications for 1,500 one-bedroom flats in Ip Heng Building, Seac Pai Van. On 27 February, the bureau determines the flat selection sequence by ballot, and selects eligible families to move into these flats according to the order of priority for nuclear families, non-nuclear families and individual applicants. The Office of the Government Spokesperson holds a press conference to announce personnel changes of Teledifusao de Macau (TDM). Manuel Gonçalves Pires, currently chairman of TDM’s board of directors on part-time basis, will take up the full-time post of Director of TDM from 1 March. 14 Chief Executive Chui Sai On leads a government delegation to Nanning, Guangxi, to attend the inaugural ceremony of Experience Macau – Nanning, Guangxi; and meet with the Secretary of the CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee, Peng Qinghua, and the Chairman of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chen Wu. 17 Taiwan and Macao sign an aviation agreement to lift air transport capacity restrictions between the two parties, allowing carriers to operate charter flights between Macao and airports in Taichung, Taitung and Chiayi. The agreement officially comes into effect on 30 October, in both Macao and Taiwan. 19 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with standing committee member of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the CPC Zhuhai Committee, Li Jia, to review the past and discuss the development of Zhuhai-Macao cooperation in the coming year. 20 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Shenzhen Mayor, Xu Qin, who is in Macao to attend the Shenzhen and Macao Cooperation Conference, to continue strengthening cooperation in various areas in 2014. 21 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Professor Franklin Yang Chen-ning, the first Chinese Nobel laureate and a renowned physicist. 25 The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau launches convenient registration measures for first-time kindergarten pupils in the new school year, setting a specified time for all kindergartens to enrol new pupils, release admission lists and complete registration. More than 30 self-service areas are set up throughout Macao for parents to print registration slips for enrolment, using their children’s identity cards. 24 Calendar of Events in 2014 March 3 Statistics announced by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau indicate that gaming revenue was 38 billion patacas during February 2014, up 40.3 percent over the previous year, breaking the previous monthly record of 36.48 billion patacas in October 2013. 4 Chief Executive Chui Sai On expresses his intention to stand for the next Chief Executive election, with the hope of being re-elected to continue serving Macao. Chui departs for Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the NPC annual meeting. 5 The government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang at the second session of the 12th NPC indicates that the scope of cooperation between mainland China and Hong Kong and Macao will be expanded, to raise competitiveness of the two special administrative regions. 6 Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, Zhang Dejiang, delivers the keynote speech at the plenary meeting of Macao deputies to the NPC. He puts forward three aspirations for Macao deputies. 10 The Human Resources Office announces a total of 312 applications for the importation of domestic helpers from mainland China have been received as at the deadline of submission of missing documents. 12 The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau detects H7 type avian influenza viruses in samples of live chicken kept in the wholesale market. The bureau implements a contingency plan, seals off the poultry section of the wholesale market, destroys all live chickens in the market, completely sterilises the market, and immediately suspends live poultry trading for 21 days. 14 The verdict is announced in the case in which the Chairman of Chinese Estates Holdings in Hong Kong, Joseph Lau, and businessman Steven Lo, are alleged to have offered a HK$20 million bribe to Ao Man Long and laundered money. The Court of First Instance finds Lau and Lo guilty of one count of bribery and one count of money laundering, sentencing each to a total of five years and three months’ imprisonment. Both are absent from the hearing. 17 The three-month application period for the 2013 second phase multiple-room Home- Ownership Scheme housing units has ended. The Housing Bureau has received some 42,000 applications for 1,900 flats offered by eight Home-Ownership Scheme Housing Projects; the applications are oversubscribed by 22 times. Chief Executive Chui Sai On issues an executive order to set 29 June 2014 as the Election Day for Chief Executive Election Committee members, marking the commencement of procedures for the fourth Chief Executive Election. 19 The Macao SAR Gazette publishes an executive order to appoint members of the Urban Planning Committee. In addition to the eight official representatives, a total of 27 socially recognised outstanding people from urban planning or other relevant fields are appointed. 25 Macao Yearbook 2015 25 The Legislative Assembly passes via urgent procedures the amendment to the law of Prohibition of the Production, Trafficking and Consumption of Illicit Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (commonly known as the Anti-drug Law) that incorporates five new types of drug into the appendix of prohibited substances. The MSAR also has the right to amend the appendix of prohibited substances, in accordance with the needs of society, without prior approval from the United Nations, to spare no effort in combating drugs. 27 The 2014 Macau International Environmental Cooperation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF) is held for three consecutive days, attracting participation by over 400 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and regions. 31 The inauguration ceremony for the president and members of the Chief Executive Electoral Affairs Commission (CEEAC) is held, with Court of Final Appeal Judge Song Man Lei appointed as the president of the commission. April 3 The Science and Technology Development Fund receives a one-off 200 million patacas grant from the Macao Foundation, for introducing a research and scientific equipment special funding scheme to support higher education institutions, primary and secondary schools in purchasing research and scientific equipment. 4 The Executive Council concludes the discussion on a draft by-law on the Establishment of Macau Basic Television Channels Limited. According to the contract, the company will provide services to assist residents in receiving basic TV channels. The company’s capital totals 10 million patacas, while the operating cost for the first year is expected to be less than 10 million patacas. From midnight on 22 April, this government-owned company will retransmit TV signals to all TV users in Macao. A Macao Affairs Bureau is established in Hengqin New Area. It is responsible for promoting cooperation between Hengqin and Macao. The bureau will add a Government appointed deputy director to its structure. 9 Chief Executive Chui Sai On leads a delegation to Hainan Province to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2014, and meet with provincial government officials.
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