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PEOPLE’S BANK OF CHINA RAISES XI’S SCARING CASINO EXECUTIVES BEGIN TO THE DAILY LIMIT ON REMITTANCES QUESTION WHETHER JAPAN’S $20 FROM MACAU TO MAINLAND AWAY GAMBLERS: BILLION JACKPOT IS WORTH ALL ACCOUNTS TO RMB80,000 ANALYSTS THE TROUBLE P4 P4 P6

China Controversy has erupted after a leading Chinese university revised its charter to remove a MDT REVIEW P15-23 reference to “free thinking” and adding a new stress on adhering to the leadership AP PHOTO of the ruling Communist Party, Marxism and socialist theories of education. The changes at Fudan University in Shanghai were revealed earlier this week and reflect the atmosphere of increasing academic control and conservatism under the administration of party leader and head of state Xi Jinping. More on p27 AP PHOTO

China Chinese tech companies including social media giant Tencent were ordered by regulators yesterday to clean up how their apps handle user information or face possible penalties.The order is the latest in a series of crackdowns by Communist authorities who encourage internet use but are steadily tightening censorship and other controls on operators. Violators in earlier crackdowns have lost licenses or suffered other penalties that cut into revenue or depressed their company’s share price. AP PHOTO

Indonesia Five Papuan pro- independence students and a rights activist went on trial yesterday on charges of treason after waving morning star flags that are a separatist symbol during a peaceful protest XI JINPING in front of Indonesia’s presidential palace. The rally in the capital, Jakarta, in August was part of weeks of protests triggered by videos that circulated widely on the internet NATIONAL SECURITY showing police, backed by soldiers, calling Papuan students “monkeys” and “dogs.” P2,4,20 More on backpage IS TOP PRIORITY page 2 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 20.12.2019 fri

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Macau sea area survey completed The China Geological Survey National security emerges as authority has carried out the first systematic marine geological survey of Macau’s waters, having compiled the atlas of geological resources and environments in President Xi’s top message Macau’s waters. According to HINESE President Xi the survey, Macau’s sea area and Jinping yesterday cal- coastal zones are rich in geological led on security forces resources, including 76 kilometers in the Macau Special of coastline resources, about CAdministrative Region to resolu- 55 square kilometers of tidal tely prevent and crack down on flat resources, unique granite actions endangering the securi- landforms, coastal geological ty of national sovereignty and tourism resources, and about 78.5 million cubic meters of prospective challenging the authority of the sea sand. The Guangzhou Marine central government and the Ba- Geological Survey Bureau believes sic Law. that the atlas will provide basic His comments come amid a data for the preparation and delicate time for Beijing, which implementation of Macau’s medium has faced increased resistance and long-term development plans. on the streets of neighboring Hong Kong. Beijing’s refusal to Mainland retirement respond to the demands of hun- dreds of thousands of protesters, policies cannot be including direct elections for the copied chief executive and legislative council, has led to a 7-month It is unsuitable for Macau to copy standoff, with more anti-gover- mainland China’s polices on the nment activity expected for this retirement pension age, according to Chan Pou I, a department head weekend. from the Social Security Fund. During In remarks at the airport upon ghly tackling security problems President Xi and his wife – to- truction and development of the a TDM radio program, a listener his arrival Wednesday, Xi made that existed before Macau’s re- gether with the Chief Executive, Macau Special Administrative suggested that Macau should set what some considered a subtle turn to the motherland in 1999. Mr Chui Sai On, and Chief Exe- Region during his work as the the age for receiving full retirement comparison between Macau’s Macau is now among the safest cutive-elect Mr Ho Iat Seng – at- first and second-term Chief Exe- pension at 60 years old. Chan outward stability and the ten- cities in the world. Xi said this is tended the gala performance, cutive. “The central government responded by saying that mainland sions in Hong Kong. a remarkable achievement that along with approximately 1000 fully acknowledges your work,” retirement policies were based “It is worthwhile to sum up deserves full recognition and other guests. Xi told Ho. on the relevant mainland laws, and the experience and characteris- commendation. The 70-minute gala perfor- Xi voiced the hope that Ho on regulations conducive to the tics of Macau in faithfully im- Xi told members of local law mance, with the theme “Passion could fully support the inco- protection of elderly rights and basic plementing ‘one country, two enforcement yesterday that they of Macao, Heart of China”, was ming chief executive and the pension insurance. According to systems,’” Xi told an audience of needed to “increase awareness organized by the Cultural Affairs new SAR government in getting Chan, in 2008, the SAR government journalists, officials and flower- of the nation [...] and be highly Bureau and held in the Macao off to a good start, continue to implemented measures allowing -waving children. “We will join vigilant.” East Asian Games Dome. pay close attention to youth residents to claim their retirement hands to draw the blueprint for The security forces must “re- The gala performance ope- work, and guide them to stren- pension in advance due to Macau’s Macau’s future development,” solutely guard against and cra- ned with a lion dance, an activi- gthen the sense of national economic situation. Back then, he said. ck down on any activities that ty that is listed as part of natio- identity and pass down the core the eligible age for receiving the City leaders have put Macau endanger national security, nal intangible cultural heritage. value of “loving the motherland, retirement pension was 65 years old. on a security lock down, inclu- challenge the power of the cen- The dance was followed by the loving Macau” from one genera-

ding barring political activis- tral government [...] and use Ma- curtain-raiser song “My Mother- tion to the next. Improvements to ts and journalists from nearby cau to engage in infiltration into land and I”. On his turn, Edmund Ho ple- Mong Há trail needed Hong Kong, which has been wra- and sabotage against the main- The show featured various dged to help guide the young cked by months of often-violent land,” Xi said. acts by singers, troupes of artists, generation to an understanding Lawmaker Leong Sun Iok has urged anti-government protests. Xi Jinping also met yesterday and community organisations, of the country and a sense of na- the local government to improve Even without the heavy se- with incoming Chief Executive from – respectively – the Chine- tional identity, as well as further the conditions of the walking trail curity, Xi would likely have seen Ho Iat Seng amid celebrations se mainland, Hong Kong, Macau consolidate the social and poli- at Mong Há. In his interpellation to little in the way of protests or calls of the 20th anniversary of the and Taiwan. They presented in- tical foundation of “loving the the local government, Leong asked for greater democracy or self-ru- handover to Chinese rule. The terpretations – via music, dance motherland, loving Macau.” about the Macau government’s le. Unlike Hong Kong, whose for- Chinese President expressed the and martial arts – of Macau’s fa- President Xi will attend the plan to provide more walking mer British leaders nudged their hope that the security forces will mous landmarks, culture, festive 20th anniversary celebration of spaces. According to Leong, colony gradually toward greater show their full support toward events and notable people. the Macau handover this mor- some residents complained to democratic freedoms, Macau’s Ho Iat Seng, who will be inaugu- ning, as well as the inauguration him that there was not enough small size, ineffectual rule by Lis- rated today. A LITTLE HELP ceremony of the next govern- accessibility to the Mong Há trail. These residents also wished for bon and the overriding influence FROM EDMUND HO ment. a garden be built at the entrance of the tycoons who control gam- PATRIOTIC TUNES Earlier in the day, President After those ceremonies, Xi of the trail. Mong Há aside, Leong bling and related businesses kept STIR TOP OFFICIALS Xi Jinping met with Edmund Ho, is scheduled to meet with the also pointed out the lack of leisure democratic expectations low. President Xi Jinping joined vice chairman of the National newly-inaugurated officials re- spaces in the Fai Chi Kei district, When meeting with represen- chorus singers in a rendition of Committee of the Chinese Peo- presenting the public adminis- and the areas around Avenida do tatives of Macau’s security forces “Ode to My Motherland” during ple’s Political Consultative Con- tration, the legislature, and the Almirante Lacerda, Avenida do yesterday, the Chinese President a gala performance last night to ference. judiciary of Macau, before he Coronel Mesquita, and Avenida de praised the efforts of local securi- celebrate the 20th anniversary of Xi praised Ho for having laid a departs the territory later in the Horta e Costa. ty forces in swiftly and thorou- Macau’s return to the motherland. sound foundation for the cons- afternoon. DB/AGENCIES

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 + 4 Million page views Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_Albano Martins, Annabel Jackson, Anthony Lam, Emilie Tran, Irene Sam, OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] PER MONTH 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] Thank You! 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 +13,000 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 20.12.2019 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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Xi visits Portuguese- speaking countries’ trade platform

RESIDENT Xi Jinping visited di- Pfferent sectors in the SAR yester- day, including the China-Portuguese- -speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex and the Government Integrated Services Building in the Northern District. The aim of the visits was to pre- sent the president with aspects of Macau’s public services, economic development, education programs and urban planning. As cited in a statement issued by the Government Information Bu- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan arrive in Macau on Wednesday reau, the president affirmed the ci- ty’s functions in serving China and Portuguese-speaking countries, ad- ding that the Portuguese-speaking countries enjoyed “huge potential” in terms of their scope for develop- Analysts: Xi’s visit already ment. While at the China-Portuguese-s- peaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex, impacting tourism, gaming the president was briefed about the latest progress in the city’s develop- RESIDENT Xi gher frequency entrants. not be refilled during Xi’s visit shut down by the relevant au- mental, including the effort to boost Jinping’s official visit This week, local autho- to Macau,” said analysts Vitaly thorities, which that the reser- the SAR’s role as a commercial and has already impacted rities implemented tighter Umansky, Eunice Lee and Kel- ves of oil products and cash trade cooperation service platform the city’s visitation security measures, banning sey Zhu. They added that, “the were ample in the city. The between China and Portuguese-s- Pand gaming results, analysts journalists from the neighbo- Monetary Authority has said government also said it wou- peaking countries. from Sanford C. Bernstein and ring region from entering, that ATMs will run as usual, ld pay close attention to the President Xi was also shown a JP Morgan said and suspending the newly but rumors have an effect on price of gas in response to the video explaining Macau’s urban Last week, brokerage San- opened Light Rapid Transit. people in any event.” uptick in local market activity. planning, and was briefed by the ford C. Bernstein predicted The frequency of the Tur- Earlier in the week, online Gaming analysts from No- Secretary for Transport and Public that the average daily rate bojet ferry service between rumors about cash and fuel mura wrote last week that Works, Raimundo do Rosário, on the for the first eight days of this Macau and Hong Kong has withdrawal restrictions led to the gaming sector’s under- progress of the relevant construction month would stand at about also been decreased from long queues in town this week performance was probably work. 16% lower than in December every 15 minutes to every 30 at banks and gas stations, as “due to a step up in visa res- While at the Government Integra- 2018 and 6% below that of last minutes. residents hurried to fill their trictions ahead of President’s ted Services Building yesterday mor- month. Sanford C. Bernstein also wallets and their cars ahead of Xi [Jinping]’s visit later this ning, the president was also seen ha- Yesterday, the brokerage noted that the way money the anniversary weekend. month, which is something ving brief conversations with those remarked in a note that “Pre- flows into the city has been Rumors of the restrictions we have been flagging since at the service counters. sident Xi Jinping’s arrival […] tightened, with more securi- were circulating online as ear- October.” Secretary for Administration and has been causing a material ty checks on moneychan- ly as Monday, with claims that Further into December, the Justice, Sonia Chan, briefed him disruption to the gaming in- gers in the casinos, echoing there was a shortage of cash in prevailing view is that the im- about the types of service available dustry (much more so than recent concerns that ATMs some of Macau’s cash machi- pact on visitation this month at the government center at the site. prior visits by senior officials may not be refilled during nes. The rumors also claimed has been more severe than President Xi also also spoke to 11 and Xi himself in late 2014).” Xi’s visit. that gas refueling would be initially expected. After the college students from different coun- Last month, Chinese au- “Additionally, there has prohibited outside of a six- weaker than expected gaming tries covered by the Belt and Road thorities implemented stricter been widespread concern (so -hour period starting at mid- results in November, analys- initiative; while his wife, Madame visa controls on visitation into far unwarranted), that ATMs night. ts expect December will fare Peng Liyuan, paid a separate visit to Macau, limiting visits from hi- may run out of cash and may The rumors were quickly poorly too. LV the Institute for Tourism Studies. LV China’s central bank to raise remittance limits from Macau RENATO MARQUES announced to facilitate quences, local economist land,” Martins said. “It will instead, “would gradually to cope with the current trading between the Ma- Albano Martins has said certainly change, but the increase the influx of mo- [worldwide] trends and di- HE Chinese central cau and mainland marke- that the measure is consis- extent [of this change] will ney [from Macau to the rections.” Tbank authority, Peo- ts, the Chinese banking re- tent with the idea of Ma- depend on the size of the mainland] depending on The announcement of ple’s Bank of China, an- gulator said in a statement. cau’s broader and further current business or busi- the business perspectives the new measure came the nounced on Wednesday The current limit for integration with China, as ness prospects.” of these people or [will] day Chinese President Xi that it would raise the daily such money transfers is well as increasing internal Although the measure be used to support family Jinping arrived for a three- limit on individuals’ remi- currently RMB50,000, mea- investment. is aimed at people and not members in their process -day visit to Macau to cele- ttance from Macau to Chi- ning that the new ceiling “I don’t know exactly the companies, the economist of integration or work in brate the 20th anniversary nese yuan accounts in the represents a rise of 60% in purpose of this measure, remarked that he does not the mainland.” of the handover of Macau mainland to RMB80,000, the amount allowed to be but apparently it is consis- think that the measure will For Martins, “China is and swear in the new Chief Reuters reported. transferred in a single day. tent with a higher integra- significantly influence the extraordinarily overpro- Executive, Ho Iat Seng. The The measure, which Questioned on the pos- tion [of Macau] in China integration of local families tected, and highly bureau- fifth term of the Macau does not have a date for sible reasons for such mea- and with an increase of in the mainland, namely in cratic, and needs to acce- SAR government officially commencement yet, was sures, as well as the conse- investment in the main- the Greater Bay Area, but lerate its opening if wants starts from today. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 5 fri 20.12.2019 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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LISA DU

ASINO executives who have long salivated over A gambling prize worth $20 Japan as a potential $20 billion gaming market Care beginning to question whether that jackpot is worth all the trou- ble. billion is losing its luster in Japan Japan legalized casino gam- the feasibility of these projects,” of selecting an operator, hoping at this business, that must give Tokyo prosecutors are looking bling in 2016 to great excitement said Bloomberg Intelligence con- to use an integrated resort as part you pause and stop and think, ‘is into ties between a ruling party in the industry. Companies inclu- tributing analyst David Bonnet. of its efforts in hosting the Wor- that prudent?’” Goldstein said on lawmaker and a Chinese com- ding MGM Resorts International “You have this element where ld Expo in 2025. Yokohama, just the call. “Can you really deploy, pany that was interested in a ca- and Las Vegas Sands Corp. have it’s ‘hey we passed this law,’ but south of Tokyo, has also raised its can you get the return?” sino project. Kyodo reported We- spent heavily to get access to a ga- no one wants to embrace it, and hand, but faces vocal opposition The estimates have become dnesday the company allegedly ming market that could become that’s the biggest issue.” from its residents. clouded by a lack of clarity on go- brought large amounts of cash Asia’s second-largest after Macau. Caesars gave up on a vernment policies governing into the country without decla- Three years later, some of that Japan casino in August, op- casinos. In the past month, ring it to customs. enthusiasm is wearing off. A num- ting instead to focus on its Junkets, which the national government “Japan is a fairly costly market ber of casino executives, who de- current businesses and a floated and then shelved a in terms of taxes and government clined to speak publicly because of merger with Eldorado Re- bring in high- proposal to tax foreigner’s requirements,” said Goldman the sensitive nature of the casino sorts Inc. Others have seen rollers and are a key gaming winnings. Such a Sachs Group analyst Masaru approval process, told Bloomberg carefully laid plans sud- practice, which doesn’t take Sugiyama. “It’s essentially a ba- News that the process in Japan denly upended, as when driver of revenue place in Macau or Las Vegas, lancing act between that costly has been more difficult compared Hokkaido said last month would have created a major government and tax structure with other markets that have bui- it wouldn’t pursue a bid in Macau, won’t be burden for casino operators. versus the potentially attractive lt gaming industries. At least one in the current round for a allowed in Japan market.” company, Caesars Entertainment license. The region in nor- ONEROUS CONDITIONS It’s hard to ignore how lucra- Corp., has pulled out. thern Japan was conside- The uncertainty in regu- tive the business could be. Brian Gaming operators are beco- red a front-runner to host a casi- LUKEWARM SUPPORT lations adds to conditions some Sterz, an investment adviser at ming frustrated by unclear tax and no, with Hard Rock International Some municipalities have operators have already consi- Miracle Mile Advisors in Los An- gaming policies, as well as delays Inc. actively seeking to establish a been slow or reluctant in selec- dered onerous. A 30% tax on geles, said the opportunity in the that are likely to push the opening resort there. ting an operator, and industry gross gaming revenue is viewed island nation is just too big for of any casino beyond a 2025 target. When Hokkaido announced watchers have pointed to an as steep, while limits on casino the major U.S. players to pass up. A lack of interest among local go- it was opting out for now, Japan’s apparent lack of coordination be- gaming space and a five-year re- “When you’re talking about a new vernments and companies, as well Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide tween national and local govern- newal period for the licenses cou- market like this, there’s enterprise as residents’ worries about addic- Suga declined to comment on the ments. Japanese businesses have ld hinder project financing. value to be had,” he said. tion and crime, is also slowing the decision, but said he would like to also been lukewarm in providing With the majority of Japane- But casino operators are process. see casinos open quickly so their crucial support or financing for se residents opposing casinos, willing to go only so far. Execu- benefits can be realized. the plans. lawmakers have attempted to tives at Wynn Resorts Ltd., in a COMPLICATING In the initial stage of the de- Operators have estimated it address gambling addiction and November earning conference CALCULATIONS velopment process, the Japanese could take $10 billion or more to crime. As a result, junkets - whi- call, said the company is taking a While most casino operators national government will award build out large integrated resorts ch bring in high-rollers and are disciplined approach, looking at are still pursuing Japan resorts, three casino licenses. It will take with hotel and meeting spaces. a key driver of revenue in Macau the cost structure, return profile the difficulties are complicating applications in the first half of In a conference call in October, - won’t be allowed in Japan, and and shareholder enthusiasm for the calculations for the potential 2021 from municipalities that Las Vegas Sands President Robert operators will have to go through the projects. costs and eventual payoff asso- have selected an operator to work Goldstein compared that cost for background checks through a ca- “We are going to pursue Japan ciated with a Japanese integrated with on establishing a resort. a single casino in Japan against sino commission to win a license. with vigor,” said Chief Executive resort. So far, Japan’s second-largest developing several locations in Concerns over the unsavory Officer Matt Maddox. “But we will “There’s so many different hur- metropolitan hub of Osaka has China for the same price. side of the gambling industry sur- not pursue it if it does not make dles, it’s really called into question been the furthest in the process “No matter how good you are faced this week, with reports that financial sense.” BLOOMBERG www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 7 fri 20.12.2019 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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Bus driver Gaming regulator asks search suffers engines to block illegal websites heart attack N 2019, the Gaming Ins- Previously, the bureau before crash Ipection and Coordination had contacted web hosts in Bureau (DICJ) reached out mainland China, Hong Kong, bus crashed into a lamppost in to several major mainland Singapore, Korea, and the Afront of the Municipal Affairs Bu- search engine operators to United States, among other reau (IAM) earlier this week, after the block illegal gambling links, countries, as well as inter- bus driver had a heart attack. according to the DICJ’s reply net monitoring departments The accident caused lampshades to lawmaker Lam Lon Wai’s in Macau, Hong Kong and and hanging flower pots on San Ma interpellation. mainland China. Lou to fall. Three passers-by were hit As of the end of 2017, the The bureau also contacted and injured by the debris, but none Judiciary Police (PJ) had re- two major mobile applica- of passengers inside the vehicle were quested that the relevant tion platforms, asking them injured. The bus driver was sent to governments block a total of to take down the illegal ope- the hospital after the accident. 636 illegal gambling websi- rations, which was then done According to the bus company, tes. Four hundred and fifty of accordingly. Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos these were successfully blo- Citing the Office for Secre- de Macau (TCM), the 63-year-old cked. tary for Security, Chan said bus driver had started working in According to the reply wri- that all illegal gambling we- 2015 and had cleared all his physical tten by DICJ director Paulo bsites spotted in Macau are examinations. Martins Chan, the majority either registered or hosted According to a review of the CCTV of these domains are based DICJ director Paulo Martins Chan outside of Macau. video, the driver lost control of the in mainland China. Previously, PJ Director Sit vehicle at an intersection shortly af- This year, most illegal gam- concerning illegal gambling. from “Macau,” “the DICJ,” Chong Meng explained that ter the light turned green. He tried to bling websites were created The DICJ’s requests were and “all gaming concession these illegal websites were steer the vehicle with only one hand to target mainland residents. agreed to by “most” of the companies.” not running any kind of gam- but still hit the lamppost. In light of this situation, the search engine operators. These websites and apps bling services; they were TCM stated that although the DICJ proactively approached Since the middle of 2015, were established and were mostly sites used for fraud driver had failed to fully control the “many major mainland” sear- the DICJ has received an being operated from outsi- purposes. The police autho- vehicle, he nevertheless tried to res- ch engine operators, asking “abundant” number of re- de of Macau, making it dif- rity had already reported ca- ponsibly stop the vehicle. TCM is them to not only block the ports about illegal gambling ficult for the Macau gaming ses where victims claimed to monitoring the situation regarding links, but also block all kinds websites and apps which had regulator to handle the si- have lost money to gambling the injured passers-by and the bus of promotional information labeled themselves as being tuation. website scams. JZ driver.

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MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Community’s Continued Support Drives GEG’s Success in Strengthening National Pride

GEG hosted the Drone Light Show at the Grand Resort Desk at Galaxy Macau. The drones lit up the city’s sky with a series of unique graphics representing the city’s handover and sports elements.

GEG title-sponsored the roving exhibitions that presented a spectacular line-up of the latest drone models and cutting-edge technologies to a number of local schools

S a patriotic Macau- ciation for the country’s tech- the country and the Greater Bay -based corporation, nological advancement. After Area (GBA), the competition Galaxy Entertain- the exhibition, the students lets participants gain a better ment Group (GEG) got a taste of flying the aerial understanding of the country’s Since 2011, GEG has cooperated with the Macau Management Association to hasA long supported the gover- vehicles under the guidance of prospects at different levels and organize the GEG Youth Achievement Program, providing training opportunities for nment’s vision to invest hea- professional drone controllers. in different fields, and for tho- nearly 3,000 participants. vily in the development of the On a separate occasion, a total se who performs the best, they city’s younger generation and of 300 drones were gathered are even given the opportunity preparing them for a promi- above the skies of Galaxy Ma- to join GEG and the Association sing future ushered in by the cau for the Drone Light Show representatives for eye-ope- country’s meteoric rise. This held at the Grand Resort Deck ning study tours to different long-standing commitment to at Galaxy Macau. Supported key Chinese provinces and ci- nurturing young people has by special laser, lighting and ties: Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, propelled GEG to launch a sound effect, the Drone Light Guizhou, Gansu and GBA cities. variety of multi-faceted edu- Show was a well-received stunt These study tours and exchan- cational and outreach initia- that celebrates the 20th anni- ges allow students to visit gover- tives, which saw participants versary of Macau’s return to nment organizations, leading embrace a closer relationship the motherland and the spor- companies and key institutions with the local community and tsmanship of the 2019 Galaxy on the mainland. the nation. Entertainment Macau Interna- Another signature you- tional Marathon runners with th activity that GEG has been GEG-SPONSORED DRONE a series of symbolic patterns applauded for is the GEG Youth The winning teams will be awarded to join GEG and the Association representatives EXHIBITION INCREASES associated with the twin anni- Achievement Program, which for eye-opening study tours to different key Chinese provinces and cities, such as APPRECIATION FOR versaries. GEG has been co-organizing Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guizhou, Gansu and GBA cities. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT with the Macau Management ON CAMPUSES TWO-PRONGED APPROACH Association (MMA) since 2011. As part of its drive to inspire TO INSPIRING PATRIOTISM The initiative, which covers burgeoning talent in the field AMONG YOUTH three main areas: self-aware- of science and technology, Since 2008, GEG has joined ness, community care and ca- GEG title-sponsored a roving forces with the National Condi- reer development, aims at hel- exhibition that presented a tions Education (Macau) Asso- ping the city’s youth identify spectacular line-up of the la- ciation to organize the annual and even fulfil their potential, test drone models and cutting- GEG Macau Cup – Youth Natio- while boosting their confidence -edge technologies from main- nal Education Competition. As for future career development. land China. During the indoor one of the most important com- This year’s edition featured exhibitions that were held at petitions in the school calendar, trips to a number of Greater Bay a number of local schools, the over the past 11 years, the com- Area cities, Shanghai and Hang- shimmering light show and petition has attracted upwards zhou, which provided a window Since 2008, GEG has joined forces with the National Conditions Education (Macau) synchronized performance of of 80,000 local students from into some of the most admira- Association to organize the annual GEG Macau Cup – Youth National Education the buzzing drones captured nearly 30 schools to take part. ble achievements of innovation Competition. Over the past 11 years, the competition has attracted upwards of the fascination of teachers and Considered to be the ideal plat- and entrepreneurship on the 80,000 local students from nearly 30 schools. students who showed appre- form for students to learn about mainland. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 11 fri 20.12.2019 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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JULIE ZHU fied and sustainable development for the Macau economy and the HE Macau University of Scien- MUST launches State Key Guangdong International Tech- Tce and Technology (MUST) nology Innovation Center. opened the Hengqin branch of its MUST is also in discussions State Key Laboratories earlier this Lab Hengqin branch with the Chinese History Resear- week. The unveiling ceremony ch Academy to establish of a new was held on the afternoon of De- research center in Macau. cember 17 in the Hengqin Creati- Recently, a delegation from ve Valley. MUST paid a visit to the mainland Deputy Mayor of Zhuhai City academy in Beijing to discuss the Yan Wu said that, in recent years, short- and long-term work requi- Zhuhai and Macau have been red for the opening of the new cooperating closely and that their Chinese History Macau Research industrial cooperation has beco- Center. me more effective. Overall, the center’s purpose Cheang Kun Wai, a member of would be to organize sympo- the Macau Science and Technolo- siums on the review and prospec- gy Development Fund Executive ts of Macau’s historical research Committee, stated that the Scien- since the Macau handover. The ce and Technology Development center will also carry out follow- Fund (FDCT) has been actively -up research on major social promoting the development of issues in Macau to provide the science and technology in Macau. Chinese Communist Party and As a facilitator of scientific re- the country’s decision-making search in Macau, in the new era, organization with policy recom- FDCT will spare no effort in to mendations; create a new type of continuing to support the cons- high-end think tank; and promo- truction of high-level scientific novation and technology system, third, the State Key Laboratory of mittee to jointly build the Heng- te academic exchanges, coope- research platforms, the imple- as well as into the overall national Lunar and Planetary Sciences, is qin Macau University of Science ration, and interaction in various mentation of major scientific development principles, which operated solely by MUST. Macau’s and Technology Demonstration fields between China and Portu- and technological projects, to in- dictate that Macau should provi- fourth State Key Laboratory, the Base. guese-speaking countries. crease support for various types de what is needed by the country. State Key Laboratory for Quality The base connects scientific The center will focus on “inhe- of talents, and promote results There are four State Key Labo- Research in Chinese Medicine, is discoveries, and scientific and te- riting Chinese culture, studying transformation and cooperation ratories in Macau. Two are ope- jointly operated by MUST and the chnological achievements with the history of Macau, training hi- between industry, university, and rated by the University of Macau, UM, but at separate facilities. the industrialization base of Hen- gh-end talented people, sharing research. namely the State Key Laboratory On November 29, MUST rea- gqin New Area, provides technical academic resources, promoting Liu Liang, rector of MUST, said of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI ched a “Cooperation Framework support for the development of the development of discipline, that the school has actively inte- and the State Key Laboratory of Agreement” with the Hengqin Hengqin’s high-tech industry, and [and] building a world-class aca- grated itself into the national in- Internet of Things for Smart City. A New District Management Com- also provides moderately diversi- demic platform.” ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 13 fri 20.12.2019 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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2000 Under the leadership of Macau’s first Chief Executive (CE) Edmund Ho, Secretary for Administration and Justice Florinda da A very brief twenty-year Rosa Silva Chan, Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam Pak-yuen, Secre- tary for Security Cheong Kuoc Vá, Secre- tary for Social Affairs and Culture Chui Sai On, and Secretary for Transport and Public history of the Macau SAR Works Ao Man Long, became Macau’s first government since its return to China. In March, Ho issued Macau’s first policy ad- dress. In May, Ho made his first foreign visit and headed for Portugal and France. Also

RENATO MARQUES RENATO this year, the former Macau branch of Xin- hua news agency was officially named as the Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau.

2001 In August, the Legislative Assembly passed the “Legal Framework for the Op- erations of Casino Games of Fortune,” which stipulated the operational require- ments, eligibility of major shareholders and management of the casinos and gaming tax. Upon the expiry of Sociedade de Turis- mo e Diversões de Macau’s (STDM) exist- ing monopoly concession on December 31, 2001, the Macau SAR decided to grant three gaming concessions. There was a total of 21 tendering bids received during the period, with bidders holding capital in Macau, Hong Kong, the U.S., Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom and Taiwan, among other places. In the same year, law- yer Jorge Neto Valente was kidnapped, and later rescued in a a dramatic operation coordinated by top police commissioner Proença Branco.

2002 The Macau government announced the results of the tendering process. The con- cessions were granted to Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (“SJM”), a subsidiary of RENATO MARQUES violence that occurred near daily. When reflecting on his time in STDM, Galaxy Casino, S.A. (“Galaxy”), and & ANTHONY LAM The intensity of the struggle even office, Ho cannot be separated from Wynn Resorts (Macao) S.A. (“Wynn”). The attracted news coverage from other his major market liberalization ini- concession contracts for the operation of HERE was a sense of trepi- parts of the world, destabilizing the tiatives - firstly, in the telecom sector, casino games of fortune were signed on dation and uncertainty in confidence of tourists in Macau and and later, the gaming industry. March 28, and June 24 and 26 respectively. the five years leading up to leading to a 0.7% drop in the still-im- In December of that year, Macau made an Tthe handover of Macau. pressive tally of 7 million tourists in efore the handover, Companhia alteration to Galaxy’s concession contract, People living in the city unders- 1998, the earliest year for which re- Bde Telecomunicações de Macau which permitted Galaxy to have a sub-con- tood that the changes happening liable data is kept. (CTM) was the sole operator of te- cession relationship with the Venetian around them actually had little do Having lived through those days, lecom services in Macau, including Macao S.A. (“Venetian”). Following the is- with them. And yet, these ordinary the older generations in Macau have landline, mobile phone and internet suance of this first sub-concession, SJM people could not rest assured. By developed a sense of gratitude. In- services. Internet services back then subsequently signed a sub-concession being here, they were potentially at deed, at the time of the handover, ran on a 56k dial-up network, with with MGM Grand Paradise, S.A. (“MGM”) on risk. the majority had the impression that its iconic screeches. A connection April 20, 2005 and Wynn signed one with It was a time of triad wars, or gang that was the coming of Chinese so- needed to be bridged every time a Melco PBL Jogos (Macau), S.A. (“Melco conflicts, as some might say. Con- vereignty and was the key to the sta- user wanted to go online. PBL”) on September 8, 2006. flict could erupt anywhere in the bility which had long been desired; a Inheriting the telecom monopoly, city; from luxurious chain hotels to remedy to the unsettled conditions Macau’s first CE set out on a path 2003 working-class establishments such of the 1990s. that would bring moderate liberali- A SARS epidemic outbreak killed 299 peo- as Dai Pai Dong, street-side stalls One report from a collection of zation of the mobile phone market. ple in Hong Kong, while only one case was that offer down-to-earth food servi- interviews written by Sharon Cheu- In the early 2000s, the cell pho- recorded in Macau. The outbreak also caused a major negative impact to Ma- ce. ng Po Wah, an ex-journalist from ne market was formally and legally cau’s economy, but other changes insti- The prevailing thought in Macau Hong Kong, is particularly telling. opened to an oligopoly. The poli- gated by the mainland were also underway is that the modern wave of patrio- In it, former Macau Chief Executive cy attracted the interest of seve- this year. In July, mainland China launched tism can trace its origins back to the Edmund Ho explains that the gang ral companies, mainly from Hong the Individual Visa Scheme for mainland 1-2-3 Incident of 1966, after which conflicts had been resolved using Kong, to bid for a license. The po- residents to visit Macau and Hong Kong. Lisbon signed an armistice with Bei- “political means.” Ho was quoted licy also set the bar for the three Zhongshan, Foshan, Jiangmen, and Dong- jing and Macau residents, and love as saying that conflicts of this kind companies that would operate guan were the first four cities included in for the country grew drastically. were incompatible with stability and GSM900/1800 dual-band cell pho- the scheme. The Forum for Economic and However, the incidents that took effective governance. ne services in Macau. Trade Co-operation between China and place before the handover might Edmund Ho was the first Chief CTM, Hutchison Telecom (Three Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), have left a deeper mark on the cons- Executive of the Macau Special Ad- Macau) and SmarTone won the bid also known as Forum Macao, was creat- truction of patriotism in Macau than ministrative Region, before going on and the cell phone market has re- ed in October. The Council of Portuguese first thought. to become a national leader as vice mained mostly the same since then. Community held an election, with José In those days, news reports ex- president of the Chinese People’s Maria Pereira Coutinho elected for the first tensively covered the conflict and Political Consultative Conference. CONTINUED ON P16 time as a member of this council.

COORDINATED BY DANIEL BEITLER page 16 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 20.12.2019 fri

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2004 The sub-concessions model of Macau gaming stirred controversy in town. Sands China’s first casino property, Sands Macao, was opened. It was the first ever gaming investment project developed by an American company in Asia. In the same year, Galaxy’s first pro- ject, Casino Waldo, also commenced operations. Wynn’s first casino hotel had its stone-laying ceremony in June. Meanwhile, on December 19, the third Macau-Taipa link, Sai Van Bridge, was officially completed. In politics, Edmund Ho received 296 votes in the second Chief Executive election and was ap- pointed for a second term as the leader of Macau. The then-Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Macau to congratulate Ho.

2005 The U.S. found evidence, in an investi- gation codenamed Royal Charm and Operation Working Dragon, that the Chinese Communist Party was involved in the illegal smuggling of North Kore- an-made counterfeit U.S. dollar bank- notes, counterfeit cigarettes, drugs and Viagra, and that North Korea was using Macau to launder money. U.S. government officials immediately im- posed financial sanctions on Banco Delta Asia. The U.S. investigation also found that in addition to Banco Delta Asia, the Bank of China, Macau branch was also involved in the money laun- dering scheme. Meanwhile, Portu- guese President Jorge Sampaio paid a week-long visit to Macau, becoming the first such official to visit the SAR in the post-handover period. Macau was clas- sified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

2006 Macau’s first Secretary for Transport CONTINUED FROM P15 te internet services in Macau. Its than two years after the concession and Public Works, Ao Man Long, was license remains valid until the end was granted. On opening day, crowds arrested on corruption charges. The After the formation of the cell of 2021. packed the main entrance of the casi- Chinese State Council approved the phone market, there was a brief pe- no complex and, in their excitement dismissal of Ao on the same night of riod in which CTM franchised Hong oncurrently, the gaming indus- to enter the building, inadvertently the arrest. Along with Ao, more than Kong brand One2Free to Macau. Ctry was experiencing a period of broke through several glass doors. 10 other people, including his relatives, The Hong Kong brand had an ener- growth that would later cement its re- It was also reported that the com- were arrested for their involvement in getic and youthful image that was putation as the engine of Macau’s eco- pany saw a return on its near quarter the corruption case. Ao was the first top designed to appeal to younger ge- nomic rise for the last 20 years. billion dollar investment after just one official to be indicted and trialed for a nerations. Indeed, a billboard pos- In 2002, the Macau government year of operation. crime since the handover. He was sen- ted by CTM’s surrogate brand on the decided it would end the 40-year mo- The opening of the gaming indus- tenced to 25 years in prison the follow- outside of the then-Workers’ Foo- nopoly held by Stanley Ho’s Sociedade try and the market competition that ing year. Meanwhile, more than 20 peo- tball Ground employed slang terms de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, SA followed created a need for other at- ple were found guilty of involvement in and imagery evocative of mahjong, (STDM), and open the market to more tractions and amenities, namely in an election corruption case concerning a Chinese game played by four peo- gaming operators. the entertainment, hospitality, retail, the Democratic Alliance for the Better- ple. From a total of 10 international and food and beverage sectors. Wor- ment and Progress of Macau. In the lead up to the 2005 East bids, the then-Chief Executive Ed- ld-class restaurants, luxurious hotel Asian Games in Macau, the govern- mund Ho signed a dispatch that sett- rooms and delicate spas soon became 2007 ment decided that further technolo- led temporary concessions with three calling cards for Macau. The Venetian Macao opened in Cotai, gical improvements in the telecom companies: Wynn Resorts Macau, becoming the third largest building in market were essential if the city was Galaxy Entertainment and Sociedade he gaming liberalization also crea- the world and the biggest in Asia. With- to adequately serve the needs of de Jogos de Macau (SJM). The conces- ted demand for large public works in one week of its opening, the Vene- T athletes and tourists attending the sions came into effect on April 1, 2002. and infrastructure projects to help tian Macao had attracted 450,000 sporting event. An evolution of the concessions move gamblers, who were the new visitors, exceeding the number of first Just before the Games started, a system spawned the so-called sub- economic lifeblood of Macau, into week visitors of other properties in license was awarded to China Uni- -concessions, which raised the num- and around the city. the city, including Sands Macao, Wynn Macau, Starworld, and the Grand Lis- com, which now operates as China ber of gaming operators to the six pre- Coinciding with the opening of boa. Venetian Macao’s venture into Telecom, to operate certain network sent today. the first integrated resorts, the Macau brand new territory was followed by the services in Macau. One license went to Las Vegas SAR government had the idea to bui- openings of Melco’s City of Dreams There were also calls for internet Sands, which had previously partne- ld a mass transit system in the city, to (2009) and Galaxy (2011), and they to- services to be improved. red with Galaxy Entertainment in pur- be known as the Light Rapid Transit gether came to represent the dawn of The government attempted to suing a license. The other two licenses (LRT). Cotai development. In another first, on open the market but the initiative were divided and sub-designated to The government commissioned May 1 Labor Day, a police officer fired did not gather interest. This situa- Melco and MGM. Hong Kong’s MTR Corp. to advise on five warning gunshots during a fierce tion remained unchanged until Las Vegas Sands did not hesitate to the feasibility of such a system in Ma- conflict between demonstrators and mid-2013, when a new company, start building its first property, Sands cau. The report was positive and work police officers. MTel, obtained a license to opera- Macao, which opened in 2004, less on its details soon commenced, inclu- www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 17 fri 20.12.2019 澳門 MACAU

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2008 Edmund Ho announces the introduc- tion of Macau’s national security law, which proposed the establishment of Article 23 of the Basic Law. In the first half of the year, energy prices climbed to historic highs and the appreciation of the RMB accelerated. Macau’s in- flation rose further, measured by a nearly 10% increase in consumer prices. At the same time, gross do- mestic product growth soared to double-digit rates in the first three quarters of the year, before dipping in the fourth amid Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy. In May, the Macau gov- ernment introduced the cash hand- out scheme. Pan-democratic law- makers were refused entry to Macau on December 20, 2008.

2009 Article 23 came into effect in March. Just two months earlier, a South Chi- na Morning Post photojournalist was denied entry into Macau. It marked the first recorded case of a journalist being banned from entering Macau. In June, Chinese dissident Wu’erkaixi, a former leader of the Tiananmen protests, flew to Macau to turn him- self in to the Liaison Office. However, he was refused entry to the city and then deported to Taiwan. Chui Sai On was elected as second Chief Execu- tive of Macau with 282 votes, keep- ing all the five cabinet secretaries in place. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Macau to preside over Chui’s appointment ceremony.

2010 On Labor Day, various labor groups held a demonstration expressing their discontent with a series of social ding the routes and whether the sys- sidized operation. With this new lators were subject to a fine of 600 problems that had materialized since tem would be located above or below system in force, bus travel for resi- patacas, but the amount was raised the handover. The demonstration ground. The carriages and systems dents become cheaper and more to 1,500 patacas in January of this eventually became violent. The po- were tendered to Japan’s Mitsubishi convenient. The trend continued year. lice used specialized crowd manage- Heavy Industries. with the introduction of the Macau The use of plastic bags for most ment vehicles and demonstrators But it would be nearly two deca- Pass smartcard, which allowed con- purchases is also subject to payment threw rocks and other items at police des before the first section of the LRT nections between several bus routes now. The law governing the use of officers. In total, 41 people sustained would complete its first route and and different operators without ha- plastic bags was passed by the Legis- injuries. Approximately 20 journalists begin operating as it did earlier this ving to re-pay fares. lative Assembly on August 8, 2019, were contained by police officers and month. with the “plastic bag charge” taking stopped from reporting the event for While they were waiting for the acau’s modernization and ra- effect from November 18 onwards. nearly two hours. The Macau police LRT, people in Macau only had one Mpid development required the The law says that plastic bags ob- authority determined this demon- other choice when it came to public city to keep abreast of international tained for all previously packed pro- stration to be illegal. In October, law- transportation – public buses. standards – or at least try to do so. ducts shall be subjected to a 1-pata- makers Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam This system, which was based on Smoking control in defined pu- ca fee per bag. San gathered at the Ruins of St. Paul’s the services provided by the com- blic areas was one of these stan- In what is perhaps an illustration to celebrate the late Chinese dissi- dent Liu Xiaobo, who had recently panies involved rather than a public dards. of the wealth that Macau has amas- been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. concession, underwent only minor In 2009, the idea of regulating sed, some reports suggest that cus- changes over the years. smoking in Macau was put onto the tomers are immune to the deterrent The most significant changes government’s agenda. Consensus effects of this and instead treat the 2011 occurred in 2011, when the gover- was difficult to achieve both in- and surcharge as, in the words of one co- In January, Stanley Ho, through his lawyer Gordon Oldham, filed a law- nment re-tendered the provision outside of the legislature because lumnist, “regular inflation that has suit against his children, relatives of bus services. Licenses were gran- smoking was associated with pro- come a little earlier.” and their related companies to re- ted to the previous two operators, fitable gambling activities. Casino Meanwhile, homemakers have cover SJM Holdings Limited’s equi- Transportes Urbanos de Macau operators, lawmakers, and even been much more enthusiastic, due ty. Ho sued 11 people, including his S.A.R.L. (Transmac) and Sociedade members of the public were worried to either economic or environmen- wife, Lucina Laam King Ying, and Ina de Transportes Colectivos de Macau that a smoking ban on all indoor ve- tal motives. Chan Un Chan to claw back 32% of SARL (TCM), as well as a third ope- nues would severely affect Macau’s The eco-friendly population at the shares held in SJM. In the ad- rator, the Reolian Public Transport gaming revenue. Other measures large has applauded the enactment mission statement, Ho indicated Co. (Reolian), for the first time. Reo- to discourage smoking included in- of the law, hoping that it will help that his second and third partners, lian was a joint venture owned by creasing the tobacco tax. reduce the use of single-use plastic among other accused parties, inap- France’s Veolia Transport RATP Asia The actual ban on indoor smoking bags. Notably, environmentalists are propriately issued new shares and and local firm H. Nolasco Group. only came into effect in 2012, with also calling on the government to go allocated them to two companies At that time, the service was also an exception made for the casino further with similar eco-friendly ini- held by his second and third part- changed from being a private ope- floors. The next year, the ban was ex- tiatives. ners. Ho sought an injunction to ration with a fare established by the tended to casinos. prevent them from making equity government to a government-sub- In the first version of the law, vio- CONTINUED ON P18 distributions. page 18 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 20.12.2019 fri

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2012 The Legislative Assembly passed the amendment of the regime for the election of the body in August. The new provisions proposed the num- ber of directly elected members of the fifth Legislative Assembly be in- creased from 12 to 14 and the number of indirectly elected members to be increased from 10 to 12. In that year, the Macau SAR government consult- ed on the development of the political system, but the process was highly controversial, and most residents were not clear about the details of the con- sultation. The government said that the plan to have two more indirectly elected lawmakers and two appointed lawmakers stemmed from the main- stream consensus However, the gov- ernment’s claim left the democratic party disillusioned.

2013 Three members of the Macau United Citizens Association, including Chan Meng Kam, Si Ka Lon and Song Pek Kei, were elected as new lawmakers. However, two people in the same team were later found guilty of election cor- ruption. In May, lawyer Jorge Menezes was ambushed in Sintra Square by two mainland assailants. One of the assail- ants was subsequently sentenced to one year and nine months of imprison- ment. The other was found not guilty. In academia, the University of Macau’s new campus in Hengqin was handed over to Macau’s jurisdiction on July 20.

2014 In May, approximately 20,000 people participated in a mass demonstra- tion against the compensation bill for top-ranking public officials, which proposed lavish retirement welfare CONTINUED FROM P17 mid-range properties. In more recent Non-traditional forms of pay- for the Chief Executive and other high years however, the new accommo- ment, such as PayPal, have always officials. Chui Sai On eventually with- acau welcomed more than 36 dation being built is overwhelmingly encountered difficulties in Macau. drew the bill. It also marked the biggest Mmillion visitors last year, a fi- five-star properties built by gaming Only with the popularization of demonstration in Macau since the Ti- gure that equates to a ratio of about operators. mainland e-payment systems, such ananmen Square-related protests of 54 visitors per resident. Last decade, as AliPay from Alibaba Group or We- 1989. On December 19 and 20, the this figure was only 16 visitors per re- ack in the early days of the han- Chat Pay from Tencent, is the local new Chinese President Xi Jinping vis- sident. Bdover, before the market libera- market finally coming to widely ac- ited Macau. Meanwhile, the MSAR offi- The astonishing growth of visi- lization of the telecommunications cept them. cially entered into economic recession tors to Macau has fueled concerns in and gaming sectors, few would have E-payments have become increa- due to a steep decline in gross gaming some groups that the territory is nea- imagined Macau as a possible center singly popular in only a matter of revenue. Chui entirely revamped his ring its maximum capacity. Despite for lawful financial activities. Recent years. Local variants, such as Mpay cabinet after his second appointment the cooldown in the local economy, developments and initiatives presen- which was developed by Macau Pass, as Chief Executive, and appointed the number of visitors will increa- ted during President Xi Jinping’s visit have begun sprouting up and are Sonia Chan (SAJ), Lionel Leong (SEF), se further in 2019 and approach the have set the region on a new path. gaining acceptance in Macau fast. Wong Sio Chak (SS), Alexis Tam (SASC) 40-million mark. One that is designed to assist with On a related note, in recent years, and Raimundo do Rosário (STOP). The number of hotels in Macau the development of diversified eco- several restrictive measures have 2014 was also marred by the sacking has grown at a much slower rate after nomic products and services, and been imposed on the use of cash ma- of two outspoken scholars, Eric Sau- the handover, however. According to reduce Macau’s reliance on casinos. chines, with the purpose of curbing tedé (USJ) and Bill Chou (UM), which figures provided by the Statistics and At the same time, after a long capital outflows from the mainland. was seen as a major blow to academic Census Service, there were a total of period of resistance, Macau is be- One measure, which was enforced freedom. 77 hotels and similar units at the time ginning to adopt electronic paymen- about two years ago, was the ins- of the handover. ts (e-payments) which are replacing tallation of the know-your-customer 2015 In 2008, the same survey showed traditional forms of payment. (KYC) facial recognition technology In November, former director-gener- that the number of hotels had grown Besides gaming, Macau is also at over a thousand ATMs in Macau. al of the Customs Service Lai Man Wa by less than 10% since the handover. famous for having a “hermetically According to figures provided by allegedly committed suicide by using The pace of growth quickened in the drugs, a razor blade and a plastic bag in- sealed” banking system. It is discon- the company, there are around 1.5 side a public bathroom. A postmortem second decade, when the number of nected from the main international million UnionPay cards in Macau, in- examination concluded she died from hotels increased by about 50% com- banking networks and, in doing so, cluding credit cards, debit cards and suffocation. In December of that year, pared to the handover year. escapes the surveillance and scrutiny business cards especially designed over 1,400 pre-sale buyers of the Pearl Another change that has been ob- of outside institutions. for VIPs and enterprise clients. Horizon complex gathered outside the served in Macau’s tourism industry If this has in any way contributed The use of the KYC facial recog- Polytec Asset’s headquarters to pro- over the past 20 years is the type of vi- to Macau’s reputation for discretion, nition technology has been credited test against the non-development of sitor accommodation being built. At it has also impeded trade and the with causing two phenomena. The their apartments and the decision of the start of this period, the number of acquisition of products and servi- first is the increase in cash with- the administration to reclaim the land hostels slightly exceeded hotels, with ces from abroad, namely from com- drawals in the neighboring region of from the concession holder. many of the latter being regarded as panies and large organizations. Hong Kong. The second is the birth www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 19 fri 20.12.2019 澳門 MACAU

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2016 Alan Ho was released from prison after having received a sentence of 13 months (served on remand), for one crime of prostitution exploitation. The judicial sys- tem found Ho guilty of being aware of the activities and knowingly allowing them to continue to operate in the hotel. An appeal of the sentence was successful in 2019 and the sentence was raised to eight years. Meanwhile, most lawmakers blocked a proposal delivered by lawmaker Ng Kuok Cheong that aimed to force the government to initiate political reform for eventual universal suffrage in the election of the Chief Executive. Some accused Ng of trying to make Macau’s legislators “hostage” to his private interests.

2017 The most severe typhoon in half a cen- tury swept into Macau on August 23 causing unprecedented loss of life and damage to infrastructure throughout the city. The signal No.10 typhoon, the then-highest category in Macau’s official storm index, killed 10 people. Less than a month later, pro-democrat Sulu Sou took the Legislative Assembly election by storm to become the city’s youngest lawmaker at 26. By the year end, Sou was suspended in order to face criminal investigation accused of “aggravated disobedience”. In the same year, former top prosecutor Ho Chio Meng was sen- tenced to 21 years in jail and the court ruled Ho should pay around 75 million patacas to public coffers. On February 13, Kim Jong-nam was murdered when he was attacked with VX nerve agent at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia.

2018 Macau’s Court of First Instance found (or maturation, at least) of so-called ted if received in exchange for a profi- in 2004, this time by a committee of Sulu Sou guilty of the crime of unlawful “illegal currency exchange” cases, table rate for the client of 1:1 by most 300 members. assembly and sentenced him and fel- which mostly occur at casino venues. commercial establishments. The of- Although 100 members were ad- low political activist Scott Chiang to 120 These have been the basis of many fer results in a loss of about 15% of ded, their origins remained the same days worth of fines. The penalty was not fraud and scam reports in Macau in the value of the currency in favor of in proportion, with many of the enough to expel him from the legislature recent months. the shop at current exchange rates. members coming from industrial, and he resumed his mandate. In another KYC technology was installed to commercial and financial sectors, controversy at the Legislative Assembly, monitor cash machine withdrawals ince the days of the handover, followed by those who represent the two chief legal advisers, Paulo Cardinal by mainland UnionPay cards more Sthe local political system has cultural and educational sectors, as and Paulo Taipa were dismissed from effectively, and to prevent users from been ruled according to Article 31 well as labor, social services, religious service inexplicably in what was seen by carrying as many as 50 bank cards to of the Constitution of the People’s and other interests. many lawyers and observers as a case circumvent capital outflows. In many Republic of China, which grants the In 2009, when Chui Sai On succee- of political persecution. The Legislative cases, the individuals carrying the Special Administrative Region the ded Edmund Ho as Chief Executive, Assembly president at that time, future bank cards did not match the names powers and constitutional rights to it was decided that the committee Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, said that on the cards. implement the “One Country, Two would be expanded using the me- the dismissal was neither due to political The internationalization of Ma- Systems” policy, as well as the local thod known as “2+2+100.” The me- reasons, nor due to the advisers’ Por- cau’s finances has increased depen- “mini-constitution” or the Basic Law. thod expanded the electoral com- tuguese ethnicity, but instead to allow dence on the already-popular Hong This has granted the region a “high mittee to the 400 members of today, them “to pursue other careers.” Kong Dollar (HKD). degree of autonomy” in the 50 years and added two seats to the compo- Although Macau’s currency – the leading up to December 2049. sition of the Legislative Assembly for 2019 pataca – is to be retained as local cur- The SAR government is led by the lawmakers elected by both direct su- In August, Macau security forces de- rency as per the Macau Basic Law, the Chief Executive, who wields executi- ffrage, and another two seats for tho- ployed at least six police minibuses as HKD has been equally widespread ve power in the city. se who were indirectly elected by the well as dozens of officers – some uni- formed and others wearing plain clothes since the earliest days of the gaming One of the evolutions that has functional constituencies. – to prevent a planned protest against liberalization. taken place over the last 20 years Over the past 20 years, criticism of Hong Kong police officers’ violence from Even so, the use of the two curren- in Macau is the composition of the the pace of reform of Macau’s politi- going ahead in Macau’s Senado Square. cies has been relatively stable over committee that elects the Chief Exe- cal system has been mounting, with In September, Ho Iat Seng was officially the last 20 years, and they have car- cutive. Members of the committee those in pro-democracy factions of recognized in Beijing as the Chief Ex- ved out specific uses for themselves. are nominated by sectors of society, local politics decrying it as exceptio- ecutive-elect of the Macau SAR for the For example, the pataca has found its associations, and people who hold nally slow, or nonexistent even. fifth government term. On December place in everyday transactions, while positions in the central government. Although Chui pledged in his elec- 10, the Macau Light Rapid Transit (LRT) the HKD is typically used for larger A specially organized 200-mem- tion manifesto to advance the reform officially opened to the public and was transactions. ber electoral committee was estab- of Macau’s political system, he later temporarily suspended during the vis- The Chinese yuan (RMB) saw its lished for Macau’s first election, whi- justified his inability to promote such it of president Xi Jinping. Over a dozen status remain stable, primarily used ch placed Edmund Ho in the position reform by saying it was a matter that journalists from Hong Kong, coming to for transactions with the mainland. of Chief Executive in May 1999. Ho “depended on the initiative of the cover the event were barred at the bor- In Macau, it is generally only accep- was then re-elected for a second term central government.” der for “security reasons.” page 20 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 20.12.2019 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

Chui’s few achievements summed up in economic stability, cash handouts

LYNZY VALLES larly to Edmund Ho, the depar- the democratization, transpa- 2014, reflecting a double-digit Not all of Chui’s economic po- ting Chief Executive has served rency and accountability of Ma- annualized growth rate. licies – or continuation of his pre- HE formal inaugura- well enough the triangle of inte- cau’s political system.” But the growth came to a brief decessor’s - have proven equally tion of Ho Iat Seng as rests entrenched in the current Perhaps, the recently inaugu- halt in 2015 when the city’s GDP justified among his critics. One Chief Executive during political and economic system. rated Macau Light Rapid Transit dropped 20% as high-roller gam- example is the complementary today’s official cere- These include the interests of – which was first proposed in blers stayed away from the city income tax, which currently all Tmony offers convenient mo- the local oligarchy, the ruling the Policy Address for the Fiscal in a bid to avoid the scrutiny of six gaming concessionaires are ment to pause and reflect on caste of the Chinese Communist Year 2003 by Edmund Ho – cou- President Xi Jinping’s anti-cor- exempted from paying under the closing of the last chapter in Party and foreign capitalists, in- ld be considered one of Chui’s ruption campaign. Although the a specific policy granted by the Macau governance: the double- cluding the Americans. achievements. But put to Cor- city’s gaming industry entered a Chief Executive on a temporary -tenure of Chui Sai On. Katchi believes incoming ad- reia, the political commentator period of decline thereafter, its and exceptional basis, for five- Given the chance to reflect, ministration led by Chief Execu- disagreed, saying that the trans- GDP in 2016 was still as high as -year periods at a time. political scientists this week told tive, Ho Iat Seng will entail much portation system in the SAR in $45 billion. A separate tax, the special ga- the Times that while the out- of the same. As for the “broad fact remains one of the terri- The city’s unemployment rate ming tax, is calculated for gross going Chief Executive deserves masses,” Katchi said they “have tory’s biggest problems. also declined throughout the gaming revenue at the rate of 35% some praise for overseeing a no shortage of reasons to be dis- “Despite the recent inaugu- decade from 3% to the current and is paid monthly. mostly stable economy and the gruntled and to yearn for a to- ration of the LRT services, no 1.8%. Last year, Chui extended the continuous handouts of annual tally different government and public transportation impro- In terms of the annual Weal- exemption granted to Galaxy Ca- subsidies, he has not lived up to regime. Unfortunately, what lies vements can make the public th Partaking Scheme, it was un- sino, S.A. and Venetian Macau, his earlier promises in other as- ahead, with Ho Iat Seng and his forget what happened to the re- der Chui’s governance that the S.A. from paying the city’s com- pects of society. secretaries, is an even gloomier voked Viva Macau, Reolian and cash subsidies of Macau SAR plementary income tax related to The exiting top official of the scenario.” the Nova Era’s deadly accidents, Permanent and Non-Permanent casino gaming profits for a period Macau SAR delivered a total of For lawyer and political com- or the impunity of local taxi dri- Resident Identity Card holders of over three years, which will last 10 policy addresses during his mentator, Sérgio de Almeida vers.” increased to 10,000 patacas and until June 26, 2022. time in office, most of which Correia, the past decade repre- 6,000 patacas respectively. For Katchi, such an exemption failed to impress local politi- sents a missed opportunity for hen Chui took over the The first cash handout was should not have been renewed. cal commentators. These very general improvement to the WSAR’s top position in 2009, distributed in 2008, one year “He should have discontinued analysts claim that their per- peoples’ living standards. Macau’s Gross Domestic Pro- before Chui took office, when the complementary income tax ception is shared by the general “Ten years were lost in terms duct (GDP) stood at about $21.5 5,000 patacas and 3,000 patacas exemption shamelessly granted public. of improving the living condi- billion. The economy rapidly were distributed to each perma- by Edmund Ho to gaming ope- Political commentator Antó- tions of residents, the public swelled to $55 billion at the be- nent and non-permanent resi- rators. Instead, he renewed it for nio Katchi remarked that, simi- works program, [and] advancing ginning of his second term in dent, respectively. another five years,” he said. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 21 fri 20.12.2019 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

Chui’s few achievements summed up in economic stability, cash handouts hen Chui was seeking a se- Wcond term as Chief Executive, he announced that the public could expect “a relatively radical change” to his team of secretaries. That in fact led to a complete revamp of his team, replacing all of the policy se- cretaries. The Secretary for Administra- tion and Justice, Florinda Chan, who had held the post since the handover, was replaced by Sonia Chan. Florinda Chan had been accu- sed of losing the public’s trust due to the long-running burial plots saga. Although the city’s highest court had cleared her of the alle- ged crimes, including the forging of documents, misfeasance and abuse of power, political com- mentators at the time believed her removal would renew the public’s trust in the government. interested in “the one who controls veral projects that still needed to be Tam, began the Chui Sai On era as role in the government’s crack- As a result, installing Sonia the security system, and believes, accomplished under his tenure. the Chief of Office for the Chief Exe- -down on the so-called “civil refe- Chan in the role was said to be a without questioning, in the virtues “[Rosário] has to stay,” insisted cutive. According to Larry So, Tam rendum” held by the New Macau “political decision.” of the one country, and the pers- Correia. became quite popular while ser- Association in 2014. Back then, Tam “I saw [her appointment] as pective of the rule of law according Larry So agreed. “With all the ving in the position, and this helped kick-started the official verbal cam- a reward,” said Correia. “Sonia to the Communist Party of Macau.” projects that are going on, whoever him to later be appointed as one of paign based on the alleged uncons- doesn’t have Florinda’s connec- For Correia, that idealized secre- will come in to replace him will have Chui’s ministers. “During that time, titutionality and illegality of the tions to the former Portuguese tary is always ready to follow the or- a […] hard time. It’s a wise choice to he was quite popular in the com- initiative and hinting at possible, administration and the Catholic ders and recommendations coming have him stay on and finish the pro- munity, especially in the civil orga- but unspecified, consequences for Church, I presume. For her, it was from the Central Government. jects before he steps down,” said So. nization,” So explained. the organizers. Chan provided the easy to implement the recom- “Wong Sio Chak at that time was The outgoing Secretary for Eco- For Katchi, among all five secre- police with an apparent legal basis mendations of the Central Gover- groomed to be the new Secretary, nomy and Finance, Lionel Leong, taries, the “Beijing man’s” duties to disperse and detain the survey nment.” not only by the local government succeeded Francis Tam Pak Yuen are deemed the simplest, as Macau organizers. According to the lawyer, choi- but also by the Central Govern- in the 2014 reshuffle, promising to does not have any special security “In all likelihood, this earned ces are always made on the basis ment,” said Larry So, another poli- bring new vigor to the economy if conditions, nor is it prone to any them a very strong political [ba- of the personal relationship be- tical commentator. So stressed that the city utilized the policies handed special threat that would hamper cking] from Xi Jinping and his en- tween the Chief Executive and the it had been widely expected Wong to it by the Central Government. the safety of its people. “He just had tourage, and I believe this political nominees. would continue in the role under Prior to that he had sat on the se- to concentrate on developing the confidence overrode any other cri- The choice of selecting Wong Ho Iat Seng. cond and third Executive Councils, legal arsenal and securing the te- teria,” remarked Katchi. “If any of Sio Chak as the Secretary for Se- Secretary for Transport and Pu- the advisory body that supports the chnological resources to boost […] them was technically qualified for curity was said to appease Beijing, blic Works, Raimundo Arrais do work of the Chief Executive. the Chinese totalitarian regime,” the post - as Alexis Tam seemingly since he is one of “Beijing’s men” Rosário, who is also set to serve The final of the five policy secre- said the analyst. was - it was a sheer coincidence.” in the SAR. another term, was another obvious taries, the departing Secretary for Meanwhile, both Alexis Tam and In Correia’s opinion, Beijing is contender to remain due to the se- Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Sonia Chan played a prominent CONTINUED ON P22

Xinhua/ Wang Yuguo MEMORY LANE Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai

Captured from the Guia Fortress, this view of the city skyline shows some of the changes that have occurred in the past two decades. Some of the tallest buildings in this 1999 view are today dwarfed by the Grand Lisboa Hotel, the Bank of China Macau Branch Building, and the Macao Tower. page 22 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 20.12.2019 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

CONTINUED FROM P21

hui Sai On should have done Cmore in the pursuit of uni- versal suffrage, argued several ex- perts contacted by the Times this week. Despite pledging greater de- mocracy for the SAR, many regard Chui to have failed on this matter, suggesting that he deliberately prompted the National People’s Congress Standing Committee to intervene “prematurely and im- pose, totally beyond its powers of interpretation, a normative framework for the amendment of the rules laid down in Annexes I and II of the Basic Law.” Katchi criticized Chui for fai- ling to launch a formal Basic Law revision process intended to push political reform even further. “A parliamentary system should have been introduced in lieu of the current super-presidential system,” he said. The commentator further said that Chui should have submit- ted a bill to restore the former civil servants’ pension system, infamously phased out under Ed- mund Ho. Echoing the same sentimen- Incoming Chief Executive Ho to MOP8,775 – a decision that they have resided within the re- commercial sector, often at the ts, So remarked that in terms of Iat Seng has said that he will not prompted many migrant mothers gion. expense of the needs of vulnera- democratic development of the rule out the pursuit or adoption to leave temporarily leave Macau “He should have pushed for ble groups. SAR, “he hasn’t done any.” of universal suffrage during his to give birth back in their home the abolition of the non-resident It was also noted that the so- Elements of the local com- tenure. country. worker status or, at the very least, -called distribution of Macau’s munity have been calling on the Another “discriminatory” for the extension to all non-re- income benefitted the elderly government to adopt universal igrant groups have cried move that was permitted was sident workers the social rights more, compared to the city’s vul- suffrage. One such element, the Mfoul over the nine-fold fee the shortening of the number of granted to Macau residents,” he nerable groups and low wage ear- New Macau Association, has increase for baby delivery ser- days allocated for non-resident said. ners. been active in organizing online vices provided to non-resident workers to find new employment “Instead, he even aggravated Correia expressed his hope votes to support their call for de- parents, describing the move as once their work contracts had the discrimination against them that the incoming Chief Executi- mocratization. discriminatory. They consider the been terminated. by increasing dramatically child- ve will “think more about the wel- In 2014, prior to the celebra- bill another piece of legislation Reduced from 10 days to 8 birth fees,” Katchi criticized. fare of residents than about him- tion of Macau’s 15th anniversary that seeks to sideline Macau’s mi- days, these non-resident workers Echoing the same sentiments, self and his family and friends.” of its return to China, dozens of grants. face an enormous challenge to So placed the blame on Chui, re- “It’s a lack of social sensitivity. demonstrators marched in the ci- Chui allowed public hospital find new employment within the marking that his policies – for the I believe it was not an imposition ty’s historic center calling for uni- Conde de São Januário (CHCSJ) limited time given to them. This last 10 years – were very much from [the] Central Government,” versal suffrage. to increase its fees from MOP975 is irrespective of how many years in line with the interests of the he added.

Xinhua/ Wang Yuguo MEMORY LANE Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka

Contestants taking part in the traditional “Tray Race” in front of the Ruins of St. Paul’s in Macau, exactly 20 years apart. Held on September 27, the annual Tray Race invites restaurant workers to balance a bottle of beer on a tray whilst running from the Ruins of St. Paul’s to Senado Square. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 23 fri 20.12.2019 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

Correia hopes that Ho will con- blishment of a standard contract do not have the right to protest or in the SAR, as well as the its inabi- of the Macau government was. Ho tribute to an effective improvement with a clear definition of the city’s disagree with what they do,” said lity to prevent widespread corrup- Chio Meng faced over 1,500 char- of living conditions and raising the labor standards, as well as the esta- one. tion that occurred at the Macau ges of corruption during his high- wellbeing of all residents, non-per- blishment of a minimum wage for “There has been a lot of discri- Trade and Investment Promotion -profile trial that saw him senten- manent residents and blue card domestic workers. mination against migrant workers Institute (IPIM) and included even ced to 21 years imprisonment in holders in a bid to reduce poverty Meeting with government repre- with every law that [Chui] allowed the falsification of documents and 2017. and the gap between the very rich sentatives again earlier this month, to be passed. These include the breach of secrecy. For Correia, the Corruption and the very poor. the Third Standing Committee of absence of minimum wages for Political commentator and pro- Against Commission reports were In February this year, migrant the Legislative Assembly unexpec- domestic workers, absence of stan- fessor Sonny Lo remarked that the increasingly critical of the admi- workers’ rights advocates met with tedly cut short a planned two-hour dard employment contracts, [….] examples of administrative inca- nistration; lack of leadership and the Labour Affairs Bureau to pre- meeting with representatives of the and nothing on democracy for pability seen during typhoon Hato a lack of responsibility-taking were sent their request to raise the qua- city’s domestic helpers, allegedly workers’ rights,” the non-resident and the IPIM corruption scandal commonly identified issues. lity of life of non-resident workers due to a translator’s private matter. added. have marred the image of the go- “The arrest and subsequent in the region, particularly that of Due to such occurrences, these vernment. conviction of the former Macau domestic workers. workers agree that they are conti- olitical commentators have In another example of ineffica- SAR prosecutor undermined the The groups requested the bu- nuously facing discrimination from Pnot forgotten the govern- cy, the scandal involving Ho Chio confidence of the population in reau review several of the local the government in the SAR. ment’s failure to prepare for deadly Meng reavelaed just how inade- the judicial system and Govern- labor policies, including the esta- “We are just migrant workers, we typhoon Hato that killed 10 people quate the internal auditing work ment,” Correia remarked.

O.BS Architects MEMORY LANE MDT/Renato Marques

This Square, now located between the Macao Cultural Center (CCM), the Handover Gifts Museum of Macao and the Sands Macao Hotel and Casino, was formerly the centerpiece of the handover ceremonies in 1999. Twenty years later the square has changed and there are fewer green spaces. The CCM building has also lost part of its roof, which was severely damaged during typhoon Hato in 2017. page 24 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo GREATER BAY 大灣區 20.12.2019 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

HONG KONG SHENZHEN Tech hub Four arrested for money signs 128 deals laundering linked to unrest with global

ALFRED LIU enterprises

ONG Kong’s police ar- total of 128 deals with an investment of BLOOMBERG Hrested four people for Aover 560 billion yuan (around $80 billion) suspected money laundering were signed Wednesday at a conference as linked to ongoing pro-demo- south China’s technological powerhouse cracy protests and froze mo- Shenzhen tries to attract global investors. ney from a fund that’s raised The city has allocated 30 square kilo- millions to help support the meters of industrial land, which is distri- demonstrations. buted in 36 zones, for global investment, Police froze HKD70 million said Wang Youpeng, director of Shenzhen ($9 million) in local bank de- planning and natural resources bureau, at posits and personal insurance the Shenzhen Global Investment Promo- products related to a fund cal- tion Conference. led Spark Alliance, according Wang said the zones are designed with va- to Chan Wai-kei, senior su- rious functions including headquarters base, perintendent of the financial advanced manufacturing, scientific research investigation branch of the through false statements, naming them. All four were af- in 2020 hanging on whether and education, as well as cultural tourism. force’s Narcotics Bureau. The to distort the work of Spark filiated with the fund and shell future protests are peaceful or Shenzhen is striving to create a stable, fair fund, which is linked to a shell Alliance as money laundering company, with one being the violent. Economists forecast a and transparent business environment for company, has raised HKD80 for malicious uses,” the fund director and shareholder, 1.3% contraction for 2019 and global companies and offer land for projects million since the protests star- said in a Facebook post. This Chan said. predict year-on-year declines that are consistent with the city’s industrial ted in June. is an attempt to defame Spark Chan said police also seized will continue in the first two direction and meet its need for high-quality Police noticed suspicious Alliance and other support items including HKD130,000 quarters of 2020. development, said Wang Weizhong, secre- activity from the fund, inclu- channels. Spark Alliance con- in cash and HKD160,000 in Protests began in June over tary of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee ding a large number of cash demns this kind of defama- receipts for supermarket cou- since-scrapped legislation of the Communist Party of China. deposits and significant pur- tory action.” pons, but didn’t specify from allowing extraditions to main- Shenzhen is home to a bevy of Chinese chases of personal-insurance The people arrested inclu- whom. land China and have expan- startups and tech heavyweights including products, Chan said at a Thur- de a student, two clerks and Hong Kong’s economy is ded into calls for greater de- Huawei and Tencent. Its GDP rose about 7.5 sday press briefing. a human resources manager, ending the year wounded, mocracy in the former British percent year-on-year to surpass 2.4 trillion “The police attempted, aged 17 to 50, he said, without with chances for stabilization colony. BLOOMBERG yuan in 2018. XINHUA ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 25 fri 20.12.2019 經濟 BUSINESS

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ad BLOOMBERG

Misused Carney broadcast feeds prompt BOE probe HE Bank of England asked of its policy committees,” it Tregulators to investiga- said. “The issue identified re- te how an audio broadcast of lated only to the broadcast of some of its press conferences press conferences that follow was misused to potentially give such statements.” traders an unfair advantage. The scandal relates to the A faster audio could give BOE’s set-piece press conferen- some traders an edge on words ces after some monetary policy spoken by BOE Governor Mark decisions. The events start with Carney, which can move the a statement from the governor, price of the pound or U.K. gil- who then takes questions from ts. Even a few seconds can be assembled journalists. The pro- enough to get a trade in ahead ceedings are broadcast, with of a market move. the video managed by Bloom- The discovery of misuse was berg and made available to made after concerns were rai- other news providers. sed with the bank. It found that The audio feed involved was a third-party supplier gained intended only as a backup in access to the BOE’s backup au- case the video failed. The BOE dio feed. That third party is now said the supplier that sold it on banned from future press con- won’t play any part in future ferences. The Financial Con- press conferences. duct Authority is also looking The central bank didn’t at the issue. name the provider. The breach means the BOE Yesterday, Statisma, an Es- may need to revamp the way it sex-based firm which describes broadcasts press conferences. itself as “a technology company The furor is likely to lead offi- specializing in the delivery of cials to change the way they put publicly available audio con- live events into the public do- tent,” posted a statement on main, possibly toward a system its website saying “we DO NOT where the fastest feed is openly carry embargoed information accessible to all, as operated by and we DO NOT release infor- the European Central Bank. mation without it first being “This wholly unacceptable made available to the public.” use of the audio feed was wi- “It is impossible to “hack” thout the bank’s knowledge or or “eavesdrop” any live public consent,” the BOE said. “On event or press conference,” identifying this, the bank im- Statisma said. “Any such su- mediately disabled the third ggestion is dismissed out of party supplier’s access.” hand.” Central bank announce- The news was reported ear- ments are among the most lier by the Times of London. In market-sensitive of any news an age of quantitative inves- releases, with major monetary ting, where billions of dollars authorities employing tight ar- are run by black-box algori- rangements for how their in- thms and high frequency tra- formation is released. The feed ders, a few seconds’ lead on issue didn’t affect the security market-moving information of that information. provides a vital leg up. “The bank operates the hi- While information breaches ghest standards of information are rare for central banks, they security around the release of are treated seriously when they the market sensitive decisions occur. MDT/BLOOMBERG page 26 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo BUSINESS 經濟 20.12.2019 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Tiffany expects double-digit growth in China despite weak economy

TOM MACKENZIE and Europe to do their purcha- ner, LVMH, also plan to enter & JEFF SUTHERLAND ses,” Bogliolo said in an inter- new Chinese cities. view with Bloomberg Television. Tiffany is planning to add IFFANY & Co. expects dou- Sectors ranging from tourism “very few” stores in China during BLOOMBERG Tble-digit growth in China to luxury goods that relied hea- the new year, Bogliolo said. Ins- next year despite a weaker eco- vily on Chinese spending abroad tead, the company’s strategy is nomy, as consumers curb their are having to rethink their strate- to expand existing locations. The overseas luxury purchases and gies as the yuan depreciates and CEO was in China for the ope- spend more at home. ning of Tiffany’s rede- The U.S. retai- signed flagship store ler, which last mon- Sectors ranging from in Shanghai, which th agreed to be acqui- nearly doubled in size red by LVMH for $16 tourism to luxury to 10,000 square feet, billion, sees momen- goods are having making it the biggest tum continuing in 2020 Tiffany’s location in following “very high” to rethink their Asia. double-digit growth in The U.S. luxury re- mainland China over strategies as the yuan tailer is also counting the past two years, ac- depreciates on the launch of its we- cording to Tiffany Chief bsite in China to help it Executive Officer Ales- reach customers in les- sandro Bogliolo. Sales are bene- mainland visitors avoid protes- s-developed cities where it cur- fiting from Tiffany’s increased t-stricken cities like Hong Kong rently doesn’t have stores. commitment to the world’s lar- and Paris. Luxury companies in Bogliolo said Tiffany has seen gest consumer market, as well as particularly are aggressively ex- a double-digit decline in sales China’s moves to boost domestic panding within the mainland in Hong Kong because of the spending, he said. to court Chinese spenders who pro-democracy protests. But “All the efforts the Chinese go- account for a third of global de- the company isn’t changing its vernment has done to increase mand. strategy there. The city has gone local consumption, like the de- Kering SA is planning 14 new through other difficult moments crease of the sales tax, of course outlets across six Chinese cities and bounced back, he said, “so is an incentive for Chinese cus- for its brands like Gucci and I’m really confident about Hong tomers to purchase locally ins- Bottega Veneta, while other Kong, on its future role in the lu- A Tiffany store in Shanghai tead of flying to Japan, the U.S. brands under Tiffany’s new ow- xury world.” ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 27 fri 20.12.2019 中國 CHINA

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and his family were staying at the resort, but none were ever threa- tened. With the Atlantic Ocean to the Chinese national arrested for east and Florida’s Intracoastal Wa- terway to the west, Mar-a-Lago sits on the Palm Beach barrier is- illegally entering Mar-a-Lago land, a 128-room, 62,500-square- -foot (5,8000-square-meter) sym- TERRY SPENCER, bol of opulence and power. The FORT LAUDERDALE Trump family business doubled AP PHOTO the initiation fee to $200,000 after the president was elected in 2016. Chinese national tres- He spends many weekends be- passed at President Do- tween November and April there, nald Trump’s Mar-a-La- mingling with the club’s 500 mem- go club yesterday [Ma- bers, who pay $14,000 in annual cauA time] and was arrested when dues to belong. she refused to leave, police said, Trump purchased Mar-a-Lago the second time this year a wo- from the foundation of the late so- man from that country has been cialite and cereal heiress Marjorie charged with illicitly entering the Merriweather Post in 1985. He and Florida resort. first lady Melania Trump held their Jing Lu, 56, was confronted by 2005 wedding reception inside the the private club’s security officers 20,000-square-foot (1,860-square- and told to leave, but she returned -meter) ballroom shortly after its to take photos, Palm Beach police completion. spokesman Michael Ogrodnick Federal agencies spent about said in an email. Palm Beach offi- $3.4 million per Trump visit, much cers were called and arrested her. Trumps are expected to arrive at that she might be a spy, but she tenced last month to time served. of it on security, according to an It was determined she had an ex- Mar-a-Lago by the weekend and was never charged with espionage She is being held for deportation. analysis of four 2017 trips by the pired visa, Ogrodnick said. spend the holidays there. and text messages she exchanged In another Mar-a-Lago tres- U.S. Government Accountability Lu was charged with loitering Lu’s arrest is reminiscent of with a trip organizer indicated passing case, a University of Wis- Office. The Secret Service doesn’t and prowling and was being held the March arrest of Yujing Zhang, she was a fan of the president and consin student was arrested in decide who is invited or welcome later at the Palm Beach County jail. a 33-year-old Shanghai busines- wanted to meet him or his family November 2018 after he mixed in at the resort; that responsibility The president and his family swoman, who gained access to to discuss possible deals. with guests being admitted to the belongs to the club. Agents do were not at the club — he held a Mar-a-Lago while carrying a lap- Zhang was found guilty in Sep- club. He pleaded guilty in May and screen guests outside the perime- rally in Michigan as the U.S. Hou- top, phones and other electronic tember of trespassing and lying to received probation. ter before they’re screened again se voted to impeach him. The gear. That led to initial speculation Secret Service agents and was sen- In both of those cases, Trump inside. AP

University revises China seeks to spur North Korea charter boosting talks during US envoy’s visit Communist control HINA is urging reach the continental ONTROVERSY has erup- That has resulted in the pur- Cdialogue between United States. Cted after a leading Chinese ging or imprisoning of acade- the U.S. and North AP PHOTO In Washington, university revised its charter mics who advocated for poli- Korea during a visit to meanwhile, top Sena- to remove a reference to “free tical reform or minority rights. Beijing by Washing- te Democrats issued thinking” and adding a new Texts have also been revised to ton’s special represen- a letter to Trump ex- stress on adhering to the lea- emphasize the party’s leading tative for Pyongyang pressing their growing dership of the ruling Commu- role and some local governmen- affairs. concern that the admi- nist Party, Marxism and socia- ts have even reported burning Vice Foreign Minis- nistration’s efforts to list theories of education. books considered politically ter Luo Zhaohui told advance toward a las- The changes at Fudan Uni- unacceptable. reporters that despite ting peace and denu- versity in Shanghai were revea- People who answered phones tensions, the situation clearization of the Ko- led earlier this week and reflect at Fudan’s office of propaganda on the Korean Penin- rean Peninsula appear the atmosphere of increasing yesterday said no one was im- sula “had not left the to be stalled and on the academic control and conser- mediately available to comment track of dialogue and brink of failure.” vatism under the administra- on the revision or incidents on negotiation” and that “While we unders- tion of party leader and head of campus. “”opportunities and tand that significant state Xi Jinping. However, the changes to the challenges” remained. gaps remain between Online criticism of the move charter were widely dissemina- Luo’s comments the two sides — and was quickly scrubbed by cen- ted on social media sites inclu- came shortly before that North Korea has sors, but reports said some ding Twitter, which is blocked in the arrival of Stephen can diplomats have have been stalled for a yet to take sufficient students and at least one pro- China. Biegun in Beijing yes- said nothing to indica- decade. steps to meet its sta- fessor had come out against In a tweet, Fudan professor of terday during a swing te that would happen. On Sunday, Pyon- ted commitment to the decision, actions that could modern Chinese history Sun Pei- through the region. China, North Korea’s gyang said it success- diplomacy and denu- have a serious impact on their dong said the move was in line Biegun had offered most important diplo- fully performed ano- clearization — we are future academic prospects and with enduring party attempts to to meet with North matic ally and biggest ther “crucial test” at disturbed that almost careers. assert control over academia. Korean officials during source of investment its long-range rocket two years after the Sin- Since assuming control of “As a professor of the PRC a stop in South Korea and financial support, launch site that will gapore Summit your the party in 2012, Xi has em- history at Fudan University, I but received no public has long pushed for further strengthen its administration has yet phasized the need to guard am surprised by people’s asto- response from Pyon- both bilateral discus- nuclear deterrent. to develop a workable against Western liberal demo- nishment towards the bylaws’ gyang. Some in the sions between Washin- The test possibly diplomatic process to cratic theories such as freedom amendment by deleting ‘acade- South have speculated gton and Pyongyang involved technologies structure real, serious of speech and academic in- mic independence and freedom that a secret meeting and the restarting of to improve interconti- and sustainable nego- quiry, asserting that all power of thought’ and pledging the could happen in Bei- six-nation nuclear di- nental ballistic missiles tiations with North Ko- and authority accrue to the loyalty to (Chinese Communist jing although Ameri- sarmament talks that that could potentially rea,” the letter said. AP party. Party) leadership,” he wrote. AP page 28 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo ASIA PACIFIC 亞太 20.12.2019 fri

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INDIA Gov’t bans public protests to quell rising anger against citizenship law ARCHANA CHAUDHARY ties and towns against the Citi- about 800 students and citizens zenship Amendment Act that sang songs and chanted slogans NDIAN authorities have im- bars undocumented Muslims against Modi and his Home Mi- Iposed curfew-like restric- BLOOMBERG from neighboring Pakistan, nister Amit Shah. Srishti Parihar, tions across vast swathes of the Bangladesh and Afghanistan a 19-year-old student at Delhi’s country and shut down internet from seeking citizenship while Miranda House college, said she services in parts of the capital allowing in migrants from other was angry. “I will convert to Is- New Delhi as Prime Minister religions. lam if that’s what it takes to pro- Narendra Modi’s government About 100 police personnel tect fellow Muslim citizens,” she tries to quell nationwide protes- in bullet-proof jackets, holding said. “We will stand with each ts against his controversial reli- sticks, stood at the Red Fort and other and sink with each other.” gion-based citizenship law. another main square in central Since the law was passed on The entire state of Uttar Pra- Delhi to stop people from mar- Dec. 11, protests have spread desh - with a population of 200 ching toward the Parliament. At across the nation, raising fears million it’s about the size of Bra- least two buses were loaded with it would damage India’s tradi- zil - has been placed under a protesters who were dropped off tional secular ethos enshrined law banning gatherings of more on the city’s outskirts to prevent in its Constitution that treats all than four people as has the te- the marches. Many roads were religions on par. ch-hub of Bengaluru as well as closed to stop the demonstra- The new law is seen as a pre- parts of the capital New Delhi. tions, leading to traffic chaos. cursor to the government’s plan Protests have begun again this ternet shutdowns, with services state of Haryana tweeted an “I saw many protesters being to implement a nationwide ci- afternoon in 13 major cities cut 134 times overall and 93 ti- advisory to avoid “non-essen- taken away in buses,” said Sa- tizens register to weed out ille- around the country - the eighth mes so far this year, according to tial” travel to New Delhi, saying naul Zaidi, 54-year-old char- gal migrants. Demonstrations day of unrest that’s posing the the Delhi-based Software Free- the capital’s borders have been tered accountant who’d trave- first began in the eastern state biggest challenge to Modi’s go- dom Law Center. The longest sealed, while 18 metro stations led more than 20 kilometers to of Assam where there are fears vernment since he was elected shutdown has been recorded were also shut. The police chief join the demonstrations. “But the new law will allow an influx in 2014. in Kashmir, the country’s only in Uttar Pradesh, ruled by Mo- it’s heartening to see so many of migrants from neighboring At least two major service pro- Muslim-majority territory, whe- di’s Bharatiya Janata Party, re- turn up to raise their voices. Bangladesh. Some 1.9 million viders confirmed on Twitter the re the block has been in place corded a video telling parents We can’t let people with ulterior people in Assam - many of them internet block was implemented since August when the govern- to stop their kids from joining motives to carry away our coun- Muslims - risk losing their In- “as per instructions from the go- ment scrapped the state’s deca- protests. try in the wrong direction.” dian citizenship after the state vernment.” India recorded the des-old autonomy. Marches are expected to take At Jantar Mantar, not far enforced the citizens register in world’s highest number of in- Police in the neighboring place across a dozen Indian ci- from the Parliament, a crowd of August. BLOOMBERG ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 29 fri 20.12.2019 亞太 ASIA PACIFIC

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PHILIPPINES Ex-politicians found guilty in 2009 massacre RUTH POLLARD Francisco Lara, sociology lecturer & ANDREO CALONZO at the University of the Philippi- nes who specializes in political BLOOMBERG WO senior members of economy of conflict and has writ- one of southern Phili- ten about the Maguindanao mas- ppines’ most powerful sacre. “This is going to be a critical political clans have been juncture in our history,” he said. Tfound guilty of the world’s single It will also have an impact on deadliest attack on journalists, 10 the dynamics between the state years after 58 people, including 32 and clans, Lara said. “The clans members of the media, were shot will see that there’s a possibility of to death and buried in a shallow getting justice from the center, so grave. it weakens them. They will realize Nearly 30 suspects, including that justice can be rendered not the two main accused -- former just by clans, but by the state.” mayor Andal “Datu Unsay” Am- Still, 80 suspects are still at patuan Jr and his brother, Zaldy large, and at least 50 of those -- were sentenced by a local court were close security detail for An- to up to 40 years in prison for ha- dal Ampatuan Jr, Human Rights ving “acted as principals” in the Watch said in a statement. Since crime, according to a copy of the the trial started in 2010, victims’ decision posted on the Supre- families and media groups have me Court website. Fifteen others reported harassment and threa- were sentenced to up to 10 years ges when the trial began in 2010, of election violence in the Phili- President Rodrigo Duterte’s ts, forcing the family of one of the in jail for being accessories to the with their defense focusing on the ppines’ history, the Nov. 23 2009 spokesman Salvador Panelo said journalist victims to seek asylum crime. supposed lack of evidence directly massacre followed decades of the ruling should be respected, abroad. More than 50 defendants were linking them to the massacre. escalating clan violence, entren- and that the government will “This verdict should prompt the acquitted, as their alleged invol- Prosecutors say the massacre, ched corruption and political ki- work for the protection of journa- country’s political leaders to finally vement in the crime were not pro- allegedly carried out by the Am- ckbacks. Key members of the Am- lists. “While the promulgation of act to end state support for “private ven beyond reasonable doubt, ac- patuan’s private army on a convoy patuan family, including Andal judgment in the case is done, the armies” and militias that promo- cording to the decision. The court that included opposition politi- Ampatuan Jr and his father, the narrative on the protection of me- tes the political warlordism that also ordered that damages be paid cian Esmael Mangudadatu’s wife Maguindanao Governor, Andal dia workers is far from over.” gave rise to the Ampatuans,” Phil to the victims’ families. and sisters, was connected to pro- Ampatuan Sr, who has since died, The guilty verdict will have a Robertson, deputy Asia director of The Ampatuan brothers plea- vincial elections. were charged and removed from “dampening effect” on clan feuds Human Rights Watch said in a sta- ded not guilty to the murder char- One of the worst incidents their posts. in southern Philippines, said tement yesterday. BLOOMBERG ad page 30 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo WORLD 國際 20.12.2019 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Trump impeached on charges of abuse of power, obstruction LISA MASCARO & MARY CLARE Pelosi declared after the vote. She JALONICK, WASHINGTON called it “great day for the Constitu-

tion of the United States, a sad one AP PHOTO RESIDENT Donald Trump for America that the president’s was impeached by the U.S. reckless activities necessitated us House of Representatives, having to introduce articles of im- becoming only the third peachment.” PAmerican chief executive to be Trump, who began tweeting his formally charged under the Cons- anger at the proceedings, pumped titution’s ultimate remedy for high his fist before an evening rally in crimes and misdemeanors. Battle Creek, Michigan, boasting The historic vote split along of “tremendous support” in the party lines early yesterday [Macau Republican Party and saying, “By time], much the way it has divided the way it doesn’t feel like I’m being the nation, over a charge that the impeached.” 45th president abused the power The votes for impeachment of his office by enlisting a foreign were 230-197-1 on the first charge, government to investigate a politi- 229-198-1 on the second. cal rival ahead of the 2020 election. Democrats led the voting, fra- The House then approved a second med in what many said was their charge, that he obstructed Con- duty to protect the Constitution gress in its investigation. and uphold the nation’s system of viction. While Democrats had the ship to follow the effort to its House a Republican, and Collin Peterson The articles of impeachment, checks and balances. Republicans majority in the House to impeach conclusion. of Minnesota voted against im- the political equivalent of an in- stood by their party’s leader, who Trump, Republicans control the No Republicans voted for im- peaching Trump. On the second dictment, now go to the Senate for has frequently tested the bounds of Senate and few if any are expected peachment, and Democrats had article, obstruction, those two and trial. If Trump is acquitted by the civic norms. Trump called the who- to diverge from plans to acquit the only slight defections on their side. freshman Rep. Jared Golden of Republican-led chamber, as expec- le affair a “witch hunt,” a “hoax” president ahead of early state elec- Voting was conducted manually Maine voted against. Democra- ted, he still would have to run for and a “sham,” and sometimes all tion-year primary voting. with ballots, to mark the moment. tic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, reelection carrying the enduring three. Pelosi, once reluctant to lead On the first article, abuse of who is running for president, voted stain of impeachment on his pur- The trial is expected to begin in Democrats into a partisan impea- power, two Democrats, Jeff Van “present” on both. posely disruptive presidency. January in the Senate, where a vote chment, gaveled both votes closed, Drew of New Jersey, who is consi- What Pelosi called a sad and “The president is impeached,” of two-thirds is necessary for con- risking her majority and speaker- dering switching parties to become solemn moment for the country, ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 31 fri 20.12.2019 國際 WORLD

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Hunter, who worked on the board Beyond the impeachments of of a gas company in Ukraine while Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, his father was the vice president. this first impeachment of the 21st Trump has repeatedly implored century is as much about what the Trump impeached on charges of abuse of power, obstruction Americans to read the transcript president might do in the future as coming in the first year after De- oversight like “no president” in U.S. interference in the U.S. election. of the call he said was “perfect.” what he did in the past. The inves- mocrats swept control of the Hou- history. Democrats drew from history, But the facts it revealed, and those tigation of Richard Nixon ended se, unfolded in a caustic daylong “President Trump, by such con- the founders and their own expe- in an anonymous whistleblower’s when he resigned rather than face session that showcased the nation’s duct, has demonstrated that he will riences, as minorities, women and complaint that sparked the probe, the House vote over Watergate. divisions. remain a threat to national security some immigrants to the U.S. spoke are largely undisputed. Rank and file Democrats said The House impeachment reso- and the Constitution if allowed to of seeking to honor their oath of More than a dozen current and they were willing to lose their jobs lution laid out in stark terms the remain in office,” it said. office to uphold the Constitution. former White House officials and to protect the democracy from articles of impeachment against Republicans argued that Demo- Rep. Lou Correa of California spoke diplomats testified for hours in Trump. Some newly elected fresh- Trump stemming from his July crats were impeaching Trump be- in Spanish asking God to unite the impeachment hearings. The open men remained in the chamber for phone call when he asked the cause they can’t beat him in 2020. nation. “In America,” said Hakeem and closed sessions under oath re- hours during the debate. Ukrainian president for a “favor” Said Rep. Chris Stewart of Utah: Jeffries of New York, “no one is abo- vealed what one called the “irregu- Top Republicans, including Rep. — to announce he was investiga- “They want to take away my vote ve the law.” lar channel” of foreign policy run Devin Nunes on the Intelligen- ting Democrats including potential and throw it in the trash.” Republicans aired Trump-sty- by Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy ce Committee, called the Ukrai- 2020 rival Joe Biden. But Democrats warned the le grievances about what Arizona Giuliani, which focused on inves- ne probe little more than a poor At the time, Zelenskiy, new country cannot wait for the next Rep. Debbie Lesko called a “rigged” tigating the Bidens and alternative sequel to special counsel Robert to politics and government, was election to decide whether Trump process. theories of 2016 election interfe- Mueller’s investigation of Russian seeking a coveted White House vi- should remain in office because he “We face this horror because of rence. interference in the 2016 election. sit to show backing from the U.S. has shown a pattern of behavior, this map,” said Rep. Clay Higgins of The question for lawmakers was Mueller spent two years inves- as he confronted a hostile Russia particularly toward Russia, and will Alabama before a poster of red and whether the revelations amounted tigating the potential links be- at his border. He was also counting try to corrupt U.S. elections again. blue states. “They call this Republi- to impeachable offenses. tween Moscow and the Trump on $391 million in military aid al- “The president and his men plot can map flyover country, they call Few lawmakers crossed party campaign but testified in July that ready approved by Congress. The on,” said Chairman Adam Schiff, us deplorables, they fear our faith, lines. his team could not establish that White House delayed the funds, D-Calif., of the Intelligence Com- they fear our strength, they fear our Van Drew, who is considering Trump conspired or coordinated but Trump eventually released the mittee that led the inquiry. “The unity, they fear our vote, and they changing parties over his opposi- with Russia to throw the election. money once Congress intervened. danger persists. The risk is real.” fear our president.” tion to impeachment, sat with Re- Mueller did say he could not exo- Narrow in scope but broad in its The outcome brings the Trump The political fallout from the publicans. Rep. Justin Amash, the nerate Trump of trying to obstruct charges, the impeachment resolu- presidency to a milestone moment vote will reverberate across an al- Michigan conservative who left the the investigation, but he left that tion said the president “betrayed that has been building almost from ready polarized country with diver- Republican party and became an for Congress to decide. the nation by abusing his high the time the New York business- gent views of Trump’s July phone independent over impeachment, The next day, Trump called office to enlist a foreign power in man-turned-reality-TV host une- call when he asked Zelenskiy to said: “I come to this floor, not as a Ukraine. Not quite four months corrupting democratic elections,” xpectedly won the White House in investigate Democrats in the 2016 Republican, not as a Democrat, but later, a week before Christmas, and then obstructing Congress’ 2016 amid questions about Russian election, Biden and Biden’s son as an American.” Trump was impeached. AP

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TV canal macau cinema this day in history 07:55 Cerimónia Comemorativa do 20º Aniversário do cineteatro Estabelecimento da RAEM (Directo) 19 - 25 Dec 08:20 RTPi Directo 09:45 Cerimónia da Celebração do 20º Aniversário do Retorno de Macau à Pátria e da Tomada de Posse do Quinto Governo da RAEM (Directo) 12:00 RTPi Directo 13:00 TDM News (Repetição) 13:30 Telejornal RTPi (Diferido) 15:00 Uma Família no Sapatinho 16:30 Um Porto Para o Mundo 17:50 Tec Net 18:00 Império (Repetição) STAR WARS:THE RISE OF SKYWALKER 18:50 TDM Talk Show (Repetição) room 1 19:25 Livros com João Guedes (Repetição) 2:15, 7:00, 9:45pm Room 2 19:30 Ouro Verde Sr.1 4:30 20:30 Telejornal Director: J. J. Abrams 21:10 Macau 20 Anos - Fim Starring: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamil, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley Language: English 21:35 Viagens em Série Duration: 141min 1995 ‘Divorce’: Queen 22:00 Solteira e Boa Rapariga to Charles and Diana 22:25 Império 23:15 TDM News The Queen has urged the Prince and Princess of 23:50 Filme da Treta Wales to seek “an early divorce”. Buckingham Palace said the Queen called for an end 01:25 Telejornal (Repetição) to the marriage in a letter to each of them earlier this 02:15 RTPi Directo week. It is understood the prince has replied in agreement with his mother but the princess has yet to respond, according to a Palace spokesman. “After considering the present situation the Queen wrote to both the prince and princess earlier this week and gave them her view, supported by the Duke of Edinburgh, that an early divorce is desirable,” the spokesman said. MY TYRANO: TOGETHER FOREVER “The Prince of Wales also takes this view and has made room 1 this known to the Princess of Wales since the letter. 5:00 “The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will continue Director: Kobun Shizumo to do all they can to help and support the Prince and Starring: Kaori Ishihara, Shin’ichirô Miki, Aoi Yûki Princess of Wales, and most particularly their children, Language: Cantonese in this difficult period.” Duration: 108min The Queen’s action comes just weeks after the prin- cess’s interview on Panorama which sparked a national debate on the future of the monarchy. In it she said she did not want a divorce and claimed there were “three people” in their marriage because of Charles’ friendship with Camilla Parker Bowles. Diana was also repeatedly critical of her husband’s ability to become king, his family, and their advisers and Offbeat also admitted committing adultery herself. Constitutional experts have said divorce would mean Police: Marijuana Christmas gifts the Princess of Wales could never become queen. sniffed out at airport The prime minister and senior Privy Councillors have backed the Queen’s decision after prolonged private talks over the last two weeks. Buckingham Palace’s announcement followed discus- sions between the Queen and the Prime Minister. Mr Major, who announced the couple’s original se- BOMBSHELL paration in the Commons in 1992, will make a further room 2 statement to MPs once divorce proceedings are under 2:30, 7:30, 9:30 pm way. Director: Jay Roach Starring: Charlize theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie Courtesy BBC News Language: English Duration: 108min

A man who may have been dreaming of a “green” Christ- mas found himself inside the gray walls of a Tennessee jail. According to court documents, state police caught Somphone Temmeraj, 57, with more than 80 pounds of marijuana disguised as Christmas gifts at Nashville Inter- In context national Airport this week, news outlets reported. The “fairytale” marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales Officers and a K-9 smelled a strong odor of marijuana co- ended with a “decree nisi” on 28 August 1996. ming from three bags, according to the documents. The It was a far cry from their lavish wedding at St Paul’s Cathe- officers said they saw Temmeraj pick up the bags and load dral 15 years earlier, witnessed by a television audience of them onto a cart. millions. Temmeraj allowed officers to search the bags, which As part of the divorce settlement Diana was stripped of were filled with what appeared to be wrapped Christmas her royal title - HRH - and instead became known as Diana, gifts. The items were actually filled with vacuum-sealed Princess of Wales. bags of marijuana weighing 84 pounds (38 kilograms), au- JUMANJI, THE NEXT LEVEL It is understood she was awarded a £17m lump sum and thorities said. room 3 £350,000 a year to run her private office, while Diana and 2:30, 4:45, 7:15, 9:30pm Charles agreed to share custody of their sons. Temmeraj had flown to Nashville from Seattle, the docu- Director: Jake Kasdan Almost exactly a year later Diana died in a car crash with her ments state. He was booked into jail and bonded out Tues- Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillian companion Dodi Fayed in Paris. day morning, according to online records. It’s unclear whe- Language: English Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in April 2005. ther he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. Duration: 123min www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 33 fri 20.12.2019 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 Have no fear! The best way to get Right now, the colorful cast of a lot done today is by asking other characters in your life is incredibly people for help. Sure, it seems like entertaining—so why not put an obvious idea, but reaching out together some sort of fun social for a helping hand is not exactly event? Put together a group picnic something you enjoy doing. or a dinner out.

Gemini Cancer

May. 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 Rather than letting yourself You know more than you think get nervous about your money you know, so don’t let anyone keep situation, just play it safe and stay you from saying what you think tight with your cash—just in case. about a certain political situation It’s a good idea to get in the habit today. They can’t intimidate you of tightening your belt. anymore. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sep. 22 Easy Easy+ CHINA You’ll get into a nice rhythm and Striving to attain a perfect balance Beijing 9 clear be able to get in some quality in your life is a good idea, but in -2 time with a couple of your the end, it may be futile. Certain Harbin -17 -4 clear favorite people before the sun things will always come before goes down. There are a few new certain other things, and there is Tianjin 2 11 clear developments in a loved one’s life. no getting around that. Urumqi -3 7 clear Xi’an 17 clear Libra Scorpio 5 Lhasa 0 19 cloudy Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chengdu 10 16 clear Small but numerous scheduling Today is a very good day for Chongqing 12 20 cloudy conflicts will push you very close you to get the results you try to to the edge today—but not over achieve—whatever they may Kunming 9 21 clear it. Your flexibility will come to be. So, early this morning, you Nanjing 23 cloudy the rescue yet again, enabling should pick a goal and stick to it 7 you to roll with all the punches. throughout the day. Shanghai 12 20 cloudy Wuhan 8 24 clear Sagittarius Capricorn Medium Hard Hangzhou 9 22 clear Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Taipei 17 21 cloudy When did you get the idea that Before the late afternoon, a Guangzhou 14 27 clear having doubt in your life was a rather shocking announcement bad thing? Sure, it might cause will stop everyone in their tracks. Hong Kong 20 25 cloudy you to pause your progress, but And while other people may be questioning where you are going overreacting to the situation, you is always a healthy thing to do. might be under-reacting. WORLD Aquarius Pisces Moscow -1 4 clear Frankfurt 0 6 drizzle Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Paris 2 9 moderate rain Getting more exercise is a lot Highbrow types of art and easier than you might think—and literature are much more London 7 9 drizzle it can be a lot of fun. All you have accessible to you right now, and to do is get started, and then keep your mind is intrigued by the idea New York -3 1 cloudy on going! The universe is sending of flowery prose and intricate some motivation your way. poetry.

CROSSWORDS USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

ACROSS: 1-Mitch Miller’s instrument; 5- Sonny boy; 8- Eye problem; 12- Some donations; 13- Cheroot, e.g.; 15- Stuck in ___; 16- Gather, harvest; 17- Alley Oop’s girlfriend; 18- DEA agent; 19- Encircling; 22- Utmost degree; 23- Hostelry; 24- Places of refuge; 26- Up-to-the-minute; 29- Without delay; 31- Joplin piece; 32- Emergency calls 999 Taxi 28 939 939 / 2828 3283 Toledo title; 34- Alerts; 36- Frozen waffle brand; 38- Unfettered; 40- Compassion; 41- Plants with fronds; 43- Implements; 45- Pickup truck feature; 46- Ebb; 48- Fire department 28 572 222 Water Supply – Report 2822 0088 Less messy; 50- Shrivelled, without moisture; 51- Struggle; 52- Distress signal; 54- Magical incantation; 61- Coloured part of the eye; 63- Fortune-telling cards; PJ (Open line) 993 Telephone – Report 1000 64- Authenticating mark; 65- Tough soap; 66- Grocery, e.g.; 67- “The ___ Dead”, classic horror movie; 68- Margarine; 69- Baa maid?; 70- Dict. entries; PJ (Picket) 28 557 775 Electricity – Report 28 339 922

DOWN: 1- Rowing implements; 2- Cordon ___; 3- General Bradley; 4- Lively wit; PSP 28 573 333 Macau Daily Times 28 716 081 5- Large cat; 6- Yes, there is ___!; 7- Limp watch painter; 8- Japanese honorific; 9- Make a written copy; 10- Mongol Customs 28 559 944 tent; 11- Draw with acid; 13- Advice; Yesterday’s solution 14- Charged toward; 20- Till stack; 21- S. J. Hospital 28 313 731 Increase in size; 25- Sack starter; 26-

Pilsner; 27- Boldly assertive; 28- Govt. Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com Kiang Wu Hospital 28 371 333 security; 29- Bad lighting?; 30- Step inside; 31- Flag thrower; 33- “Hollywood Commission Against Squares” win; 35- Barrett of Pink Floyd; 37- Measure twice, cut ___; 39- Lift up; Corruption (CCAC) 28326 300 42- Word repeated in a Doris Day song; 44- Aforementioned; 47- Sums owing; IAM 28 387 333 49- Rides; 52- Missile housing; 53- Tough test; 55- Appraise, charge per unit; 56- In Tourism 28 333 000 ranks; 57- Apple throwaway; 58- Group of birds; 59- Drops from the sky; 60- ___ Airport 59 888 88 well...; 62- ___ Paulo, Brazil;

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ment with her husband, a job she said has allowed them to send their daughter to college in Florida and Puerto Rico cockfighters go to paid for the education of their son, who is now an engineer. They feared the federal ban would sink them financially, es- ring in federal ban defiance pecially given that Puerto Rico is mired in a 13-year recession as it DÁNICA COTO, TOA BAJA struggles to recover from Hurrica- ne Maria and tries to restructure a

ELIPE Espinal walked into AP PHOTO portion of its more than $70 billion his cockfighting establish- public debt load. ment yesterday [Macau “I told my husband we would time] in the northern town have to sell water at stoplights,” Fof Toa Baja and held up a white pen Báez said. in triumph as he recorded the mo- While cockfighters and govern- ment with his cellphone. ment officials in Puerto Rico cele- The crowd hushed as he cried brated the defiance of the federal out: “This is the pen that said we ban, animal activists like Wayne can keep fighting gamecocks!” Pacelle, founder of the Washing- Hours earlier, Puerto Rico Gov. ton-based Animal Wellness Action, Wanda Vázquez signed a bill au- lamented the move. thorizing cockfighting in defiance Pacelle said he believes the es- of a federal ban that goes into effect timate of cockfighting’s economic Friday. She was surrounded by Es- impact for Puerto Rico is inflated pinal and other cockfighters who and dismisses arguments that the cheered the decision, some even activity is a tradition for the island. crying, relieved, if only temporarily, “Just because people are enthu- that the island’s 400-year-old tradi- siastic about their sport does not tion was still alive. mean it’s part of their culture,” he “We can now live in peace,” ved the 2018 Farm Bill last Decem- It was the Spanish conquista- of Puerto Rico’s Cockfighting Com- said. “There is something gratui- said Tony Rojas, who takes cares of ber. It contained the Parity in Ani- dors who brought cockfighting to mission, a part of the island’s De- tous about cockfighting that of- 100 gamecocks for a living. “I’m 65 mal Cruelty Enforcement Act that Puerto Rico, where it cut through partment of Recreation and Sports. fends the sensibilities of people.” years old. Who’s going to hire me? aimed to end cockfighting in U.S. race and social classes, according Mora was among the roughly 50 PETA Latino also rejected the Nobody wants me even for clea- territories, giving them one year to to documents that local historian people attending cockfights at Es- governor’s move, saying it defied ning floors. I couldn’t sleep wonde- comply. The practice was already Juan Llanes filed in 2014 with the pinal’s establishment in Toa Baja, a modern standards of ethics and ring what was going to happen.” illegal in all 50 U.S. states but is still U.S. National Register of Historic town whose first cockfighting are- compassion. The group accused The U.S. territory of 3.2 million widely practiced in other U.S. juris- Places. na was founded in 1786. local government officials of pro- people has 71 cockfighting estab- dictions including Puerto Rico. “Through their birds, in the are- Cheers filled the air every time tecting a “cruel industry.” lishments in 45 municipalities li- The move made many officials na, slaves could defeat their mas- a cock gouged its opponent’s Some Puerto Rico legislators censed by the island’s Department in Puerto Rico bristle at what they ters, blacks could defeat whites, eyes out or stepped on its head in believe the fight over the island’s of Sports and Recreation. Officials viewed as another intrusion by the Criollos could defeat Peninsula- triumph after it collapsed and died effort to avoid the federal ban will estimate the industry generates federal government. After all, cock- res,” he wrote. following intense battles that lasted end up in court. $18 million a year and employs fighting was legalized in 1933 by a Cockfighting grew so popular it less than two minutes. Those that And many cockfighting enthu- some 27,000 people such as Rojas, Puerto Rico governor from Kentu- even prompted a Roman Catho- died were thrown into a black plas- siasts insist a ban would only drive noting that jobs range from judges cky who sought to attract U.S. tou- lic bishop in 1750 to prohibit co- tic bag to be doused with gasoline, events underground again. to technicians who clean game- rists to the island. That move ended ckfights at certain times because set on fire and later buried. Cockfighters like Sigfredo Rive- cocks and feed them papaya after 34 years of underground fighting church attendance had dropped, Sitting in the crowd was Yea- ra vowed to keep participating as fights to those who secure plastic that began when the U.S. govern- Llanes says. dealeaucks Báez, a teacher and much as possible. spurs on cocks before every fight. ment banned the practice in May “The gamecock sport in Puerto only one of three women at the “You have no idea how depressed Many of them feared for their 1899 after it defeated Spain and oc- Rico is not going to disappear,” said event. She works in the kitchen of we were,” he said of the federal ban. livelihoods when Congress appro- cupied Puerto Rico. Gerardo Mora, executive director a nearby cockfighting establish- “I didn’t quit, and I won’t quit.” AP

SAILING Aussie Blair to share message on Climate Action Now ISA Blair thought nature nautical miles away, there Boxing Day start of the an- ding back up to the finish in Lhad thrown just about was a Styrofoam box floa- nual Sydney to Hobart blue the Derwent River. everything at her as she sai- ting past with a bird sitting water classic. Blair was the first woman AP PHOTO led the high seas. on it,” she added. “This is “It was really hear- to sail solo around Antarc- That was until, so- like one of the most raw, tbreaking to see that,” Blair tica, and the first woman mewhere between Australia untouched environments said of the pollution. “I to sail solo and non-stop and Indonesia, “I saw a kit- on the planet, and there’s wanted to utilize the plat- around Australia. chen sink float past.” rubbish.” form that I’d get through my Blair was a latecomer to She’s been angered by Raising more awareness sailing to encourage people sailing, having grown up the sheer volume of plastic of environmental issues to make positive change. near the hinterland town and debris she’s seen in the and encouraging more wo- Inspire the next generation of Nambour on Australia’s ocean at other times while men to get into sailing will to think about what we can Sunshine Coast, living on standing watch, or at the be two of Blair’s main goals do as individuals.” an off-grid property nestled helm. when she joins Jackie Parry The 680-mile Sydney- into rain forest. “It’s just disgusting to aboard the d’Albora Cli- -Hobart tracks down the In her 20s, during uni- see,” the 35-year-old Aus- mate Action Now to be the east coast of Australia and versity holidays, she got a tralian skipper said. first all-female, two-person the southern island state job as the cook and cleaner “At one point, in the mi- team to race in the 49th of Tasmania. The 435-mile on a charter yacht. She en- ddle of the Southern Ocean, edition of the Melbourne to Melbourne-Hobart goes ded up doing the Clipper with no land anywhere clo- Hobart yacht race. down the west coast of Tas- Round the World Yacht se by, the nearest piece of The race starts Dec. 27, mania, dips into the Sou- Race and after that she was humanity was about 3,000 the day after the traditional thern Ocean, before win- hooked. AP the When Xi met Lam in Macau BUZZ Chinese President Xi Jinping met yesterday with curity and the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ po- Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong licy framework. Special Administrative Region, amid the celebra- At the start of the week, Lam had traveled to tions of the 20th anniversary of the handover of Beijing to update Xi and other senior mainland Macau. The content of the discussion between Xi officials on the situation in Hong Kong. Last and Lam was not disclosed yesterday. weekend, Lam told the press in Hong Kong that The embattled Hong Kong leader also joined the purpose of her visit was to “give a full ac- OPINION a dinner last night where Xi Jinping delivered a count of what has happened in Hong Kong over Editorial speech stressing the importance of national se- the past year.” Paulo Coutinho

Sri Lanka President ‘Poster boy’ turns 20 NEW SOUTH WALES Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that he has “Patriotic education lays a solid social become the victim in the alleged abduction of a Swiss and political foundation for Macau to Australia’s most Embassy employee who implement the ‘one country, two systems’ was reportedly threatened principle and guides its practice to always populous state declares and sexually abused to proceed in the correct direction.” disclose embassy-related Xi Jinping, yesterday information. Rajapaksa wildfire emergency said reports of the alleged abduction appeared in Xi Jinping is in Macau for the 20th anniversary foreign media before the celebrations of the Macau Special Administrati- facts were established, ve Region, the “serious student” when compared AP PHOTO and critics accused his to her sister SAR. The question is, what are we government of carrying it celebrating? out. Mostly, economic achievements. Macau is the world champion of gaming, of Sudan Amnesty International GDP per capita (almost top), and it is integrating yesterday urged Sudan’s new quickly into the Greater Bay Area. A dream come transitional government to true when it comes to Xinhua’s perspective of the deliver on popular demands “one country, two systems” formula. “Macau has for sweeping change as been transformed into a prosperous cosmopo- the country marked the lis with a rapidly developing economy, modern first anniversary of mass infrastructures and a promising social welfare protests that led to the system.” ouster of former president The numbers are, indeed, staggering. and longtime autocrat Omar In two decades, GDP grew nine-fold from al-Bashir. MOP55 billion to MOP444.7 billion, mean sa- lary went from roughly 4,000 to 18,000 patacas, unemployment is down from 6.5% in the year AP PHOTO 2000 to the most current 1.8% - a number, eco- nomists deem to be full employment. GDP per TRISTAN LAVALETTE, AP authorities were concerned Wildfires are also bur- capita, in 2018, reached USD83,000, second only with the unpredictable con- ning in Queensland, South to Qatar. USTRALIA’S most po- ditions. Australia and Western Aus- However, economic indicators are far from Apulous state of New “With extreme wind con- tralia. Algeria’s new president being the ultimate measure of a healthy and ha- South Wales declared a se- ditions, extreme hot tem- The Bureau of Meteoro- pledged yesterday to ppy society. ven-day state of emergen- peratures, we have a good logy said Tuesday was the introduce presidential The late Robert Kennedy puts it better: “[GDP] cy Thursday as oppressive idea, a good sense, of where hottest day on record in term limits and bring more measures everything in short, except that which conditions fanned around the most concerning areas Australia with an average of young people into politics, makes life worthwhile … Measures neither our 100 wildfires. are, but again when you’ve 40.9 Celsius nationwide. as he tries to win over a pro- wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our democracy movement that Around 2,000 firefighters got those turbulent condi- Perth, the capital on the learning, neither our compassion nor our devo- boycotted his election and tion to our country.” were battling the blazes, tions, embers and spot fires west coast, is experiencing forced out his long-serving Probably – that might be a point of contention – half of which remain un- can occur very unpredicta- its hottest December with predecessor. prosperity and wealth matter more in Macau than controlled, with the support bly,” she told reporters. average temperatures for The gas-rich North anywhere else. In casinoland greed commands of U.S. and Canadian ba- Rural Fire Service Com- the month at 36 Celsius and African nation inaugurated life. In business, in politics, even in crime. ckup teams and personnel missioner Shane Fitzsim- seven degrees above the Abdelmadjid Tebboune as We can see it in the rampant speculation on pro- from the Australian Defence mons said five 100-member mean. president yesterday in a pomp-filled ceremony. perty prices. We can see it when lawmakers con- Force. “strike teams” were on stan- Adelaide, in the sou- test a minimum wage for domestic helpers and, The last state of emer- dby to deploy to the most theast, is currently expe- some, propose a higher bus fare for working im- gency ran for seven days dangerous fires. riencing a four-day heatwa- migrants because they “occupy the locals’ space.” in mid-November ve culminating in a AP PHOTO We can see it in the Polytec and Dore scandals. amid “catastrophic” sizzling 45 Celsius Greed is Macau’s ‘middle name,’ or to sweeten 3 million hectares the pill, Macau is “interest-oriented.” fire risk and was the yesterday. The MSAR does have other attributes to show. first implemented of land burnt The unprece- in New South Wales dented conditions Like the recent results of the PISA, school stu- Russia President Vladimir dents’ literacy assessment. Macau ranked third since 2013. Central nationwide in the has reignited de- Putin said yesterday that U.S. in the world. That’s the bright side. If we look at Sydney reached a bate on whether President Donald Trump was the dark side, our students of that age group, 15- maximum of 39 de- past few months, Australia’s conser- impeached for “far-fetched” year olds, are among the unhappiest in the world, grees Celsius today, with 6 people killed vative government reasons, calling the move by according to the same report. And PISA success while outer suburbs has taken enough Democrats a continuation is inversely related to the capacity for critical scorched at 42 Cel- and more than 800 action on climate of their fight against the thinking, as most schools are “interest-oriented” Republican leader. sius. change. Australia and promote blind obedience instead of curious “The party that lost the homes destroyed is the world’s lar- minds. A statewide total (2016) election, the The “good student” identity of the MSAR stems fire ban announced gest exporter of Democratic Party, is trying from here and goes all the way to the dominant on Tuesday will remain in Sydney’s air pollution coal and liquefied natural to achieve results by other class and to the establishment, which usually place until midnight on Sa- levels on Thursday ranged gas. means,” Putin said at his shows a culture of reverence to higher powers. turday. from poor to hazardous. Protesters on Thursday annual news conference in What I fail to understand is why all those jour- Around 3 million hec- During the past month, ha- camped outside Prime Mi- Moscow. nalists from Hong Kong or abroad were barred at tares of land has burnt na- zardous smoke has often nister Scott Morrison’s Sy- the border - in arrivals or departures halls. What tionwide during a torrid blanketed Australia’s most dney residence demanding HOLIDAY TIMES do we have to hide, if it is all so rosy? past few months, with six populous city and made its urgent action on climate Macau Daily Times That is to say, I fail to understand that they pose people killed and more than iconic skyline barely visible. change. a “security threat.” What authorities here and in will not be published 800 homes destroyed. Hospitals have recorded Morrison, who is cur- during the holiday. The the mainland really fear is a change of narrative a 10% increase in visits from rently on holidays, conce- Times will be back on from the official and officious line. Because there The annual Australian fire season, which peaks patients with respiratory ded last week that “climate the stands on Tuesday are many that are discontented. To name a few December 24. However reasons, the rising cost of living, the erosion of during the Southern Hemis- conditions during the past change along with many the MDT website will be autonomy and of the rule of law, the increasing phere summer, started ear- week. other factors” contributed updated with breaking democratic deficit in daily life that is now worse ly after an unusually warm The Australian Medical to the wildfires. news during the recess than when colonial Portugal was in power; which Association has recommen- Cooler temperatures are period. We wish our rea- and dry winter. ders, advertisers and is a historical contradiction. New South Wales Pre- ded people keep hydrated, forecast today before con- friends the best of times. mier Gladys Berejiklian said cool and out of the sun. ditions worsen Saturday. AP