Category Archives: Macau

*By Therese Tu

The SARs Monetary Authority (AMCM) in an announcement today (Wednesday) it requested Bluemount Financial Group Limited (Bluemount Financial) to submit a written reply regarding the suspicion of illegally operating securities transactions amounting to nearly 120 million Hong Kong dollars for a year.

In the announcement, AMCM stated that they believe there are strong indications that Bluemount Financial engaged in financial intermediary activities, including investment transactions in bonds, stocks, funds and other kinds of securities without permission from December 2019 to November 2020, seeking customers and signing contracts with them in Macau with a total of 119,180,000 HK dollar investment.

According to relevant financial laws, the maximum fine for this act could be twice the benefit illegally obtained.

Bluemount Financial was established in Macau with two Hong Kong residents in charge of its business.

On April 8, 2020, AMCM announced that Bluemount Financial has never been granted a license to engage in any financial activities in the SAR.

According to Article 2 Paragraph 1 of the Macau Financial System Act, only licensed financial institutions can engage in financial activities in Macau. Any person or entity that engages in financial activities without permission would constitute particularly serious violation of the law referred in Article 122, paragraph 2, subparagraph b of the Macau Financial System Act and can be fined up to MOP 5 million.

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AMCM urges brokerage firm to respond over HKD120 million unlicensed transactions - Macau Business

*By Therese Tu

Zhuhais Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to exceed 370 billion RMB by the end of 2021 with government future plans to boost the citys GDP to 600 billion RMB in the next five years, according to a recent announcement made in the Ninth Congress of the Communist Party of China in Zhuhai.

The figure accounts for a 6 per cent increase over 2020.

In 2021, the citys GDP rises to the sixth place in Guangdong province, with the per capita GDP reaching to the standard of high-income economy, Secretary of Zhuhai Municipal Party Committee Lv Yuyin stated.

In the next five years, the Zhuhai government expects to boost the citys GDP to 600 billion RMB.

In the same congress, Zhuhai government proposed to vigorously develop the real economy, advanced manufacturing, information technology industry, new energy industry, biomedicine-based health industry, cosmetics-based fine chemical industry, smart home appliance industry, marine equipment, port logistics, and digital economy .

Also, Zhuhai authorities proposed to fully support the construction of Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone Hengqin, lead the development of the cooperation between Zhuhai and Macau and deepen the collaboration between the Greater Bay Area cities.

Mr Lv said that Zhuhai will make efforts to innovate customs entry arrangements and make good use of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, to promote the policies of Macau vehicles northward and Hong Kong vehicles northward.

Zhuhaialso hopes to build the city into an important transportation hub in the Greater Bay Area, accelerating the establishment of an international port at Zhuhai Airport, the construction of the citys second airport and the construction of the third phase of the Gaolan Port Container Terminal.

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Zhuhai GDP set to expand by 6 per cent in 2021 - Macau Business

Cabo Verde registered 172 people infected with the new coronavirus responsible for theCovid-19 pandemic in the last 24 hours, the highest daily record since May, according to data released by theministry ofhealth.

The archipelagos virology laboratories have processed 1,366 samples since Monday also a multi-month high with an overall positivity rate for the new coronavirus of 12.6%.

The previous maximum number of new daily cases had been recorded on 28 May (183 newly infected).

CaboVerde has returned to contingency status in the face of increased cases ofCovid-19, banning New Years Eve parties in the streets, the prime minister announced.

It is for the good of everyones health. Itis for the good of protecting employment, income and economic activity that the government is taking these measures, in the conviction that if we do not act now, it will be worse for everyone, Ulisses Correia e Silva said during a message to the country from the Government Palace in Praia, in which he announced the new measures.

Cabo Verde has had atotal of 39,345 cases of infection by SARS-CoV-2 since 19 March 2020 (when the first infected person was diagnosed in the archipelago), spread across all 22 municipalities of the nine inhabited islands, according to data from the ministry of health.

Covid-19 has caused more than 5.40 million deaths worldwide since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest report by Agence France-Presse.

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Cabo Verde: Highest number of daily infections since May - Macau Business

In his message for the New Year, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged everyone to strive for recovery that benefits people, the planet, and prosperity.

The world welcomes 2022 with our hopes for the future being tested by deepening poverty and worsening inequality an unequal distribution of COVID vaccines climate commitments that fall short, and by ongoing conflict, division, and misinformation, lamented the top UN official.

These are not just policy tests, but moral and real-life tests, he added.

Yet, these are tests that everyone can pass if we commit to making 2022 a year of recovery for all, said the secretary-general.

Guterres then outlined how recovery should be carried out on each front.

It is imperative that every person be vaccinated against the pandemic, he said.

As for the economic recovery, the UN chief emphasized that wealthier countries must support the developing world with financing, investment, and debt relief.

Meanwhile, to heal the wounds of mistrust and division, he affirmed that a renewed focus should be placed on science, facts, and reason.

While conflict resolution calls for a renewed spirit of dialogue, compromise, and reconciliation, restoring the planet requires climate commitments that parallel the scale and urgency of the crisis, said Guterres.

Furthermore, the UN chief noted that moments of great difficulty can also be moments of great opportunity to come together in solidarity because they offer the chance to unite behind solutions that can benefit all people. And to move forward together, with hope in what our human family can accomplish.

Together, lets make recovery our resolution for 2022, concluded the secretary-general. I wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.

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UN chief urges that recovery be resolution for 2022 - Macau Business

Omicron still poses very high risk and could overwhelm healthcare systems, the WHO warned on Wednesday, as the highly transmissible coronavirus variant fuelled record outbreaks in many countries.

Case numbers have shot up 11 percent globally in the last week, forcing governments from China to Germany and France to find a difficult balance between anti-virus restrictions and the need to keep economies and societies open.

The Netherlands and Switzerland said Omicron had become the dominant strain in their countries,andwhile some studiessuggested it causes milder Covid-19, the World Health Organization urged caution.

The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high, the UN health agency said in its Covid-19 weekly epidemiological update.

Consistent evidence shows that the Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days.

The WHO said early data from Britain, South Africa, and Denmark which currently has the worlds highest rate of infection per person suggested there was a reduced risk of hospitalisation for Omicron compared with Delta.

But it added that further data was needed to understand Omicrons severity.

And despite those studies, Omicrons rapid growth will still result in large numbers of hospitalisations, particularly amongst unvaccinated groups, and cause widespread disruption to health systems and other critical services, warned WHO Europes Covid Incident Manager Catherine Smallwood.

Painful restrictions

Europe was again one of the hotspots for the pandemic, which is known to have claimed more than 5.4 million lives around the world.

France, Britain, Greece and Portugal all reported record daily case numbers on Tuesday. France reported almost 180,000 infections over 24 hours.

To hold back the tide, many nations on the continent have brought back curbs with heavy economic and social consequences.

Contact restrictions were in place in Germany for the second year in a row heading into the New Year, as Europes biggest economy shut nightclubs and forced sports competitions behind closed doors.

It also limited private gatherings to 10 vaccinated people or two households where any unvaccinated people are present.

Finland on Tuesday said it would bar unvaccinated foreign travellers from entering. Only residents, essential workers or diplomats will be exempt.

The Nordic country, like Sweden, had begun requiring negative tests for incoming non-resident travellers from Tuesday, a day after Denmark applied the same measure.

But the Belgian governments plans to introduce further restrictions were thwarted as a court suspended an order closing entertainment venues.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo had announced the original measure on December 22 as Belgium saw a sharp increase in the percentage of tests showing the Omicron variant.

Travel chaos

The Covid spikes around the world have caused severe disruptions to travel over the holidays, with thousands of flights cancelled worldwide.

They are also threatening sports events again.

Englands top football league is grappling with record cases, while China has imposed strict lockdowns on millions of people to control the spread of the Delta variant ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Mexico Citys mayor on Tuesday cancelled the capitals massive New Years Eve celebrations as a preventative measure after a rise in Covid-19 cases.

The top American sports leagues have also been hit, as the United States battles a surge fuelled by Omicron, as well as large pockets of unvaccinated people and a lack of access to quick and easy testing.

The US Centers for Disease Control has halved the isolation period for asymptomatic cases to try and limit disruptions and mass labour shortages.

President Joe Biden said the United States was generally well prepared, though some hospitals could be overrun.

As New Yorkers marked Good Riddance Day at Times Square burning pieces of paper representing their worst memories of 2021 many just wanted to say goodbye to Covid-19.

I want to get rid of Covid and quarantines, said teacher Robin Myers on Tuesday.

So that my kids can be normal again and see their friends and be out and be social.

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WHO warns of 'very high' Omicron risk as Covid surges worldwide - Macau Business

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela forged a lifelong bond fighting together to end apartheid in South Africa, even if the two icons did not always agree.

Tutus death on Sunday at 90 plunged South Africa into mourning, eight years after the country lost Mandela, its iconic first black president, following a long battle with illness.

The two men differed in many aspects from stature to tactics, but both separately became Nobel Peace laureates for their roles in ending white-majority rule.

They had a complex relationship based on a similar sense of justice and a true friendship that allowed them to disagree on many things, said political analyst William Gumede.

Tutu, a short and charming Anglican clergyman committed to non-violence, used his religious robes as a shield against the apartheid regime.

Mandela, a tower of calm strength 13 years his senior, instead turned to armed struggle against the countrys rulers, becoming South Africas public enemy number one.

Both men at different points in their lives lived a stones throw away from each other on the same street in Johannesburgs Soweto township.

But they did not meet until they were adults, when Mandela was asked to judge a debate competition in which Tutu was participating before the activist stood trial for treason and sabotage in 1963 and was handed a life sentence.

After Mandela emerged from jail 27 years later as apartheid crumbled, he stayed at Tutus home on his first night of freedom.

A black and white image of the grinning pair taken around that time soon became iconic.

When Mandela became South Africas first black president in 1994, Tutu coined the term Rainbow Nation to describe the country.

At Mandelas request, he retired in 1996 to become head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, embarking on a harrowing journey to reveal the horrors of apartheid.

But as the country transitioned to multiracial democracy, the archbishop did not hesitate to call out his old friend.

Tutu despaired at the high salaries, cars and generous benefits ministers enjoyed during Mandelas single five-year term.

In a 2003 interview, Tutu said Mandelas one flaw was his quite extraordinary degree of loyalty when perhaps he should have shown certain ministers the door while president.

I think that was a major weakness in someone who is practically flawless, he said.

But if he was ever ruffled, Mandela continued to value his friends opinion.

Madiba respected Tutu enough to go back as a friend and ask for his counsel, said Sello Hatang, head of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, using the late presidents clan name.

Tutus weariness towards politicians from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) only increased under Mandelas successors.

He criticised Thabo Mbekis handling of the AIDS crisis and swore never again to vote for the party over rampant corruption under Jacob Zuma.

Relations had soured so much that when Mandela died in 2013 the ANC did not invite Tutu to the burial.

It was only after Tutu objected publicly that he was able to speak at a memorial service in Sowetos Soccer City stadium for the man he said he loved and treasured.

The archbishop lauded Mandela for his commitment to creating a non-racist society and for his lack of bitterness towards his former oppressors.

He held many fond memories, recounting that Mandela spoke excitedly about his Mozambican wife Graca Machel, whom he married in 1998.

His face is glowing, hes one of the best advertisements for love and marriage, he said.

In a tribute to Tutu on Twitter, South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa used Mandelas own words to describe the archbishops impact on South African life.

President Nelson Mandela said of him that his was a voice that was sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid, and seldom without humour, he wrote.

Mandela was a fervent admirer.

I believe that God is waiting for the archbishop. He is waiting to welcome Desmond Tutu with open arms, Mandela said.

If Desmond gets to heaven and is denied entry, then none of the rest of us will get in!

by Claire Doyen

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Tutu & Mandela: sometimes at odds, united against apartheid - Macau Business

Photo taken on Nov. 28, 2021 shows an unearthed ancient winery site in Taocheng District of Hengshui, north Chinas Hebei Province.

A large scale winery site dating back to the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) has been unearthed in north Chinas Hebei Province. (Xinhua)SHIJIAZHUANG, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) A large scale winery site dating back to the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) has been unearthed in north Chinas Hebei Province.

The Hebei provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology said Tuesday tanks for making wine were found in a construction site in Taocheng District, Hengshui City earlier in March. The institute launched an archaeological investigation and excavation between August and November.

Covering an area of about 3,000 square meters, pits, drying fields, underground distillation stoves and a large number of relics including ceramic pieces, metals, glass and shells were unearthed at the site, according to Hu Qiang, who leads the archaeological team.

Archaeologists said the winery site dates back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties to the 1950s. It is the only winery site dating after the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) to be excavated in north China.

The layout, structure and scale of the site are rare in China, giving it high historical and cultural research value, according to the archaeologists.

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Ancient winery site discovered in China's Hebei - Macau Business

Dec 21, 2021 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck 

Macaus Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Elsie Ao Ieong U (pictured),saysthat full vaccination against Covid-19 will be a requirement for any individuals seeking quarantine-free travel between the city and Hong Kong, once such an arrangement is officially launched.

Macau and Hong Kong might have the necessary conditions for resuming travel between the places on a quarantine-free basis, once Hong Kong and the mainland had reached a similar arrangement, said Ms Ao Ieong. She was speaking to reporters on Monday, on the sidelines of an event to mark the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region.

The official said that those applying for quarantine-free travel between Macau and Hong Kong would need to ensure that a minimum of 14 days had elapsed since the second jab of their two-dose Covid-19 vaccination course. A valid nucleic acid test would also be required for those wishing to travel, she added.

Ms Ao Ieong said there would be a quota system for such travel at a trial stage, and individuals would have toregister online on afirst-come, first-served basis. The size ofsuchquota would be set in areasonable proportionto the size of quota available for quarantine-free travel between the mainland and Hong Kong, stated the Secretary.

If conditionsallow,the quota will be gradually increased,she added.

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post media outlet reported last week citing sources that it didnt identify that as many as 3,000 Hong Kong residents a day could be allowed to travel to mainland China under aquarantine-free scheme.

The decision on whether toease travel restrictionsremains with Beijing,but the mainland authoritiesare believed to be keeping a close eye on Guangdong province whichhas seen a recent uptick in Covid-19 cases.

Originally posted here:

GGRAsia Vaccine a must for Macau-HK quarantine-free travel: govt - GGRAsia

W Macau - Studio City exterior

W Macau - Studio City exterior

Living Room

MACAU, Dec. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Melco Resorts & Entertainment, a leading global developer, owner and operator of integrated resort facilities, announced today that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Marriott International to bring the W Hotels Worldwide brand to Studio City Phase 2, the thrilling new cinematically-themed entertainment and leisure destination in Macau.

Scheduled to be open together with Studio City Phase 2 in December 2022, W Macau - Studio City is set to become an iconic addition in the world class leisure destination through its detail-driven, unexpected design, signature Whatever/Whenever service and innovative programming.

Situated in the heart of Cotai, W Macau - Studio City will serve as a buzzing centerpiece for Studio City Phase 2. The development of W Macau - Studio City will complement Studio Citys other hospitality offerings which include one of Asias largest indoor & outdoor water parks, a six-screen Cineplex, residency shows, and state-of-the-art MICE space.

W Macau - Studio City expects to feature 557 guestrooms, including 127 suites and wellness facilities, a spa, fitness center and indoor swimming pool. The hotel is set to amplify Macaus social scene with its high energy public spaces and culinary experiences. Living Room (Ws signature take on the hotel lobby) and WOOBAR will be the social hub for guests to connect, whereas two destination dining venues will offer a luscious menu of international cuisine with an Asian twist and a specialty restaurant featuring the finest Chinese and Portuguese dishes. Guest can look forward to a W Sound Suite, the brands signature with an on-site recording studio. The new hotel will offer a total of 1,100 square meters of event and meeting space.

David Sisk, Chief Operating Officer Macau Resorts of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, said, Melco is thrilled to welcome W Hotels to Studio City and Macau. W Hotels is without a doubt one of the worlds iconic luxury lifestyle brands that will elevate Studio Citys hospitality offerings to a new level. Together we look forward to bringing new experiences to our guests and further strengthen Macaus proposition as a world-class leisure destination.

Story continues

Macaus super-charged energy and unique identity as an entertainment hub, together with its mix of Eastern and Western culture, makes it a natural fit for W Hotels, said Henry Lee, President, Greater China, Marriott International. In line with Marriott International's Brand + Destination development strategy, we are excited to be partnering with Melco Resorts & Entertainment to introduce W Macau - Studio City and bring the brand's luxury lifestyle to Macau.

W Macau - Studio City illustrations:

W Macau - Studio City - Exterior: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/487a512a-154a-4450-9199-a286f9d53ad2

Hotel Lobby: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/828abaa6-5bf7-441f-8146-a54f6ed0bc32

About Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited

The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ: MLCO), is a developer, owner and operator of integrated resort facilities in Asia and Europe. The Company currently operates Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), an integrated resort located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. Its business also includes the Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), which comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. The Company also majority owns and operates Studio City (www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, a Philippine subsidiary of the Company currently operates and manages City of Dreams Manila (www.cityofdreamsmanila.com), an integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. In Europe, the Company is currently developing City of Dreams Mediterranean (www.cityofdreamsmed.com.cy) in the Republic of Cyprus, which is expected to be the largest and premier integrated destination resort in Europe. The Company is currently operating a temporary casino, the first authorized casino in the Republic of Cyprus, and is licensed to operate four satellite casinos (Cyprus Casinos). Upon the opening of City of Dreams Mediterranean, the Company will continue to operate the satellite casinos while operation of the temporary casino will cease. For more information about the Company, please visit http://www.melco-resorts.com.

The Company is strongly supported by its single largest shareholder, Melco International Development Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and is substantially owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is the Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of roughly 7,900 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 138 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit http://www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

About W Hotels Worldwide

Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for over two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, with nearly 60 hotels, W is defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brands provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, the brands super-charged energy celebrates guests endless appetite to discover whats new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. W Hotels Worldwide is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited Chimmy LeungExecutive Director, Corporate Communications Tel: +852 3151 3765Email: chimmyleung@melco-resorts.com

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Melco Announces Partnership with Marriott International to Develop The First W Hotel at Studio City Phase Two in Macau - Yahoo Finance

Forecasts for 2022 in Macau seem to be shaped by doubts and consensus with regards the citys core industry, according to experts. The doubts concern whether the gaming concessions tender will move ahead next year, while the consensus signals virtually an end to the citys junket VIP gambling model.

Gaming expert Carlos Lobo was an advisor to the Macau Government who participated in the drafting of the gaming law and in 2001-2002 was a member of the commission for the first international public tender to award the concessions. Will the new tender take place on time for the expiry of the current six casino concessions and sub concessions in June 2022?It will be almost impossible, Mr Lobo stresses.

But if it happens, he adds, it will undoubtedly be the event of the year, because, just like in 2001-2002, the tender will determine what Macau will be in the next two decades.

One thing seems certain: By 2022, the eradication of the junkets system is more than likely.

There are plenty of reasons, he stresses, exemplifying: the fact that the granting of credit to gamblers has their days numbered in Macau and the constraints that fall on operators due to the black cloud that hangs over this system in relation to compliance with legal obligations.

After all, no casino can afford to operate in a system that the Chinese central government itself has come to say acts illegally, with the biggest of which is allegedly involved in criminal activities.

Like Carlos Lobo, local economist Jos Sales Marques doubts that thetender will advance next year, not least because an extension of the currentconcessions would allow it to be launched in a different situation than the one created by the pandemic, of general economic crisis and unprecedented losses for casinos .

But, if that happens, there is a belief that stands out: The model on which the game was based, of dependence on the VIP market, will certainly change, which translates into the need to attract the mass market, ( ) a more hybrid market, whose profile will not be 100% gaming.

The issue of credit to players, he emphasizes, is another clear message from Beijing, in line with the great motivation of China, which is tightening the game to control the outflow of capital.

A main drive of economic diversification is set to be the newly launched Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

It is a crucial process that will need some time to grow substantially, Mr Sales Marques notes.

Authorities state that the project is essential to lessen the reliance on the gaming industry, which in the pre-COVID period accounted for 55 per cent of GDP and 80 per cent of the SARs revenues. The aim is to prioritize investment on industry development on big health, Traditional Chinese Medicine, high-tech and financial services among other sectors.

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Macau in 2022: From doubts over the gaming tender to the expected end of the junket system - Macau Business