Macau Yearbook 2013 - Macao Yearbook

Calendar of Events in 2012in 2012 is already over budget.The Government receives an application from Northwest Express Limited to terminate itsregular maritime passenger transportation services licence. Next day, the company officiallyannounces termination of services, after operating the ferry service for less than a year anda half.7 The Environmental Protection Bureau releases the final version of Macao’s EnvironmentalProtection Conceptual Planning (2010-2020).The Macao and Taiwan Relations Forum 2012 opens in Taipei. Focusing on tourism,cultural and creative education and economics and trade, the forum helps further developthe relationship between Macao and Taiwan and leverages Macao’s role as a bridge betweenthe mainland and Taiwan.8 Chief Executive Chui Sai On sends a letter to the Central People’s Government indicatingthat the Macao SAR will provide full support in the disaster relief work for the Yunnanearthquake.9 The “Global Tourism Economy Forum – Macao 2012”, the first such event, opens in Macao.At the event, Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Vice Chairman of the ChinesePeople’s Political Consultative Conference (CCPCC) and President of All-China Federationof Industry and Commerce Huang Mengfu, Governor of Gansu Province Liu Weiping,Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai, ViceChairman of the CCPCC Ablet Abdurishit, Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Ministerof Tourism of Thailand Chumpol Silpa-archa and Portuguese Minister of Economy andEmployment Álvaro Santos Pereira.10 The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, met today with the Secretary-General of the UnitedNations Conference on Sustainable Development, Mr Sha Zukang, and the Chairman ofNational Tourism Administration, Mr Shao Qi Wei, who are in Macao taking part in theGlobal Tourism Economy Forum.17 The case involving Hong Kong businessmen Joseph Lau and Steven Lo who are accusedof bribing Ao Man Long is scheduled to go on trial today. However, as the Chairperson ofCollegial Panel Alice Leonor das Neves Costa is not feeling well, the court announces thepostponement of the trial to 7 January 2013.The Government signs with the Chinese Academy of Governance the Memorandumof Understanding on Cooperation between the Macao Special Administrative RegionGovernment and the Chinese Academy of Governance to strengthen and expand the existinggood cooperative relations and further deepen bilateral cooperation and exchanges.19 Chief Executive Chui Sai On meets with Hong Kong SAR Chief Secretary for AdministrationCarrie Lam to exchange views on strengthening the Macao-Hong Kong relationship andcooperation in tourism.The Government Information Bureau decides to give legislative priority to the amendmentto the Press Law based on the principle of “limited to deletion only”, that is to delete35