2015 Grand Prix, best-selling in history

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam attended the dinner to celebrate the completion of the 62nd Macau Grand Prix

The Grand Prix committee noted that the Suncity 62nd Grand Prix, held from November 19 – 22, broke previous records by generating MOP 53 million from publicity, sponsorship and ticket sales. This makes it the bestselling Grand Prix in Macau’s history.
According to statistics from the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the Public Security Police Force, up to 400,000 visitors arrived in the region over the four-day event, with a hotel occupancy at three-to-five star hotels recorded at 93.47 percent.
A dinner was held on Monday by the Grand Prix committee to celebrate the efforts of the organizing committee and commend the success of this year’s event.
Over the four-day period, the official website for the racing event received more than 15 million hits – an increase of 53 percent when compared with the previous year. Web users originated from Hong Kong, Macau, the Mainland, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, U.S.A, Germany, Canada and Australia.
Across the eight races of this year’s event, some 90 teams of 221 drivers and riders participated, coming from around 30 different countries. Of this year’s competitors, the Grand Prix committee says at least 49 were locals.
Media participation amounted to 1,023 journalists from 19 countries or regions, with a total of 220 organizations covering the event, including 27 TV stations relaying either live or delayed broadcasts.
Meanwhile, schools and teachers organized trips for students to attend the racing event, including those from 21 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, as well as 11 local tertiary education providers.
In addition, Macau Grand Prix themed exhibitions took place in 18 local primary schools and in eight public areas. Moreover, with the support from the MGTO, seven local associations organized promotional activities for the Grand Prix.

Authorities mull floodgate in Inner Harbor

Authorities have determined to spend MOP11million on a series of studies and investigations into erecting a floodgate to address the occasional flooding in the Inner Harbor area.
A Macau Daily report published yesterday indicates that the Zhuhai research institute was entrusted with the preparatory works for the prospective floodgate, which is most likely to be built at the waterway stretching from the A-Ma Temple across the river, just off the inner harbor.
Both sides found such an initial scheme plausible during a meeting on bilateral urban planning earlier this week. The mainland research team in fact carried out a site visit to the location prior to the conference.
It was also agreed that the project had to be accomplished without compromising the surroundings and the shipping in that precinct. However, no other details are available, as the project requires further discussion and review.
It is only known that the floodgate’s design will emulate similar systems in foreign countries, with the current volume of shipping in the waterway to be left unaffected.
As more details on the region’s sovereignty over its surrounding sea waters are expected to be known by the end of the year, authorities will only able to determine the project’s specifics after such clarification by the central government on the extent of Macau’s marine autonomy.
The new partnership between Zhuhai and Macau has been made public in the Official Gazette.
The Inner Harbor suffers severe flooding every year during the rainy season. The merchants in the low-
lying area report losses to varying degrees during that time. AU