Briefs | AL hires Portuguese judge

A Portuguese judge has been hired as a legal adviser at the Legislative Assembly (AL). Maria José da Costa Machado has signed a two year contract and will begin to work at the AL. Machado has been a judge with around 30 years of service in Portugal. Her move to the MSAR was approved on December 4, Radio Macau reported. The AL had 24 legal advisers by year-end. Recently there was a controversy where the contracts of two veteran AL legal advisers – Paulo Cardinal and Paulo Taipa – were not renewed. The two Portuguese legal advisers ended their work at the AL on December 31.

Nearly MOP25m approved for building maintenance

The Housing Bureau approved a total of nearly MOP25 million from the building maintenance fund in 2018, according to the latest statistics released by the bureau. Some 129 approvals were issued to applicants who applied for maintenance of low building’s common facilities, involving a total of MOP15 million. Around MOP8.55 million were granted to 43 applications for maintenance of elevators, water systems, as well as other building constituents. There were four applications for a subsidy to demolish illegal buildings which were built by the applicants themselves. Two of these applications were approved with a total MOP5,500. Another MOP660,000 was given for building management.

300 live pigs exported to Macau daily

On a daily basis, Macau is importing approximately 300 live pigs from mainland China, according to the vice president of the Municipal Affairs Bureau, Lei Wai Nong. Recently, an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak has been continuously reported in mainland China. There is a concern in Macau regarding the reduction in the supply of live pigs to the city.

Lei noted that the current live pigs supply to Macau is sufficient. Additionally, in order for Macau to prevent a potential future ASF situation, the city has already prepared a plan to ensure an alternative supply of live pigs to the city.

Exhibition showcases Portuguese, Chinese paintings

A calligraphy and painting exhibition titled “The Fusion of the Chinese and Portuguese Cultural Horizons in the Painting,” co-organized by the University of Macau’s (UM) Confucius Institute and the Macau Orient Painting and Calligraphy Association, will be held at the UM’s Wu Yee Sun Library from January 16 to 22.  The UM’s Confucius Institute aims to boost the development of the Chinese and Portuguese cultures, as well as promote the education of Chinese language in the Portuguese-speaking world, and to deepen the world’s understanding of traditional Chinese culture. The exhibition will demonstrate the encounter and fusion of Chinese and Portuguese aesthetics and increase understanding of traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy among UM faculty members, students, and the public.

Woman using fake ID pretends to faint

A mainland woman, who was using a fake travel ID to cross the Gongbei border gate to come into Macau, was caught by the Gonbei customs authority. Upon being spotted by a Gongbei customs officer, the woman refused to cooperate and used a health excuse to try to avoid punishment. The woman pretended to faint and lay on the floor. Eventually, the woman admitted that she is healthy and that she used her sister’s ID. The woman’s ID was seized and she was issued an administrative punishment.