Briefs | Ho Yin garden planned for patriotic education

The Sculpture Park of the Chinese Ethnics has been relocated to Ho Yin garden, with the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) planning to open the new park to the public on September 29. Originally located in Grand Taipa Natural Park, the sculptures began being removed in April. In total, the IAM spent 4.1 million patacas on the park’s renovation, including the relocation and the establishment of an exhibition hall. Together with Macau’s handover memorial pavilion in Ho Yin garden, the Macau Basic Law Memorial Hall and the Golden Lotus Square, the IAM hopes that the proximity of Ho Yin garden will become an educative area for the promotion of the Chinese nation’s spirits.

Half of Macau’s prisoners are mainlanders

Approximately 50% of the city’s prisoners are mainland residents, according to Cheng Fong Meng, Director of the Correctional Services Bureau. In total, as of June, Macau’s prison holds 1,525 inmates. Currently, the utilization rate of the male prison has exceeded 90%, which is close to capacity. Within this year, the bureau will start rebuilding the available space of the prison to add 100 spaces for more prisoners. The project is expected to be completed next year. In addition, the new prison located in Ka Ho began its third phase of construction this month. The bureau is preparing a public tender of the fourth phase.

Further crackdown on telephone fraud urged

Lawmaker Chan Hong has written an inquiry to the local government asking for further actions to crack down on telephone fraud. His inquiry comes after the authorities cracked down on a cosmetics marketing scheme that employed mass phone calls. Chan pointed out that more instances of telephone fraud have been recorded in Macau. However, due to the imperfect law and difficulties in collecting evidence, some of the investigations into the practice have been concluded without any results. Chan wants to know what kind of measures the government authority will take to crack down on phone call tactics and telephone fraud. Chan also asked about the supervision of companies and individuals that handle personal data.