Briefs | Li Keqiang confirmed to attend Ministerial Conference

Ye Dabo, the commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macau, has confirmed that the prime minister of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang, will attend the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum of Economic and Trade Cooperation Between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries, also known as Macau Forum, next month. This year’s event will be held October 11 and 12 under the administration of a new Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macau, Xu Yingzhen. The previous Forum Macau’s Ministerial Conferences took place in October 2003, September 2006, November 2010 and November 2013.

Construction workers to protest for minimum wage

Macau People Power (MPP) is calling the public to participate in a demonstration organized by the MPP for October 1 to urge the government to establish a minimum wage in the food, construction, and retail industries and to strictly control expat labour imports. Cheong Weng Fat, MPP’s vice-chairman, while accompanied by local workers, informed the media of the intended demonstration. According to a letter sent to the Chief Executive and published by the MPP, the demonstration will call on the authority to set a minimum wage between MOP800 to MOP1,700 per day for construction site labourers and plumbers, among others. At least four other local associations are expected to organize demonstrations on the Chinese National Day.

Local wins senior swimming competition

A local swimmer, surnamed Mak, struck gold twice in the categories of 200-meter breaststroke and 100-meter butterfly stroke for 65-69 year-old women during the 19th National Adults Swimming Championship in Haining, Zhejiang Province. Earlier this week, supported by the Sports Bureau, the Swimming Association of Macao, China selected two swimmers to compete against athletes from Hong Kong and mainland China. Macau’s other swimmer, surnamed Kuok, placed fourth among a group of 40-44 year-old competitors in the categories of 50-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle.