Briefs | Restoration works begin on Dom Pedro V Theatre

The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) will be conducting restoration works on Dom Pedro V Theatre and the retention walls of Calçada do Teatro starting today. The IC will repair the theatre building and the surrounding walls, as well as prune and maintain nearby trees. The restoration works are estimated to be completed by the end of September. During the restoration period, scaffolding will be installed outside the building and in the area of the retention walls, occupying part of the roadway of Calçado do Teatro on August 23 and 24. According to the IC, the theatre will remain open to the public and the opening hours will remain unchanged.

Visa-free access to Iran for SAR passport holders

The Macau government has been officially informed by the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hong Kong that holders of Macau SAR passports have been granted visa-free access to enter the country for a maximum stay of 21 days. In a separate matter, the local government was informed by the New Zealand Consulate General in Hong Kong that in order to enhance border security and improve visitor experiences, from October 1, some international visitors and transit passengers who are eligible for a visa waiver – including Macau SAR passport holders – will need to hold a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before travelling to New Zealand.

Macau mid-year population reaches 672,000

Macau’s population reached 672,000 at the end of the second quarter, increasing by about 1,100 compared to the first quarter of the year, according to the latest data released by the Statistics and Census Bureau. Women accounted for 53.2% of the city’s population. Some 1,400 live births occurred in the second quarter of the year, 75 fewer than in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, mortalities increased by 73 quarter-to-quarter to 542, with the top three causes of death being neoplasms, diseases of the circulatory system and diseases of the respiratory system. In the second quarter of 2019, mainland Chinese immigrants decreased by 630 quarter-to-quarter to 647, whereas individuals granted right of abode (285) and non-resident workers at end-period (190,367) increased by 119 and 852 respectively.