BRIEFS | T8 raised as typhoon Kalmaegi moves closer

A woman braves strong wind in Hong Kong yesterday

The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) raised signal number 8 (T8) in the early hours of this  morning as typhoon Kalmaegi continues to move closer. It is forecast to move west-northwest at about 30 kilometers per hour toward Hainan Island.
Typhoon Kalmaegi was located about 480 kilometers south-southeast of Macau yesterday afternoon.
SMG director, Mr Fong Soi Kun, said that Kalmaegi is not moving directly towards the city. “It will be about 300 kilometers away from Macau,” he told local broadcaster Radio Macau.
Strong winds and heavy showers are expected for today.
Although, this summer, Macau and Hong Kong have not been affected by too many typhoons, Fong Soi Kun said that there’s still a possibility of Macau being hit by tropical cyclones before the end of the usual rainy season.
The Labor Affairs Bureau (DSAL) has issued the usual recommendations on security measures regarding construction sites during a typhoon. DSAL drafted instructions on security to be followed by construction sites workers, and these are available through their website www.dsal.gov.mo.

Chui Sai On to be appointed CE in Beijing on Sunday

Chui Sai On will be formally appointed as Chief Executive (CE) for a second five-year term on Sunday in Beijing. The recently elected CE will be travelling to the capital of the People’s Republic of China, where he will receive an official nomination decree by the State Council of the PRC. Mr Chui will then be officially considered Macau’s next Chief Executive. Chui Sai On was re-elected on August 31 by a 400-member Election Committee that was mainly comprised of pro-Beijing personalities and politicians. Of the 396 members, 380 voted for the candidate to be re-elected.

Scout Association of Macau receives over MOP13 million

The Scout Association of Macau is due to receive over MOP13 million in order to organize an event promoting education on the subject of national defense in the 2014/2015 school year, according to a notice published in the Government’s Official Gazette (BO). This is not the first year that the association has been provided with large grants to organize such an event, which includes student visits to mainland China, Radio Macau reported. The government said in BO that, since the implementation and organization of the event covers more than one fiscal year, funding is needed. In 2014, the government will provide the association with MOP7 million, while an installment of MOP6.4 million will be handed over next year.

Gov’t pays MOP4m to study Ka Ho air quality

The government has commissioned AECOM Macau Company Limited to undertake a MOP4-million study to assess the air quality in Coloane’s Ka Ho village. In a notice published in the Official Gazette (BO) yesterday, the government revealed that since the study will be conducted over the course of one fiscal year, funding is required. Around MOP2.8 million will be paid to the company for the current year and MOP1.4 million will be paid in 2015.  Ka Ho has been dealing with pollution issues for quite a long time, but, early this year, residents voiced their concerns more loudly. A cement factory, a tunnel under construction and many noisy trucks have turned Ka Ho into a polluted village. The government acknowledged that the pollution on site was severe, and launched a series of measures to tackle pollution in the area in April. The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) ordered factories, along with other entities triggering pollution in the area, to install control and isolation mechanisms. The cement factory was also ordered by DSPA to conduct inspections and present a report every month. The director of the Health Bureau had also revealed that his department would be conducting regular health checks on villagers, who are believed to frequently suffer from respiratory problems.