MGTO simplifies license application process

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) will further simplify the license application process for the hospitality and entertainment sectors, which include hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, massage and sauna houses, and karaoke venues. The Bureau will implement the second phase of the simplification of internal measures from next Monday, stating that the documents’ roundtrip between departments and repeated work can be reduced. The MGTO and the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) will jointly launch guidelines for restaurants to apply for licenses and changes in construction.

Composers’ association to collect royalties

The Macau Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers intends to start collecting copyright fees from retail and karaoke venues this year, and plans to gradually extend the action to other sectors in the future. Entrusted by various overseas musicians, the association covers up to 90 percent of all musical works being used in Macau. However, only the government and two casino operators currently pay royalties through it, according to the TDM. The association is in negotiations with other casino operators, and says that it has received positive feedback so far. Meanwhile, several cases of payment refusal are being countered through civil actions.

Residents barred from buying property in India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced yesterday that Macau and Hong Kong are on a list of countries and regions whose citizens cannot acquire or transfer immovable property in India. “As they are notified separately, it has been decided that citizens of Macau and Hong Kong will also be included on the list of countries which are prohibited to acquire/transfer immovable property in India,” the country’s authority said in a notification, without further explaining why the measure was taken. Under the current regulations regarding foreign ownership, citizens from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal or Bhutan can’t acquire or transfer immovable property in India without prior permission of the RBI. However, those citizens can lease property, as long as the lease does not exceed five years.