AGP Executive Report

WorldSkills in Shanghai: The 48th WorldSkills Competition opened with 1,385 young competitors from 68 regions tackling 64 skill categories, from ultra-precise joinery to retail and beauty challenges—another reminder that vocational training is becoming a global culture of craft. Children’s Literature in Macao: UM’s Faculty of Education co-hosted a three-day “Children’s Literature Creation Joint Exhibition,” spotlighting student stories and celebrating how writing and reading skills grow through making and sharing. Rua das Estalagens revitalisation: Sands China picked 24 enterprises for its 2026 Rua das Estalagens Community Revitalisation Programme, mixing new business support with shop rebranding across food, retail, and cultural creative ideas. Sports & youth talent: Macau karatekas added one silver and one bronze at the Asian Games, while table tennis saw Macao’s Zhu Yuling return to the continental stage. Education rankings: PISA 2025 science and math results put China far ahead of the US, with Macao ranking among the top performers—fuel for local education conversations. Patriotic education in Beijing: Around 1,200 Hong Kong and Macao delegates joined a “Salute the National Flag” visit featuring drills and cultural tours. Macao culture exhibition: “The Empress Regnant – Wu Zetian and the Divine Capital of Luoyang” opened at Mount Fortress Garden with 126 artefacts from Henan. Hospitality milestone: Morpheus at City of Dreams became Macau’s first hotel to earn Three MICHELIN Keys. Local career planning: Macao’s Talent Development Committee will survey higher-education graduates on employment and further study from 25 Sept to 31 Oct.

Education & Youth Exchange: A Beijing flag-raising visit for about 1,000 Hong Kong and Macao students is being hailed as “fruitful results” of patriotic education, with students describing the national flag ceremony as a moving, firsthand experience. Culture & Lifestyle (Hospitality): Melco’s Morpheus at City of Dreams becomes Macau’s first hotel to earn Three MICHELIN Keys, upgrading from Two Keys and spotlighting its design, dining and service. Tourism & Skills: UTM’s 18th UTM–UN Tourism Training Programme opens at MGM COTAI, focusing on destination branding through AI and digital marketing. Arts & Community Exchange: MyLand Culture’s “MACAO&” project brings Macau photographer Tang Kuok Ho’s work to Lisbon, pairing photos with Lisbon dancer-audio scores in a cross-city creative dialogue. Exhibition Spotlight: Macau prepares to host “The Empress Regnant – Wu Zetian and the Divine Capital of Luoyang,” opening 24 Sept at the Macao Museum with Tang-era treasures and themes of arts, trade and multicultural life. Film Talent: Sands China-backed International Film Camp 2026 wraps at The Londoner Macao, selecting eight short-film projects for production funding. Sports & Identity: Zhu Yuling returns to the Asian Games in a new jersey, representing Macao, and wins a strong start against top China rivals.

Culture & Exchange: MyLand Culture’s “MACAO&” project brings Macau photographer Tang Kuok Ho’s “Photosynthesis” to Lisbon, pairing nearly 40 photos with Lisbon dancer-educator Inês Zinho Pinheiro’s kinaesthetic audio scores at Procurator.arte until Oct 9. Skills & Vocational Training: Macau’s Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) sent its first cross-sector delegation to Shanghai to observe the WorldSkills Competition and compare notes on curriculum design and industry-education links. Art & Education in the GBA: UM hosts an exhibition celebrating the University of Macau’s 45th anniversary, featuring Greater Bay Area masters and UM faculty/students on Chinese painting sketching, with more than 80 works. Heritage Exhibition (Macao): “The Empress Regnant – Wu Zetian and the Divine Capital of Luoyang” opens Sept 24 at the Macao Museum, running to Feb 28, 2027, with 126 artefacts and Tang-era themes. Lifestyle & Entertainment: Galaxy Macau’s “Dream Voyage @ Galaxy Resort: Gao Xiaowu’s Art Exhibition” runs until Nov 17, while NBA House returns to The Venetian Macao Oct 7–11 with 10 legends and fan activations. Public Life: FEHD reminds diners to check whether restaurants are permitted to allow dogs during Mid-Autumn Festival. Urban Renewal: CE Sam Hou Fai chairs the first meeting of the leading group on urban renewal, reviewing work plans and policy support.

Macao Social Policy Consultations: Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam met local groups including the Women’s General Association of Macau and the Macao Youth Federation to shape the 2027 Policy Address, with talks ranging from education and the Macao-Hengqin International Education Town to ageing, elderly care, support for vulnerable groups, and youth development. Lion Dance Spotlight: MGM’s month-long “Lion Dance Festival 2026” (Sept 19–Oct 18) brings exhibitions, talks, intangible heritage experiences, workshops and an international competition, culminating in the 13th International Lion Dance Championship (MGM Cup). Film Talent Pipeline: Sands China hosted the third International Film Camp in Macau (Sept 18–22), selecting 16 filmmakers from 450 applicants for mentoring and masterclasses, with grants to help launch new Asian short films. Greater Bay Area Culture Bridge: The Greater Bay Area Film Concert 2026 in Macao gathered filmmakers and musicians from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, aiming to strengthen shared cultural memories and cross-strait ties. Sports & Culture in Action: Macau wushu athletes Kuong Chi Hin and Song Chi Kuan won gold and silver in men’s changquan at the Asian Games, with the win framed as a way to promote traditional Chinese culture. Education & Reading Rankings: New PISA results highlight Singapore leading reading skills and Macao ranking among the top performers in math, feeding into wider debates about education quality.

Greater Bay Area culture on stage: Macao hosted the Greater Bay Area Film Concert 2026, bringing together filmmakers and musicians from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan with classic hits, new works and film-linked performances. Intangible heritage spotlight: MGM’s “Lion Dance Festival 2026” runs Sept 19–Oct 18 in Barra, featuring exhibitions, public talks, hands-on workshops and international competition, with lion dance inheritors and contemporary artists. Health & tradition in the GBA: Macao will welcome a Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao TCM conference, with Hong Kong’s Secretary for Health leading a delegation to discuss inheritance, innovation, talent training and industry transformation. Tourism goes European: MGTO debuted at Paris’s IFTM Top Resa 2026, using the “Nihao! China” pavilion to pitch Macao’s East-meets-West appeal and promote long-haul travel. Film industry pipeline: Sands China’s third International Film Camp in Macao selected 16 emerging directors from 450 applicants for mentoring and production grants. Sport as culture: Macau wushu athletes Kuong Chi Hin and Song Chi Kuan won gold and silver in men’s changquan at the Asian Games, underscoring wushu as a living tradition. Youth exchange & identity: Over 300 Hong Kong and Macao youths joined a military camp in Guangzhou, mixing training with national defense and historical themes. Smart travel convenience: South Korea expanded smart entry gate eligibility to 42 countries, including Hong Kong and Macao, aiming to cut peak-season immigration queues.

Education & Reading Scores: New PISA 2025 results (published Sept 2026) put Singapore top for reading (535) with China close behind (527), while Asian systems dominate the top ranks—highlighting Macao’s strong performance and the wider worry that reading skills are slipping in many Western countries. Patriotic Youth Exchange: Around 1,200 Hong Kong and Macao students and teachers are in Beijing for the “Salute to the National Flag” programme, including a Tiananmen Square flag-raising ceremony and school visits as a “walking classroom” for national identity. Culture & Sports: Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law congratulated athletes including karate silver medallist Grace Lau and swimming relay silver winners, as the 20th Asian Games continues. Macao Culture & Creativity: Registration is open for “Chinese Culture and I—Exploring Macao’s History through Cultural Creativity,” inviting public design entries that turn Macao’s urban symbols into cultural products. Hospitality Tech Research: UTM research finds that service robots’ ethnic appearance and accent can shape how hospitality workers feel about working with robots—nudging more culturally aligned design. Tourism Marketing with AI: Fooyo signed an MoU with Macau tourism organisations to explore AI-generated content and creator training, including a pilot with Singapore creators promoting Macau via short-form video.

Patriotic Education & Youth Exchange: About 1,200 Hong Kong and Macao delegates, including roughly 1,000 student flag-raisers, attended the national flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square in Beijing as part of the five-day “Salute the National Flag” programme, with students from Macao and Hong Kong describing the moment as a first-time, unforgettable experience. Education & Learning Trends: PISA 2025 results released in September 2026 put China at the top for math (612), with Macao ranking among the world’s best at 549, alongside Hong Kong and other East Asian systems. Robots in Hospitality: A Macao University of Tourism study finds that service robots’ ethnic appearance and accent can shape how hospitality employees feel about working with them—suggesting better cultural fit can lead to more positive human–robot teamwork. Macao Culture & Festivals: SJM Resorts and the Macau Artist Society unveiled a free lantern exhibition, “Legacy of Light and Craft,” running through Nov 15 at Grand Lisboa Palace, blending local craftsmanship with contemporary art and interactive elements. Domestic Violence Prevention: Macau launched its “Zero Violence in the City” series, adding a youth-focused “Zero Violence Promotion Ambassador” scheme to expand outreach and support for victims and children.

Education & Youth Exchange: Hong Kong and Macao’s “Salute to the National Flag” youth flag-raising teams wrapped a Beijing visit exchange with the PLA Ceremonial Escort Battalion, with over 1,200 students taking part in a “walking classroom” programme that included Tiananmen Square and cultural stops. Learning & Skills: Macau’s DSEDJ says AI education will roll out across all school stages, with AI classrooms, teaching materials and a localized smart platform, alongside a push for practical “micro-major” courses. Culture & Design: A new “Chinese Culture and I—Exploring Macao’s History through Cultural Creativity” competition opens for entries, inviting public-made cultural and creative products tied to Macau’s urban symbols. Arts & Festivals: SJM and the Macau Artist Society present the lantern exhibition “Legacy of Light and Craft” at Grand Lisboa Palace through Nov 15, spotlighting four local artists’ craft-led installations. Public Safety & Rights: The IAS and Women’s General Association launched the 2026 “Zero Violence in the City” domestic violence prevention series, adding a youth “Zero Violence Promotion Ambassador” scheme. Lifestyle & Health: A Macau Business magazine report highlights childhood obesity concerns, citing a Kiang Wu Hospital study showing obesity at 7.5% and overweight at 11%. Tourism & Media: MasterChef Asia, filmed in Macau with MGTO support, is set to premiere across Southeast Asia and streaming platforms next week.

Sports & Community: LCSD kicked off the 20th Asian Games in Hong Kong with “Sports Fun For All” focal sites open to the public across 18 districts, turning major matches into neighborhood-style cheering and try-it sports days. Youth & Identity: Hong Kong and Macao’s “Salute to the National Flag” youth flag-raising teams sent nearly 1,000 students to Beijing for Tiananmen Square ceremony visits and school exchanges, framed as a “walking classroom” for patriotic education. Macao Health & Daily Life: A Macau Business Magazine special report flags rising childhood obesity (7.5% obese; 11% overweight) and links screen time to less activity, reinforcing calls for smarter lifestyle support. Domestic Violence Prevention: Macau’s “Zero Violence in the City” series launches with a new youth ambassador programme (ages 15–35), expanding outreach, mediation, and victim support. Culture & Creative Industry: SJM and the Macau Artist Society unveiled the lantern exhibition “Legacy of Light and Craft” at Grand Lisboa Palace, running free admission through Nov 15, spotlighting local craftsmanship and contemporary art. Education Tech: DSEDJ plans AI education across all school stages, including AI classrooms, teaching materials, and a localized smart platform. Tourism Marketing Tech: Fooyo signed an MoU with Macau tourism groups to explore AI-generated content and creator training, including a pilot inviting Singapore creators to promote Macau via short-form video. Gastronomy on Screen: MasterChef Asia, filmed in Macao, is set to premiere next week across Southeast Asia and beyond, using local markets and dining as the show’s backdrop.

Education & Youth Exchange: University of Bath vice-chancellor Phil Taylor visited the University of Macau and toured the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, pushing deeper teaching and research links. Patriotic Learning in Action: Nearly 1,000 Hong Kong and Macao students joined a “Salute to the National Flag” Beijing trip for Tiananmen Square flag-raising and a “walking classroom” cultural programme. Culture & Creativity: Registration opened for the “Chinese Culture and I—Exploring Macao’s History through Cultural Creativity” competition, inviting public design of cultural-creative products rooted in Macao’s urban symbols. Arts & Heritage: SJM and the Macau Artist Society launched the lantern art exhibition “Legacy of Light and Craft” at Grand Lisboa Palace, running to Nov 15. Community Safety: The IAS and Women’s General Association rolled out a 2026 domestic violence prevention campaign with a new youth “Zero Violence Promotion Ambassador” scheme. Gastronomy on Screen: MasterChef Asia, filmed in Macao with MGTO support, is set to premiere next week across Southeast Asia. Cross-border Living: A Hengqin survey found Macau families’ satisfaction with services and daily convenience mostly above 75%, with consumer convenience nearing 90%.

Youth & Identity: Nearly 1,000 Hong Kong and Macao students set off for Beijing for a “Salute to the National Flag” flag-raising visit, part of a “walking classroom” youth exchange aimed at deepening national identity and patriotism. Creative Culture: Registration is open for the “Chinese Culture and I—Exploring Macao’s History through Cultural Creativity” competition, inviting public entries that turn Macao’s urban symbols into market-ready cultural products. Publishing & Heritage: The Macao Yearbook 2026 launches today in Chinese, Portuguese and English, offering a big snapshot of the SAR’s political, economic, social and cultural progress. Arts & Craft: SJM and the Macau Artist Society present “Legacy of Light and Craft,” a free lantern art exhibition by four local artists running through Nov 15. Music & Community: A domestic violence prevention series kicks off with a new youth-focused “Zero Violence Promotion Ambassador” programme, training young outreach ambassadors to strengthen community support. Education Tech: DSEDJ says AI education will roll out across all school stages, including AI classrooms, teaching materials and a localized smart platform. Health & Services: A Hengqin survey finds Macau families’ satisfaction with government services, healthcare, education and transport all topping 75%, with consumer convenience nearing 90%. Sports Governance: Deland Leong Wai Man is appointed acting head of Macau’s Sports Bureau while cultural bodies move toward a merger later this year.

Lantern & craft spotlight: SJM and the Macau Artist Society unveiled “Legacy of Light and Craft” at Grand Lisboa Palace’s Secret Garden, with free lantern installations by four local artists running until Nov 15. Museum culture: POLY MGM Museum announced “Luminous Brilliance: The Artistry of Zibo Liuli,” bringing nearly 180 historic and contemporary glass works to Macau from October to March. Jazz community building: Rui Cunha Foundation Gallery hosts a Jazz Masterclass Workshop showcase led by Zé Eduardo, known for nurturing Portuguese jazz links in Macau since the 1990s. Youth & creativity: A “Whimsies of Teens” youth fashion and creative works exhibition opens in Praça do Tap Siac (free entry) through Sept 27, featuring nearly 200 student projects mixing fashion, tech and AI animation. Public service & wellbeing: The “Zero Violence in the City” domestic violence prevention series returns with a new youth ambassador programme (ages 15–35). Health infrastructure: Macau Union Hospital marks its second anniversary, with government aiming for it to handle 25% of public medical services by end-2027. Local lifestyle on screen: MasterChef Asia was filmed in Macau and will premiere on HBO Max in the US next Tuesday. Culture in the streets: The Na Tcha folk belief festival parade filled the city centre with temple processions, lion dances and blessings. News to watch: Police arrested 11 men in a fake employment scheme selling unused non-resident worker quotas, while Macau also reported a locally acquired chikungunya case in Hong Kong.

Macao Union Hospital Milestone: Macao’s Islands Healthcare Complex (Macao Medical Centre of Peking Union Medical College Hospital) marked its 2nd anniversary with a health forum, with Secretary O Lam saying the hospital is set to handle 25% of Macau’s public healthcare volume by end-2027, boosting triage, training local professionals, and expanding international services. Cultural Heritage in Motion: The Na Tcha folk belief culture festival filled the city centre with a parade from the Ruins of St. Paul’s to Largo do Senado, featuring temple processions, lion dances, and blessings—an intangible heritage tradition with roots in Macau for over 300 years. Arts & Community: Ung Si Meng’s calligraphy exhibition opened at The Parisian Macao for the Macau Artist Society’s 70th anniversary, showcasing nearly 100 works across traditional script styles and themes tied to Chinese culture and community. Education & Youth: UTM and CETT-UB signed a cooperation pact to deepen tourism and hospitality education exchanges, while a youth fashion and creative works exhibition displayed nearly 200 student creations blending craft, design, and tech. Public Sector Tech: Macau’s Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau said it’s using AI to strengthen severe-weather monitoring and multi-hazard early warnings, including upgrades to local systems.

Macao Culture & Education: The Macao University of Tourism (UTM) and CETT-UB signed a cooperation pact to expand student and faculty exchanges, plus joint academic projects, as both push cross-cultural learning in tourism and hospitality. Youth Creativity: A “2026 Youth Fashion and Creative Works Exhibition” opened in Praça do Tap Siac, showcasing nearly 200 student creations—from wire-wrapped jewellery and tie-dye to 3D design and AI 2D animation—running to Sept 27 with free entry. Sports Meets Culture Governance: Ahead of a planned merger of the Cultural Affairs Bureau and Sports Bureau, IC President Deland Leong Wai Man will also lead the Sports Bureau until Oct 31. Folk Belief in the Streets: Hundreds joined the Na Tcha parade from the Ruins of St. Paul’s to Largo do Senado, with temple participants, lion dances, and blessing rituals marking the city’s 300-plus-year Na Tcha heritage. Public Health Milestone: Macao Union Hospital marked its second anniversary, with Secretary O Lam reiterating the goal to cover 25% of Macau’s public medical service by end-2027. Cultural Exchange: A major exhibition, “The Empress Regnant – Wu Zetian and the Divine Capital of Luoyang,” opens Sept 24 at the Macao Museum, bringing 126 artefacts from Henan.

Macao Cultural Design Push: Macao has launched a cultural and creative design competition plus exchange activities, inviting designers, industry professionals and students to draw on local heritage and World Heritage/intangible cultural heritage themes, with selected works set for mass production and sale. Calligraphy Spotlight: “A Heart for Community and Motherland: Calligraphy by Ung Si Meng” opened at The Parisian Macao (until Oct 15), marking the Macau Artist Society’s 70th anniversary and celebrating decades of calligraphy tied to poetry and community service. Na Tcha Folk Belief in Focus: A Na Tcha folk belief history-and-culture exhibition kicked off at Barra Kitchen as part of the World Na Tcha Folk Belief Culture Festival, running through the week and highlighting the belief’s heritage roots and local temple community. Cultural Creativity Meets Market: The “Me and Chinese Culture – Macau’s History through Cultural Creativity” competition launch also unveiled an “Ancient China in Cultural and Creative Products” exhibition, aiming to turn museum-grade cultural ideas into new creative products. Lifestyle & Culture in the Region: Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s 2026 Policy Address and Five-Year Plan spotlight AI-enabled public services and education, plus tourism tweaks like relaxing island guesthouse licensing—useful context for Macau’s own culture-and-lifestyle momentum.

Na Tcha Folk Belief Festival: An exhibition on the history and culture of Macau’s Na Tcha folk belief opened at Barra Kitchen, running until Friday and bringing together temple associations, scholars, and cultural figures from across the region. Calligraphy & Community: Ung Si Meng’s nearly 100-piece calligraphy show opened at The Parisian Macao, marking the Macau Artist Society’s 70th anniversary and spotlighting Chinese culture, poetry, and the artist’s charitable work. Macau Creative Culture Contest: A new “Me and Chinese Culture – Macau’s History through Cultural Creativity” competition and related exhibition launched at Macau Forum, inviting submissions that draw on UNESCO and intangible heritage elements tied to Macau. A-Ma Cultural & Tourism Festival: The 19th A-Ma festival is set for Oct 12–15, with Mazu ceremonies, seminars, Fujian performances, craft demonstrations, and cultural tourism cooperation activities. Museum Spotlight (Liuli): POLY MGM MUSEUM announced “Luminous Brilliance: The Artistry of Zibo Liuli,” bringing nearly 180 glass masterpieces to Macau from this October through March 2027. Health & Culture Exchange: The “Teahouse” community dialogue returns on Sept 29 with a healthcare-focused theme, while UTM signed a cooperation agreement with CETT-UB to expand tourism education links in Spanish-speaking countries. Sports for Inclusion: Sands China hosted an inclusive basketball carnival with Macau Special Olympics, bringing together athletes and students from special education and community groups.