AGP Executive Report

Macao National Security: Former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San’s first national security case is now a year old, but his family says access to a lawyer and communication have remained restricted, raising fresh fairness concerns. Religion & Politics: A “Sinicization of Religion” summit in Macau spotlights how religious life is being aligned with state priorities, with Chinese Buddhist leaders stressing Socialist values and political reliability. Food Safety: The Centre for Food Safety stepped up lead testing after a powdered infant formula incident; no samples exceeded the local lead standard, but monitoring continues. Public Health & Family Life: The Health Bureau reports 370 breastfeeding rooms across Macau, with a breastfeeding initiation rate above 90%, and highlights workplace, campus, and family support. Youth & Community: PJ’s long-running youth training programmes graduated 255 participants, adding national affairs and national security education to leadership and crisis-response learning. Culture & Heritage: Macau’s Cultural Affairs Bureau delegation joined UNESCO World Heritage Committee talks in Busan, with China’s Jingdezhen porcelain sites newly inscribed. Local Governance & Culture: A lawmaker urges clearer restructuring plans for the Cultural Affairs Bureau and Sports Bureau so services and staff roles don’t get muddled. Tourism Regulation: Macau’s tourism sector backs new guidelines to rein in travel photography practices, including fees and on-site sales pressure. Tech Skills: Pearson’s Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship crowned Macao students as winners in Word and PowerPoint categories.

Breastfeeding & Public Health: Macau now has 370 breastfeeding rooms across public and private organisations, with the Health Bureau saying the city’s breastfeeding initiation rate has topped 90 percent, as it marks World Breastfeeding Week with workplace, campus and family support efforts. Community & Family Culture: Kai Fong (UGAMM) and the Women’s General Association of Macau (Fu Luen) will turn the Iec Long Firecracker Factory site in Taipa into a month-long “Iec Long Summer Vacation” from Aug 8–31, packed with family-friendly activities and weekend performances. Heritage & International Culture: Macau’s Cultural Affairs Bureau delegation joined the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan, exchanging views with China’s heritage authorities as China’s Jingdezhen handicraft porcelain sites were approved for inscription. Local Governance & Soft Power: Lawmaker Leong Sun Iok urged the government to clearly complete the restructuring of the Cultural Affairs Bureau and Sports Bureau so services and community cultural-sports activities don’t get disrupted. Food & Lifestyle Spotlight: The St. Regis Bar in Macau re-enters Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 at No.45, as Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou takes No.1 and Macau’s dining scene keeps drawing attention. Youth & Learning: UM wrapped up its 40th Portuguese Language Summer Programme, with about 400 participants sharing performances and reflections on Portuguese-speaking culture. Infant Safety: Macau ordered a recall of a batch of Royal Friso Gold 1 baby formula after lead levels were found above local standards, with a dedicated green channel for infant medical checks.

Cantonese Dining Spotlight: The Eight at Grand Lisboa Macau keeps its quiet confidence with contemporary Cantonese cuisine, design cues tied to the number eight, and a “less is more” philosophy that matches its Michelin-star discipline. Bars & Nightlife Culture: Macau hosted the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 countdown, with The St. Regis Bar returning at No.45 and Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou taking top honours; the list also highlights Singapore’s cocktail scene with four entries. Mental Wellness in the AI Era: Grace Wellness Community launched in Hengqin as an “AI-era mind-body wellness laboratory,” bringing educators and health practitioners together to tackle workplace stress, anxiety about automation, and the search for purpose. Local Governance & Culture-Sports Planning: Lawmaker Leong Sun Iok urged the government to clearly complete the IC/ID restructuring so culture and sports services stay stable while moving toward more “industrialized” development. Tourism Regulation Watch: Macau’s tourism sector admits travel photography has long lacked standards, as the government consults on a registration and guideline system to curb excessive fees and forced purchases. Family Support Policy: Another lawmaker called to expand a community inclusion programme to single-parent families with children under three, arguing current rules miss families with infants and toddlers. Infant Safety Alert: Macau ordered a recall of a batch of Royal Friso Gold 1 baby formula after lead levels exceeded local standards, with a dedicated medical check channel and increased retail inspections. Education & Exchange: UM’s Portuguese Language Summer Programme wrapped up with about 400 participants showcasing dance, music and poetry, while UTM launched a dual bachelor’s pathway with the University of Queensland for its first cohort. Food Heritage & Community: A Morro Style Chicken Rice contest drew 189 catering businesses and hundreds of thousands of public votes, aiming to preserve Macau’s culinary craft while encouraging innovation.

Asia’s 50 Best Bars in Macau: Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou took top honours as The Best Bar in Mainland China and The Best Bar in Asia at the live Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 countdown hosted at Wynn Palace Macau, with Macau’s own The St. Regis Bar also spotlighted in the Top 50. Portuguese culture in Macau: UM’s Department of Portuguese wrapped up its 40th Portuguese Language Summer Programme, with about 400 participants sharing dance, music and poetry after three weeks of classes and cultural activities. Youth and community (HK): The Hong Kong Jockey Club kicked off youthfest@HK 2026 for its fourth straight year, backing an inclusive platform for young people’s development. Women’s health (HK): An AXA Hong Kong Female Health Survey 2026 found many working women struggle to identify when perimenopause begins, raising concerns about long-term wellbeing and preparedness. Infant safety (Macau): Macau authorities ordered a recall of Royal Friso Gold 1 baby formula over elevated lead levels, with a dedicated green channel and increased retail inspections. Macau sports spotlight: The Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals returned to Macau, with Türkiye winning gold and Melissa Vargas named MVP. Cantonese food skills (GBA): A Macau team will compete in a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cantonese cuisine vocational skills contest in Heyuan, aiming to strengthen regional culinary training. Education & weather: Rainstorm and tropical cyclone disruptions led to class suspensions in Macau’s schools, with safety guidance for students and staff.

Infant Formula Recall: Macau authorities ordered a recall of “Royal Friso Gold 1” after lead levels were found above local standards, with a green channel for infant checks and follow-ups reported after no emergency poisoning cases were identified. Digital Identity & Business Services: Nota Sign has integrated with Hong Kong’s iAM Smart, aiming to make cross-border e-signatures and one-stop account opening smoother for Greater Bay Area residents and companies. Macau Education & International Pathways: Macao University of Tourism launched a Dual Bachelor’s Degree Programme with Australia’s The University of Queensland, with the first cohort already heading overseas. Cantonese Culture in the Spotlight: A Macau team will compete in a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cantonese cuisine skills contest in Heyuan, highlighting regional culinary training and talent exchange. Art & Anthropology: “Wondersome and Peculiar Voyages: The Travelling Dolls” brings Macau visual anthropologist Cheong Kin Man and Polish artist Marta Sala together, using textiles and video to explore intercultural stories. Retail & Pop Culture: MINISO opened Macau’s first MINISO LAND at Shoppes at Venetian, pushing immersive, IP-driven shopping with themed displays and collectibles. Weather & Daily Life: Tropical Storm Noul kept Macau under Signal No. 3 for over 20 hours, affecting routines as alerts shifted.

Cantonese Culture & Skills: A five-member Macao team from FAOM’s Culinary and Catering Services Training Centre will compete in the 7th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao “Cantonese Cuisine Chef” contest in Heyuan (Aug 6–9), with Chinese cooking and dim sum categories drawing 180+ finalists across the GBA. Local Food Heritage: The Macao Catering Industry Association crowned winners of its first “Morro Style Chicken Rice Gold Flavour Award Selection,” with 189 businesses taking part and public voting reaching 382,285; the campaign says Moorish chicken rice sales rose 30%. Art Meets Anthropology: Rui Cunha Foundation hosts “Wondersome and Peculiar Voyages: The Travelling Dolls,” pairing Macau anthropologist Cheong Kin Man with Polish artist Marta Sala in an art-and-storytelling exhibition. Macau Education & Mobility: UTM and Australia’s University of Queensland launch a Dual Bachelor’s Degree Programme; meanwhile, HKIA rolls out “Park & Visit” for eligible GBA visitors driving via the HZMB. Weather Disruption: Tropical Storm Noul kept Macau’s Typhoon Signal No. 3 going for over 20 hours, while schools saw suspension notices tied to the storm. Retail Culture: MINISO LAND opened in Macau at Shoppes at Venetian, bringing an immersive IP-led shopping format with 1,200+ SKUs and 30+ licensed collections.

Education & Culture Exchange: Macao University of Tourism and The University of Queensland launched a Dual Bachelor’s Degree Programme, with the inaugural cohort already heading to Australia for overseas study. Language & Learning: Educators at a Global English Education China Assembly say AI-era language teaching should shift from memorisation to critical thinking, cultural empathy, and real dialogue with texts. Weather Disruptions: Macau kept secondary classes suspended after a rainstorm, while primary/pre-primary/special education were suspended for the whole day; Hong Kong also faced major storm escalation linked to Typhoon Noul. Travel & Lifestyle Convenience: HKIA rolled out “Park & Visit” for eligible Greater Bay Area visitors, letting drivers park at Hong Kong Port before clearing immigration. Community & Sport: Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals Macao 2026 wrapped up with Türkiye winning gold; Türkiye beat Brazil 3–1. Retail & IP Culture: Miniso opened its first “Miniso Land” store in Macau at The Shoppes at Venetian, spotlighting licensed IP collectibles and themed displays. Arts & Performance: International Youth Dance Festival 2026 concluded in Macao Forum, bringing troupes from multiple regions for an international showcase of ethnic dance styles.

Sports & Community: Women’s Volleyball Nations League – Finals Macao 2026 wrapped up at the Macau East Asian Games Dome, with Türkiye beating Brazil 3–1 for the title and Italy taking bronze after defeating China 3–1. Education & Resilience: Tropical cyclone rules led to suspension of primary, pre-primary and special education activities on 26 July, while secondary classes continued as usual. Youth & Learning: Pui Va Middle School held separate school-year closing ceremonies across its kindergarten, primary and secondary sections, spotlighting student-led growth and confidence. Public Health & Lifestyle: Macau’s Legislative Assembly gave final approval to amendments to the Tobacco Prevention and Control Law, paving the way for the first official outdoor no-smoking zones at key public spots, with smoking points set away from schools and busy walkways. Culture & Entertainment: Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong returned with its biggest edition yet, expanding into Hall 5 and drawing fans for cosplay, comics and international guest highlights. Retail & IP Culture: Miniso opened its first Miniso Land store in Macau at The Shoppes at Venetian, bringing an immersive, IP-led premium format with themed zones and licensed collections.

Typhoon Update: Typhoon Noul hit Huizhou in Guangdong with Force 14 winds and heavy rain, prompting the suspension of primary, pre-primary and special education classes in Macau while secondary schooling continues. Cashless Living: Macau’s e-payment boom keeps accelerating, with mobile payments already dominating restaurant and retail receipts and showing how cashless habits are becoming the new normal. Local Retail & Lifestyle: Miniso opened its first “Miniso Land” store in Macau at The Shoppes at Venetian, leaning hard into licensed IP and themed, interactive displays. Public Health & Streets: Macau approved its first official outdoor no-smoking zones, including Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção Park, Border Gate Square and the Ruins of St. Paul’s precinct, with 10-metre rules near key facilities. Youth Arts: The International Youth Dance Festival 2026 wrapped up in Macau Forum, bringing troupes from Greece, Türkiye, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and more for a global performing-arts exchange. Food Culture: House of Origin at Galaxy Macau is spotlighting Cantonese craft with a new lunch service and a 15-year Moutai pairing dinner.

Macau Lifestyle & Policy: Macau will roll out its first official outdoor no-smoking zones at Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção Park, the Border Gate Square, and the Ruins of St. Paul’s precinct, after lawmakers approved amendments to the Tobacco Prevention and Control Law—designated areas will cover 10 metres around key facility entrances, with the first batch set to be formalised by executive order. Community & Culture: The International Youth Dance Festival 2026 wrapped up at Macao Forum, bringing troupes from Greece, Türkiye, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao—an upbeat reminder of how dance exchanges keep the city’s performing-arts scene connected to the world. Local Business & Retail: Miniso opened its first “Miniso Land” store in Macau at The Shoppes at Venetian, a 400 sqm, IP-led concept with 30+ licensed collections and 1,200+ products—another sign of how themed lifestyle retail is reshaping what visitors expect to find. Regional Mobility & Commerce: Zhuhai Duty Free Group won an arrivals duty-free concession at Qingmao Port, adding a 129 sqm store to the Zhuhai–Macau corridor and boosting shopping options for the growing border flow. Arts & Film (Macao link): The 9th Hong Kong International Youth Film Festival will open in Macao on Aug 15, with an expanded jury lineup—keeping the spotlight on young screen talent and cross-regional creative momentum.

Macau Lifestyle & Retail: Miniso opened its first “Miniso Land” store in Macau at The Shoppes at Venetian, a 400 sqm, IP-led premium format with 30+ licensed collections (Disney, Harry Potter, Pokémon, One Piece, Sanrio and more) plus Miniso’s own YoYo character. Public Health & Community: Macau approved its first official outdoor no-smoking zones—at Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção Park, Border Gate Square, and the Ruins of St. Paul’s precinct—after a pilot, with smoking banned within 10 metres of key facility entrances. Youth Culture & Performing Arts: The International Youth Dance Festival 2026 wrapped up in Macau Forum after outdoor performances at Tap Siac Square, bringing troupes from Greece, Türkiye, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau for an international dance exchange. Sports & Local Pride: Macau’s Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals 2026 kicks off tomorrow, presented by Galaxy Entertainment Group. Greater Bay Area Connections: Zhuhai Duty Free Group won an arrivals duty-free concession at Qingmao Port, boosting shopping options for travellers between Zhuhai and Macau/Hong Kong.

Macau Lifestyle & Public Health: Macau’s anti-smoking rules are getting tougher. The Legislative Assembly passed amendments expanding outdoor no-smoking zones, banning e-cigarettes in all public spaces, and allowing inspectors to use body-worn cameras; the first designated outdoor areas include Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção Park, Border Gate Square, and the Ruins of St. Paul’s precinct. Macau Culture & Community: The 2026 Sands Shopping Carnival is back, running four days with 580+ booths, eight themed zones, and daily MOP 1 deals—aimed at giving local SMEs a big community-facing platform. Macau Education & Youth Arts: The International Youth Dance Festival 2026 wrapped up with international troupes and outdoor performances across Tap Siac Square and Macao Forum, spotlighting cultural exchange through dance. Macau Retail & Pop Culture: Miniso opened its first Miniso Land store in Macau at The Shoppes at Venetian, bringing an IP-led, premium format with 30+ licensed collections. Greater Bay Area Mobility: Zhuhai Duty Free won an arrivals duty-free concession at Qingmao Port, boosting shopping options for travellers crossing between Zhuhai and Macau. Digital & Ethics in the Region: Hong Kong’s SITI and Professor Sun Dong highlighted AI governance and digital transformation efforts at APEC Digital Weeks in Chengdu.

Retail & Pop Culture: Miniso opened its first “Miniso Land” in Macau at The Shoppes at Venetian, a 400sqm premium store with 1,200+ SKUs and 30+ licensed IP zones (Disney, Harry Potter, Pokémon, One Piece, Sanrio and more), plus Miniso’s own YoYo character. Youth Arts: The International Youth Dance Festival 2026 wrapped with a closing gala at Macao Forum, after indoor and outdoor performances that brought troupes from Greece, Türkiye, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao—celebrating ethnic flair and modern rhythms. Public Health & Lifestyle: Macau’s anti-smoking rules are tightening: new outdoor no-smoking zones will be set up at Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção Park, Border Gate Square and the Ruins of St. Paul’s precinct, with smoking banned within 10m of key health and school entrances; e-cigarettes will be banned in all public spaces. Community & Care: IAM and the Health Bureau held a mosquito and rodent prevention talk for Vietnamese domestic workers, focusing on practical “three no’s” to protect neighbourhood hygiene. Tourism & Shopping: Sands Shopping Carnival kicked off as a free, four-day SME-friendly shopping and dining event with 580+ booths, eight themed zones and daily MOP 1 specials.

Shopping & Community: Sands Shopping Carnival is back in Macau, kicking off a four-day, free-admission shopping and family-fun push with 580+ booths, eight themed zones, and daily MOP 1 specials plus discounts up to 90%. Public Health & Lifestyle: Macau’s anti-smoking rules get tougher: new official outdoor no-smoking zones will roll out at Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção Park, Border Gate Square, and the Ruins of St. Paul’s precinct, with e-cigarette bans in public spaces and expanded restrictions around schools and health facilities. Culture & Nature: A local bat guide highlights how Macau’s “coin bats” and other bat motifs connect to Chinese beliefs of luck and blessings—turning a spooky Halloween image into something auspicious. Retail & Pop Culture: Miniso opens its first Miniso Land in Macau at The Shoppes at Venetian, bringing an IP-heavy premium format with themed areas for global favourites. Arts & Youth: International Youth Dance Festival 2026 keeps momentum with an indoor showcase at Macao Forum, featuring 300+ dancers and a mix of regional and ethnic styles. Tourism & Neighbourhoods: MGTO teams up with Flyday HK for “Macao, Get, Set, Glow 2026,” launching running-themed routes to spotlight local gastronomy, heritage, community and scenery.

Macao Anti-Smoking Update: The Legislative Assembly has passed tougher tobacco rules, with Macau set to roll out its first official outdoor no-smoking zones at Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção Park, Border Gate Square, and the Ruins of St. Paul’s precinct, banning smoking within 10 metres of entrances/exits of hospitals, health centres, nurseries, childcare facilities, and primary/secondary schools, plus wider outdoor coverage and e-cigarette limits. Youth & Culture on Stage: The International Youth Dance Festival 2026 brought nearly 300 dancers from 11 groups to Macao Forum for its first indoor performance, blending classical elegance, regional and ethnic flair, and modern rhythms, with more shows on 22 and 23 July. Neighbourhood Tourism: MGTO teamed up with Flyday HK for “Macao, Get, Set, Glow 2026,” launching eight running routes (gastronomy, heritage, community, scenery) to spotlight lesser-known areas, backed by influencer promotion and photo challenges. Local Arts Spotlight: Julia Lam Tsz Kwan’s “Hua of Casa” exhibition opened at Mandarin Oriental, Macau, using painting, spray, printmaking, installation and gold-leaf to reflect Macau’s heritage-meets-progress story. Community Health Talk: IAM and the Health Bureau held a mosquito and rodent prevention session for Vietnamese residents, focusing on practical “three no’s” and environmental hygiene. Global Mobility Watch: Macau’s updated immigration guidelines list 88 visa-free countries, including nine African nations, with stay length depending on passport.

Macao Community Health: IAM and the Health Bureau held a mosquito-and-rodent prevention talk for Vietnamese residents, focusing on summer “two fevers” risks and practical hygiene steps at home. Anti-Smoking Update: Macau lawmakers passed amendments to toughen the Tobacco Prevention and Control Law, expanding outdoor smoking bans, banning e-cigarettes in public spaces, and allowing inspectors to use body-worn cameras from 1 January. Tourism by Foot: MGTO teamed up with Flyday HK on “Macao, Get, Set, Glow 2026,” launching eight running routes (gastronomy, heritage, community, scenery) with influencer promotion, online voting, and offline challenges. Arts & Identity: Rui Cunha Foundation opened “Wondersome and Peculiar Voyages: The Travelling Dolls,” blending textiles and visual anthropology on migration, language, and ethnic identity. Youth Culture: International Youth Dance Festival 2026 staged its first indoor show at Macao Forum, with nearly 300 dancers from 11 groups, and more performances on 22–23 July. Education & Mobility: Macau’s University Town plan (MOP20 billion) targets 20,000 students by 2030 as UM, MPU and UTM campuses expand in Hengqin. Weather Disruption: Heavy rain triggered Macau’s 5th Red Rainstorm Warning, with flooding reported in low-lying Taipa areas and class suspensions announced.