AGP Executive Report

Macau Urban Renewal Push: Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai chaired the first meeting of the Leadership Group for Urban Renewal, urging social consensus and tighter coordination as detailed work plans move forward, including a dedicated revitalisation track for Pátio do Espinho. Cybersecurity & National Security: Sam also led the annual plenary meeting of Macau’s Cybersecurity Commission, stressing closer coordination between cybersecurity and national security amid rapid AI, big data and cloud risks. TCM & “Big Health” Cooperation: Sam met National Health Commission leadership to deepen healthcare collaboration and boost Macau’s traditional Chinese medicine and big health industry, aligned with the city’s 3rd Five-Year Plan. Regulatory/rights spotlight: An EU report covering 2025 said Macau’s security crackdown has eroded fundamental freedoms, citing cases including the arrest of Au Kam San and the closure of All About Macau. Smart table tech (regional gaming): Philippines regulator PAGCOR is considering mandatory smart gaming tables, with a Macau 2024 “recommendation” cited as a reference point for how such tech could improve bet visibility. Macau business finance: Zenta Group filed a US$50m shelf registration statement in the US to keep funding flexibility for future offerings. Tourism & MICE: Global Legal & Sustainable Timber Forum 2026 opened in Macau with 800+ guests and a bigger international turnout, positioning the city as a global industry dialogue hub.

Macau Tourism & MICE: Galaxy Macau is rolling out “Dream Voyage @ Galaxy Resort: Gao Xiaowu’s Art Exhibition” at Galaxy Promenade, running until 17 Nov, as the integrated resort leans further into lifestyle-led visitation. Sports Business: NBA House returns to The Venetian Macao from 7–11 Oct ahead of the NBA China Games, with a free fan experience, partner activations and 10 NBA legends set to visit. Public Policy & Transport: The Government said it is upgrading bus safety training with AI-driven driver assistance and monitoring, plus tyre pressure monitoring and trials of camera monitor systems, as it celebrates the Bus Safety Excellence Award 2026. Cross-border Travel Demand: China’s immigration authority expects daily cross-border passenger flows to top 2 million during the Mid-Autumn and National Day holiday periods, with peak days forecast above 2.4 million. Finance & Payments: Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from the China-led mBridge cross-border CBDC platform after completing a proof of concept, underscoring shifting momentum in alternative payment rails. Health & Community: Macau’s Health Bureau kicked off World Alzheimer’s Month activities, including dementia-friendly initiatives and early-detection promotion. Culture & Heritage: The “Empress Regnant – Wu Zetian and the Divine Capital of Luoyang” exhibition opens in Macau on 24 Sep, bringing 126 artefacts from Henan.

Macau Monetary Policy: The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) raised its discount window rate by 25 basis points to 4.25% after the Fed hike, keeping Macau’s pataca interest rates aligned with the Hong Kong dollar peg. Macau Finance & Payments: The Financial Services Bureau (DSF) expanded its “Smart Finance” framework with email notifications for incoming government funds, helping businesses verify lending approvals and account credits via the Macao One Account and related platforms. Tourism & Events: Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) made its debut at Paris’s IFTM Top Resa 2026, showcasing Macao’s “tourism+” appeal to expand long-haul visitor markets in Europe. Business Community: The France Macau Chamber of Commerce (FMCC) announced its 2026 “Cannes: Le Festival” charity gala at MGM Macau on 30 October, with the Macau ESG Awards and fundraising for the Macau Deaf Association’s “Monday Sign Language Channel.” Social Affairs: The Health Bureau rolled out World Alzheimer’s Month activities, including movement-focused events and a push for earlier dementia diagnosis, with 209 organisations joining its dementia-friendly alliance. Local Life: Taipa Village and Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo will be pedestrianised for the first six days of the National Day Golden Week holiday. Cybersecurity: A Macau-hosted sub-forum during China Cybersecurity Week saw Judiciary Police pledge stronger AI security and data security compliance guidance. Regional Trade & Infrastructure: Macau’s Hengqin integration and broader GBA development got a boost as Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai met Hebei’s Xiong’an leadership to discuss joint development.

Macau Monetary Policy: The Monetary Authority of Macao raised its discount window rate by 25 basis points to 4.25% right after the Fed hike, keeping the pataca aligned with the Hong Kong dollar peg. Macau Digital Finance: The Financial Services Bureau expanded its “Smart Finance” system to add email notifications for incoming government funds, helping businesses and organisations track lending approvals and account credits via registered bank contacts and the Macao One Account platform. Macao Cybersecurity: A Macau sub-forum under China Cybersecurity Week focused on AI security and data protection, with Judiciary Police pledging tighter compliance guidance and stronger cybersecurity resilience for civil society. Tourism Trade Push: MGTO made its debut at Paris’s IFTM Top Resa 2026, using the “Nihao! China” pavilion to market Macao’s tourism+ appeal to European travel trade partners. Hengqin Integration Talks: Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai met Hebei’s Xiong’an leadership to discuss joint development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and Xiong’an, framing it as a driver for Macau’s diversification. Education & Skills Benchmark: In the latest PISA 2025 results released in September 2026, Macao ranked among the world’s top performers in math, scoring 549. Regional Business Link: Business leaders said the newly opened Pinglu Canal will strengthen China-ASEAN trade and logistics, potentially reshaping routes toward Europe.

Biotech & Markets: Antengene said the first patient has been dosed in China for its pivotal Phase III CLINCH-3 study of ATG-022, a CLDN18.2 antibody-drug conjugate for advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer, with plans to expand into a multi-regional trial. Macau Governance & Security: Macau hosted a sub-forum during China Cybersecurity Week where Judiciary Police Director Sit Chong Meng pledged stronger compliance guidance for AI security and data security, aiming to boost the city’s cybersecurity resilience. Regional Trade & Infrastructure: Business leaders at CAEXPO in Nanning hailed the newly opened Pinglu Canal as a major boost to China-ASEAN logistics and trade links, potentially reshaping routes from Southwest China toward Europe. Hengqin & Cross-Border Development: Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai met Hebei’s CPPCC and Xiong’an officials to discuss joint development of Hengqin and the Xiong’an New Area, stressing alignment with Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan and support for Macau’s diversification. Tourism & Business Impact: A Macau-focused report argues the city can do more to convert mega-event visitors into neighborhood footfall and merchant turnover, beyond the integrated resort venues. AI in Tourism: Fooyo signed a non-binding MOU with two Macau tourism organisations to explore AI-driven tourism marketing, AI-generated content, and creator training, including a Singapore-Macau creator exchange pilot. Education & Human Capital: PISA results highlighted strong reading and math performance across Asian systems, with Macao ranking among the top performers—an angle with direct implications for long-term talent pipelines.

Macau Tourism & Hospitality: A new UTM study says service robots’ ethnic look and accent can shape how hospitality staff feel about working with them, with better “social fit” designs linked to more positive human–robot cooperation—an issue as Macau pushes tech into frontline service. Visitor Economy Strategy: A commentary argues Macau should better route concert, sports and other mega-event crowds into neighbourhoods, using clearer district positioning and transport to lift merchant footfall beyond the casino floor. AI for Destination Marketing: Fooyo signed a non-binding MOU with two Macau tourism bodies to explore AI-generated video/content, creator training, and Singapore–Macau exchanges, including a pilot using Singapore creators for short-form Macau promos. Finance & Payments Compliance: Ant’s enterprise arm warned at a Macau forum that the next compliance hurdle is “know your agent,” as AI agents increasingly initiate payments; Ant International is working with card networks on an interoperability framework. Cross-border Trade Costs: FedEx announced demand surcharges and higher fees on U.S.-bound shipments, including from China, Hong Kong and Macau, starting Sept. 21. Education & Skills Benchmark: OECD PISA 2025 results released in September 2026 put Macao among the top performers in reading and math, reinforcing the region’s education competitiveness.

Macau Tourism Tech Push: Fooyo signed a non-binding MOU with two Macau tourism organisations to pilot AI tools for destination marketing, including AI-generated video, creator training, and a Singapore–Macau exchange for short-form content. Community Consumption Boost: Macau’s DSEDT will run a 10-week spending campaign from Oct 9 to Dec 17, with weekend voucher collection, Thursday redemption, and three stackable e-voucher types aimed at lifting footfall for about 20,000 offline merchants and supporting SMEs. AI Compliance for Banks: Ant’s enterprise arm warned at a Macau forum that the next compliance hurdle is “know your agent,” as AI agents increasingly shop and pay; Ant is working with Mastercard and Visa on an interoperability framework. Education & Health Spotlight: Macau’s childhood obesity and problematic internet use remain under scrutiny, with new local research linking screen-heavy habits to poorer health and mental wellbeing. Regional Business Context: Hong Kong’s first five-year plan (2026-2030) doubles down on development and livelihoods, with stronger integration into the Greater Bay Area and a push for finance and AI. Trade & Services Signal: Macao hosted a WTO Public Forum working session for the first time, focusing on how youth and MSMEs in small economies can benefit from cross-border e-commerce. Brand & Talent Watch: World Brand Lab released Asia’s 500 Most Influential Brands in Hong Kong, with Samsung, Tencent and Toyota leading; the methodology added an AI influence index for the first time.

AI Compliance & Payments: Ant’s enterprise arm in Macau warned banks face a new “know your agent” challenge as AI agents increasingly shop and pay, with Ant International working on an interoperability framework with Mastercard and Visa. Macao Tourism Tech Push: Fooyo signed a non-binding MOU with two Macau tourism bodies to pilot AI tools for destination marketing, including AI-generated video and creator training. Macao Consumption Support: The DSEDT announced a 10-week community spending campaign from Oct 9 to Dec 17, using three stackable e-voucher types to boost footfall for about 20,000 offline merchants. Local Business & Events: The 31st MIF will debut a Spanish-speaking countries pavilion (Oct 21-24), alongside PLPEX and the Macao Franchise Expo, aiming to widen trade and investment links. Education Upgrade: Macau’s DSEDJ will roll out AI education across all school stages, adding AI classrooms, teaching materials and a localized smart platform. Health Watch: Macau’s childhood obesity and problematic internet use studies highlight rising obesity rates and links between screen habits, insomnia and depression among students. Regional Context: Hong Kong unveiled its 2026-2030 five-year plan, stressing development and livelihoods while deepening Greater Bay Area integration.

Macao-WTO Spotlight: Macao hosted a working session at the WTO Public Forum in Geneva for the first time, with DSEDT framing how youth and MSMEs in small economies can benefit from cross-border e-commerce, aligning with Macao’s push to strengthen trade-in-services exchanges. Local Consumption Boost: Macao announced a new 10-week community e-coupon spending campaign from Oct 9 to Dec 17, letting residents collect on weekends and redeem until Thursday, with three stackable voucher types and about 20,000 participating merchants. AI Education Rollout: DSEDJ said AI education will be introduced across all school stages, including AI classrooms support for non-higher education schools and new teaching materials and a localized smart platform. Domestic Violence Prevention: IAS and the Women’s General Association launched a “Zero Violence in the City” series, adding a youth “Zero Violence Promotion Ambassador” programme to expand outreach and victim support. Trade & Events: The 31st Macao International Trade and Investment Fair will add a Spanish-speaking countries pavilion for the first time (Oct 21-24), while DOC DMC and smallWORLD marked their 18th anniversary by launching Macau Event Company to expand event management and entertainment services. Cross-border Business Context: Uber’s Macau relaunch shows trip growth but users say the real constraint is limited taxi supply, not the platform.

Hong Kong–Macao Policy & Trade: Macao hosted a WTO Public Forum working session for the first time, focusing on how youth and MSMEs in small economies can benefit from cross-border e-commerce, as the multilateral event ran 15–17 Sept in Geneva. Macau Business & Consumer Stimulus: DSEDT announced a new 10-week community spending e-coupon drive from Oct 9 to Dec 17, with residents collecting on weekends and redeeming until Thursday, using three stackable voucher types at about 20,000 offline merchants. Macau Governance & Social Risk: The Judiciary Police arrested 11 over a scheme allegedly “selling” unused foreign worker quotas, while the IAS and Women’s General Association launched a citywide domestic violence prevention campaign adding youth “Zero Violence Promotion Ambassadors.” Regional Connectivity & Logistics: Hong Kong authorised the Northern Link Spur Line railway scheme to boost Hong Kong–Shenzhen metro connectivity and support the Northern Metropolis plan. Cross-border Development: Hong Kong’s inaugural 2026–2030 five-year plan was framed as a locally built, Beijing-aligned roadmap to deepen Greater Bay Area integration, including tech, talent and infrastructure. Industry & Events: The 31st Macao International Trade and Investment Fair will add a Spanish-speaking countries industry pavilion for the first time, alongside PLPEX and the Macao Franchise Expo. Macau Knowledge & Branding: Macao published the Chinese, Portuguese and English electronic editions of Macao Yearbook 2026, covering 2025’s political, economic and social developments.

Macau Consumption Boost: The government will launch a new 10-week community spending drive from Oct 9 to Dec 17, letting residents collect vouchers on weekends and redeem them until Thursday, with three stackable e-coupon types plus merchant discount and reward vouchers to spur SME footfall. AI in Education: DSEDJ says it will roll out AI education across all school stages, including AI classrooms, teaching materials and a localized smart teaching platform, alongside upgrades to higher-ed “micro-major” courses. Fraud Crackdown: Judiciary Police arrested 11 people over a RMB1 million scheme that allegedly “sold” unused foreign worker quotas via a property management firm, with suspects charging mainland applicants for bogus work permits. Domestic Violence Prevention: The “Zero Violence in the City” series returns Sept–Nov with a new youth-focused “Zero Violence Promotion Ambassador” programme for ages 15–35. Transport Reality Check: Uber’s Macau relaunch data shows trips rising sharply, but users say the bigger issue is still the limited number of taxis on the ground. Regional Business Links: Macau’s 31st MIF runs Oct 21–24 at Cotai Expo, adding a Spanish-speaking countries industry pavilion to widen trade and investment connections. Hong Kong Spillover: Hong Kong unveiled its first five-year plan (2026–2030), stressing deeper integration with Shenzhen and a push for innovation, infrastructure and livelihoods.

Macau-Hengqin Cross-Border Services: Macau opened its first offline government service station on the mainland in Hengqin, starting with 58 commonly used services (identity, tax, IP and pharma) via nine staffed counters, aiming to cut time and cost for residents and firms handling Macau procedures. Local Economy & Jobs: The Labour Affairs Bureau said it will expand employment support for young residents, strengthen job-matching and follow-up guidance, and run more targeted recruitment and school/industry seminars. Public Health: Hong Kong’s CHP is investigating a locally acquired chikungunya fever case in Tai Kok Tsui, urging mosquito control and personal protection to prevent local transmission. Education Benchmark: OECD PISA results place Macao among the top performers globally, even as maths and reading show record declines across many OECD systems. Tech & Business Events: BEYOND Expo rebrands as “BEYOND” and returns to The Venetian Macao Cotai Expo on 26–29 May 2027, positioning the event as a global tech, entrepreneurship and investment platform. Governance & Sports Restructure: Macau’s sports administration leadership is set to change as Cultural Affairs Bureau president Deland Leong takes acting charge ahead of a planned merger later this year.

Hong Kong Policy Blueprint: Hong Kong unveiled its first Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) alongside the 2026 Policy Address, setting out 105 indicators to guide economic development, housing, global competitiveness and livelihoods, with Chief Executive John Lee saying the roadmap aims to make the city a “bridge and gateway” and keep expectations stable for residents and investors. Innovation Push: The plan targets stepping up investment in innovation and technology, including a goal to lift R&D spending to 3% of GDP after 2030, plus a proposed HK$10 billion innovation fund and new support for AI and life sciences commercialization. Northern Metropolis Housing Plan: Lee also pledged bigger homes and more units in the Northern Metropolis, including raising private residential unit size requirements and expanding public housing delivery over the decade. Macao-Hengqin Public Services: Hengqin opened staffed service counters for Macau public administration services, now offering 63 services across four Macau entities, reducing the need for residents to return to Macau for paperwork. Macao Skills & Testing: The Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Centre inaugurated an International and Professional Examination Centre at WTC Macau, supporting more than 30 certification exam programmes and adding internationally recognized testing capacity. Education Collaboration: Macao University of Tourism (UTM) and CETT-UB signed a cooperation pact to expand student and faculty exchanges and joint projects in tourism and hospitality. Local Business & Compliance: Macau’s Public Works Bureau reported grease-related sewer backflow in Zape and urged catering operators to maintain grease interceptors to prevent blockages and public health risks. Regional Trade Link: The Pinglu Canal opened to shipping, creating a new inland-water corridor connecting southwest China with ASEAN and international markets, reinforcing the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Gaming Brand Deal: Iconix announced a long-term Danskin licensing partnership granting DSJ exclusive rights to develop and distribute Danskin products across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau through 2036.

Macao-Cross Border Culture & Creative Economy: Macao launched a cultural and creative design competition plus exchange activities, aiming to turn heritage-inspired concepts into mass-produced products for sale and to help local makers commercialise distinctive cultural IP. Gaming & Tourism Industry Buzz: Galaxy Macau defended its “Best Integrated Resort in Asia” title at the 2026 IAG Academy IR Awards, while Ken Jolly was named “Industry Legend,” reinforcing the resort’s brand pull beyond gaming. Local Governance Reminder: Macao election law requires eligible legal-person voters in industrial, commercial/financial, labour or professional sectors to submit annual summary reports by 30 September, or face suspension of voter registration. Regional Business Linkages: A new SGS three-year PVoC contract for Tanzania covers exports from the “China Zone” including Hong Kong and Macau, supporting conformity checks to curb substandard imports. Greater Bay Area Logistics Angle: A report on Guangdong-Macao “cross-border one-lock” customs and pre-positioned air cargo services highlights faster logistics between Hengqin and Macao International Airport, strengthening the region’s trade connectivity. Entertainment Expansion (Macau tie-in): Globavend plans its first organizer-led live event outside Hong Kong with K-pop star OK TAECYEON’s Macau fan meeting at Grand Lisboa Palace on Nov. 14, targeting broader Southeast Asia demand.

Telecom Reshuffle: Hutchison Telephone (Macau) will stop mobile services at 11:59pm on Nov 30, with customers transferred to CTM; Hutchison had about 140,000 users and only ran 4G, leaving Macau with CTM and China Telecom as the two mobile operators. Banking Shake-up: OCBC Macau will cease accepting new credit card, mortgage, car-loan and personal-loan applications, and will progressively wind down credit cards; existing cards stay usable until Nov 30, then accounts close Dec 31. Capital Markets: Wynn Macau cut the conversion price of its US$600m 4.50% convertible bonds to HK$8.67530 from HK$9.02275 after declaring an interim dividend, effective Sept 16. Regional Finance: Shenzhen issued RMB 5 billion offshore renminbi municipal bonds via green/sustainable structures, with deals in Hong Kong and Macau funding transport, water and healthcare projects. Hengqin Business Push: The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is positioning itself as a lower-cost launchpad for Macau entrepreneurs, citing 8,224 Macau-funded firms registered by end-August. Macau Trade Spotlight: Macau ranked 6th globally and 2nd in Asia for services trade development in IPIM’s 2026 index. Upcoming Industry Events: GLSTF 2026 will run Sept 22-23 at Galaxy in Cotai, drawing timber and home-furnishing players from 49 countries/regions. Public Safety: Police warned after a police-impersonation scam netted a non-resident nearly RMB2m, with fraudsters pushing victims to buy gold bars.

Macau Gaming Outlook: CLSA cut its 2027 Macau gross gaming revenue forecast by 4%, now expecting GGR growth of about 2% year-on-year, citing “not enough” supportive China macro indicators and delayed recovery signals. Macau Finance Watch: The Monetary Authority of Macao said foreign exchange reserves rose to MOP245.8 billion at end-August 2026, while the pataca’s trade-weighted effective exchange rate index fell. Property & Credit Signals: July 2026 data showed new residential mortgage approvals down 40.9% month-on-month, while new commercial real estate loan approvals jumped. Banking Restructuring: OCBC Macau will end its credit card business, with existing cards valid until Nov. 30 and accounts closing Dec. 31, as it shifts focus to wealth management. Hengqin-Macao Push: CE Sam Hou Fai stressed treating Hengqin’s affairs “as Macau’s own” and urged faster rollout of policy measures for the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone. Trade & Enforcement: Macau Customs said it is studying amendments to toughen the Foreign Trade Law against parallel trading, citing 93 infringement cases in the first eight months. Tourism & Events: The 19th A-Ma Cultural and Tourism Festival runs Oct 12–15, with cultural performances and business matching. Regional Business Links: Shenzhen Duty Free won the Shekou Cruise Center arrivals duty-free concession, expanding port retail in the GBA. Health & Regulation: DH and NMPA co-organised a GBA medical device regulations and registration training seminar for about 300 local industry representatives.