Macao proposes to ban bars in residential buildings

Macao Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has launched a public consultation for the administrative regulation that regulates hotels, restaurants and bars, in which bars will not be permitted to operate in residential buildings, Xinhua news agency said citing a report in the Macao Daily Times on Monday. The newspaper quoted a document by MGTO as reporting that the move was in response to complaints by residents of the noise and disturbance caused by the night time business activities. In addition, people at or below 16 years old will be prohibited from entering a bar, which is consistent with the current rules in karaoke lounges and game centers, according to the proposed regulation. However, the transitional arrangements stated in the draft did not mention the fate of the many existing bars already established in residential buildings and how they would be affected under the new rules. The administrative regulation, which was drafted to meet the " development needs of the tourism industry", also proposed that all hotels will be rated as between one-star and five-star, instead of "two-star to five-star hotels, tourist complexes or two-star and three-star apartments". The hotel ratings will also be required to be reviewed by a special committee every six years, according to the regulation.