It will take place next Tuesday, December 3, at 3.30 pm, in the Auditorium of the Centre for Legal and Judicial Training (Luso-International Bank Building, 18th floor) the Opening Ceremony of the Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao and of the Course on Law-Making.

The ceremony will be presided by the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms. Florinda Chan, and will count with the presence of the Head of the Office of the European Commission in Hong Kong, Mr. David Ting.

The Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao has as its overall objective the ¡§Consolidation of the Macao Legal System¡¨ and will have a duration of four years, extending into the year 2006. The total budget for the programme will be 1.980.000 euros (approximately 15.480.000 patacas), shared in equal parts by the European Union and Macao.

The co-ordination of the Co-operation Programme is at the responsibility of the International Law Office (GADI), being the organization of the pertaining actions ensured by several other entities of the MSAR¡¦s Government, namely the Centre for Legal and Judicial Training (CFJJ), the Justice Department (DSAJ), the Economic Department (DSE) and the Institute of European Studies (IEE), other than the International Law Office (GADI) itself.

The first of the numerous actions that incorporate the Co-operation Programme in the Legal Field between the European Union and Macao will be a Seminar on Intellectual Property and Industrial Property, scheduled between December 3 and 9, 2002.

Also beginning at the end of the afternoon of December 3 will be the Course on Law-Making, with a duration of 4 months (December 3, 2002 to April 3, 2003) and covering three thematic seminars, one workshop and seven lectured seminars.

The Seminar on Intellectual Property and Industrial Property and the Course on Law-Making are organized by the Centre for Legal and Judicial Training, and will both take place on their premises.