Macao, 18 December, 2012

Companhia de Electricidade de Macau, CEM – S.A. (CEM) and Macao Special Olympics (MSO) have jointly organized “CEM Green Drive with MSO Families” from 17 to 19 December, aiming at promoting ‘green drive’ in Macao and at the same time giving a chance to citizens with intellectual disability and their families to visit Macao major touristic landmarks during the season of festivity. One of the hot topics today is the use of more environmental friendly ways of transportation. To be in line with the government’s ‘green drive’ policy, CEM has been using its electric vehicle (EV) to showcase the benefits of this type of green vehicle to the community.

CEM Communications and Public Affairs Office Senior Manager Cecilia Nip said that ‘while working with MSO to carry out the “CEM Brightening Stars” internship program, CEM got to know that some of the MSO members do not have many chances to go around the city as it is not convenient for them to take the public transportation. Thus CEM took the initiative to use its EV to drive some of these citizens with intellectual disability and their families to tour around Macao and get to look at the beautiful Christmas decorations in various parts of the city’.

MSO National Director, Hetzer Siu thanked CEM for once again giving support to the MSO members, and appreciated CEM’s gesture on this meaningful activity.

MSO selected six of its members with different levels of intellectual disability, including one member with mobility problems due to a severe injury happened early this year, also a family whose parents are both above 80 years of old and their 50 years old son with intellectual disability.

Long Kong, one of the MSO members joining the visit said that ‘For me it is not convenient to take public transportation in Macao due to my mobility problem. Also Macao public areas are not fully equipped to receive people with mobility issues, thus it is very difficult for me to go around the city frequently. Thanks to CEM I got the chance to visit places in Macao I didn’t visit for such a long time, and some new places that I have never been. It’s nice to see the festive decorations all around the city. It is also my first time riding on an EV. It is very quiet and comfortable.”

The EV rides were organized from 17 to 19 December, and the itinerary included a visit to Taipa Houses-Museum for photo taking, and then get a bite of the egg tart, a pass-by of the Cotai Strip and the Macao Tower, and finally a visit to Penha Hill. Each MSO members also received a Christmas gift consisting of a thermal pot, cookies and candies.