Macao’s hotel guests A TOTAL of 1,104,000 guests checked in Macao’s hotels in May, leaping 140.3% year on year, the Macao Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) statistics department said Wednesday. The latest Statistics and Census Service report showed that guests from the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong SAR jumped by 133% and 818% year on year to 793,000 and 199,000, respectively. The average occupancy rate of guest rooms in May rose by 44.6 percentage points year on year to 78.9%, showed the report. Imperial edict A FIVE-COLOR silk imperial edict, dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was found in North China’s Hebei Province. The 142-year-old imperial edict was found in Jize County during an archaeological survey, according to local authorities. Measuring 2.22 meters long and 0.3 meters wide, the item is well-preserved and written in Chinese and Manchu languages. Zhao Yanping, a local expert on culture and history, said the imperial edict was issued to the family members of an official during the reign of Emperor Guangxu. Joint patrol LAW-ENFORCEMENT authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand joined forces to begin the 130th Mekong River joint patrol Wednesday. Seven vessels participating in the operation departed from three ports in China and Laos, said public security authorities in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province. The patrol is also scheduled to carry out anti-drug publicity activities themed on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which falls on June 26, along the river. | 