Sands China Celebrates SAR 20th Anniversary with Local Community with Sands Dream Explorer Activity

(Macao, December 5, 2019) – ands China Ltd. led a delegation to Beijing Nov. 19 for a week-long professionalism training session, attended by 20 of Sands China’s senior management team members.

With the support of the National Academy of Governance in Beijing, the trip was co-organised by Sands China, the Hong Kong Institute for Public Administration, and the National Conditions Education (Macau) Association.

The Sands China delegation participated in the one-week exchange at the National Academy of Governance in Beijing, with the aim of strengthening participants’ understanding of national affairs and enhancing their level of professionalism.

“As the largest integrated resort operator in Macao, Sands China continues to stress the importance of all-around development for our team members, especially professionalism education,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd. “We hope the team members who participated gained a more comprehensive understanding of the central government’s policies, such as the new implementation of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and its National Economic Strategy, so that they can seize the opportunities brought about by these key national developments, thereby enhancing their overall competence.”

The professionalism training session was composed of lectures and guided tours. All the lectures were led by heavyweight scholars such as Shan Jixiang, former president of the Palace Museum; Professor Yang Yi, major general of the National Defence University of the People’s Liberation Army; Zhang Yansheng, former secretary general of the Academic Committee of the National Development and Reform Commission; Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies; Wang Zhenmin, a professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Law; Professor Chen Jianqi, secretary of the Institute for International Strategic Studies; Dr. Fang Zhou, research director of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute; and Cao Erbao, fellow of the Counsellors’ Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies.

A total of 20 executive team members from various departments – including corporate communications, e-commerce, conventions and exhibitions, shuttle services, food and beverage, market development, hotel operations, and human resources – were selected to join this inaugural training programme.

As part of the programme, the company held an inauguration ceremony Nov. 19 at The Venetian^® Macao’s Adelson Advanced Education Centre, followed by a lecture on professionalism education, where Dr. Fang and Cao discussed the development and construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and shared their insights on Greater Bay Area policies, Macao’s functional position and complementary advantages within the area’s strategic plan, and the city’s opportunities and challenges in the region’s development.

The first day of the training session brought together more than 150 participants. Among them were Associate Master of Henry Fok Pearl Jubilee College at the University of Macau Dr. Vivian Jiang; various Sands China department heads; interns; and student representatives from six tertiary institutions in Macao, including the University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao Institute for Tourism Studies, and the City University of Macau. The aim was to encourage team members and local young students to better familiarise themselves with the latest developments in the region.

On Nov. 20, the professionalism training commenced with a welcoming ceremony at the National Academy of Governance after a flag-raising ceremony, with Jiang Fangjie from the Academy’s Hong Kong and Macao Exchange Division making welcome remarks at the event.

Jiang expressed his three expectations for the participants: “Firstly, Macao youth should have high ambitions and strive toward being a strong pillar of society with their personal careers integrated into Macao’s economic and social development. Secondly, they should work diligently and gain greater knowledge and momentum for the city’s future development through hard-earned opportunities. Thirdly, they should love the country as well as Macao and wholeheartedly move forward for a brighter future.”

Phoebe Hui, deputy executive director of the Hong Kong School of Public Administration, who accompanied the delegation during their visit to Beijing, extended her welcome to the participants. She thanked the National Academy of Governance and Sands China for their support and commitment.

While at the National Academy of Governance, the delegation first attended classes on theoretical knowledge. They then paid a visit to the Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Zhongguancun Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation Center to gain a better understanding of China’s developments and learn about the institutions’ advanced management experience, expanding their horizons and enhancing their overall competence.

The delegation also visited the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Center for Young People to get some ideas on how to contribute to Macao’s development into a world centre of tourism and leisure, as well as a smart city.

Sands China has been committed to improving the professionalism of its 29,000 team members through various initiatives, including professional literacy training courses, professional lectures, various professional exchange activities, and through film viewing sessions.