Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel – formerly known as New Century Hotel - located in Taipa, has committed serious administrative irregularities, leading to the decision by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) to implement provisional measures to close the hotel for six months. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam said that the temporary closure of the hotel was to protect the safety of visitors as there was a risk that Macao's image as a tourism destination could be harmed if the government had not acted decisively.

Secretary Alexis Tam said that Macao is an international tourist city transforming into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, which calls for further regulation of the city's tourism facilities. The temporary closure of the hotel was not rushed, he said, and is an isolated incident, adding that other hotels in Macao are doing well, and that the inspection committee will continue to conduct inspections of all hotel properties.

Past inspections by MGTO uncovered evidence that the hotel had committed severe irregularities and permitted the building of a multitude of illegal reconstructions. Serious fire safety issues included an inadequate number of fire extinguishers, defective emergency lighting systems, blocked exits, obstructed escape routes, malfunctioning smoke chamber, use of decorative materials without fireproofing and storage of fuel beyond legal limits, etc. MGTO has imposed various sanctions and penalties regarding these irregularities, and demanded the hotel rectify them within a stipulated time. However, most of the issues remained unresolved.

In its latest inspection in June, MGTO found that the overall facilities of Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel still failed to meet the requirements stipulated by the regulations and fire safety standards. With a view to protecting public safety, MGTO called various public entities including Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), Labour Affairs Bureau, Health Bureau (SSM), Public Security Police Force (PSP), Fire Services Bureau, Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau and Environmental Protection Bureau to form an inspection committee to conduct a joint inspection of Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel on 12 ^th July. The inspection committee concluded that the hotel failed to meet the essential requirements necessary to maintaining its operation, and submitted a report on the irregularities identified during the inspection.

Considering the severity of the hotel's irregularities concerning fire safety and the inspection committee's conclusions, MGTO had reason to believe that it would cause serious or irreparable damage to the public if the Office had not adopted any provisional measures. Therefore, according to the provisions of Clause No. 1, Article No. 83 of the Administrative Procedure Code, MGTO decided to implement provisional measures to close down Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel for a period of six months, starting from 23^rd July.

Teaming up with PSP, IACM and SSM, some 20 MGTO inspectors arrived at Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel on 23^rd July at noon to conduct appropriate closure measures. The inspectors inspected all the rooms and facilities one by one on each floor of the hotel, ensuring that all parties had left the hotel. In addition, they properly handled the electrical and mechanical facilities in the hotel, ensuring no hidden peril threatened safety or public health. Once the foregoing measures were finalised, the inspectors conducted procedures to close down the establishment, sealing all the entrances and exits of the hotel. They also solemnly informed the persons in charge of the establishment that any party entering the establishment without authorisation or operating the hotel during the period of temporary closure will incur criminal liability. Closure procedures were completed by around 2:00pm.

During the period of temporary closure, if requirements are met regarding works project and construction permit, etc., the hotel can apply for temporary entry to the establishment to conduct the necessary works to rectify the shortcomings. However, the hotel is not allowed to operate as a business during the period.

On 22^nd and 23^rd July, MGTO arranged for around 1,000 persons to leave the hotel in an orderly manner, including over 70 guests and 30 staff when the closing procedures were implemented on 23^rd July from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm.

MGTO set up a help desk at the Tourism Activities Centre, on 23^rd July, from 11:00am to 6:00pm, where staff members from MGTO, the Labour Affairs Bureau, Social Welfare Bureau, Consumer Council and Tourism Crisis Management Office were stationed to provide information. Enquiries could also be made through Tel: 2833 3000. On that day, the help desk attended to 19 cases, of which three related to room reservation involving 17 rooms, while 14 cases involved hotel staff and two involved hotel membership. Some ten enquiries were received via the Tourism Hotline as at 24^th July.

The 5-star, 500-plus room Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel, formerly known as New Century Hotel, opened in 1992, and was renamed in 2013. It is the only 5-star hotel in Macao to have been temporarily closed by the government.