MACAU(UCAN) -- A Church-run cinema in Macau has reduced ticket prices to promote viewing of wholesome movies by the poorest residents of this Portuguese enclave.

Sister Maria Pia Cantieri, executive secretary of the Macau diocesan Social Communication Centre (SCC), said that the move hopes to encourage students and those who are less well-off to see wholesome movies.

The Cineteatro de Macau, run by the SCC, decided to reduce tickets from 40 patacas (US$5) to 30 patacas every Tuesday from Feb. 18. "We are here for service, not for making profit," Sister Cantieri told UCA News Feb. 25.

"The response is satisfactory, as the business on the last two Tuesdays showed," Sister Cantieri said. She added that "like other cinemas, the latest movies from Hong Kong, the United States and other countries are shown. But unlike them, we reject any obscene or violent movies."

The 1,000-seat cinema is also used for concerts, dramas and shows put on by Catholic and non-Catholic schools and nonprofit organizations.

Other cinemas in Macau, which usually show Hong Kong-made or Chinese movies, have not reduced the fares. They still charge between 35 to 40 patacas per ticket, including a 10 percent tax.

Owners of those cinemas are not happy with the SCC move, because the Church-run cinema is tax-free and its reduced prices can attract more viewers amid economic recession, a Macau observer told UCA News Feb. 26.

There are eight cinemas in Macau with a total of 6,000 seats, which have reportedly been filled to an average of 20 percent capacity in recent years.

Apart from running Cineteatro de Macao, the SCC also produces religious and educational radio and video programs in the local Cantonese dialect, English, Portuguese and, increasingly, in Mandarin, the national language in China.

Besides broadcasting the religious program "Shalom" through the official Radio Macau, the SCC is discussing with nearby cities across the Chinese border the possibility of airing its radio programs in the mainland.

"What we are proposing are general programs for children, youth and family which carry no religious elements," said Sister Cantieri, who is optimistic in the progress as some radio stations give a positive response to the SCC programs.

According to the March 1996 issue of the Catholic Media Council's "Information Bulletin," Shalom had been airing via "Vila Verde," a private radio station in Macau, since 1984 until the station closed a year ago.

The Catholic Media Council, based in Aachen, Germany, helps coordinate Church media projects in developing countries.

Apart from serving the audience in Macau, Vila Verde was also received by a large audience in nearby mainland China.

It is difficult to make longterm plans to prepare for Macau's return to China in 1999, since there are almost three years to go and the Church has to respond to the changing needs here as well as in China, Sister Cantieri added.

END