Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng says that the Macau government is studying how to fully and accurately “standardise” requirements for patriots to become members of local governing bodies.
Ho made the remarks in reply to appointed lawmaker Chan Wa Keong’s written question, which was made after a Q&A session in the legislature’s hemicycle that was initially scheduled to be held on August 10 was cancelled due to Macau’s then COVID-19 situation following the confirmation of a Delta variant four-member family cluster early this month.
As a result, the government had asked legislators to instead submit their written questions to Ho.
The 33-member Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday released the chief executive’s respective replies to questions made by 30 lawmakers on its website.
In his question, Chan asked whether the Macau government would draft legislation to specify details about the “patriots governing Macau” principle, with reference to the practice in Hong Kong.
In his reply, Ho underlined the fact that Macau has always adhered to the “patriots governing Macau” principle is an important reason for the successful implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
3 important criteria
Ho said that there are at least three important criteria to define patriots.
Firstly, Ho said, patriots must safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests, and must not engage in activities that jeopardise national sovereignty and security.
Secondly, Ho said, patriots must respect and safeguard the country’s fundamental system and the constitutional order of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
In particular, Ho said, Article 1 of the nation’s Constitution stipulates that “the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China”, which, Ho added, is “a fundamental system that patriots must fully respect and safeguard”.
Thirdly, patriots necessarily make their utmost effort to safeguard Macau’s prosperity and stability, Ho said.
Ho noted that a number of local laws such as the Oath of Office Law and the Legislative Assembly Election Law have certain rules to ensure the implementation of the “patriots governing Macau” principle.
Nevertheless, Ho said that “with the aim of further securing the implementation of such a fundamental principle”, the Macau government is now studying how to more fully and accurately “standardise” requirements that patriots need to meet.
Ho said that the study also aims to further improve the city’s legal mechanism concerning the implementation of the “patriots governing Macau” principle.
Legislature must be composed of patriots
Meanwhile, in his reply to directly-elected lawmaker Ng Kuok Cheong’s written question, Ho reaffirmed that “patriots governing Macau” is a fundamental principle of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
In his question, Ng accused the Macau government of having deprived certain individuals of their political rights by disqualifying them from running in the upcoming legislative direct election – which will take place on September 12. Ng has been officially disqualified from running in next month’s direct election.
In his reply to Ng, Ho said that ensuring that the Legislative Assembly is composed of patriots is an important condition for the “correct” implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
Ho underlined that no-one, including he himself, has the power to interfere in the independent operation of the Electoral Affairs Commission of the Legislative Assembly Elections (CAEAL), which, he said, had assessed candidates’ qualifications in line with the powers granted by the Legislative Assembly Election Law before “refusing to accept certain electoral lists that were ineligible to run in the election in line with the law”.
Ho said that the commission’s decision has safeguarded the constitutional order of the MSAR established by the nation’s Constitution and the Macau Basic Law, adding that the decision was later backed by a ruling by the Court of Final Appeal (TUI). Ho said that the MSAR government respects and supports the decision of the commission and the top court’s ruling.
The commission overseeing Macau’s upcoming elections disqualified 20 candidates from six lists in July for failing to uphold the Macau Basic Law or having been disloyal to the MSAR.
Iao Hon urban renewal project
Meanwhile, in his reply to appointed lawmaker Iau Teng Pio’s written question, Ho revealed that an urban renewal residential project will be built on a plot in Iao Hon district for residents currently living in the badly dilapidated Iao Hon private housing estate.
The Iao Hon Estate comprises 46 blocks in seven “compounds” in the district. The walk-ups built in the 1970s comprise 2,556 residential and non-residential units.
According to Ho, a residential building will be constructed on a plot where the office of the now defunct Old Quarters Renewal Consultative Committee was located which has now been demolished, as the first phase of an urban renewal project for residents of the Iao Hon Estate.
Meanwhile, Ho also said that the government aims to submit a bill to the Legislative Assembly next year regulating its sandwich class housing projects.
This file photo shows Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) at the Venetian casino-hotel resort in Cotai last month. Photo: GCS
