Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said yesterday that the local national security law, which was enacted over a decade ago, is now lagging behind to meet the current needs to safeguard national security due to the changes in the international landscape.
Consequently, Wong said, proposing amendments to the local national security law will be among the government’s most important legislative tasks next year. He also said that Macau’s work to safeguard national security is “on the road forever”.
Wong made the remarks during a one-day Q&A session in the legislature’s hemicycle about his portfolio’s policy guidelines for next year.
According to Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng’s 2022 Policy Address, the government plans to submit a bill amending the local national security law to the legislature next year for debate and vote.
Wong said yesterday that the local government aims for amendments to the local national security law to be enacted next year. Wong also said that the local police will strengthen communication and cooperation with their counterparts in the mainland and Hong Kong for their joint effort to prevent infiltration, intervention, and destructive actions by external forces.
Wong noted that Macau enacted its national security law – the Law on the Defence of National Security – back in 2009 based on the Article 23 requirement of the Macau Basic Law.
Macau’s national security law has never been amended since its enactment in 2009.
Wong said that the current international landscape is different from that a decade ago, because of which the current version of the local national security law is now lagging behind the real situation.
With the aim of enabling Macau to better prepare for the new national, local, regional and international safety landscape, Wong said that Macau’s national security law would need amendments.
Wong said that the experiences in Hong Kong have indicated that acts committed online may also jeopardise national security. However, Wong pointed out that according to the current version of Macau’s national security law, people can only be accused of engaging in acts endangering national security if the acts involve violence.
“The experience in Hong Kong has shown that acts committed online without violence can also jeopardise national security,” Wong said.
Wong did not elaborate on the government’s planned amendments to the local national security law.
Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak (centre, upper row, not wearing a facemask) speaks during yesterday’s Q&A session about his portfolio’s 2022 policy guidelines in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle. Photo: GCS
