Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng promised yesterday "zero tolerance" for "bad apples" in the judiciary and stressed that "honest justice is the cornerstone of fair justice".
Ho made the remarks in his speech during a ceremony at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) yesterday which marked the start of the 2023-2024 Judicial Year.
In his speech, Ho underlined the importance of President Xi Jinping's principle that law enforcement and justice are dependent on two main points - fairness and integrity.
Ho insisted that "honest justice is the cornerstone of fair justice" and that, "based on a zero-tolerance attitude, judicial corruption must be severely punished and the bad apples must be removed."
The chief executive also told the audience of some 330 judicial and government officials as well as senior community representatives that "a fair and honest judicial culture must be widely promoted, professional conscience must always be adhered to, belief in the rule of law must be strengthened, and judicial organs must give full play to their role."
Ho also called for the promotion of the "important role of the spirit of the rule of law" and the "strong backing of fair justice" in order to "effectively protect residents' legitimate rights and better protect and realise social fairness and justice."
The chief executive further pointed out that "judicial work should adhere to the original intention of serving the people, advance with the times and actively respond to the requirements of rapid economic and social development."
Ho, a former business community leader and ex-member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), also said that "Macau must protect the legitimate rights of market entities in accordance with the law and maintain the order of free, open and fair competition."
Kong Chi, a suspended assistant prosecutor-general, and three co-defendants, including a lawyer, are currently standing trial for alleged crimes such as judicial corruption and criminal association. Kong is denying all the charges.
Former prosecutor-general Ho Chio Meng was sentenced in 2017 to 21 years behind bars for a string of crimes such as fraud, money laundering and criminal association.
Addressing the ceremony, Prosecutor-General Ip Son Sang called for "severe punishment" of all those in the judiciary involved in illegal activities. He also said that in the wake of the latest case affecting Macau's Public Prosecutions Office (MP), he had ordered a revision of its internal procedures.
Court of Final Appeal (TUI) President Sam Ho Fai and Macau Lawyers Association (AAM) Vong Hin Fai also addressed the ceremony.
Macau's legal and judicial systems are based on those in Portugal.
Caption: Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng addresses yesterday's ceremony at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) marking the start of the 2023-24 Judicial Year. – Photo: GCS
