The Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) passed an amendment law on civil registration in its second and final reading yesterday in the legislature’s hemicycle.
Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon attended yesterday’s plenary session when the bill was voted on article-by-article.
Cheong said during yesterday’s plenary session that the main objective of the bill was to make the civil registration procedures electronic and, at the same time, simplify the registration procedures for the convenience of the public, and that members of the public could apply for civil registration through the Macao One Account mobile app.
Cheong said that the government also plans to conduct publicity programmes for parents of newborn babies in local hospitals to help them understand how to register births, choose names, and other related procedures.
During yesterday’s plenary session, lawmaker Ron Lam U Tou expressed concern about the death registration procedures, such as whether the cost of funeral services would be included in the government’s publicity campaign.
Cheong said that death registration is different to birth registration in that death registration is done by the Civil Affairs Registry, whereas funeral service charges were not directly related to the law.
The government-drafted law will take effect on July 1, while some articles of the law related to divorcees with underage children will only come into force on January 1, 2025.
Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon looks on during yesterday’s plenary session in the legislature’s hemicycle. – Photo courtesy of TDM
