The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government has strongly disapproved of and condemned the authorities of the Taiwan region for smearing Macau’s improvements in its legal system for safeguarding national security and distorting Macau’s socioeconomic development by raising its so-called travel alert for Macau.
The Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) made the remarks in a statement on Friday night, after the Taiwan authorities announced on Thursday its decision to raise its travel alert for the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau due to “their respective implementation of new legal systems concerning national security or amendments to their national security legal systems”.
The GCS statement underlined that as an inalienable part of China, the MSAR has the constitutional duty to safeguard national security. Since its Law on Safeguarding National Security came into force in 2009, Macau’s economy has been prospering, its population’s well-being has significantly improved, and its international status has been continuously rising, the statement said.
The statement noted that amendments to Macau’s national security law, which were enacted last year, were drawn up by referencing and studying the respective legislative experience in various countries and regions and in compliance with Macau’s legal traditions as well as with the respective international human rights conventions applicable to the MSAR.
The statement said that the amendments were drawn up in a way that respects Macau’s socioeconomic conditions and fully protects the legitimate rights and interests of residents and other people in Macau.
The statement said that the further improvements to Macau’s legal system for safeguarding national security has played a positive role in promoting and safeguarding the city’s development. Macau has remained one of world’s safest and most economically vibrant international tourism and leisure cities, the statement said.
The statement said that the number of visitor arrivals to Macau has been continuously increasing, adding that its economic performance has also been fully recognised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Norms of international law
The statement underlined that the protection of everyone’s basic rights and freedoms under Macau’s Law on Safeguarding National Security is consistent with the norms of international law. The determination of crimes and penalties, preventive measures, and litigation procedures listed by the Law on Safeguarding National Security are fully in line with Macau’s criminal law traditions, and they are all clearly defined and strictly limited, the statement noted.
The statement reaffirmed that Macau’s national security law only targets and punishes a very small number of people who intend to endanger the nation and Macau’s security, adding that visitors to Macau in general do not need to worry about somehow accidentally violating the law.
The GCS statement said that in pursuit of selfish political interests, the Taiwan authorities have ignored the objective facts and blatantly defamed the reputation of Macau’s rule of law and human rights conditions. This shows their sinister intentions and despicable means to attempt to create panic on the Taiwan island and to disrupt exchanges between people from Macau and Taiwan, the statement said.
The MSAR government is solemnly urging the Taiwan authorities to sincerely care about their people’s well-being, cherish the feelings of the people from the two regions, and stop using Macau to engage in political manipulations that harm others and themselves, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government issued its statement on Thursday night responding to the Taiwan authorities’ so-called raising its travel alert for Hong Kong. The statement’s English version can be checked at: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202406/27/P2024062700759.htm.
This file photo taken in May this year shows Government Headquarters on Avenida da Praia Grande in Nam Van.
