The Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday passed a government-initiated bill that will allow residents to process their property, commercial registrations and notary procedures online through their “Macao One Account” or “Business & Associations Platform” mobile app.
The new law will take effect on December 1.
Lawmaker-cum-lawyer Vong Hin Fai, who heads the legislature’s 3rd Standing Committee, said during yesterday’s plenary session that the government will expand the scope of its online registration services gradually in light of the actual situation.
Vong said that as the acts of registration and notarisation are closely related to residents’ lives and civil society’s development, it was necessary and feasible to promote e-enabling in these areas.
Under the new law, the government will introduce several online e-registration services in the first phase, such as fully electronic processes for real estate mortgage registration and for setting up companies. Additionally, in notary services, applicants will be able to apply electronically for sales and mortgage notarisations, Vong said.
To simplify the notarisation of signatures, the government will introduce remote notarisation, Vong said, adding that if signatures are made in a specified format on an electronic platform and the individual concerned uses appropriate electronic identification to confirm his or her identity, the legal requirement for signature verification will be waived.
Furthermore, Vong said, staff from public institutions will be empowered to verify signatures on documents as required by law, allowing them to validate signatures on the spot, which Vong pointed out that this will ease the burden on individuals who would otherwise need to visit notary offices for signature verification.
According to Vong, interdepartmental data sharing will also be implemented, making it easier for public entities to access necessary information from the registration and notary entities to fulfil their responsibilities and improve procedures.
Meanwhile, financial institutions will be able to obtain essential information among different public entities to help prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, Vong said.
This screenshot captured from a live stream of Macau’s public broadcaster TDM yesterday shows the legislature’s 3rd Standing Committee President Vong Hin Fai look on during yesterday’s plenary session in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle.
