In the runup to the 25th Anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland, the local government announced yesterday special arms control measures in the city next month, ordering all those who own firearms for self-defence purposes to surrender them by December 2, while private security companies are required to hand in their firearms to the police on December 17.
It is the first time that the local government has announced such a measure for an anniversary of the resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macau by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which took place on December 20, 1999 when Portugal’s temporary rule of Macau came to an end.
According to a chief executive order published in the Official Gazette (BO) yesterday, the special curbs, which took effect yesterday, are being implemented in view of the solemnity and social significance of the upcoming celebrations of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), with the objective of ensuring public order and public safety.
The order noted that all owners of firearms and related ammunition for self-defence purposes shall hand in the weapons in person during the office hours of the Intelligence Department of the Public Security Police Force (PSP) on working days from now until December 2, while private security companies engaged in the transportation of money and valuables shall assign licensed staff to do so during office hours on December 17, except for cases where the PSP have been duly notified in advance by the company concerned
The department’s office hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. on Fridays.
Dated and signed by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng on Friday, the order cautioned all firearms owners, including serving officers of the Macau Public Security Forces and criminal police, as well as retired Judiciary Police (PJ) officers, that failure to comply with the deadline will result in fines and criminal legal consequences, in addition to which holders will also be liable for the corresponding storage costs and other legal consequences if they fail to reclaim their compulsorily surrendered firearms and associated ammunition within 10 working days from the specified date, i.e., December 26 for self-defence users and December 21 for private security companies.
In line with the official regulations on weapons and related items, the order also orders the suspension of all shooting exercises and sports competitions at the Macau International Shooting Centre in Cotai from December 1 through December 22, as well as the business operations of shops selling arms and ammunition, as well as replica firearms on December 17-20.
A state leader is expected to pay an inspection visit to Macau around the time of the MSAR’s 25th anniversary on December 20, when Chief Executive-designate Sam Hou Fai is scheduled to be installed.
This undated file photo taken from the Public Security Police (PSP) website last night shows their headquarters in Taipa’s Pac On district.
