Concerning a recent filming accident involving a mainland film crew which resulted in injuries to 12 actors and actresses aged between five and 61, four of which were children, legislator Ron Lam U Tou submitted on Friday a written interpellation requesting the government to clarify the legal basis for the requirements that the granting of a filming permit do not include the need to apply for a work permit, as well as to reveal the progress of amending regulations governing the procedures for filming in streets and other public areas.
Last Monday afternoon, the accident occurred when a mainland film production company was filming a car chase scene in Rua do Seminário. A 62-year-old mainland man, driving a Volkswagen, crashed into pedestrian railings and lost control, driving across a section of gravel next to the road. The incident resulted in injuries to 12 extras hired by the company, including a five-year-old boy and a 42-year-old woman who are local residents. Among the injured, nine are mainlanders, and one holds a Singaporean passport.
After the incident, the Public Security Police (PSP) said that the driver had entered Macau earlier that day and was allowed to drive in Macau under the “mutual recognition of driving licences”. The police informed the media at a press conference the following day that, after consulting with the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), the crew members were not considered to be working illegally in Macau, as they had received permission from the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) to film in Macau.
In response, the Cultural Affairs Bureau stated last Tuesday night that it had immediately issued a notice suspending the crew’s filming permit after the incident, noting that a technical meeting had been held with representatives from relevant public entities and the filming unit before the shoot, during which it was made clear that the proposal to film vehicle drifting at that location was prohibited.
Speaking at a press conference about last year’s crime statistics on Thursday, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said that the crew concerned had obtained a filming permit from the Cultural Affairs Bureau and had filmed in the closed road section, adding that there were no enforcement provisions in the existing regulation.
In the written interpellation, Lam, a directly-elected lawmaker-cum-current affairs commentator, asked the government several questions, such as, “Which public entity is responsible for ensuring that filming complies with the consensus reached at a coordination meeting and that the filming is conducted safely according to the requirements?” He also asked: “Is it the official view of the Labour Affairs Bureau, and what is the legal basis for the claim that filming will not be regarded as illegal work if a permit is granted for the filming application for coordination services?”
Additionally, Lam queried why the police officers or supervisory staff at the accident scene did not immediately halt the crew involved in the “car chase” scene, expressing concern about future measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents and to ensure that residents’ safety is not compromised.
He also pointed out that the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s filming permit application platform provides reference information on filming work in Macau by non-local personnel, clearly showing that filming permits may not include the need for work permits for non-locals.
Regarding the fact that the Labour Affairs Bureau is not participating in the government’s “Filming Application Coordination Service”, Lam raised concerns about whether the bureau in the future would play a role in coordinating and monitoring the eligibility of non-local filming crews working in Macau legally, with a view to ensuring local residents’ employment rights and interests.
This file photo taken last Monday shows the damaged car involved in the filming accident in Calçada de Francisco António. – Photo: William Chan
