The Public Security Police Force (PSP), the Fire Services Bureau (CB), the Macao Customs Service, and the Correctional Services Bureau (DSC) will formally adopt the Chinese-style foot drill, replacing the Portuguese-style foot drill, starting from Thursday – this year’s National Day.
The salute standards of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will also be adopted.
The new changes will also be applicable to students of the Macao Public Security Forces Academy (ESFSM).
The changes have been made via government-drafted amendments to the administrative regulation governing their salutes and honours, which was promulgated in 2003.
Government-drafted administrative regulations, also known as by-laws, do not require the legislature’s approval.
Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak made the announcement during a press conference at Government Headquarters on Friday. Wong also serves as the spokesman for the government’s top advisory body – the Executive Council.
Wong said that with the aim of strengthening Macau’s patriotic education and better demonstrating national sovereignty and the national spirit, the local government decided to amend the administrative regulation so as to align the salutes and honours system for officers of the Macao Public Security Forces (FSM) and other law enforcement agencies with national standards.
Wong noted that while the Chinese-style foot drill will be adopted on all formal occasions, the Portuguese-style foot drill will be preserved as cultural heritage.
Wong also said that the government initially planned to start training officers for the Chinese-style foot drill in 2020, but training was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic – which affected Macau from 2020 through 2022. Eventually, he said, the government began training officers early last year.
As the relevant officers are now fully trained, the government decided to amend the administrative regulation, he said.
Wong Sio Chak (right) and ESFSM Director Wong Chi Fai address Friday’s press conference at Government Headquarters. – Photo courtesy of TDM
