Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng underlines the importance of biosecurity in his National Security Education Day message.
April 15 was declared National Security Education Day in 2015 by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of which Ho was a member until last year when he decided to run for Macau’s highest post. He has headed the government of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) since last December.
In the message released by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS), Ho points out that biosecurity is crucially connected to people’s lives and health, having a long-term impact on the nation’s stability. He mentions the COVID-19 pandemic as an example.
Consequently, Ho says, the nation has decided to make biosecurity an integral part of its national security system and to set up a legal framework and contingency system to tackle biosecurity issues.
In his message, Ho also underlines the existence of potential threats to the nation’s security in the biological field. He says that the local government has been working incessantly on improving its response to public health crises.
The chief executive acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has “undoubtedly” grown into an obstacle to the normal functioning of civil society. However, he points out that Macau’s different social sectors have been doing their utmost to “overcome these difficult moments.” Ho admits that the novel coronavirus crisis isn’t over yet.
In the message, Ho refers to President Xi Jinping’s words of advice and guidance during his inspection visit to Macau on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the MSAR last December, namely concerning the correct implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. Xi’s visit included a solemn ceremony in which Ho and other principal officials of the MSAR were sworn in.
Ho points out that national security is the responsibility and duty of all Chinese people, and the defence of national security is the sacred duty and due responsibility of the MSAR and all its residents.
Ho will deliver his 2020 Policy Address in the hemicycle of the Legislative Assembly (AL) on Monday.
