Macau's Public Security Police (PSP) have rejected activists' request to hold a June 4 vigil due to "the current circumstances," the Portuguese-language radio channel of public broadcaster TDM reported today.
Citing a PSP source, the government continues to request the public to avoid gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, irrespective of the fact that Macau has not confirmed a new novel coronavirus disease case for 42 days (as of today) and the last of Macau's 45 COVID-19 patients was discharged yesterday.
Health Bureau (SSM) Director Lei Chin Ion yesterday described Macau's novel coronavirus infection risk as "extremely low".
According to the report, the request for the vigil was submitted by the Macau Democratic Development Union headed by non-establishment lawmakers Au Kam San and Ng Kuok Cheong.
Ng was quoted by Radio Macau as saying the request's rejection by the police was "irrational". The veteran legislator said that the union would meet tonight to discuss whether to ask the Court of Final Appeal (TUI) to overturn the rejection.
The vigil has been held in the city centre since 1990, mostly in Largo de S. Domingos. In recent years the vigil has drawn several hundred people each time. Annual vigils by likeminded activists have also been held in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Due to COVID-19 social distancing rules, the vigil in Hong Kong has not been allowed to go ahead.
