The Macau government said in a statement today that it "resolutely supports" the central authorities' decision to pass specific legislation on national security in Hong Kong.
A spokesperson for the National People's Congress (NPC) announced the proposed legislation on Thursday. Even 23 years after its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has still not legislated on national security, contrary to what is required by Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law.
A statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) underlined that national security is the "cornerstone" of security of the State and peacefulness of the Nation ensuring long-term prosperity and social security in the Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions.
The statement also underlined that the nation's overall security situation - including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau - has faced "serious challenges" such as internal and external hostile forces, secession, subversion and even terrorist activities.
According to the statement, the local government backs the central authorities' decision to respond "speedily and vigorously" to the "serious" security situation created by the hostile forces by proposing that the NPC tackle the issue in line with the national Constitution and the Hong Kong Basic Law.
The statement noted that in the past two decades since Macau's return to the motherland in 1999, all local sectors have complied scrupulously with the special administrative region's obligations enshrined in the national Constitution and the Macau Basic Law.
