National security office in HK 'only targets crimes severely endangering national security'

   BEIJING – The jurisdiction of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) only targets the very few criminal cases that severely endanger national security, a senior lawmaker said yesterday.Shen Chunyao, head of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks at a press conference on the Law of the People’s Republic of

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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53 countries support China’s national security legislation for HKSAR: FM spokesman

BEIJING – A total of 53 countries have expressed their support for the passage of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said yesterday.On behalf of the 53 countries, Cuba made a joint statement at the Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, believing that the move is beneficial for the steady and long-term success of the “One Country, Two

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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Snapshots of daily life as city tackles COVID-19

People queue up for a gondola ride in the Venetian shopping centre in Cotai.A man wearing a facemask looks at his phone while standing next to a heart-shaped tree at Macau Science Centre. Photos taken earlier this week by Monica Leong 

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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Student nabbed for raping, holding girlfriend against her will

A local student was arrested last Saturday for raping and threatening his girlfriend, as well as holding her against her will, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Kam Fai said during a regular press conference yesterday. The 24-year-old suspect surnamed Cheang told the police that he is a university student.According to Cheong, a 25-year-old local woman told the police last Saturday that she was introduced to Cheong by a friend in April, soon after which she moved into Cheang’s home

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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Police nab duo involved in smuggling codeine cough syrup

A man and a woman were arrested on Tuesday for “hiring” several people crossing the Macau-Zhuhai border to smuggle bottles of codeine cough syrup to the mainland, Judiciary Police (PS) Cheong Kam Fai said during a special press conference yesterday.The 38-year-old local female suspect surnamed Wong ran a shop selling so-called parallel trading goods. The 61-year-old local male suspect surnamed Cheoc was employed by the shop.“Parallel trading” is a euphemism for smuggling or other kinds

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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UM predicts this year’s GDP will drop almost 60 pct due to COVID-19 pandemic

A research team consisting of economists from the Department of Economics of the University of Macau (UM) has announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic it now forecasts that Macau’s economy will drop by between 55.7 percent and 59.1 percent this year, in which case its gross domestic product (GDP) will return to the level it was in 2005 or 2004 in real terms.A statement by the public university on Monday said that the research team has adjusted its forecast on Macau’s GDP for this year

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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Guangdong-HK-Macau entry curbs can only be lifted after COVID-19 vaccine or medicine: Lo

Addressing yesterday’s press conference about Macau’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, Alvis Lo Iek Long, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, admitted that border entry curbs among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau can only be completely lifted after a COVID-19 vaccine or a specific medicine to treat the disease has been successfully developed.Lo pointed out that the development of the COVID-19 pandemic is “full of uncertainties”, and many new

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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53 nurseries still have available places: IAS

The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) announced in a statement yesterday that 32 subsidised and 21 private nurseries still have available places.The nurseries are offering full-day and half-day care services, the statement noted.Each child can only be registered at one subsidised nursery. If a parent wishes to transfer his or her child to another nursery a cancellation must first be made at the current registered nursery, the statement underlined.For further information such as registration

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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20th Fringe Festival calls for event, venue proposals: IC

The 20th Macau City Fringe Festival will be held next January with the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) already calling for proposals for events and the performance venues, and the deadline for applications is July 31 by 5 p.m., the bureau said in a statement yesterday.The festival aims to spread a “creative and adventurous spirit” and encourage artists to come up with performances that show the city’s characteristics and cultural connotation from multiple perspectives, the statement

July 2, 2020 | BY admin

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Gaming receipts fall 97 pct in June

Macau casinos' gross gaming revenue fell by 97 percent to 716 million patacas (US$89.6 million) last month, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) announced today. While June's year-on-year percentage decrease was the highest, the revenue was the lowest of any month in the first half of the year. According to the Corporate Finance Institute, gross gaming revenue (GGR), also called game yield, is a key metric used by gambling and betting companies. It

July 1, 2020 | BY admin

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The Law of the PRC on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR

 (English Translation for Reference Only) The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in theHong Kong Special Administrative Region  Contents Chapter I  General PrinciplesChapter II  The Duties and the Government Bodies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for Safeguarding National SecurityPart 1  DutiesPart 2  Government BodiesChapter III  Offences and PenaltiesPart 1  SecessionPart 2

July 1, 2020 | BY admin

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Nation’s top legislator stresses safeguarding national security in HK

BEIJING – The nation’s top legislator yesterday emphasized resolute and effective efforts to safeguard national security, the constitutional order and the order of rule of law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).Li Zhanshu, chairman of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said the “One Country, Two Systems” cause should be steered toward the right direction.Li made the remarks while presiding over the closing meeting of the 20th session of

July 1, 2020 | BY admin

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Law on safeguarding national security in HK takes effect

HONG KONG – The Law of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) took effect at 11 p.m. yesterday.The promulgation of the law was signed by HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and published in the Official Gazette, according to a statement by the HKSAR government.The law was passed at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC). The NPC Standing

July 1, 2020 | BY admin

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NPC adopts law on safeguarding national security in HK

BEIJING – The nation’s most senior lawmakers yesterday voted to adopt the Law of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).The law was passed unanimously at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), the nation’s top legislature.President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to promulgate the law, which took effect on the date of promulgation last

July 1, 2020 | BY admin

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