The Government today released public consultation documents for the proposed revision of the Chief Executive Election Law, the Electoral Law for the Legislative Assembly, and the Voter Registration Law. The purpose of the proposed revisions is to facilitate the electoral systems, wipe out election bribery and lay a sound foundation for the continuance of the development of democracy in Macao, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, disclosed at a press conference this afternoon. Major proposed changes included strengthening the power of the Electoral Affairs Committee, raising the requirements for associations and organisations to become eligible voters, and the abolition of voter registration cards. By cancelling these cards, people who try to buy votes would not be able to collect registration cards and meddle in the elections. The Government believed that the purpose of voters' registration card could be served by the citizens' identity smart cards, she said. It is also proposed that 17-year-olds could register so that they could vote the following year. Moreover, the Government also proposed increasing the penalties for bribery and other violations of electoral laws, and the tightening of regulations for campaign donations. These proposed changes are based on experience drawn from the previous elections, suggestions by the Commission Against Corruption and public opinion, and electoral regulations of different regions. Ms Chan said it would be a major issue for Macao to gradually develop its political system and it would require broad consensus from the public to do so. Taking into account the actual situation and the aim to maintain the long-term stability of Macao, the Government would continue to study the issue and listen to opinions from different sectors, so as to set up a related mechanism to work on the matters on this issue at an appropriate time. According to the Basic Law, Macao is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China and only the Central Government could make the final decision on affairs regarding Macao’s constitutional development. The Macao SAR Government maintains close contact with the Central Government on the issue of constitutional development. The Government will hold a series of consultative sessions next month to collect opinion from various sectors and members of the public. Public consultation will continue till the end of March.
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