The Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, speaks to reporters.
The Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, today said the Government was fully committed to advancing work on complementary laws and regulations for the further implementation of Macao’s National Security Law.
Mr Wong gave more details about the Government’s legislative efforts in that regards on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the National Security Education Exhibition.
Since last year, the Government has been introducing new laws and regulations to support the implementation of the National Security Law, a legal framework specifying Macao’s overall responsibilities in relation to national security. Such new laws and regulations included: a cybersecurity law, now being discussed at the Legislative Assembly; a new legal framework on immigration controls and permits to stay and reside in Macao; and a legal framework for interception and protection of communications. The Government completed last year individual rounds of public consultation on each of the latter two frameworks.
Work on other pieces of legislation – covering topics related to respectively counterterrorism, procedural law, and state secret protection – was progressing as scheduled, under the supervision of the Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice and the Office of the Secretary for Security.
Secretary Wong said he hoped all necessary legislative procedures regarding the cybersecurity law could be completed in the first half of this year, including final approval by the city’s Legislative Assembly. The Government expected to submit the new legal framework on immigration controls and permits to stay and reside in Macao to the Legislative Assembly for discussion this year, Mr Wong added.
In other remarks, Mr Wong said Macao’s security authorities had held a meeting in January to coordinate security work in relation to the 20th anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the election of a new Chief Executive. The city’s security authorities also held a meeting on the same matters in late January with Deputy Minister of Public Security of the People's Republic of China.
Mr Wong stated that Macao’s security authorities would make every effort to ensure that all major events taking place in the city this year would be carried out in a safe and peaceful manner.