The opening ceremony of the 2022/2023 Judicial Year of the Macao Special Administrative Region is held at the Macao Cultural Centre.
The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, today said resolute prevention of interference and sabotage by external forces, and the steady, firm, safeguarding of the country’s security and stability, were the joint responsibility of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government, and the city’s judiciary.
In his remarks in a speech delivered at a ceremony to mark the start of the 2022/2023 Judicial Year, Mr Ho stressed the urgency of strengthening the MSAR’s setups and capability in relation to safeguarding national security. This was in the face of serious challenges in terms of Macao’s overall security situation amid the volatile international environment in recent years.
The ceremony was held at the Macao Cultural Centre. Other officials taking part in the ceremony included: the President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Kou Hoi In; the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai; the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Mr Cheong Weng Chon; the Public Prosecutor-General, Mr Ip Son Sang; the President of the Independent Committee for the Nomination of Judges, Mr Lau Cheok Va; and the President of the Macau Lawyers Association, Mr Jorge Neto Valente.
In his speech, the Chief Executive said safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security, and development interest was at the core of the “One country, two systems” principle. The steadier the “One country” aspect, the more obvious would be the strengths of utilising “two systems”. Rule of law was a core value of the MSAR, and the foundation for social stability and advancement, as well as the cornerstone of the successful implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle in Macao, added Mr Ho.
Since the establishment of the MSAR, the judiciary had always acted in line strictly with the MSAR Basic Law, exercising judicial independence; ensuring dispensation of justice via the legal system; and protecting legitimate rights enjoyed by Macao residents. These efforts were critical to protecting the successful implementation in the MSAR of the “One country, two systems” principle, “Macao people governing Macao”, and a high degree of autonomy.
Meanwhile, the judiciary had always upheld the MSAR Basic Law and had been safeguarding the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, and maintaining the constitutional order enshrined by the MSAR Basic Law. Mr Ho noted the judiciary had made contributions to optimising the systems and mechanisms in place in the MSAR, including those related to the implementation in Macao of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, and the MSAR Basic Law. He added that the judiciary acted as a safeguard to the rule of law in Macao and the city’s long-term stability.
The Chief Executive underlined that maintaining judicial independence and safeguarding judicial impartiality were unswerving positions of the MSAR Government.
In the new Judicial Year, the MSAR Government would continue to: uphold rule of law and law-based governance; respect and safeguard judicial independence; support the work of the judiciary; strengthen training for judicial personnel; and optimise facilities and resources for the judiciary. The MSAR Government would join hands with the judiciary, the legal sector, and other sectors in the community, to keep pace with the times while jointly promoting rule of law in Macao and the implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle with Macao characteristics, Mr Ho added.
Mr Ho talked about the timely containment of the “18 June outbreak” of COVID-19 infection, and the maintenance of social stability. He took the opportunity to thank those working in the judiciary and the legal sector who took part in the fight against the outbreak.
The Chief Executive called on the judiciary and the legal sector to make further effort to defend judicial impartiality, and advance rule of law. He trusted they would continue to do their work in a spirit of professional fairness and impartiality, to make advances in judicial affairs, and to contribute further to the full and accurate implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle, “Macao people governing Macao”, a high degree of autonomy; and Macao’s long-term stability and prosperity.
Following Mr Ho’s speech, Mr Sam, Mr Ip, and Mr Neto Valente, each gave a speech during the ceremony marking the start of the 2022/2023 Judicial Year.
Among the approximately 330 guests attending today’s event were leading officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR; and leading officials of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the MSAR. Also present were other principal officials of the MSAR Government; members of the Executive Council; members respectively of the Independent Committee for the Nomination of Judges, the Judicial Council, and the Prosecutors Committee; magistrates of the courts and of the Public Prosecutions Office; members of the Legislative Assembly; other officials of the MSAR Government; and representatives from the legal-profession sector.
