A Macao university team would carry out research on the press and broadcasting laws of neighbouring jurisdictions as a reference for the Government in its review of the current regulations. This was announced today by the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, in his second meeting with members of Macao’s press over the revision of these two laws. The Bureau had met them in early June on the procedures of revisions of the two laws. On 2 July, it invited three universities in Macao with news or communication faculties to submit tenders over the study on press and broadcasting laws and regulations of neighbouring jurisdictions. They were the University of Macau, the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), and the University of Saint Joseph. By 23 July, the closing date of the tender, the Bureau had received only one tender, submitted by MUST. After studying the work plan and cost of the tender, the Bureau submitted a proposal to the Chief Executive and the tender was awarded to MUST. According to MUST’s work plan, the study will be led by the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Professor Pan Zhichang, and Assistant Professor Tam Chi Keung. Assistant Professor Sun Zhen of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts and Assistant Professor Shen Yunqiao of the Faculty of Law will be researchers on the team. The study will focus on the comparison of press and communication regulations between the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Portugal and Luxemburg, as well as a summary of related policies and legislative techniques in Common Law countries, and a review of the current practice of press and broadcasting laws in Macao. Mr Chan said by studying related laws in different jurisdictions, global trends, the regulations in practice and internet media regulations, the study could provide directional advice on the revision of the two laws. The research, costing 120,000 Patacas, is to be completed in 70 days. Mr Chan said the Government would keep on listening to opinions of the public and the press over the revision and would continue to uphold the principle of the freedom of the press. The revision of the Press Law and Broadcasting Law will be conducted in four phases: 1. Conduct research on press regulations in different jurisdictions by local academic institute and polls for directional advice;
2. Write a draft law based on the findings in phase one;
3. Conduct all-round public consultations on the draft law;
4. Begin the legislation procedure after revising the draft law based on the result of consultation.
