Ho Iat Seng and the Macau delegation at Praça do Comércio, in Lisbon, yesterday
If the EU asks me about human rights conditions in Macau, I will not fear discussing it,” Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng told a press conference before departing for his first official trip to Europe.
Members of the European Parliament have expressed concerns over Macau’s compliance with the Luso-Chinese Joint Declaration in terms of human rights. Members of the Macau public have also raised concerns about the current amendment to the National Security Law (NSL).
When asked, Ho declined to comment on individual opinions, but said these opinions show Macau is a free society, in which anyone can express their own views.
He said he would not fear discussing human rights with anybody, be they EU officials or journalists.
He said this version of the NSL was promulgated in 2009. During its drafting process, the public raised concerns, “but has there been any hinderance or restraint to human rights in Macau?” asked Ho.
He also compared the current NSL amendment to similar laws in Portugal and other EU countries.
“Which country does not have their own national security law?” he asked. “If we are wrong having such a law, all EU countries are wrong too, for all of them have national security laws.”
To ease public anxiety, the head of the local government confirmed that “One Country Two Systems is our founding stone.” His said the Basic Law will be complied with “in a good manner without any change.”
Moreover, he said the Chinese Constitution is superior to the Basic Law, adding that all people of Chinese nationality must abide by the Constitution.
He referred to Article 23 of the Basic Law as the reason for the NSL legislation. In his opinion, this is not a “major or sneaky amendment” for there was public consultation.
Over 40 consuls-general who had met with him had agreed with his explanation, Ho said.
On the structure of the local gambling industry, Ho reiterated his confidence in achieving the goal of MOP130 billion of gross gaming revenue (GGR) for this year, with the benchmark for the first quarter already reached.
For the first time, Ho said there are 12 foreigner-only gambling areas in local casinos, adding that casino operators had started chartering private jets to deliver clients to Macau. The local airport has also served them well, Ho said.
Ho Iat Seng to emphasize Macau’s positioning in European visit
Chief Executive (CE) Ho Iat Seng will emphasize Macau’s national position to European officials during his first official visit overseas between April 18 and 27.
During a speech before his departure, the CE said Macau is pressing ahead with its strategic positioning as “one center, one platform, one base”, while pragmatically engaging with the “Belt and Road” initiative, and the Greater Bay Area, adding Portugal is a crucial part of the “Belt and Road” initiative.
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the initiative’s promulgation, and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), the CE said.
The government will make full use of the opportunities presented by the visit to Europe, to promote Macau’s role in supporting development of the “Belt and Road” initiative, and to explain Macau’s bridging functions for business and trade cooperation serving China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, said Ho.
Ho said the visit to Portugal sought to consolidate the friendly relations between Macau and Portugal and promote people-to-people exchanges.
There was hope of attracting additional enterprises from Portuguese-speaking countries to set up in the Greater Bay Area and the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, to explore opportunities in the Chinese mainland market. AL
