National Security Committee holds first plenary

The National Security Committee, which is headed by the Chief Executive, held its first plenary meeting recently.

The development of systems and mechanisms for safeguarding national security was discussed during the meeting, outlining the direction of future efforts in that matter.

In addressing the meeting, the Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, pointed out that it was the Macau SAR’s constitutional obligation to safeguard national security as specified in Article 23 of the Basic Law, and that this obligation had been acknowledged by the enactment of the National Security Law in 2009.

The Chief Executive added that the goal of the National Security Committee was to better implement the National Security Law – an important step for further fulfilment of the SAR’s constitutional obligation, and for upholding President Xi Jinping’s major principle of “comprehensive national security”.

Chui put forward three suggestions for the future work of the National Security Committee. First, he said that the National Security Committee should coordinate all efforts in strengthening Macau’s systems, mechanisms and legislation with regard to national security so as to continuously improve Macau’s overall capability in that matter. Chui also stated that all relevant departments should take proactive measures to prevent and combat different types of illegal activities that may harm national security or social stability.

Second, Macau should stand firm on its political principles and raise the awareness of “comprehensive national security,” which was based on the core idea of the people’s safety. The government should take a forward-looking approach to preventing risks of all kinds and properly safeguard national security and social stability.

Third, education in national security should be strengthened, namely via different types of publicity and education campaigns in the community and in schools. In particular, awareness about the legal aspects of national security should be promoted in the wider community so that residents would abide by the law and fulfil their legal obligations.

During the meeting the vice president of the National Security Committee and Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak – along with the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan – briefed members about the work done so far by the government, in the field of national security.