Wong Sio Chak considers amending law after filming accident

The Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, has admitted to considering amendments to the current law to grant the government more power to prosecute individuals and entities that disregard authorities’ advice during filming sessions on public streets.

Wong addressed the issue following media inquiries regarding an incident last week, in which 12 people were injured during the filming of a street pursuit scene on Rua do Seminário.

The media questioned whether authorities were considering prosecuting the filming team for failing to follow safety instructions. According to the government’s legal analysis, Wong stated that there is no legal basis for prosecution since the accident occurred on a “closed-to-traffic” street, which is treated as private property under the law.

Although authorities claim the vehicles’ speed was “not that high,” Wong pointed out that the police, after assessing the scene before issuing the filming permit, imposed safety requirements that the crew did not fully adhere to.

He also noted that the injuries were minor and not directly caused by the car crash. “The injured people were not hit by the car but fell while trying to escape, tripping, hitting walls, and suffering similar minor accidents,” he explained.

“We do not permit reckless or unsafe driving. Following this incident, we contacted the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), which subsequently suspended the filming license.”

While considering amendments to the law, Wong emphasized the need for a balanced approach to avoid excessively strict regulations that could harm Macau’s reputation and discourage filmmakers from choosing the city as a filming location. Such restrictions, he noted, would contradict the government’s efforts to promote Macau as a movie-friendly destination.

Visa easing leads to fewer overstays

At the same time, Wong highlighted that recent measures facilitating mainland residents’ access to visas for Macau have significantly reduced cases of illegal immigration and overstaying.

According to official statistics, cases of illegal immigration among mainland residents dropped by 33.1% in 2024, while instances among foreigners fell by 42.3%. Additionally, overstaying cases among mainland residents holding individual visas decreased by 39.6%.

“[The reduction] is directly related to the visa-easing policies. If you can easily obtain a visa to Macau, there is no need to stay illegally,” Wong stated. He added that “nowadays, mainland residents can obtain visas more easily, and Zhuhai residents can visit Macau more frequently. Previously, each visa allowed only one entry, but now Zhuhai residents can use their visas to visit Macau at least once per week. As a result, the number of illegal immigrants and overstayers has decreased.”