The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Thursday expressed support to the SAR’s decision of not approving public gatherings on Friday, reiterating the stance against external interference.
In late May, Macao police disapproved of an illegal gathering planned to be held this Friday. The organizers of the assembly appealed to the SAR’s Court of Final Appeals, and on Thursday, the court dismissed the appeal and confirmed that the assembly would violate the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the Criminal Code.
A spokesperson from the commissioner office said the ruling of the Court of Final Appeals is based on a solid constitutional foundation, as well as on the Basic Law of Macao SAR and is in line with relevant laws and regulations of the territory. It is “fully necessary and legitimate,” the spokesperson said.
The Macao SAR government on Thursday also expressed support to the court’s decision and called on the public to be fully aware that such activities harm national security and called on a boycott of illegal gatherings and demonstrations to jointly safeguard social harmony and stability in Macao.
Citing the Penal Code of Macao, the local police said the slogans used during these gatherings, such as “end one Party dictatorship” and “stop political prosecution,” are embedded with subversion.
The spokesperson said that the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR together form the constitutional basis for the region. As a special administrative region directly under the central government, the Macao SAR must respect the socialist system practiced by the main body of the state, respect the ruling status of the Communist Party of China as established in the Constitution, and earnestly safeguard the constitutional order.
The spokesperson emphasized that since Macao’s return to the motherland in 1999, under the correct leadership of the central government and with the strong support of the mainland, the Macao SAR government has rallied and led all sectors of society to strictly abide by the Constitution and the Basic Law, and established the successful concept of “one country, two systems” with Macao characteristics.
Macao affairs only regard China and no external force has the right to interfere, said the spokesperson, noting that the office will continue to firmly support Macao SAR in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
The Hong Kong Police Force on May 30 also rejected a request to hold an assembly and parade and a vigil at Victoria Park on Friday, citing COVID-19 concerns according to Hong Kong media reports.
A flag-raising ceremony marking the 21st anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland is held at the Golden Lotus Square in Macao, South China, December 20, 2020. Photo: Xinhua
