Responding to legislators’ questions, Secretary for Security Chan Tsz King said the bill proposes that the secretaries overseeing the five policy portfolios be included as members of the commission.
It also recommends adding the heads of the DICJ, the IC, and the DSEDJ, citing gaming’s role as a pillar industry and the need to further strengthen public recognition and understanding of national security.
Chan said work relating to education and cultural-ideological development is a key front, as well as a critical area for nurturing a new generation that is patriotic towards the country and devoted to Macau. He therefore considered it necessary to include relevant bureau-level leaders as members, so as to enhance efforts across culture, education and youth to address non-traditional national security threats.
He added that this signals future national security work will place emphasis on both “hard power” capacity-building and “soft power” development, helping to prevent and defuse non-traditional security risks, build social consensus, and ensure long-term development.
Secretariat to replace executive support unit
The bill sets out provisions on the commission’s chairperson, national security affairs advisers and national security technical advisers, as well as the commission’s executive and support arrangements.
In line with Article 4 of the National Security Law, it underscores the chairperson’s status and role as the primary person responsible for national security in the Macao SAR.
It further proposes that the commission’s executive and support body operate in the form of a secretariat. Under the proposal, the Secretary for Security would serve ex officio as Secretary-General, while the organisation and operations of the secretariat would be regulated by administrative regulation.
The bill also provides that the commission will operate through meetings, stipulates the obligation of public and private entities to cooperate with the commission, and sets out rules on confidentiality, a special expenditure regime, and the basic personnel framework.
In total, the bill contains 23 articles, covering the commission’s nature, duties, powers and composition. It reiterates that national security is a matter under the Central Authorities’ remit, strengthens the commission’s responsibility for safeguarding national security, and expressly empowers it to issue opinions with binding effect.
Membership would include the five policy secretaries, with the aim of putting the “holistic approach to national security” into practice.
Chan said that, to support the commission’s operation, it will be necessary to add provisions on special budgets and oversight to the Budget Framework Law, and to amend the Judicial Organization Framework Law regarding hearings and litigation representatives.
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This will introduce special procedures for hearings and require litigation representatives to obtain special permission in national security cases. The relevant amendments have incorporated feedback and reached a consensus with the SAR’s financial departments, judiciary, and legal profession.
To avoid any “legal vacuum”, the bill proposes to take effect on the day after its promulgation.
Chan also stated that without national security, “one country, two systems” would be “a tree without roots”. If the foundation of “one country” is not secure, the basis for “two systems” would collapse. For “one country, two systems” to be implemented steadily and over the long term, he said, it must be underpinned by a high level of security.
He added that by legislating for the legal framework of the Macao SAR Commission for Safeguarding National Security—and refining the principled arrangements for the commission set out under Administrative Regulation No. 22/2018—the aim is to clearly define the commission’s legal status and, through legislation, underscore its seriousness and authority in matters relating to safeguarding national security.
