Macau Plans To Beef Up Its National Security Law

Macau is planning to strengthen its national security law to bring it into line with Hong Kong's and that of the mainland.

Security officials in Macau said on Monday that they want to amend the national security law passed in 2009, in light of changes to the international and regional security situation.

They cited as examples the previous "chaos in Hong Kong" as well as the recent visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Officials said Macau is facing new, critical problems and challenges and it's necessary to strengthen the legal basis for safeguarding national security.

"The SAR government hopes, through this exercise, to overcome the problems and deficiencies in the current national security law, so that the legislation can be brought up to the same protection standards as the country and the Hong Kong SAR; and therefore raise the SAR government's capability when it comes to coordinating and managing matters relating to safeguarding national security; comprehensively preventing and punishing acts that endanger national security; and effectively preventing and suppressing foreign interference," said Macau's Security Secretary Wong Sio-chak.

The changes planned include altering the offence of "subversion of the Central People's Government" to "subversion of state power."

Officials also want to punish any violent or non-violent acts of secession, incitement to commit sedition, as well as to give the security law extraterritorial effect.

People in Macau have until October 5 to give their views on the proposals, with officials hoping to table to the legislature in early November the legal amendments that will be necessary.