The Safeguarding State Security Committee, which is headed by the Chief Executive, held its first plenary meeting on 5 October, one day after the by-law governing the Committee came into effect.

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, Mr Chui Sai On, pointed out that it was the Macao 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 Safeguarding State Security Committee was better to 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”.

Mr Chui put forward three suggestions for the future work of the Safeguarding State Security Committee.

First, the Safeguarding State Security Committee should coordinate all efforts in strengthening Macao’s systems, mechanisms and legislation with regard to national security so as continuously to improve Macao’s overall capability in that matter. 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, Macao 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 prevent risks of all kinds and properly safeguard national security and social stability.

Third, education on national security should be strengthened, namely via different types of publicity and education campaigns in the community and in schools. In particular, legal awareness about 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 Safeguarding State Security Committee and Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak – along with the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan – briefed members about work done so far, by the Government, in the field of national security.

Also present at the meeting were the Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Service, Mr Ma Io Kun; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms O Lam; the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Security, Ms Cheong Ioc Ieng; the Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau, Mr Liu Dexue; and the Director of the Judiciary Police, Mr Sit Chong Meng.