The Government started today a public consultation on a proposal for a cybersecurity bill. It is envisaged such a law would form the backbone for Macao’s development as a smart city and help protect the security of the city’s digital technology infrastructure.

The 45-day consultation period runs until 24 January inclusive, during which a total of five consultation sessions for sectoral interests and three sessions open to the public will be held in order to explain the Government’s proposal and hear the views of interested parties.

The envisaged law would specify the responsibilities of particular entities in maintaining the safety of “critical infrastructure” relating to the city’s information technology and other cyber systems. It would also outline who or what would be responsible for management of any irregularities; for risk evaluation; for issuing stages of alert; and for prevention and monitoring of any threat, in order to advance Macao’s capabilities in relation to cybersecurity issues.

The Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, stated during a press conference today that the role of relevant public departments would be confined to providing safety advice and alerts, in the event that any irregular flow of data were to be detected or were there to be any threats originating via the Internet.

The Macao authorities would neither monitor online activities nor restrict or prejudice in any form the freedom of speech enjoyed by people in Macao, stressed Mr Wong.  Unless approved by the judiciary, public departments would neither analyse nor seek to decode any security-encrypted content posted online.

The consultation document, available in either Chinese or Portuguese, has been uploaded to the website of the Office of the Secretary for Security (www.gss.gov.mo/ch/ciberseg).

Members of the public are welcome to contribute suggestions and opinions via the following routes:

- By post to Office of the Secretary for Security (address: Calçada dos Quartéis) or to the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (address: Public Administration Building, No.162 Rua do Campo); and

- Via the Government portal website (www.gov.mo), or via a website dedicated for the purpose (www.gss.gov.mo/pt/ciberseg).