The Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government expresses its strong opposition to content relating to Macao carried in the “2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices”, lately issued by the Department of State of the United States.

The self-styled report has an axe to grind, and contains baseless commentary, smearing the actual human-rights conditions in Macao. It is a brutal attempt to intervene in Macao’s internal affairs and China’s domestic affairs.

Since Macao’s return to the motherland, the Central Government has fully, accurately, and unswervingly implemented the “One country, two systems” principle; and “Macao people governing Macao”; as well as protecting the principle of a high degree of autonomy. The Central Government is committed to law-based governance in Macao. Under such protection, MSAR residents enjoy extensive rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, and the Basic Law of Macao.

The MSAR Government is dedicated to law-based governance, and has joined hands with Macao residents in order to realise leapfrog development in social and economic matters. The MSAR’s social security system continues to improve. Education, healthcare, services for the elderly, infrastructure, housing, and other matters, have recorded rapid development, providing great protection to people’s welfare and their well-being. Such achievements have been highly recognised by the international community, and within local communities.

The historic development achievements in Macao cannot be discredited. With strong support from the Central Government, the MSAR will continue to give full play to the city’s advantages, integrate intensively into overall national development, and contribute fresh achievements for the successful and steady implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle.