The Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, today said voting is both a civic right and a duty, urging all eligible voters, including civil servants, to actively participate in the upcoming Legislative Assembly Election by casting their ballots to elect representatives to the city’s legislature.

Mr Sam chaired a meeting at the Government Headquarters to discuss supporting measures for the Legislative Assembly Election, which will take place on Sunday (14 September). Present at the meeting were principal officials of the Government, chiefs and advisers of the Chief Executive’s Office, members of the secretariats of the Government’s secretaries, and directors of all public departments.

Mr Sam stated that the 8th Legislative Assembly Election, the first since last year’s revision of the Legislative Assembly Election Law – which consolidated the principle of “patriots governing Macao” – represents a crucial political event and the most significant governance task since the current administration took office.

The Chief Executive recently issued a letter to all civil servants urging them – as integral members of Macao’s governance – to cast their ballots on election day, as well as to encourage relatives and friends to vote. Public departments were instructed to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate the voting of on-duty personnel.

Mr Sam noted that the quadrennial Legislative Assembly Election is a major political undertaking, requiring leaders at all levels to provide guidance to their subordinates in order to effectively support electoral work. Active voting contributes to choosing the members of the new Legislative Assembly – a fundamental public institution – and demonstrates civil servants’ allegiance to the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and to the MSAR itself, he added.

Mr Sam directed relevant departments to ensure coordination, mutual support, and the sharing of information to make sure that the electoral process runs in a lawful, fair, just, and orderly manner.

During the meeting, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Mr Cheong Weng Chon, and the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak, gave presentations on the arrangements for election day and on the relevant security measures, respectively.