Macau Expands NSL Legislation

Macau has kowtowed to China since its handover in 1999

When comparing Hong Kong with nearby Macau, the latter was always seen as the more obedient child to Beijing.

While Hong Kong loudly protested against passing Article 23, the security law back in 2003, which led the government shelving it for later, Macau happily legislated it without a fuss in 2009.

Fast forward 11 years and Beijing implemented the national security law in Hong Kong following the 2019 protests. Despite the NSL covering sedition, subversion, terrorism and secession, the city will revisit Article 23 in a bid to pass it next year.

Increased national security legislation in Macau

With the Legislative Council overwhelmingly stacked with pro-establishment politicians, it should be no problem to finally pass this controversial piece of legislation, which stoked fears of extradition to China to face trial.

However, Macau has found that it needs to catch up with Hong Kong's NSL and further expanded its own national security law legislation.

The updated law, which has come into effect, puts greater emphasis on foreign interference in the special administrative region.

The original NSL in Macau listed seven major crimes, such as treason, subversion, theft of state secrets and foreign collusion, where maximum punishments are 25 years in jail.

Meanwhile opposition to any central government department and the ideology in Beijing can be charged with subversion.

In addition Macau police now have the power to target suspects outside the city.

Now Macau's NSL similar to Hong Kong's 

Not surprisingly, critics of the new security law say it restricts people's liberties and rights in the former Portuguese colony.

Jason Chao was formerly president of the pro-democratic political party called the New Macau Association, and says the new law is "deeply concerning".

"Local journalists described the current situation as the ice age, and unfortunately the ice age is going to get colder," Chao said.

"The most worrying point is that people would not know whether or not they were committing a crime if they tried to criticise the government. We have observed how the national security law in Hong Kong has been vaguely interpreted," he said.

It seems the NSL was going to be passed anyway in both cities, even if Hong Kong didn't have the protests. But they gave Beijing the best justification for implementing it... 

Snitch on Lone Wolves and Radicals

Lam warns of "lone wolves and radicals" in the community

Is it a coincidence? Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in a weekly address to the media today that there are "lone wolves and radicals" in Hong Kong, and it just so happens that the police have announced they will be launching a counter-terrorism hotline on June 8 for the public to report on terrorism or violence-related crimes.

Lam made the remark after a reporter asked her how she felt about some people's decision to commemorate the June 4 massacre near Victoria Park.

Hotline set up to report terrorism activities 

"It's not about my personal views. Two years after the implementation of the national security law, the overall political situation in Hong Kong is stable," she said.

"But the police commissioner, the secretary for security and myself have often reminded the public that there are many hidden problems. There are lone wolves and radicals who went underground.

"Radicals are very likely to use large-scale events or sensitive days to incite others to come out and do damaging things," Lam said.

And so she is asking for the public's assistance in ferreting out these "lone wolves and radicals", by reporting them to this Counter-terrorism Reporting Hotline, which replaces the Anti-violence Hotline that was set up during the 2019 protests.

"Apart from violent acts, the public may also report suspected terrorism-related activities around them, in particular extremist plots, via this upgraded hotline," the police said in a statement.

Leung Wai-ki encourages public to report tips

"Reporting such acts without delay will prevent and combat extremist activities more effectively. The public will also be able to protect themselves, their relatives and friends."

Ah, so basically another snitch line set up to report on others via SMS or WeChat and create a climate of fear and insecurity.

Senior Superintendent of the force's Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit Leung Wai-ki says even though stability has returned after the implementation of the national security law, some local extremists have taken their activities underground, which is why the force is relying on the public for information.

He says they are planning to pay rewards to those who provide reliable and crucial intelligence.

This hotline sounds like it could easily be abused on the basis of national security... but the main thing is creating an atmosphere of wariness and mistrust.

With Lee coming in, security will be paramount

Good thing we have incoming Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to the rescue!