The central government announced on Tuesday its approval of a report by Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng which suggested establishing the posts of national security adviser and national security technical adviser on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the MSAR, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) said in a statement today.

The MSAR government "strongly supports" the central government's decision and will work towards its full implementation, the statement said.

"Since Macau’s reunification with the motherland, and with the full support of the central government, the MSAR government has continued to formulate laws and administrative mechanisms with the aim of safeguarding national security. It has also started, in an effective way, national security work according to the law, in order to safeguard the nation's sovereignty, security and development interests, and maintain prosperity and stability in Macau," the statement said.

The statement pointed out that since 2009 the MSAR has completed its national security legislation as stipulated by Article 23 of the Basic Law, and [in 2018] set up a Committee for Safeguarding National Security, chaired by the chief executive. "The MSAR government works to revise supporting laws and regulations, to strengthen law enforcement, and to promote national security education, and continues to improve the electoral system of the Legislative Assembly, in order to maintain in Macau the overall interests of national security," the statement.

Yet, in the face of changes in circumstances internally and externally, and in the context of the progress in the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Macau is facing new situations and challenges in its safeguarding of national security, the statement underlined.

The government's efforts of making progress in improving laws and administrative mechanisms to ensure national security, continuously strengthening the systems and capabilities for safeguarding national security, and strengthening national security education, are conducive overall to safeguarding national security, and to the long-term stability of Macau, the statement said, adding that "these steps match the overall interests of the country and Macau society, and are matters of practical importance and urgency."

Safeguarding national security comes under the purview of the central government, the statement pointed out. Based on the nation's Constitution and the MSAR Basic Law, the central government agreed with and approved the chief executive's report, "and made a well-founded and reasonable decision to establish the posts of national security adviser and national security technical adviser," the statement said.

"This is a major institutional arrangement for comprehensively and properly implementing the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems', for upholding national sovereignty, security, and development interests' and for maintaining the long-term stability and prosperity of Macau," the statement said, adding that the central government’s care and support for Macau is manifested in Macau's high degree of autonomy.

The decision to establish the advisory posts facilitates development of a national security system in Macau, and strengthens national security based on the nation's Constitution and the MSAR Basic Law, to ensure the stable and long-lasting implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, according to the statement.

"The MSAR bears the constitutional duty of safeguarding national security," the statement said, adding that the addition of the posts of national security adviser and national security technical adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the MSAR, should be stipulated by local law.

The chief executive will, in accordance with Paragraph 5 of Article 50 of the MSAR Basic Law, and the requirements approved by the central government, promptly order corresponding amendments to Administrative Regulation No. 22/2018 on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Macau SAR. The update will include content related to the national security adviser and the national security technical adviser posts. These steps will ensure effective implementation of the decision of the central government, to better safeguard national security, and provide strong legal protection for advancing the rule of law in Macau, the statement said.