A plenary session of the legislature yesterday passed the outline of an amendment bill on sex crimes listed in the Macau Penal Code. The government-initiated bill suggests a separate category for sexual harassment with the offence being listed as a semi-public crime.

A total of 29 lawmakers cast their votes, all of which were in favour of the bill. Three legislators were absent and, as is customary, the speaker of the legislature did not vote.

The government carried out a public consultation on the proposed amendments from December in 2015 to February last year.

Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan Hoi Fan addresses yesterday’s plenary session about the sex crime bill in the legislature’s hemicycle. Photo: Tony Wong

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