Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Macau’s first chief executive and currently a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has said that the local government’s ongoing proposal to draft a bill governing the setting-up and operation of the city’s associations is not intended to interfere with their operations, but rather to better safeguard national security and Macau’s security, optimise resource allocation, and foster the healthy and sustainable development of associations.
Ho made the remarks during a closed-door feedback session held by the local government on Thursday concerning its ongoing public consultation on the matter. The session was held for Macau deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Macau members of the CPPCC National Committee.
The Identification Services Bureau (DSI) issued a statement on Thursday night about the feedback session.
Macau has 12 deputies to the NPC and 38 CPPCC National Committee members.
Ho is one of the 38 Macau members of the CPPCC National Committee.
Among the various CPPCC National Committee vice-chairpersons, Ho is the sole representative from Macau.
The 12 Macau deputies to the NPC include Kou Hoi In, the sole Macau member of the elite NPC Standing Committee. Kou is a former president of the Macau Legislative Assembly (AL).
According to the DSI statement, Thursday’s feedback session was attended by all 12 Macau deputies to the NPC and 27 Macau members of the CPPCC National Committee.
During Thursday’s session, Ho also urged local NPC deputies and local CPPCC National Committee members to fully cooperate with the local government’s ongoing initiatives to propose new legislation on associations, give full play to their role as a bridge for communication, offer constructive suggestions, and publicise the government’s objectives to propose the new legislation to various segments of civil society and representatives of the city’s various associations.
The session was chaired by Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak. DSI Director Sonia Chan Hoi Fan gave a presentation about the government’s legislative proposal to the attendees.
CPPCC National Committee Vice Chairman Edmund Ho Hau Wah addresses Thursday’s session at the Forum Macao Complex near Macau Tower. – Photo: DSI
