Legislative Assembly Electoral Affairs Committee President Tong Hio Fong said yesterday his committee would announce how to determine whether candidates are “sincere” about upholding the Macau Basic Law and have “true” allegiance to the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) after the issue has been discussed in future committee meetings.
The Legislative Assembly (AL) passed the Legislative Assembly Election Law amendment bill last month, which requires a declaration of allegiance, which candidates will have to sign to be able to run in the direct and indirect Legislative Assembly (AL) elections, to confirm their agreement with the Macau Basic Law and their fidelity to the MSAR.
According to the law, candidates who refuse to sign the declaration, or if their actions or words prove that their declaration of allegiance is false, would be disqualified from running in the legislature’s direct and indirect elections.
Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan Hoi Fan said in November that the amendment of the law concerning the statement of allegiance was “a precautionary measure for a rainy day”.
Chan and Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On attended the ceremony.
Asked by reporters on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of the committee at Government Headquarters, how it would be determined whether candidates were “sincere” or not, Tong said: “ We [the committee] were just sworn in today and we haven’t had a meeting yet… We will announce the details later.”
Tong said the committee would have its first meeting after the Chinese New Year holiday, adding that the date of the elections and two-week campaign period would be announced after the meeting.
(Macau News / The Macau Post Daily)
