Macao SAR govt, commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry firmly oppose EU comments on Macao Legislative Assembly election

MACAO - The Macao Special Administrative Region government and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR on Saturday firmly opposed the comments made by the European External Action Service, under the European Union, on the Legislative Assembly election of the Macao SAR.

The Macao SAR government said in a statement that the election is completely the internal affairs of the SAR, which brooks no interference from any foreign institution.

The SAR government said that the Electoral Affairs Commission for the election disqualifying certain candidates from running in the election was execution of power endowed by the election law of the Legislative Assembly to examine the qualifications of candidates and the decision of the commission had gained affirmation from the court of final appeal of the SAR.

The statement stressed that the basic rights of Macao SAR residents, including suffrage, the right to stand for elections and the freedom of speech, are not only protected by the Basic Law of the Macao SAR and relevant laws, but also fully safeguarded by the SAR's administrative, legislative and judicial organs.

The SAR government said it would, just as always, continue to support the commission to perform its duties in accordance with the law to ensure that the upcoming Legislative Assembly election goes smoothly.

Voicing strong dissatisfaction with and resolute objection to the EU comments, the commissioner's office said in a statement that the comments were blatant interference in Macao affairs and China's internal affairs at large, which seriously violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations.

No one is more sincere or resolute than the Chinese government to comprehensively and accurately implement the "one country, two systems" principle, and no one cares more than the Chinese government about Macao's prosperity, stability and residents' well-being, the statement pointed out.

Any attempt to interfere in the SAR's affairs is doomed to fail, it added.