Authorities back disqualifications

Central authorities and the Macao Special Administrative Region government voiced firm support on Tuesday for the disqualification of 20 legislative candidates for failing to uphold Macao's Basic Law or pledge allegiance to the special administrative region.

The decisions to bar them from the Legislative Assembly election on Sept 12 were made by Macao's Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election on Tuesday.

The commission said five of the 19 candidate lists submitted for direct elections were found to be ineligible. In addition to candidates found ineligible for other reasons, the total number of candidates was reduced from 159 to 128.

The seventh term of the Legislative Council will run from this year to 2025. It will be made up of 33 members, including 14 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected and seven appointed.

In a statement, the Macao government said it is the responsibility of the commission to examine the qualifications of candidates in accordance with the law, so as to safeguard the overall interests of Macao and its constitutional order, and implement the principle of "patriots administering Macao".

It stressed that disqualifying certain candidates does not affect the basic rights enjoyed by Macao residents in accordance with the law, including the freedom of speech they enjoy, and their right to know and supervise the Macao government's work.

In separate statements, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region said the commission's decisions were in line with the "one country, two systems" principle, and would help ensure that Macao only be administered by patriots.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office also said the central government will give full support to Macao for the smooth organization of elections.

At a news conference on Monday, the Election Affairs Commission said electoral laws required candidates planning to run for Macao's legislative elections to be patriots.

Tong Hoi-fong, chairman of the commission, said election hopefuls must conform to the criteria set out by the law, which include upholding the constitutional order stipulated in the nation's Constitution and Macao's Basic Law and safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity.

They also must not collude with foreign or overseas forces to penetrate the power structure of the Macao Special Administrative Region and must also respect the political system established by China's Constitution and Macao's Basic Law.

The commission said that whether a candidate upholds the leadership of the Communist Party of China is also an important standard for his or her bid for this year's legislative election.

The disqualifications also received support from various representatives from the business, legal and education sectors.

Ma Iao-lai, president of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, said the decisions will help fully implement the fundamental principle of "patriots administering Macao" and the "one country, two systems" policy, which provide a solid institutional guarantee for Macao's enduring peace and stability.

Chui Sai-cheong, deputy director of the Macao Basic Law Committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said the Electoral Affairs Commission plays an important role in vetting the eligibility of candidates, and its disqualification of 20 candidates was based on sufficient facts.

Cen Yao-chang, vice-president of the Chinese Educators Association of Macao, said teachers should help students learn more about elections and related laws, enabling them to understand the importance of having patriots as legislators.

Xinhua contributed to this story.