Central govt backs Macao court on election candidate ruling

BEIJING - The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Saturday voiced support for the Court of Final Appeal of the Macao Special Administrative Region in its ruling on disqualifying some candidates from the region's Legislative Assembly election.

The court on Saturday afternoon rejected the appeals of three election groups over their candidacy and affirmed the decision by Macao SAR's Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election of disqualifying three candidate lists from running for the upcoming Legislative Assembly election.

"The ruling is based on a solid legal foundation and facts," the office said in a statement expressing its strong support for the ruling.

The statement said that the Macao SAR Basic Law stipulates that members of the Legislative Assembly should uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Macao SAR.

In rejecting the appeals of the candidates, who were disqualified for failing to meet the requirement of the law, and upholding the decision of the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election, the court has safeguarded the constitutional order in the SAR as established by the Constitution and the Basic Law, it said.

The statement noted that upholding the "patriots administering Macao" principle is fundamental to ensuring the full and faithful implementation of "one country, two systems."

Any anti-China disruptor must never be allowed to make his or her way into the SAR's administrative structure and become an administrator by any means, said the statement, adding that this is an iron rule that should be thoroughly implemented in the eligibility review of the candidates.

The office expressed confidence in the success of the Legislative Assembly election and the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems" in Macao.