Advisers to help Macao security committee

The central government has decided that Macao's Committee for Safeguarding National Security will have a national security affairs adviser and three national security technical advisers.

It announced the decision in a reply dated Nov 30 to Ho Iat-seng, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, concerning his proposal that the central government set up the posts in the committee.

The central government said it had approved a report by Ho that included the proposal.

It said the post of national security affairs adviser will be filled by the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, while the technical advisers should be liaison office personnel.

The national security affairs adviser shall be in charge of supervising, guiding, coordinating and supporting the Macao SAR government in safeguarding national security, it added.

The technical advisers' duties will include assisting the national security affairs adviser and advising on matters pertaining to the duties and functions of the committee's office.

The national security affairs adviser shall sit in on meetings of the committee, and the technical advisers shall sit in on meetings of its office.

The reply said Ho will revise Macao regulations in accordance with relevant provisions of its Basic Law.

Xinhua