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Macao SAR govt, commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry firmly oppose European Parliament's interference in Macao affairs
CGTN

The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR on Thursday voiced firm opposition to a bill adopted by the European Parliament which reportedly interfered with Macao affairs and China's internal affairs in general. 

Regarding references to Macao in the European Parliament's new EU-China strategy, the SAR government in a statement said that since Macao's return to the motherland over 20 years ago, the principles of "One Country, Two Systems," "Macao people administering Macao" with a high degree of autonomy have been successfully implemented. 

The basic rights of Macao residents, including the right to vote, have been fully guaranteed by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Macao SAR Basic Law, said the SAR government. 

The SAR government noted that the election of the seventh Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR has been carried out in an orderly manner and in strict accordance with the Macao SAR Basic Law and the Macao SAR Legislative Assembly election law, with the electoral affairs commission for the election performing its duties in accordance with the law, candidate teams campaigning in accordance with the law, and various circles of the Macao society and Macao residents actively going to the ballot. 

The vote has taken place in a fair, just and clean manner, the SAR government said. 

The legislative election of the Macao SAR is completely Macao's internal affairs, which no foreign institution including the European Parliament has the right to interfere in, the SAR government stressed, pledging that it would, just as always, safeguard freedom of the press and the basic rights of Macao residents in accordance with the law so as to ensure the sustained and successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics. 

The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR in a statement also pointed out the bill, based on bias and lies, made irresponsible comments on the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" in the Macao SAR.  

"It is a violation of international laws and basic norms governing international relations," a spokesperson of the office said in a statement. 

Since Macao's return to the motherland over two decades ago, the SAR government, under the correct leadership of the central government and with the strong support from the mainland, has united and led various circles of the society to handle affairs in strict accordance with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, said the spokesperson. 

The practice of "One Country, Two Systems" in Macao has achieved success widely recognized around the world, the spokesperson said, adding that Macao has ushered in the best development situation in history. 

Residents in the Macao SAR enjoy unprecedented rights and freedom on a wide range in accordance with the law, a fact that anyone without bias would acknowledge, said the spokesperson. 

The election of the seventh Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR has been held smoothly, fully demonstrating the spirit of administering Macao in accordance with the law, and embodying democracy and the wide participation of various circles of the society, the spokesperson said. 

The spokesperson stressed that the European Parliament deliberately ignored the successful practice of "One Country, Two Systems" in Macao and made indiscreet comments on Macao affairs and China's internal affairs in general under the pretext of democracy and human rights. The Chinese people, including Macao compatriots, will never accept this, said the spokesperson. 

"We urge the European Parliament to comprehensively and accurately understand 'one country, two systems,' abide by international laws and basic norms governing international relations, and act in a way that benefits the development of relations between China and Europe as well as the exchange and cooperation between the Macao SAR and Europe," the spokesperson said. 

The government of Macao SAR also expressed strong opposition to and deep regret over the report stressing that since Macao's return to the motherland over 20 years ago, the principles of "One Country, Two Systems," "Macao people administering Macao" with a high degree of autonomy have been successfully implemented. 

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: An aerial photo shows the Penha Hill of Macao SAR, China, taken on January 11, 2018. /Xinhua)

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