The Chief Executive and Chairman of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Sam Hou Fai, attends the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Security Education Series Activities and award presentation ceremony of the Essay and Short Video Competition of the MSAR.
The Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, today said the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government will ensure that the requirements of national security are integrated throughout all areas and stages of Macao’s development strategy.
The MSAR Government will fully implement the new tasks and requirements set out in the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and pragmatically formulate and implement the Third Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic Development of the MSAR.
Mr Sam, who is also the Chairman of the MSAR Committee for Safeguarding National Security, made the remarks at the opening ceremony for the National Security Education Series Activities held along with award presentation ceremony for the essay and short video competition.
The MSAR Government will accurately implement the holistic approach to national security, and continuously improve Macao’s legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, as well as strengthening security capabilities across all sectors, and modernising the city’s systems for such work.
Through concrete actions, the MSAR Government will build a solid barrier for safeguarding national security in Macao, and ensure that high-level security provides a reliable safeguard for the enduring success of the “One country, two systems” principle.
National Security Education Series Activities are jointly organised by the MSAR Government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR. An opening ceremony for this year’s event was held at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex
The event also featured the award presentation ceremony for essay and short video competition.
Officiating at the ceremonies were: the Chief Executive, Mr Sam; Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Ho Hau Wah; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the MSAR, and National Security Affairs Adviser, Mr Zheng Xincong; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the MSAR, Ms Bian Lixin; and the Commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macao Garrison, Mr Chen Wensheng. Over 480 government officials and members of the community attended the event.
In his speech, Mr Sam said national security education is a systematic and long-term endeavour. To promote its normalisation and to popularise it, such education had to advance with the times, while upholding core principles.
This year marked the ninth consecutive year that the MSAR Government and the Liaison Office have co-hosted this campaign. This year’s activities take as their theme “Coordinating Development and Security: Safeguarding the New Journey of the 15th Five-Year Plan”, and involve an increased publicity effort, and an expansion of scale. This year will see a diverse range of educational initiatives, including the “Every Day is 15 April” publicity campaign, with the hope of deepening and strengthening national security education in Macao through immersive experiences, interactive participation, and widespread social engagement.
The Chief Executive said safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests is the highest tenet of the “One country, two systems” principle, and the solid foundation for Macao’s socio-economic development. It concerns the fundamental interests of the MSAR and the well-being of fellow residents.
For a long time, the MSAR has steadfastly fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security, consistently upheld the executive-led system, and advanced national security work to new heights under the guidance of the holistic approach to national security.
In March this year, the Law on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and relevant supporting administrative regulations, came into effect. This further improved the top-level leadership mechanism and provided the Committee for Safeguarding National Security with a solid legal basis and stronger enforcement capabilities.
The MSAR Government will remain resolute in preventing and countering external interference and in cracking down, in accordance with the law, on collusion between anti-China and destabilising elements in Macao and external hostile forces. The MSAR Government will continue to expand the patriotic and Macao-loving forces, building broader social consensus, in order to safeguard Macao’s harmony and stability.
In 2026, momentous changes unseen in a century are unfolding around the world, and at a quickening pace, particularly in the Middle East. It was a reminder of the truth in the saying: “We are not living in a peaceful world, but in a peaceful country”, and that peace is not a given, and stability is hard-won. Safeguarding national security is an ongoing mission with no finish line. In this regard, Mr Sam shared his views on three points:
First, is the need fully to understand the severe circumstances in which national security is operating, and comprehensively perceive internal and external security risks. The community must strengthen its sense of vigilance, think ahead even in times of peace, and always adopt a mindset of worst-case scenarios and extreme thinking, preparing thoroughly for various risks and challenges.
Second, is the need firmly to advance high-level development of security. On one hand, Macao must more effectively leverage the advantages of the executive-led system and continuously improve the governance model that is led by the MSAR Government and is complemented by the coordinated participation of the legislature, the judiciary, and all sectors of society. On the other hand, all departments of the MSAR Government must fulfil their duties with a higher degree of political awareness, a sense of the broader picture, and a spirit of performing their duty with obedience, while solidifying their responsibilities, taking initiative, and continuously modernising the MSAR’s systems and capabilities for safeguarding national security.
Third, is the need firmly to build a high-quality development framework, accurately implement the principle of consolidating security in the course of development, and balance national security with socio-economic progress. The MSAR Government must strive to resolve deep-seated social issues, eliminate systemic risks, and strengthen the foundation of social stability, ensuring the long-term stability of Macao.
National security is closely tied to the fate of every individual, Mr Sam stated. In safeguarding it, there should be no bystanders but only guardians. Macao’s experience since its return to the motherland has fully proven that only with solid national security can the success of the “One country, two systems” principle be sustained, the economy and society prosper, and the wellbeing of the residents be effectively protected.
In his speech, Mr Zheng said that today marked the country’s 11th National Security Education Day. Looking back over the past 11 years, Macao has steadfastly implemented the holistic approach to national security, achieving a series of landmark outcomes in advancing public education in national security, setting numerous precedents, accomplishing significant initiatives, and earning widespread acclaim.
This year, the theme set by the central authorities for National Security Education Day – “Coordinating Development and Security: Safeguarding the New Journey of the 15th Five-Year Plan” – This meant, present realities and a future vision must be kept in mind, in order to secure stability through development, and so that pursuit of such development could be in a secure environment, Mr Zheng added.
The theme also reminded society to be prepared at all times to confront difficulties and challenges on the path ahead, which would allow joint advancement of Macao’s efforts to ensure a security framework that supports a new development paradigm, and fosters a virtuous cycle and mutually-reinforcing relationship between high-quality development and high-level security.
The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, delivered a video address this morning at the opening ceremony of National Security Education Day in the Hong Kong SAR, noted Mr Zheng.
In Mr Xia’s speech, he drew on the recently-released white paper "Hong Kong: Safeguarding China's National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems". Mr Xia had noted it put forward four requirements regarding safeguarding Hong Kong’s transition from stability to prosperity through high-level security and creating a new chapter for the “One country, two systems” principle in the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
Mr Zheng said the requirements mentioned by Mr Xia carried significant guiding value for Macao, as it seeks better to balance development and security. On this basis, Mr Zheng offered three suggestions:
First, is the need to adopt a broad historical perspective in understanding Macao’s balancing of development and security. On the new journey of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Macao must be adept at drawing lessons from historical experience, deeply grasp the theoretical, historical and practical logic behind the integrated advancement of development and security, strengthen its sense of vigilance, remain alert even in times of peace, and treat both development and security as matters of paramount importance to be firmly grasped and effectively implemented.
Second, is the need to approach Macao’s integration of development and security with a strong sense of responsibility. On this new journey, it is necessary to position Macao to integrate better into and serve national development, adopting a holistic national perspective to guide local planning, and leveraging Macao’s unique role in order to contribute to the country’s broader strategic goals. In doing so, Macao can play an irreplaceable role in helping China secure greater impetus in great-power competition, and advance the Chinese path to modernisation.
Third, is the need to advance Macao’s coordination of development and security within a grand strategic framework. On this new journey, Macao must bear in mind President Xi Jinping’s profound care for Macao and his earnest instructions, seize the major historic opportunities presented by national development, proactively align with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, embrace reform and innovation with determination, adopt bold and practical measures, uphold and improve the executive-led system, steadily promote appropriate economic diversification, strengthen patriotic and Macao-loving forces, enhance governance effectiveness, and strive to accomplish transformative initiatives with long-term impact. In doing so, Macao can continuously open new horizons for its prosperity, stability and harmony, setting a new example for the practising of the “One country, two systems” principle.
Following the opening ceremony for the National Security Education Series Activities held in Macao, the awards presentation ceremony was held for the “AI in Safeguarding National Security” themed essay competition and the short video competition. Subsequently, Mr Sam and the other officiating guests watched a promotional video of the National Security Education Exhibition and a national security-themed cultural performance, before proceeding to the exhibition hall to tour the exhibition.
Later, Mr Sam and the guests presided over a ceremony that involved the switching-on of special light displays on landmark buildings across Macao, Hengqin and Zhuhai, to promote national security awareness, followed by a drone display themed on national security.
The National Security Education Exhibition will be open to the public from 3pm on Thursday (16 April), and will run until 15 May. Through concise texts, over 360 documentary photographs, video footage and interactive multimedia installations, the exhibition highlights how the MSAR, under the firm leadership of the central authorities, has steadfastly upheld the correct direction of the “One country, two systems” principle, consistently balanced development and security, continuously improved the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and advanced high-quality development underpinned by high-level security. It also showcases Macao’s active integration into the national development, and its contributions to the strong start of the new journey of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
The exhibition’s dedicated website (https://eesn.gov.mo) provides a complete digital presentation of all exhibition content, allowing the public and other interested parties to view and explore the materials online.
