Macau Authorities Seek Clarification On National Security Clause

Macau’s legislative assembly committee, the group empowered to review the autonomous region’s new gaming bill, has sought clarification on the topic of ‘national security’. The draft bill determines that Macau’s government has the ability to close down gaming vendors if there is a belief that they have in some way compromised national security through their operations.

However, Macau’s lawmakers have suggested this concept is ambiguous, and demand greater transparency on what this actually entails, and some examples of how this could potentially materialize.

The committee’s review of the proposed amendments to Macau’s gaming landscape has gathered momentum in recent weeks. Last week alone, the group met for four consecutive days to discuss various facets of the potential new laws. The question of how a concessionaire can undermine national security joins a host of other queries prepared by the legislative assembly, as the finer details of the bill begin to be scrutinized.

Amongst other items, it’s understood that another pressing issue on the committee’s list is around the subject of discontinuing a company’s operations. However, this issue will only become relevant if one of the six ‘new’ licensee slots is not allocated to a current concessionaire. In this scenario, the bill proposes that the firm(s) be dissolved, and subsequently cease trading. Legal experts have also cast doubt on the viability of this specific article.

Although progress is tangible, the race is on to complete the bill’s full review process prior to the expiration of current licensee terms at the beginning of June. If this is not achieved, further legal complications may emerge.