Macao Legislature Approves Secret Trials for National Security Cases

China's gambling hub of Macao has unanimously approved legislation enabling courts to conduct trials behind closed doors when national security concerns are at stake. The new law grants expanded powers to the territory's national security committee and has raised concerns among observers about increasing restrictions on political freedoms.

Legislators in Macao, China’s renowned gambling destination, have unanimously approved new legislation Thursday that grants courts the authority to conduct secret trials when public hearings are deemed a threat to national security.

The new law strengthens the role of Macao’s national security committee, which operates in the Chinese special administrative region alongside neighboring Hong Kong. Observers note that officials in both territories have been expanding their control over political discourse in recent years.

The approved legislation requires both judicial officials and the national security committee to agree that public court proceedings could endanger national security before trials can be moved behind closed doors.

The committee’s responsibilities include examining how to execute security directives from China’s central government in Beijing. Currently composed of security personnel, law enforcement leaders, and the territory’s chief executive, the legislation broadens the committee’s composition to include additional municipal officials overseeing cultural matters, education, and youth programs.

The prospect of secret criminal proceedings has generated concern among some watchers, particularly following last year’s detention of former pro-democracy legislator Au Kam San by Macao authorities. Police suspected him of collaborating with external entities in violation of the region’s national security legislation. This marked the first known prosecution under the law since its original passage in 2009 and subsequent revision in 2023.

According to a government statement, Thursday’s legislative approval represents significant progress in protecting national sovereignty, security, and developmental priorities. The law becomes effective one day following its publication in the territory’s official record.

The former Portuguese territory has transformed from a gambling monopoly into a global gaming powerhouse since China regained control in 1999.

Macao’s pro-democracy movement never achieved the prominence seen in Hong Kong, the former British colony that returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The Macao administration also experienced significantly fewer large-scale demonstrations against its governance compared to Hong Kong.

However, the casino center has seen increased political restrictions in recent years, particularly following the massive anti-government demonstrations that swept Hong Kong in 2019, representing the most significant challenge to Beijing’s authority since the territory’s transfer.