Macao capable, confident to ensure stability: security chief

The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government is capable and confident to ensure stability in Macao as less criminal cases were reported in the first three quarters, the security chief said Wednesday.

Macao recorded 10,347 criminal cases in the first nine months, a decline of 2.2 percent on a yearly basis, Secretary for Security of the Macao SAR Wong Sio Chak told a press conference.

There was no case of murder, abduction or other serious violent crime found in the period, and cases of theft, robbery, extortion, telephone fraud, drug trafficking, drug abuse and juvenile delinquency trended down, which showed that Macao's public security was maintained at a stable level, Wong said.

Illegal immigrants and overstayers have reduced compared to the same period in the previous year.

As Macao's gaming industry keeps adjusting, the gaming-related crimes, namely usury and illegal imprisonment, were on the rise, Wong said, noting that the two crimes had little negative impact on public security outside the casino.

However, the authorities will remain highly vigilant and closely monitor the security situation of the gaming sites, Wong added.

Mentioning the severe anti-terrorism situation worldwide, Wong said Macao is at lower risk of terrorist attack, but the security office has remained high alert on terrorism.

A cross-department and boarder integrated joint working mechanism has been carried out to ensure the safety of local citizens, Wong noted. Enditem