The chief executive – the first leader of the semi-autonomous territory to master the Portuguese language – will visit Lisbon and Madrid between September 16 and 23, as indicated in a statement from the Social Communication Office.
The announcement comes weeks after the arrest on July 31 of former Macau legislator and Portuguese citizen Au Kam San, suspected of violating the law related to state security defense.
This marks the first arrest under the national security law of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), which came into effect in 2009 and was reviewed in 2023.
Two days later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that “the matter will deserve the best attention from the Portuguese authorities, especially in future political meetings, in the spirit of the Joint Declaration.”
The ministry led by Paulo Rangel referred to the Sino-Portuguese treaty signed in 1987, where the two countries declared the terms under which Beijing would assume the administration of Macau after 1999.
The pro-democracy former legislator of Macau, Au Kam San, was detained for suspected violation of the National Security Law, announced today by the Judiciary Police.
Lusa | 12:09 – 31/07/2025
On the same day, the Liberal Initiative proposed a condemnation vote in the Assembly of the Republic regarding Au Kam San’s arrest and requested the government to seek clarification from Chinese authorities.
According to the vote proposal, which will be discussed in the Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities parliamentary committee, the parliament “cannot remain silent in the face of the arrest of a fellow citizen who dedicated his life to the defense of freedom, nor can it ignore the degrading of the regime of freedoms in Macau.”
Au Kam San was first elected as a legislator in 2001, benefiting from the expansion of seats provided in the MSAR Basic Law, and remained in office until 2021. During that period, he was part of Macau’s democratic faction group.
In March, during a visit to Macau, Paulo Rangel told journalists that he had spoken with Sam Hou Fai “about all issues relevant to the relationship between Portugal” and the MSAR, when questioned about the restrictions on Portuguese residency.
“But as it is an ongoing dialogue, I have the duty to give the opportunity to create solutions with the issues raised by both sides,” he added.
Rangel mentioned that the “follow-up dialogue” initiated with Sam Hou Fai will occur at a meeting of the Portugal – MSAR Joint Commission, “which is to be organized, in principle, in the second half of the year here in Macau.”
Since 2023, Macau does not accept Portuguese residency applications
Since August 2023, Macau has not accepted new residency applications from Portuguese individuals for “performing specialized technical functions,” permitting only family reunification justifications or previous connections to the territory.
The guidelines eliminate a practice established after 1999. The alternative for a Portuguese to ensure resident status now involves applying for recent programs aimed at attracting qualified professionals.
Another option is the issuance of a ‘blue card,’ a permit limited to an employment bond, without the benefits of residents, notably in terms of health or education.
