Firmly supports Macao SAR organizing election according to law: spokesperson

BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council voiced support on Tuesday for Macao's Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election in disqualifying some candidates for the upcoming Legislative Assembly election.

The candidates were disqualified for not upholding the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) or not pledging allegiance to the Macao SAR. The move is in line with the "one country, two systems" policy and the Basic Law, and is to ensure the implementation of the principle of "patriots administering Macao," said the spokesperson.

Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR must be staunch patriots, the "patriots administering Macao" principle must be implemented in the Legislative Assembly election, and the candidates must meet the standards for patriotism, the spokesperson added.

The upcoming election is a major event for the Macao SAR in 2021, and the central government will give its full support to the SAR in organizing the election, according to the spokesperson.

"We believe all sectors of Macao society will respect and support the decision by the Electoral Affairs Commission regarding the election, firmly safeguard the 'patriots administering Macao' principle, and elect Legislative Assembly members that fit the patriot standards," said the spokesperson.