This week, on Friday the 20th, marks the 25th anniversary of the handover of sovereignty in Macau. Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping visited Macau from the 18th to the 20th and presided over the inauguration ceremony of the new government. Security measures in Macau were unprecedentedly tight, with city-wide disarmament and enhanced security checks carried out in advance. Even Macau activists in the UK were warned by overseas authorities. Nearby Zhuhai in Guangdong province experienced traffic congestion due to checkpoint inspections, leading to complaints and subsequent censorship of online chat rooms by frustrated truck drivers.
Xi Jinping, according to reports from various media outlets including Macau Daily and Radio Television Hong Kong, arrived in Macau on Wednesday and is scheduled to attend local events, including the inauguration ceremony of the 6th Macau Special Administrative Region government, as well as inspect the region.
On the 18th, security was ramped up at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, with passengers required to queue based on their destination and undergo strengthened security checks before traveling to Macau. At the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal in Macau, police officers armed with shields stood guard in the immigration hall, and the carry-on items of arriving passengers were subjected to security screening devices.
Several weeks before Xi Jinping’s visit to Macau, the Macau Civil Aviation Authority had already announced a ban on drone flights throughout Macau from December 14th to the 22nd. The Chief Executive of Macau issued a directive on November 5th for “city-wide disarmament,” which included the suspension of all shooting practices and shooting sports competitions at the Macau International Shooting Center from midnight on December 1st to midnight on December 22nd; as well as the temporary closure of all firearms, ammunition shops, and firearm replica sellers during specified times from midnight on December 17th to midnight on the 24th. Individuals eligible to possess firearms were required to surrender their weapons and ammunition to the authorities for storage, while private security companies had to make separate applications.
Radio Free Asia reported that Joshua Wong, a former Macau activist now based in London, mentioned that prior to Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Macau, Chinese mainland authorities contacted him through text messages to inquire about his current situation. They specifically warned him about the 25th-anniversary activities in Macau, instructing him not to voice dissenting opinions in the media or on social platforms or participate in related activities.
Wong expressed his discontent as a British citizen, stating that he cannot accept such blatant cross-border threats. Another Macau media figure, Choi Tsz-Chao, currently residing in Taiwan, also received messages from individuals in Beijing in November, inquiring about any potential “social instability” factors in Macau in anticipation of the upcoming visit by “higher-ups.”
Choi noted that despite Macau appearing free of opposition voices, Beijing’s high level of vigilance towards the region indicates either a lack of confidence in themselves or distrust towards Macau’s obedient behavior. He mentioned that relatively independent Macau media outlets had been discreetly approached for information, although he refrained from divulging further details.
Former Macau pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam-san told Radio Free Asia that he too had been invited for tea and conversations by individuals from mainland China recently. He observed that the security measures for the anniversary of Macau’s handover this year were stricter than in past years, with reports of friends traveling from Hong Kong to Macau via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge encountering three thorough searches upon entry. However, many Macau residents seemingly adopted a passive attitude towards the situation, feeling annoyed by the frequent road closures.
As previously reported by Hong Kong media, Guangdong province had already heightened its security levels in preparation for Xi Jinping’s visit. Zhuhai city announced on November 30th the prohibition of unauthorized units, organizations, and individuals from flying any aerial objects in low airspace from December 14th to the 22nd.
Additionally, ahead of Xi Jinping’s arrival in Macau from December 18-20, all entrances and exits into Hengqin in Zhuhai were blocked on December 16th. Trucks were barred from entering, while drivers of smaller vehicles had to undergo facial recognition scans, leading to severe traffic congestion. Frustrated truck drivers took to online platforms questioning the government’s actions, with one remarking on the struggling economy and the impact on ordinary citizens, resulting in the chat room being shut down. Even vending machines were shut down amid the heightened security measures.
Xi Jinping had previously attended the 15th and 20th anniversary events marking the handover of Macau in December 2014 and December 2019, respectively.