HONG KONG—Several journalists and residents of Hong Kong were barred from entering Macau during Chinese leader Hu Jintao’s recent visit. The border ban is an indicator that Macau is aligning with the strict censorship and control policies the Chinese Communist Party adopts, said Szeto Wah, a former member of Hong Kong’s legislative council and rights activist.
Macau, a special administration region situated off Guangdong Province, was handed back to Chinese rule in 1999, along with Hong Kong.
“Macau is unable to withstand pressure from the communist regime … [they have] totally succumbed to the pressure,” Szeto said on Hong Kong’s online program “OurTV.” The program was established to avoid media self-censorship in Hong Kong under pressure from Beijing.
Szeto said Macau is facing problems with corruption and collusion between businessmen and government officials, as well as a general lack of democratic elements within the system. There are no public bids on 90 percent of land auctions and very few members of the legislative council are publicly elected, he said.
Macau, a special administration region situated off Guangdong Province, was handed back to Chinese rule in 1999, along with Hong Kong.
“Macau is unable to withstand pressure from the communist regime … [they have] totally succumbed to the pressure,” Szeto said on Hong Kong’s online program “OurTV.” The program was established to avoid media self-censorship in Hong Kong under pressure from Beijing.
Szeto said Macau is facing problems with corruption and collusion between businessmen and government officials, as well as a general lack of democratic elements within the system. There are no public bids on 90 percent of land auctions and very few members of the legislative council are publicly elected, he said.
