Macau Opinion | The Law of Attraction

After nine years in on the books, certain areas of the government consider that Law 2/2009 (National Security Law) which regulates Article 23 of the Basic Law should be amended.

During the time that this law has been in force there has not, to my knowledge, been a single human being in Macau who has breached this law.

Conclusion: the law is not fit for purpose. Is it because it has not yet been violated?

The goodness of a law is measured by the extent it serves the purpose behind its enactment. The first thing that a legislator should do is investigate the application of a law and amend it if it is found to be not fit for purpose.

In Macau, it seems to be different and we may be entering a new era – one in which the Papists are more Papist than the Papists or the Pope. Yes, I have embroidered the saying.

Instead of resolving a problem that does not exist, the proponents of the changes to the National Security Law may, in fact, be creating a problem. How? Well, it is like the husband who is always blaming his wife for his extramarital affairs. A day will arrive, after a period of getting knowledge of the offences, that the wife will start betraying him. In psychology, there are studies in this field. The more we think about something the more we may cause it to occur.

In this specific case, hopefully they know what they are doing and not attracting what allegedly they are pretending to avoid in this proposal.

*Lawyer and frequent contributor to MNA