Former Macao legislator Au Kam-san was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison on Friday in Macao’s first national security trial at the Lower Court of the Court of First Instance.

Au, 69, was previously convicted of five charges out of seven, including subversion of State power and establishing links with foreign groups, bodies or individuals to endanger national security, and a breach of secrecy.

The court heard that from 2022, Au colluded with multiple foreign anti-China organizations, and provided them with sensitive and inflammatory information for publication overseas and online to incite hatred against the Macao Special Administrative Region government and the central government, as well as to sabotage the 2024 chief executive election in Macao.  

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The Criminal Chamber of the Lower Court of the Court of First Instance tried the case on Sept 16 and 18, 2026, respectively.

Throughout the judicial proceedings, the SAR court appointed a defense lawyer to represent Au in accordance with the law, as he did not retain legal counsel. The appointed defense lawyer, who was accepted and approved by Au, maintained close communication and contact with the suspect to put forward his defense. In addition, the court permitted regular family visits in accordance with the law.

The Macao SAR government expressed its full support of the sentencing, and called on all sectors of society to respect the rulings of the court, support the judicial authorities in exercising their jurisdiction in accordance with the law, and uphold the tradition of judicial fairness and the rule of law.

The government said that it has a constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security. It added it will continue to strictly implement the Law on Safeguarding National Security in Macao, and will prevent, suppress and punish acts that endanger national security in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the city’s long-term prosperity and stability, residents’ fundamental interests, and the sustained implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle with Macao characteristics.

The government pointed out that the Criminal Chamber of the Lower Court of the Court of First Instance fully protected the legitimate rights of the suspect and other participants during the proceedings.

Following the sentence, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council published an article on its official social media account.

The article, written under the name Gang Aoping, expressed firm support of the sentence, saying it demonstrated that national security is a non-negotiable bottom line.

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Under the banner of so-called "democracy" and "freedom", Au long colluded with external forces to engage in anti-China activities, severely endangering national security and Macao's prosperity and stability, the article read.

"This ruling strongly defends the authority of the rule of law and sends a clear message: anyone or any organization, regardless of what pretense they use or what backing they rely on, that dares to engage in acts and activities that endanger national security will inevitably be severely punished by the law," the article continued.

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region also expressed support for the sentence. In a separate statement, the office said it’s a vivid practice and important benchmark of the Macao SAR fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to safeguard national security.

It fully demonstrated judicial fairness and the authority of the rule of law, as well as the firm determination of the Macao SAR government to punish crimes endangering national security in accordance with the law, the office noted.

Contact writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com