Administrative Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region
Article 101
The Chief Executive is responsible for overseeing the enforcement and implementation of law by departments of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and for the management of administrative affairs in the Region.
Article 102
The Chief Executive may, in accordance with law and with the endorsement of the Central People's Government, formulate administrative regulations for the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Article 103
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress shall authorize the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region to establish, where appropriate in accordance with law, such subordinate bodies as are necessary to assist him in discharging his functions.
Article 104
The departments and subordinate bodies of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall, on their own, handle those administrative affairs of the Region that are not within the scope of the powers and functions of the Central People's Government.
Article 105
The Macao Special Administrative Region shall carry out its work using Chinese and Portuguese as its official languages. In addition to Chinese and Portuguese, English may also be used as an official language in the judiciary. In addition to Chinese characters, Roman characters may also be used in the written texts of the laws of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Article 106
The Macao Special Administrative Region shall maintain public order and safeguard the interests of the Region and its residents.
Article 107
The Macao Special Administrative Region shall safeguard its own legitimate regional interests and maintain and develop its economic and cultural relations with other countries and regions, and with international organisations.
Article 108
The laws of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall include:
(1) The Basic Law;
(2) National laws to be applied in Macao;
(3) Laws enacted by the legislature of the Macao Special Administrative Region;
(4) Subordinate legislation made by the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Article 109
1. National laws to be applied in Macao shall be confined to those listed in Annex III to this Law.
2. The laws referred to in paragraph 1 shall be applied locally by the courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region with the assistance of the legal profession in Macao.
3. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress may add to or delete from the list of laws in Annex III to this Law after consulting the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region and obtaining the endorsement of the National People's Congress.
Article 110
1. When necessary, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress may interpret the Basic Law at the request of the Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region, or of the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, after consulting the Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
2. The interpretations referred to in paragraph 1 shall be binding on the courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Article 111
The power of final adjudication and the power to interpret the law ultimately reside in the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee.
Article 112
The courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall have the power of final adjudication in all cases without exception, except for those cases which come within the limits of the central judicial system of the State as prescribed in this Law.
Article 113
The Macao Special Administrative Region shall establish and develop a judicial system on its own, including a system of law enforcement, a structure for the courts and a system of procuratorates.
Article 114
The courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be structured as follows:
(1) The Court of Final Appeal;
(2) Higher level courts;
(3) Primary level courts;
(4) Other special courts.
Article 115
The judges of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be appointed by the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region from among Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the Region and who have no right of abode in any foreign country. The appointment and removal of judges shall be made in accordance with legal procedures.
Article 116
The judges of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be independent in the exercise of their judicial power and shall be subject only to the law. No interference in judicial proceedings by any organisation or individual is permitted.
Article 117
The power of adjudication of the courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall be vested in the judges, while juries may be constituted when appropriate in accordance with the specific circumstances.
Article 118
The courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall adjudicate cases and make judgments in accordance with the laws of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The courts may refer to precedents of other common law jurisdictions in making their judgments.
Article 119
The Macao Special Administrative Region shall respect the principle of Separation of Powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial organs of the government.
Article 120
The courts of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall have jurisdiction over all cases in the Macao Special Administrative Region, except for those cases that come within the limits of the central judicial system of the State.
