Country Report on Terrorism 2020 - Chapter 1 - China (Hong Kong and Macau) - Macau

Overview:  A major part of Macau’s CT cooperation with the United States involves information sharing.  Under the Macau Public Security Police Force is the Police Intervention Tactical Unit (UTIP), whose main mission is CT operations.  UTIP is responsible for protecting important installations and dignitaries, and conducting high-risk missions, such as IED deactivation.  Macau cooperated internationally on CT efforts through INTERPOL and other security-focused organizations.

2020 Terrorist Incidents:  There were no reported terrorist incidents in Macau in 2020.

Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security:  As a gambling center, Macau authorities are aware of the risks associated with junket promoters.  They have indicated they are continually taking the necessary steps to strengthen the regulatory framework for market entry and to intensify AML/CFT oversight.

In October the Macau government devised and published Law No. 14/2020 and Administrative Regulation No. 35/2020.  The new legislation created the Terrorism Crimes Alert Division under the framework of the Judiciary Police and empowered the new division to create an information system for combating terrorism and monitoring, alerting, and communicating information related to terrorism activities.

Countering the Financing of Terrorism:  Macau is a member of APG.  Macau’s FIU, the Financial Intelligence Office (GIF), is a member of the Egmont Group.  The GIF’s Director was appointed as Co-Chair of the Asia/Pacific Joint Group by the International Anti-Money Laundering Organization in April.  The GIF also provided AML/CFT training sessions to Banco Comercial de Macau -, the Bank of Communications (Macau Branch), the Bank of China (Macau Branch), and Tai Fung Bank in 2020.

The Macau’s Interdepartmental AML/CFT Working Group, which was established in 2010 and currently consists of 15 government agencies, held two AML/CFT plenary meetings in June and December.  The Working Group is responsible for tracking the development of AML/CFT international standards and best practices, and formulating overall policies against money laundering, terrorism financing, and financing for WMD proliferation.  In the second plenary meeting, the Working Group formulated the Five-Year Strategic Plan for Anti-Money Laundering (2021-25) to further implement and reinforce the AML/CFT laws and regulations in the territory.

Countering Violent Extremism:  There were no changes to Macau’s CVE programming in 2020.

International and Regional Cooperation:  Owing to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 tripartite online meeting among mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to foster cooperation on AML/CFT was postponed until 2021.

In September the GIF visited the AML Bureau of the People’s Bank of China and the China Anti-Money Laundering Monitoring and Analysis Center to strengthen cooperation and exchange.

In October the Macau government signed a Reimbursable Advisory Services Agreement Concerning Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Risks with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.  This voluntary move asked the World Bank to assess the effectiveness of the Macau AML/CFT regime, including any threats and vulnerabilities from money laundering and terrorism financing activities.

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