The Government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Wednesday released public consultation documents for the proposed revisions of the SAR's election laws.

The proposed revisions concerned the Chief Executive Election Law, the Electoral Law for the Legislative Assembly and the Voter Registration Law, according to a press statement released by the government.

The statement also said that the proposed revisions are aimed to optimize the SAR's electoral systems, step up the fight against election bribery and lay a sound foundation for the consistent development of democracy in Macao.

Major revisions proposed by the SAR government include strengthening the power of the Electoral Affairs Committee, raising the thresholds for local associations and organizations to become eligible voters, repealing voter registration cards, and allowing residents aged 17 to register as qualified voters in advance, said Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, secretary for administration and justice of the SAR government.

Moreover, the SAR government also proposed to exercise stricter penalties for bribery and other violations of electoral laws, and tighten regulations for campaign donations, according to the statement.

Chan said that in line with the Basic Law, and Macao's current situation, the SAR government will seek consultations with all parties in the Macao society, so that a common understanding and recognition can be reached on revising the election laws.

Starting from Feb. 27, the SAR government will hold a series of consultative sessions to collect opinions from the public on the proposed law revisions, said the statement.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2008)