The allegations are included in the annual report by the US Department of State on the human rights situation in the world, which begins by stating that there were no "significant changes" in the situation in Macau in 2023. With regard to freedom of speech, the authors of the document note that the government of the Chinese region "significantly restricted" public statements that "would harm 'social harmony' or that 'endanger' the national or public interest". The work of the media in Macau was also the target of the US assessment, which points to the imposition of "restrictions on freedom of the press", with the executive "urging the media to align with government positions". The report cites the international organisation Reporters Without Borders, which criticises the "broad and extraterritorial" scope of the new national security law, which has "increased pressure on journalists and further threatened the right of residents to information". Restrictions were also pointed out on peaceful assembly in the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR), with the document mentioning civil rights defenders "who criticised the seemingly arbitrary rules". The document points to the closure in 2023 of the Macau Union for the Development of Democracy, which for over 30 years organised a vigil in tribute to the victims of the Tiananmen massacre, due to "fear of political persecution under the new national security law". The absence of universal suffrage is another point that deserves Washington's attention, with reference to the limitation of the population to "change government through free and fair periodic elections". In this chapter, reference is made to the elections for the Legislative Assembly (parliament) in 2021, in which "all pro-democracy politicians were disqualified by the government". The report also mentions the lack of a trade union law in the territory. Last week, Macau's deputies approved legislation in this regard, but it leaves out collective bargaining and strikes. Still on the labour chapter, it is recalled that the minimum wage does not include domestic workers. The territory's Government expressed its "firmest repudiation and opposition" to the US document, stating that it "ignores reality and defames Macau and its human rights situation". Since the transfer of sovereignty of Macau from Portugal to China in 1999, the executive guaranteed in a statement, the territory has implemented "firmly, fully and correctly" the local legislation and the 'one country, two systems' principle. "The economy has achieved great development, the well-being of the population is fully guaranteed, residents enjoy ample rights and freedoms, its development success is widely praised by the international community and highly recognised by the residents of the SAR", it wrote. With regard to the national security law, the Government added, the territory "is largely based on and has as reference the legislative experience of other jurisdictions", having "rigorously complied with international human rights conventions". "The constant improvement of the SAR's electoral system is essential for the implementation of the 'Macau governed by patriots' principle, obtaining broad support from the local population", it stated. The Macau Government appealed to Washington to respect "objective facts", abandon "biased ideas" and stop "using human rights as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs, namely the SAR". Also Read: Difficulty accessing the Chinese market limits Lusophone businesses (Portuguese version)