NewzHONG KONG (AP) — When former Macao pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San was arrested in July 2025, his family and observers of the politics in the Chinese special administrative region were shocked. A year on, little is known about his… A year on, little is known about his case even by his daughter.Au is the first publicly known arrest under Macao’s national security law since its 2009 enactment and critics say his case signals Beijing’s emphasis on security and intolerance of dissenting voices, even though Macao’s pro-democracy activism has never been as influential as the movement in neighboring Hong Kong.Au is accused of providing false information to anti-China organizations overseas to incite hatred against Beijing and the government in Macao, which has become a Chinese casino hub.He has faced several restrictions since his arrest including the choice of a lawyer, raising concerns over the fairness of a future trial.Au's daughter in London, Au Hon I, said a lawyer found by the family was not allowed to see him in prison and authorities seized books from his home linked to the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement.“For almost a year my family could not speak with my father as he was kept in cruel incommunicado detention,” she said.
“Now we are still unable to speak to him about his case nor provide him with a lawyer so he can properly fight his case.”The family learned through a court statement that the 69-year-old had a preliminary proceeding on July 2, she said. The statement said his lawyer was appointed by the court and approved by Au.“He always believed in the justice system of Macao,” his daughter said. “He believed it so much that he feels that he will be protected by the very own justice system that is putting him in where he is right now.”The Macao government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Au accused of assisting anti-China groupsMacao is a former Portuguese colony that has operated, like Hong Kong, as a special administrative region since its return to Chinese rule in 1999.
Au served as a lawmaker in the legislature dominated by Beijing loyalists before stepping down in 2021.Prior to his arrest, Au remained a rare voice who regularly criticized government measures and political development on Facebook and in interviews, although many considered his critiques to be mild.When he was arrested, police alleged Au had colluded with an unspecified anti-China gro… A year on, little is known about his case even by his daughter. Au is the first publicly known arrest under Macao’s national security law since its 2009 enactment and critics say his case signals Beijing’s emphasis on security and intolerance of dissenting voices, even though Macao’s pro-democracy activism has never been as influential as the movement in neighboring Hong Kong.
Au is accused of providing false information to anti-China organizations overseas to incite hatred against Beijing and the government in Macao, which has become a Chinese casino hub. He has faced several restrictions since his arrest including the choice of a lawyer, raising concerns over the fairness of a future trial. Au’s daughter in London, Au Hon I, said a lawyer found by the family was not allowed to see him in prison and authorities seized books from his home linked to the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement.
“For almost a year my family could not speak with my father as he was kept in cruel incommunicado detention,” she said. “He always believed in the justice system of Macao,” his daughter said. Au accused of assisting anti-China groups Macao is a former Portuguese colony that has operated, like Hong Kong, as a special administrative region since its return to Chinese rule in 1999.
Prior to his arrest, Au remained a rare voice who regularly criticized government measures and political development on Facebook and in interviews, although many considered his critiques to be mild. When he was arrested, police alleged Au had colluded with an unspecified an…
Summary from source