China official lauds Macau security law in hint to Hong Kong

China's No. 3 official has lauded Macau's anti-subversion legislation during a visit to the city in a message that appeared aimed at nearby Hong Kong. Similar proposed legislation there has stalled because of opposition from pro-democracy supporters.

Zhang Dejiang made the comments today to local officials and business leaders in the former Portuguese colony, which has been a special Chinese administrative region since 1999.

Zhang said he was pleased with Macau's efforts in making national security a priority after Beijing took control under a system known as "one country, two systems." Macau's government enacted its anti-subversion legislation in 2009.

Pro-democracy activists and lawmakers have objected to Hong Kong's version of the legislation because of fears Beijing would use it to suppress dissent in the semiautonomous Chinese region.