CityU hosts legal education lectures with CCAC and Macao Customs Service to help protect new students
To help new students understand the laws and regulations that apply in Macao, the Student Affairs Office of City University of Macau (CityU) recently invited professionals from the Commission Against Corruption of the Macao Special Administrative Region (CCAC) and the Macao Customs Service to campus for legal education lectures. The sessions covered issues that affect students’ studies, job searches and daily lives, including integrity risks in the workplace, intellectual property protection, and customs and immigration rules. Through real-life cases, the speakers explained where the law draws the line and how students can protect themselves on campus.
At a session on integrity, CCAC representatives explained the laws governing bribery in the private sector, using real cases. A short video and discussion invited students to consider where legal conduct ends and illegal conduct begins in situations involving meals or hospitality from suppliers, pressure from personal relationships, or gifts offered as thanks after the fact. The representatives also explained how to handle conflicts of interest and when to step aside. They urged students to be alert to “sugar-coated traps” and to disclose conflicts and recuse themselves whenever necessary, protecting their integrity.
Several cautionary cases were close to student life. In one, a doctoral student bribed a professor in an attempt to secure approval for a thesis proposal, an offence under the law. CCAC representatives noted that there may be nothing improper about a modest gift on an ordinary holiday, but a costly gift offered around an important assessment or graduation could be illegal. They also warned students about claims that money, favors or personal connections can bypass standard hiring procedures: such arrangements are unlawful and should not be trusted. Fake academic qualifications, proxy test-taking and falsified transcripts are also serious violations; they undermine fair admissions and harm other applicants.
In a separate session, Macao Customs Service officers explained the difference between copyright and industrial property rights, along with the criminal, administrative and civil liabilities that can follow infringement. Drawing on cases they had handled, they reminded students that the internet is not beyond the reach of the law: when shopping online or trading through social media, students should watch for counterfeit goods and avoid tempting “bargains” that turn into consumer scams. Because many students travel regularly between Macao and mainland China, officers also reviewed cross-border clearance rules, including the declaration and permit requirements for goods under Macao’s free-port system, as well as limits and prohibited items for personal belongings. The guidance can help students avoid problems when crossing the border.
Students also took part in a question-and-answer session, asking law-enforcement officers about legal issues they encounter in daily life.
The lectures aimed to strengthen new students’ understanding of the rule of law and their ability to recognize and avoid legal risks. As they begin university life, students should learn about the laws that affect them on campus, when looking for work and in everyday life—and know how to protect their lawful rights and interests. They should also act with integrity and follow the rules in their consumer choices, online conduct and cross-border travel. By sharing what they have learned with classmates, family and friends, students can help build stronger awareness of the law and support a safe, orderly community for all.
Source: Student Affairs Office
