Sam Hou-fai, the former head of Macao’s top court, on Wednesday announced his bid to become the special administrative region’s chief executive, pledging to improve the city’s governance efficiency and promote economic diversification.
He declared his intention at a news conference on Wednesday, saying the driving force of his decision is his determination to promote comprehensive and accurate implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle in Macao and maintain the city’s long-term stability and prosperity in the new era, as well as a desire to bring better lives to Macao people.
Macao will hold the election of its sixth-term chief executive on Oct 13. The election’s nomination period will start on Thursday and run through Sept 12.
Sam said that if he is elected, he will continue to fully leverage Macao’s strengths under “one country, two systems”, and deepen overseas contacts and exchanges, especially among Portuguese-speaking countries and regions.
Sam also promised to vigorously promote the appropriate diversification of the economy, using the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as a key pivot to develop emerging industries and integrate into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
He also said Macao needs reforms to boost governance efficiency and improve the government’s capacity in decision-making, adding that he wants to further raise civil servants’ awareness so that they can better serve and contribute to the community.
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Sam stressed that Macao’s development is facing many challenges amid the profound changes in the internal and external environment. Sam said that as one who has been devoted to Macao’ judicial work for nearly four decades, he hopes to unite all walks of life in the city to build a more prosperous and harmonious community, and lead the SAR as it seeks to make greater contributions to the nation’s development.
Born in Guangdong province in 1962, Sam moved to Macao in the 1980s and joined the first group of judicial auditors of Macao in 1995, after studying law on the Chinese mainland and in Portugal.
He was appointed by the central government as Macao’s president of Court of Final Appeal in 1999, when the city returned to the motherland, and held the position until Wednesday, when his resignation took effect.
Macao laws stipulate that the city’s in-office principal officials and judicial clerks cannot participate in the election for chief executive.
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Citing nearly 40 years of working and living experiences in Macao, Sam said he was confident he is recognized as “a native of Macao” and believes his understanding of the city is no less than those of people born locally.
Sam added that he has set up his election office and will garner support from members of the city’s Chief Executive Election Committee during the nomination period.
The 400-member Chief Executive Election Committee, which broadly reflects the city’s different sectors, is tasked with returning the city’s next top official on election day, and prospective candidates should obtain nominations from at least 66 members of the committee to be accepted in the leadership race.
Macao Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng, who took office in 2019, said last week that he will not seek a second term, citing health reasons.
Local political and business veterans voiced their support for Sam following his declaration on Wednesday. Among them were Macao Legislative Assembly President Kou Hoi-in, and Macao Chinese Chamber of Commerce President Chui Sai-cheong.
Jorge Chiang, head of the Macau Institutionalism Association and the Macao Lotus Commerce Association, has also expressed an interest in standing for election.
