Macao’s former top judge is chosen as the Chinese casino hub’s first leader born in mainland China

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MACAU (AP) — Macau’s former chief justice, Sam Ho Fei, was chosen as the next leader of the Chinese casino hub in a largely ceremonial election on Sunday, making him the city’s first chief executive born in mainland China.

Almost the entire election commission stacked with Beijing loyalists — 394 out of 398 — voted for Sam, the lone candidate, in a break from the longstanding custom of having CEOs born in the former Portuguese colony, usually descended from powerful business families. The remaining four votes were empty.

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Analysts say the shift in the city’s leadership to someone from the legal profession is likely to create expectations of a decline in the influence of business circles, which critics often accuse of colluding with officials. They expect Beijing’s policy agenda for the city to take priority.

Sam, 62, is widely seen as having Beijing’s blessing. During the nomination period, he already received the support of 386 members of the Election Commission who voted in batches in the conference hall on Sunday.

Influential figures among the 400-member committee include Shun Tak Holdings Group CEO Pansy Ho, daughter of the late casino tycoon Stanley Ho, legislator Angela Leung, one of Ho’s widows, and former CEOs Edmund Ho and Fernando Choi.

After announcing his appointment as CEO-elect, Sam took to the stage to the applause of the panelists.

“It’s the highest honor of my life,” Sam said.

He pledged to strengthen national sovereignty, accelerate the city’s economic diversification and better integrate it into national development plans.

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Sam is expected to take office in December, when the city celebrates the 25th anniversary of its handover to Chinese rule.

After the election, China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, current Macau city leader Ho Yat-seng and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee all congratulated Sam in separate statements.

Most of the region’s 687,000 residents lack voting rights, leading to mixed feelings about the elections. Some hope that Sam will respond to public opinion and avoid prioritizing commercial interests, while others feel disconnected from the electoral process in which they cannot participate.

However, political observers said many residents are uncomfortable with Sam’s non-local origin in a city that has been home to immigrants for decades.

With Sam’s victory assured, the real challenges lie ahead as governance hurdles lie ahead.

Macau is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. Beijing called on the city to diversify its gambling economy.

Sam promised to accelerate the current government’s plan to boost tourism and other sectors such as traditional Chinese medicine, finance, exhibitions and trade. However, the city will still need to rely on the gambling industry for government revenue to support the city’s well-being and achieve other goals set by Beijing, analysts say.

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China wants Macau to develop into a world-class tourism and entertainment center and play a greater role as a trade bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Small local businesses have been hit by residents spending money in the neighboring mainland city of Zhuhai, which offers a wide range of good value for money items. Chinese tourists also now spend less than before.

It remains to be seen whether Sam, who lacks government leadership experience, is able to form a government capable of addressing these pressing issues.

Sam told reporters on Sunday that Macau’s development could not be separated from the support coming from China, saying the city would have to “actively” participate in the development of the Greater Bay Area – Beijing’s plan to integrate the casino hub and Hong Kong with other areas. Mainland Chinese cities in neighboring Guangdong Province.

Just because a city has a capitalist economy doesn’t mean the government needs to play a passive role, Sam said.

He said: “In the future, we must strengthen the government’s decision-making methods and such capabilities.”

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Seafood restaurant manager Ip Weng Yu, 49, said Macau faces social and economic problems that cannot be solved quickly. He hopes Sam will do a better job than his predecessors.

“He was a judge, so people had expectations of him,” he added.

Sam was born in neighboring Guangdong Province in 1962. He graduated from the prestigious Peking University Law School in Beijing. He also studied Portuguese language, culture and law at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, and practiced law in mainland China.

When Macau returned to Chinese rule in 1999, Sam was appointed the city’s chief magistrate, a position he served for nearly 25 years before resigning in August to participate in elections.

He has handled some politically sensitive cases, including refusing to appeal a police ban on a vigil commemorating China’s bloody 1989 military crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square. His court also upheld a decision to ban pro-democracy figures from running in the 2021 legislative elections.

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