The director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region, Zheng Xincong, has congratulated Sam Hou Fai today on his election as chief executive-elect of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Sam received 394 of the 398 votes cast by the 400-member MSAR Chief Executive Election Committee, or 98.99 percent of the secret ballots cast, at the Forum Macao Complex in Nam Van this morning. Two of the electors were absent. There were four blank ballots.
Zheng noted in a statement released by the office about the election result that today’s vote was the first election held under the amended MSAR Chief Executive Election Law, which took effect on January 1 this year.
Zheng underlined that through the election the principle of “patriots governing Macau” has been effectively implemented, “making this a groundbreaking and significant event”.
Zheng, the highest-ranking central government official posted to Macau, praised the local government and Chief Executive Electoral Affairs Commission for their “efficient and law-based” organisation of the election process, pointing out that Sam conducted his election campaign in accordance with the law, while the members of the election committee, as well as various sectors of local society and residents, actively participated in it, “exercising their democratic rights”.
Zheng underlined that “the entire electoral process was open, fair, just, legal, smooth and orderly, showcasing a spirit of unity and a shared vision for the future.”
He also pointed out that the successful election process “is a testament to the comprehensive and accurate implementation of “One Country, Two Systems”, “Macau people governing Macau” and the MSAR’s high degree of autonomy. He emphasised that the electoral process “upheld the constitutional order established by the Constitution [of the People’s Republic of China] and the MSAR Basic Law, fostering consensus and gathering strength for Macau’s accelerated development”.
Zheng also noted that Macau’s chief executive is elected by a broadly representative election committee and appointed by the Central People’s Government, adding that he is confident that Sam “will unite and lead the near MSAR government and its residents in “working together and innovating”, continuing on the nation’s new journey of development and rejuvenation, and “writing a new chapter” in the successful practice of “One Country, Two Systems” with Macau characteristics.
Zheng pledged that the liaison office “will continue to fulfil is responsibilities as assigned by the Central People’s Government, fully supporting the Chief Executive and the MSAR Government in their law-based governance based on the rule of law”.
Undated file photo of Zheng Xincong, director Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macau SAR. Photo: zlb.gov.cn
