2 policy secretaries, police head reappointed
Tony Wong
The State Council has appointed today the nine principal officials and the chief prosecutor of the incoming government of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), which will be headed by Sam Hou Fai from December 20, with only three reappointed, among them two of the government’s five policy secretaries.
The three reappointed officials are Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak, and Unitary Police Service (SPU) Commissioner-General Leong Man Cheong.
The central government made the appointments of the 10 top officials based on their nominations by Chief Executive-designate Sam Hou Fai.
Xinhua released a dispatch about the central government’s appointments of the 10 principal officials yesterday afternoon, shortly after which the local government issued a statement about the appointments via the Government Information Bureau (GCS), which later also published a separate statement about the 10 officials’ CVs.
The new team comprises seven males and three females – the future secretary for social affairs and culture, the commissioner against corruption, and the commissioner of audit.
Sam, 62, will become the MSAR’s sixth-term and fourth chief executive on December 20, the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland.
In the sixth-term MSAR government, André Cheong Weng Chon, 58, is reappointed as the secretary for administration and justice.
Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) Director Tai Kin Ip, 56, will replace Lei Wai Nong as the secretary for economy and finance.
Wong Sio Chak, 56, has been reappointed as the secretary for security.
Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) Vice President O Lam, 50, will replace Elsie Ao Ieong U as the secretary for social affairs and culture.
O is one of the current two IAM vice-presidents.
Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) Director Raymond Tam Vai Man, 64, will replace Raimundo do Rosário as the secretary for transport and public works.
Ao Ieong Seong, 40, one of the current two assistant, i.e., deputy commissioners against corruption, has been promoted to commissioner, replacing Chan Tsz King.
Ao Ieong Seong is the youngest among the 10 top officials of Sam’s incoming administration.
Elsie Ao Ieong U, 56, the current secretary for social affairs and culture, will replace Ho Veng On as the commissioner of audit.
Leong Man Cheong, 60, has been reappointed as the commissioner-general of Unitary Police Service (SPU).
Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) Director Adriano Marques Ho, aka Ho Hou Hon, 57, will replace Vong Man Chong as the director-general of the Macau Customs Service.
Chan Tsz King, 54, the current commissioner against corruption, will replace Ip Son Sang as the prosecutor-general (chief public prosecutor) of the Public Prosecutions Office (MP).
The Central People’s Government shall appoint or remove the MSAR’s chief executive, principal officials and chief prosecutor, according to Article 15 of the MSAR Basic Law.
According to the MSAR Basic Law’s Article 50, the chief executive “nominates and reports to the Central People’s Government for the appointment” of Macau’s principal officials and the chief prosecutor, and recommends to the central government their removal.
According to the MSAR Basic Law’s Article 50 and the current structure of the local government, the MSAR’s principal officials comprise the government’s five policy secretaries, anti-graft commissioner, audit commissioner, head of the Unitary Police Service (SPU) and chief of the Macau Customs Service. According to Article 63 of the Basic Law, Macau’s principal officials shall be Chinese nationals who are permanent residents and have ordinarily resided in Macau for a continuous period of no less than 15 years.
Moreover, the president of the Legislative Assembly (AL) and president of the Court of Final Appeal (TUI) are also principal officials of the MSAR, according the MSAR Government Yearbook.
