A total of 5,001 voters representing over 500 associations elected 344 members of the 400-member Chief Executive Election Committee among 350 candidates – just six more than the number of seats available.
Addressing a press briefing at the Public Administration Building in Rua do Campo last night, Chief Executive Electoral Affairs Commission President Song Man Lei noted that the voter turnout of 87.2 percent in yesterday’s election was higher than the one of 82.69 percent five years ago.
A total of 5,735 voters had registered for yesterday’s secret ballot.
Song said that according to the initial results of the election, 94.84 percent of the votes cast (4,743) were valid, with 28 ballots left blank and 230 deemed invalid.
Voting took place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at three polling stations – at the Macau Polytechnic Institute’s (IPM) Sports Stadium in Zape, the nearby Macau Forum complex, and the Luso-Chinese Vocational and Technical School in Areia Preta district.
In last night’s press briefing, Song said that the high voter turnout showed the high support and participation by the electorate and meant that the current election system had been “accepted” by civil society.
The chief executive election is slated to be held on August 25, government-owned broadcaster TDM reported yesterday, citing unnamed sources close to the election process.
Ho Iat Seng
Legislative Assembly (AL) President Ho Iat Seng, 62, announced his decision to run for chief executive in April. Earlier this month, two more residents announced their possible runs for chief executive – Leung Kuok Chao, who heads an investment consultancy, and Hoi Weng Chong, a well-known protester widely known in Cantonese as “the Man in Red”.
According to the Chief Executive Election Law, the 400-member, four-sector Chief Executive Election Committee comprises 120 members representing the first sector (comprising the industrial, commercial and financial segments), 115 members representing the second sector (comprising the cultural, educational, professional and sports segments), 115 members representing the third sector (comprising the labour, social services and religious segments), and 50 members representing the fourth sector, which comprises: 1) 22 representatives chosen from among the city’s lawmakers; 2) the 12 local deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC); 3) 14 representatives chosen from among local deputies to the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); and 4) two representatives chosen from among members of the city’s municipal organs (Municipal Affairs Bureau).
Macau’s legislature has 33 members. There are 12 Macau deputies to the NPC, while there are 37 Macau members of the CPPCC National Committee.
Under the guidance of an election staff member, a voter casts his ballot at the Luso-Chinese Vocational and Technical School polling station yesterday.
Election staff members count the ballots at the Luso-Chinese Vocational and Technical School in Areia Preta district last night. Photos: Iong Tat Choi
