China News
SINO DAILY
Macau's top judge announces bid for city leader
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
Macau's top judge announces bid for city leader
by AFP Staff Writers
Macau (AFP) Aug 28, 2024

Macau's top judge Sam Hou-fai announced on Wednesday his bid to run in an October election for chief executive of the Chinese casino hub.

Macau, a former Portuguese colony-turned-special administrative region under China's "one country, two systems" framework, will hold an election on October 13 in which only around 400 pro-establishment figures are allowed to vote.

Incumbent leader Ho Iat-seng announced last week his plans to step down in December, citing health concerns.

Sam, who had resigned from his position as president of Macau's highest court the day before, said Wednesday in a press conference that he has "decided to run for the office of the sixth chief executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region".

No other candidates have declared a bid, and the nomination period runs from Thursday to September 12. Any new leader would need approval from Beijing's central government.

If elected, 62-year-old Sam would become the first Macau leader with a legal background, in contrast to his three predecessors who all hailed from the business sector.

The city's fortunes have long been pegged to its booming casino industry, though Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged Macau to diversify its economy.

Sam said Wednesday the city's economic and political development faced "unavoidable" challenges, and that Macau needed to "reform and innovate".

"Macau's long-term development is only possible with the country's support," Sam said, stressing the need to serve China's development blueprint.

"Macau must take timely measures to integrate in order to seize these opportunities, otherwise we will gradually fall behind."

Born in Zhongshan, a mainland Chinese city, in 1962, Sam would be the first leader not born in Macau if he is elected.

He graduated from the elite law school of China's Peking University and received further education in Portugal.

Sam was among the first batch of judges trained in Macau's Magistrates Training Centre and was appointed the president of Macau's Court of Final Appeal on the same day the territory was handed back to China on December 20, 1999.

Under Sam's leadership, Macau's apex court in 2021 outlawed the peaceful candlelight vigil held to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

The same year, Sam and his fellow judges ruled in favour of the Macau government's decision to bar 21 pro-democracy candidates from running for the city's legislature.

Related Links
China News from SinoDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SINO DAILY
China's 'throwing eggs' card game wins fans and official censure
Hangzhou, China (AFP) Aug 23, 2024
In the evenings in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, friends meet to "throw eggs" - a card game winning fans despite official warnings that it is an addictive waste of time and a drain on productivity. Played since the 1960s in the eastern provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu, Guandan's popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, becoming a national sensation. Local media estimated that over 140 million people are hooked on its combination of strategic acumen and social fun. "When we play, we do it w ... read more

SINO DAILY
Shenzhou-18 Crew Tests Fire Alarms and Conducts Medical Procedures in Space

Astronauts on Tiangong Space Station Complete Fire Safety Drill

Shenzhou XVIII Crew Conducts Emergency Drill on Tiangong Space Station

Beijing Unveils 'Rocket Street' to Boost Commercial Space Sector

SINO DAILY
China manufacturing contracts for fourth straight month

China will not impose tariffs on European brandy

Markets plunge with Wall Street after Nvidia rout, weak US data

Asian markets drift lower ahead of key US figures, eyes on China

SINO DAILY
SINO DAILY
Swiss should be more flexible on neutrality, NATO cooperation: study

Biden 'looking forward' to talks with Xi in coming weeks: Sullivan

China's Wang warns visiting US official over Philippines support

China recognises Tianjin bishop after five years: Vatican

SINO DAILY
Assorted, distinctive behavior of molten uranium salt revealed by neutrons

UN nuclear head says discussed Kursk plant safety with Zelensky

New French nuclear reactor enters automatic shutdown

Framatome Gains U.S. Approval to Transport Higher Enriched Nuclear Fuel

SINO DAILY
Why Telegram chief's arrest raises 'red flags' for tech bosses

IBM says will end research and development work in China

US charges former democracy activist with spying for China

China indicts Japanese man detained on espionage charges

SINO DAILY
Assorted, distinctive behavior of molten uranium salt revealed by neutrons

UN nuclear head says discussed Kursk plant safety with Zelensky

New French nuclear reactor enters automatic shutdown

Framatome Gains U.S. Approval to Transport Higher Enriched Nuclear Fuel

SINO DAILY
Researchers develop method for chemically recyclable wind turbine blades

India's green energy wind drive hits desert herders hard

MIT engineers' new theory could improve the design and operation of wind farms

Engineers Develop Cost-Effective Seafloor Testing Device for Offshore Wind Farms

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.