Incumbent Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Edmund Ho Hau Wah Sunday won a second term in an anonymous ballot by the Election Committee.  

Jose Chu, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Committee announced the result after supervising the counting of the ballot.

 

Ho won the election with 296 votes in favor and three abstentions from a total of 299 members of the 300-strong Election Committee, who registered to cast votes Sunday morning.

 

The election is the first of its kind that proceeded under the newly-enacted Macao Chief Executive Election Law since Macao's return to China in 1999.

 

In a brief speech after his victory in the election, Ho said he would fulfill his election platform, stick to the practice of "one country, two systems" and "Macao people governing Macao" in accordance with the Basic Law, and make efforts to comprehensively improve the living standard of Macao people.

 

Under the election law, the result of the ballot still needs to be reviewed by a special panel under the Electoral Affairs Committee and the Court of Final Appeal in the Macao SAR.

 

Ho will need the appointment by the central government to become the second chief executive of the Macao SAR, according to the Basic Law. Ho's first five-year term will expire on Dec. 19.

 

Ho obtained endorsement from a total of 297 members of the 300-strong Election Committee, or 99 percent of the votes for his candidature nomination earlier in July to become the sole candidate in the election.

 

Ho garnered 81.9 percent of the votes cast by a 199-member Selection Committee in May 1999 to become the first chief executive ever elected by Macao people.

 

In preparing for the making of the First Government of the Macao SAR, the selection of the chief executive was held seven months before the Macao SAR was founded in December 1999, which marked the end of Portugal's 400-year-long colonial rule over Macao.

 

Ho enjoys a popularity for his clear-cut and effective strategy leading to Macao's smooth political transition and prominent economic recovery. Under his leadership, Macao's economy has sustained a growth for four years in a row and realized the fastest growth in history at 15.6 percent last year.

 

Edmund Ho Hau Wah Thanks Macao People for Support

 

Incumbent Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Edmund Ho Hau Wah, at a press conference Sunday, thanked the Election Committee members for backing him for a second term.

 

"I am more than glad to win 296 ballots from the 299 members of the Election Committee. I fully respect any result of an open and fair election," said Ho at a press conference held shortly after his victory in the election Sunday.

 

Ho won the election with 296 votes in favor and three abstentions from a total of 299 members with the 300 Election Committee, who registered to cast in an anonymous ballot Sunday morning.

 

Ho said he believed that through the ballot, Macao people have expressed a strong acknowledgment in the policy orientation proclaimed in his election platform for the development of the SAR in the next five years.

 

During the past five years, the administration has made its due achievement by working in cohesion and with understanding of Macao people, said Ho.

 

"Through experiences in these years, it is fully convincing that the orientation of the economy is correct. I believe that we can make adjustment for further development, from which the majority of the society will benefit," said Ho.

 

He said that economic development and social stability will continue to be two priorities of the government's work.

 

He emphasized that Macao should always keep abreast of the regional and global development trends, and stay in vigilance to safeguard its economy against a high risk from its heavy dependence on the gaming and tourist industry. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2004)