The figure accounts for 52.3 percent of all the registered voters in Macao or nearly one fifth of the SAR's population.

In the meantime, more than 2,200 people cast their votes in indirect election, according to figures just released by the Public Administration and Civil Services.

In line with the Basic Law, the 2nd LA shall be composed of 27 members including ten from direct election, ten from indirect election and seven appointed by the SAR's chief executive.

A total of 96 people from 15 social groups stood for direct election, and ten candidates, for indirect election.

The authorities said that the voting went on in an honest and fair way.

This is the first LA election since Macao returned to the motherland at the end of 1999. The term of office for the current legislative assembly will come to an end on October 15.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/23/2001)