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)
