bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

EDMUND Ho Hau-wah won 81.9 per cent of votes to become Macau's first chief executive yesterday, exceeding even the predicted landslide.

 The Selection Committee result will be confirmed in Zhuhai today.

 Mr Ho, a banker turned legislator, is expected to be formally anointed as the enclave's post-handover leader later this month in Beijing.

 The 44-year-old son of Macau's legendary late community leader Ho Yin netted 163 votes, while his only rival, fellow banker Stanley Au Chong-kit, 58, garnered 34 votes, or 17.1 per cent of the ballot. There were two abstentions.

 Most analysts had expected Mr Ho to win between 70 and 80 per cent of the vote for a first five-year term.

 The ballot was held yesterday in the presence of mainland Vice-Premier Qian Qichen at the Tourist Activities Centre.

 The whole ballot took almost two hours, with Mr Ho reaching the 100-vote threshold to win by a simple majority at 11.31am. Supporters point out that the final tally of 163 was auspicious, as in Cantonese it sounds like 'forever alive'.

 Octogenarian community leader Ma Man-kei, a vice-president of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, amused the crowd during the meeting with his less-than-perfect Putonghua.

 When trying to say the ballot boxes were open, he instead declared: 'Open fire.'  Both candidates stayed away from the vote, watching proceedings on television.

 Later, a victorious Mr Ho, sporting his trademark crewcut, went to the centre and expressed his 'heartfelt thanks'.

 'I shall keep my promises, resolutely implement the principle of 'one country, two systems', strictly adhere to the Macau Basic Law, do my best to serve the people of Macau and ensure a smooth transition so that Macau will continue to prosper and progress,' he said.

 Mr Ho, known for his conciliatory attitude towards political opponents, said he had been 'much inspired' by Mr Au's campaign and wished to 'extend my best regards and gratitude' to both the Selection Committee and Mr Au.

 Watching the results at home, Mr Au opened a bottle of champagne and said he had done his best.

 Mr Ho said he would build a team of five government secretaries within two months, but stressed there would not be two power centres in the run-up to the handover at midnight on December 19.

 Macau's first Chinese leader for more than four centuries said his government would comprise residents 'with a sense for justice and impartiality', who had no connections with organised crime and would be 'immune to corruption'.

 Mr Ho pledged to strengthen the various police forces to make the fight against crime 'more efficient' and boost anti-corruption efforts.

 He ducked a question on whether he would invite Mr Au to become part of his team, saying only that any competent Macau resident should be able to serve the post-handover special administrative region, provided they were 'talented and experienced'.

 Mr Ho said he agreed '100 per cent' with the stationing of a PLA garrison in Macau after the handover and said he would base relations with Taiwan on directives from the central Government, though he hoped to promote economic, cultural and tourism ties with the island.

 Ties with the adjacent Guangdong province would also be strengthened.

 All his business interests would be handed over to his family and friends, Mr Ho said, adding he would announce within days whether he would resign as vice-president of the Legislative Assembly.

 The tall, well-built leader heads the Macau Olympic Committee, but says the only game he plays is golf.

 Mr Ho has asked the public to give his wife, Lau Wai-ching, time to grow into the role of First Lady.



Edmund Ho sweeps to victory