But this was not enough to secure a seat for Ms Leong's election partner, Ambrose So Shu-fai.

The biggest vote winner was the New Macau Democratic Association, headed by veteran legislator Antonio Ng Kuok-cheong. With 23,472 votes, of 18.8 per cent, Mr Ng and colleague Au Kam-san were returned to the Legislative Assembly.

Yesterday's typhoon failed to dampen turnout, which broke all records. A total of 128,829 people cast their ballots, or 58.4 per cent of registered voters, a 6 percentage point increase from the last election in 2001.

Also winning two seats was the group headed by Golden Dragon casino-hotel operator Chan Meng-kam and his running mate Ung Choi-kun, who secured 20,695 votes, or 16.85 per cent.

Fisherman's Wharf developer David Chow Kam-fai also won a seat with 6,079 votes.

Casino staff representatives were on a losing streak, however. Joao Bosco Cheang, an incumbent representing Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM) employees, lost his seat after receiving only 922 votes.

Incumbent legislators Leong Heng-teng and Iong Weng-ian, from the Macau Neighbourhood Association, were also re-elected.

The Macau Labour Federation secured seats for Kuan Tsui-hang and Leong Iok-wah. And Fong Chi-keong, head of the Macau Real Estate Association, also won a seat.

Intense competition marked the election, the second since the handover and the first since liberalisation of the gaming industry.

One candidate, Lee Kin-yun stood in the middle of a junction outside the Lisboa, blocking traffic for nearly two hours, in protest at voters being bussed by rival candidates to polling stations.

Another candidate, Wong Cheong-nam, alleged he was attacked outside a restaurant. Police took three men in for questioning.

The new Legco, which comprises 29 members, including 10 from functional constituencies and seven appointed members, will meet in mid-October.