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Two leading  officials are emerging as the most likely candidates to be named as contenders  for Macau's chief executive election, perhaps as early as next month, observers say. 
It is widely believed that chief prosecutor Ho Chio-meng and cultural minister Fernando Chui Sai-on are of similar standing in Beijing's eyes, and therefore have similar chances of winning an election. 
All seats on the Election Committee, a 300-member panel set up to choose Macau's new leader, have been filled, with the last 28 seats yesterday being divided among Macau legislators and delegates to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
But Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah  has yet to announce a date for the election, which is expected to occur in August.
It appears that Election Committee members have not received instructions  from Beijing about how to cast their votes. Two members who declined to be named said they did not know who was the central government's favourite.
Analysts say the 300 voters might be left to exercise  free will in choosing between Dr  Ho and Dr Chui.
The latter,  the secretary for social and cultural affairs, is seen as a strong contender because of his prominent family background and rich governing experience - he comes from one of Macau's few ruling clans and has seven years' ministerial experience. 
His late uncle, Chui Tak-kei,  was a Communist Party supporter when Macau was under Portuguese rule. 
An influential family background is seen as vital to  win over various interest groups in Macau, influence that would be necessary for effective governance in the special administrative region.  
Dr Ho has a less prominent background, but his handling of the Ao Man-long case, Macau's biggest government graft scandal, has impressed residents thirsty for cleaner government. 
His recent appearance in mainland media, including a magazine affiliated with the Communist Youth League of China and a Beijing-friendly broadcaster in Hong Kong, has fuelled speculation  he has gained ground in the chief executive race.
Gaming mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun,  who declared his support for Dr Chui yesterday, said: 'Now, if you ask me who [will win], I really have to think about it,' he said.
An online poll of Macau residents has Dr Ho streets ahead of Dr Chui in terms of popularity. 
The poll on macauhero.com,  a website created this year for people to choose between four hopefuls for Macau's top leader,  has registered 3,246 votes.
Dr Ho has received 1,948 votes while Dr Chui has just 418 votes. Even industrialist Ho Iat-seng, who announced last month that he would not take part in the race, has 525 votes. Finance minister Francis Tam Pak-yuen  has 355 votes.
Veteran Macau observer Camoes Tam Chi-keung  said Dr Chui would easily win if the Election Committee members were allowed to vote freely, because they were more closely linked to Dr Chui than with the other hopefuls.
However, political commentator Larry So Man-yum  said the competition between Dr Ho and Dr Chui would end when either one declared their intention to run. 
He said only one person between the two would make such a declaration to run and this person would be the winner, although someone might role-play as a second contestant. 
Based on Mr So's theory, the election will be a boxing match that ends at the starting bell.
The hopefuls
Fernando Chui Sai-on
Macau's secretary for social and cultural affairs since 1999 
Macau legislator from 1992 to 1995
Bachelor's degree in city hygiene administration from California State University
Master's degree in health care administration and PhD in public hygiene from Oklahoma State University
Director of charities Tung Sin Tong and Macau Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association
Born in Macau in January 1957  
Ho Chio-meng
Head of Public Prosecutions Office of Macau since 1999 
Worked in Guangdong's provincial high court from 1983 to 1990, assuming positions including judge
Studied Portuguese language and law at University of Coimbra, Portugal  
Held  senior position in anti-graft office of the Portuguese administration of Macau 
Studied law at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing   
PhD in economic law, Beijing University
Born in Macau in April 1955 and brought up on the mainland



2 Macau officials gain ground in race for top post