https://www.scmp.com/rss/521558/feed Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region The current Chief Executive of Macau is a former judge and the former President of the Court of Final Appeal of the Macao Special Administrative Region. He was born on the mainland in 1962 and studied law at Peking University. He studied courses in Portuguese. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Edith Lin Edith Lin Macau’s finance minister has resigned over “personal reasons,” prompting the city’s chief executive to temporarily assume his duties until a new candidate is appointed. The cabinet change took effect on Thursday after China’s State Council approved the removal of Tai Kin-ip from the post of secretary for economy and finance, in accordance with Macau’s Basic Law and the recommendation of Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai. Tai, 57, who only assumed the senior role in December 2024, said he had earlier... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350262/macau-finance-minister-steps-down-personal-reasons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350262/macau-finance-minister-steps-down-personal-reasons?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:33:40 +0000 Josh Ball,Ada Li,Harvey Kong,Zhao Ziwen,Wynna Wong Josh Ball,Ada Li,Harvey Kong,Zhao Ziwen,Wynna Wong President Xi Jinping opened China’s 15th National Games in Guangzhou on Sunday, on a night filled with symbolism and heavy on emphasising the role the Greater Bay Area will play in the country’s future. As might be expected from an opening ceremony at a major sporting occasion in China, there was a stunning mix of old and new on display, with water at its centre and fire at its end. Hong Kong, co-hosting for the first time in its history, was well represented too, not just by its athletes and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332118/stunning-mix-old-and-new-show-national-games-officially-opened-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332118/stunning-mix-old-and-new-show-national-games-officially-opened-xi-jinping?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:23:54 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu ignited the 15th National Games on Thursday, as the city’s athletes and officials set their sights on making a major impact on the multi-sport extravaganza. As excitement over the sporting festival heightened, Lee attended a flame-lighting ceremony in the mainland city of Guangzhou, alongside Gao Zhidan, head of the General Administration of Sport of China, and Macau leader Sam Hou-fai. Hong Kong will stage events in eight sports, with leading medal hopes... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3328406/hong-kong-leader-lee-lights-national-games-flame-excitement-builds-festival-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3328406/hong-kong-leader-lee-lights-national-games-flame-excitement-builds-festival-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:17:09 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Macau’s incoming chief executive has said he will meet his Hong Kong counterpart after assuming office to discuss how the two cities can better complement each other in their integration into the country’s development. Chief executive-designate Sam Hou-fai introduced his top officials to the public on Sunday and responded to a question about competition between Hong Kong and Macau, saying the latter’s development in the finance sector was not “comparable”. But he emphasised that the two cities... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3288864/next-macau-leader-sam-hou-fai-eyes-talks-hong-kong-complementary-roles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3288864/next-macau-leader-sam-hou-fai-eyes-talks-hong-kong-complementary-roles?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Dec 2024 07:39:47 +0000 Kahon Chan Kahon Chan Former top judge Sam Hou-fai won an uncontested election to emerge as Macau’s new leader on Sunday as Beijing lauded him for being a unifier and reformer, making him an ideal chief executive for the city’s next stage of development. The chief executive-elect received 394 votes from the 400-strong Election Committee in an hour-long poll. With four blank ballots cast and two absentees, Sam won the backing of 98.5 per cent of eligible voters. In comparison, his predecessor Ho Iat-seng secured 392... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3282151/voting-starts-macau-leadership-election-ex-judge-sam-hou-fai-runs-uncontested?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3282151/voting-starts-macau-leadership-election-ex-judge-sam-hou-fai-runs-uncontested?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Oct 2024 01:58:25 +0000 Kahon Chan Kahon Chan Macau’s only chief executive candidate was a little-known figure in the gaming hub before announcing his bid for the job in August, with his past public remarks limited to speeches at the start of each legal year as the city’s top judge. If elected, Sam Hou-fai, the former president of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal, will be the first chief executive to speak Portuguese, one of the city’s official languages, and the first to be born in mainland China – a connection shared by many local... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3282109/sam-hou-fai-man-macaus-top-job-pundits-weigh-ex-judges-strengths-weaknesses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3282109/sam-hou-fai-man-macaus-top-job-pundits-weigh-ex-judges-strengths-weaknesses?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Oct 2024 12:00:09 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Willa Wu Ng Kang-chung,Willa Wu China’s National Day “golden week”, which began on October 1, is usually a major travel and shopping period, but there was hardly any buzz in the historic heart of Macau last Wednesday afternoon. On Rua da Felicidade, a picturesque street close to bustling Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, jade shop owner Yan Kin-kok prepared for an afternoon nap. He had no customers since opening at 11am. A government plan to diversify the local economy by turning the street into a pedestrian zone had not resulted in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3281920/macau-top-job-hopeful-sam-hou-fai-betting-against-house-taking-aim-casinos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3281920/macau-top-job-hopeful-sam-hou-fai-betting-against-house-taking-aim-casinos?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:30:10 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Former Macau head judge Sam Hou-fai has been officially accepted as the sole candidate in next month’s chief executive election, with no formal objections raised over his plans to stand for the top job. The Electoral Affairs Commission said on Friday that Sam had been accepted as an candidate following the completion of the relevant examinations. It cleared an admissibility review for him two days earlier, after he had already secured 386 nominations from the 400-strong Chief Executive Election... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3279308/macau-approves-ex-judge-sam-hou-fais-bid-stand-sole-contender-leadership-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3279308/macau-approves-ex-judge-sam-hou-fais-bid-stand-sole-contender-leadership-election?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Sep 2024 08:44:27 +0000 Kahon Chan Kahon Chan Former top Macau judge Sam Hou-fai has received clearance from local authorities to run for office in next month’s chief executive election. The gaming hub’s Electoral Affairs Commission said on Wednesday the bid of the former head of the Court of Final Appeal to run for the top job – with his 386 nominations – had cleared an admissibility review. The commission said Macau’s committee for safeguarding national security had also cleared Sam for his abilities to uphold the Basic Law, Macau’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3278964/macau-national-security-committee-clears-former-top-judge-sam-hou-fai-stand-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3278964/macau-national-security-committee-clears-former-top-judge-sam-hou-fai-stand-election?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Sep 2024 04:42:52 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Former top Macau judge Sam Hou-fai has become the city’s sole chief executive candidate after securing 96 per cent of the nominations from an election committee. Sam, former head of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal, officially submitted his bid on Tuesday to run in the coming leadership poll with 383 nominations from the 400-strong Chief Executive Election Committee. Candidates must garner at least 66 committee nominations. Sam’s number of nominations exceeded those of Macau Chief Executive Ho... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3277897/sam-hou-fai-becomes-sole-candidate-macaus-top-job-after-securing-383-nominations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3277897/sam-hou-fai-becomes-sole-candidate-macaus-top-job-after-securing-383-nominations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:10:35 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Former top Macau judge Sam Hou-fai recently announced he would run for the role of city leader, officially raising the curtain on the casino hub’s coming chief executive election. If no challengers emerge, as has been the case in most of the previous polls, the 62-year-old former head of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal will become the first leader to be born outside the city and to lack a business background. Sam is betting on his 25 years of experience in managing the judiciary and his promise to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3276733/who-macau-election-hopeful-sam-hou-fai-and-will-lack-vested-interests-prove-pivotal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3276733/who-macau-election-hopeful-sam-hou-fai-and-will-lack-vested-interests-prove-pivotal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Sep 2024 04:00:16 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam The president of Macau’s top court has resigned from his role, clearing the way for his bid to become the city’s next leader. According to an order issued by Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-sing on Monday, authorities removed Sam Hou-fai at his own request from his positions as president and judge of the Court of Final Appeal, with effect from Wednesday. He also resigned as a member of the independent committee that recommends judges. Sam indicated his intention to throw his hat into the ring last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3275862/sam-hou-fai-quits-macaus-top-court-ahead-bid-become-citys-next-leader?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3275862/sam-hou-fai-quits-macaus-top-court-ahead-bid-become-citys-next-leader?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Aug 2024 01:54:03 +0000 Kahon Chan,Willa Wu Kahon Chan,Willa Wu A mainland Chinese-born justice widely expected to be the only candidate in Macau’s coming chief executive election might become the city’s first leader without a business background and his lack of a strong social network and governing experience could hamper his ability to lead, observers say. Sam Hou-fai, president of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal, said on Thursday he was considering running in the election in October after incumbent leader Ho Iat-seng announced he would not seek a second... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3275549/can-judge-lead-macau-sam-hou-fais-lack-track-record-fuels-doubts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3275549/can-judge-lead-macau-sam-hou-fais-lack-track-record-fuels-doubts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Aug 2024 01:00:11 +0000