Political eyes have been focused on Macau for the past few months. And, last week, as one strong and apparently anointed candidate put themselves forward for the city’s top job, the suspense hanging over the chief executive election race lifted.
Current Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng’s term ends in December, but speculation was rife before he officially announced on August 21 that he would not seek a second term. Ho had not previously given any indication whether he would run again, but close sources had said he would do so, following the August 11 election of the Chief Executive Election Committee.
That would not have been surprising, as both of his predecessors served two consecutive five-year terms. However, Ho’s potential run for re-election was contentious given that he had taken extended leave outside Macau. His sojourn – lasting 39 days between June and July – raised eyebrows as the chief executive election will take place on October 13.
Ho’s extended leave of absence left many questions over whether he could take on another term. In announcing he would not seek re-election, Ho cited unspecified health reasons. Following the announcement, the presumed candidate-apparent – Sam Hou-fai, president of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal – swiftly indicated his interest in the job.
After submitting his resignation from Macau’s top court, Sam formally announced his candidacy with strong political backing. His campaign office is headed by legislator Ip Sio-kai, who also chairs the Macau Association of Banks. Chan Ka-leong, a member of the Executive Council and leader of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau, is deputy campaign leader.
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng greets the media at his office on June 17. Photo: Eugene Lee
It was a short process for Sam to consider throwing his hat into the ring, talk it through with his family, withdraw from his post as a judge and assemble his campaign office. Questions have already been raised over whether a judge is best suited to take on the role of leading Macau for the next five years. While Sam is trying to answer questions over his qualifications, whether the people of Macau find him convincing remains to be seen.
To be fair to Sam, he has not had time to put together his election platform and has yet to provide specifics on how he plans to address the persistent issues concerning the livelihoods of Macau residents. He and his team need time to iron out the details of their vision to take the city forward.
Ho is actually something of a surprise choice. There was a long-held understanding that at least three of the four influential Macau families would take turns in leading Macau. These four families – the Chuis, the Mas and those of Ho Yin and Stanley Ho – played a pivotal role in Macau’s transformation and were key in uniting the Chinese community, especially during times conflict while the city was under Portuguese rule.
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They made significant contributions to the city as highly successful entrepreneurs, as well as through their philanthropy and contributions to the motherland. They had a large influence, and it was expected that their families would take turns at the helm of Macau after the 1999 handover.
Macau’s first chief executive, Edmund Ho Hau-wah, is from the Ho Yin family. The second, Fernando Chui Sai-on, comes from the Chui family. But, by the time both had served two consecutive terms, the assumption of political musical chairs was quashed by Beijing’s choice of Ho Iat-seng, former president of the city’s Legislative Assembly.
That decision appeared to be the central government’s response to the high-profile corruption cases that dogged Edmund Ho and Chui’s time in office. With Beijing’s choice for the next chief executive now seemingly apparent, it is safe to say the central government is looking to Sam to be aligned with its anti-corruption efforts.
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Assuming Sam secures his nominations and most probably wins the election, he will be the first Macau chief executive who is not a native of the city. If there were any remaining illusions over the political influence of Macau’s big four families, the message the central government is sending is loud and clear.
Sam looks set to sail smoothly into the new post by the end of the year. How he leads the next administration will determine whether he will continue on to a second term. If nothing else, his candidacy confirms a shift in Beijing’s views on Macau governance.
Alice Wu is a political consultant and a former associate director of the Asia Pacific Media Network at UCLA
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