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SCMP Editorial

Macau has a new leader, former top judge Sam Hou-fai. Winning 394 of 400 votes in the Election Committee in an uncontested vote for chief executive was only the beginning of a five-year journey taking Macau into a new chapter.
Diversifying its casino-led economy remains an urgent priority. Now it is framed by an important role in China’s national modernisation.
President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Macau in December for Sam’s swearing-in ceremony, marking the 25th anniversary of Macau’s handover to China. That will be a showcase for a vision of the city’s future.
Sam has about two months to articulate it in front of Xi.

The handover in 1999 set a tough challenge for the former Portuguese colony. It does not get any easier.
From reducing reliance on gambling for growth to improving administration and people’s livelihoods, the tasks ahead are daunting. It is not for want of debate that reforms have failed to eventuate.
Downturns in casino revenue stimulate it. Increases obscure the urgency.
The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office has listed six attributes expected of the chief executive in respect of Macau’s development and national integration, in a statement welcoming Sam’s election that lauded him as a unifier and reformer. They included love of country and Macau, a pragmatic focus on development and people’s livelihoods, the promotion of innovation and a willingness to make bold breakthroughs.
Sam has set the bar high for himself. In his victory speech, he undertook to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and accelerate moderately diversified economic development and better integration into, and serving, the overall development of the country as his mission and vision.
At a post-election press conference, Sam stressed several times that Macau should serve national strategies. In that regard he must put more emphasis on Macau’s role in the development blueprint of the Greater Bay Area linking Hong Kong and Macau with southern Chinese cities in an economic powerhouse.

Ultimately it is all about integration in a national development framework.
The task ahead adds up to more than can be expected of one person alone. A mark of a good leader is the ability to assemble an effective team, and delegate to people placed in the right positions.
Hong Kong and Macau have different roles in the Greater Bay Area. Differentiating them and the two cities’ respective strengths matters.
Accordingly, it is good to hear Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu express confidence in collaborating closely with Sam to achieve mutual benefits for both cities and leverage their strengths to serve the country’s needs.


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Macau

Daunting tasks ahead for new Macau chief in development push

Macau’s incoming new chief executive Sam Hou-fai has set the bar high for himself, vowing to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and accelerate moderately diversified economic development. Photo: Eugene Lee

Macau’s Chief Executive-elect Sam Hou-fai (right) greets members of the election committee. Photo: Eugene Lee

Diversifying Macau’s casino-led economy remains an urgent priority. Now it is framed by an important role in China’s national modernisation. Photo: Eugene Lee

Sam Hou-fai elected as next Macau leader; Beijing lauds him as unifier and reformer

Sam Hou-fai bows to the Election Committee as he is named city leader. Photo: Eugene Lee

The chief executive-elect received 394 votes from the 400-strong Election Committee in an hour-long poll. There were also four blank ballots and two absentees. Photo: Eugene Lee

Macau’s top job candidate eyes more residency shows at casinos to boost tourism in city

People enter a casino in Macau’s Lisboa district. Photo: Eugene Lee

Sam Hou-fai has encouraged the city to play on its connections with Portuguese-speaking countries. Photo: Eugene Lee

Is Sam Hou-fai the man for Macau’s top job? Pundits weigh ex-judge’s strengths, weaknesses

Macau’s former chief justice Sam Hou-fai is the sole contender for the city’s top job. Photo: Elson Li

The Macau Chief Executive Office building. The current contender for the top job is running on a platform that includes policy areas previously flagged by Beijing. Photo: Eugene Lee

A lawmaker has said the new chief executive will not have an enviable job, as the new administration will have to “clean up after the mess” left by his predecessors. Photo: Elson Li

Is Macau top job hopeful Sam Hou-fai betting against the house by taking aim at casinos?

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Sam Hou-fai has vowed to take on the casino sector, arguing that its “uncoordinated development” created a “very large negative impact” on the city. Photo: Eugene Lee

Gaming and junket activities made up 58.5 per cent of Macau’s GDP in 2014, before falling to 47.2 per cent in 2016 and 36.2 per cent last year. Photo: Eugene Lee

A lawmaker has said that requiring casino operators to invest more in non-gaming operations would not address the issue of diversifying the economy. Photo: Eugene Lee

Macau is only days away from its leadership election. Photo: Eugene Lee

Opinion

Not only must Sam Hou-fai diversify the casino-led economy, but also ensure the city plays its role in national modernisation


Not only must Sam Hou-fai diversify the casino-led economy, but also ensure the city plays its role in national modernisation.


Hong Kong

Greater Bay Area

John Lee

Xi Jinping

Greater Bay Area: News & Politics

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Editorial

Editorial | Daunting tasks ahead for new Macau chief in development push

Not only must Sam Hou-fai diversify the casino-led economy, but also ensure the city plays its role in national modernisation