Sam Hou-fai Unveils Leadership Platform in Macao

Sam Hou-fai, the sole candidate for Macao's next chief executive, has pledged to diversify the economy of the city heavily reliant on gaming, citing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized that the city must not depend solely on the gaming industry, which accounted for less than 40% of Macao's GDP, and proposed a shift towards sectors such as tourism, finance, and technology. During his campaign, he highlighted the importance of adhering to the 'one country, two systems' principle and improving governance to meet residents' aspirations. Sam has already received significant support from the election committee, which is set to vote on October 13, and he is expected to become the city's first leader from mainland China. He also aims to strengthen ties with Portuguese-speaking nations and promote innovation within Macao. This leadership transition comes amid broader efforts by Chinese President Xi Jinping to ensure sustainable economic development in the region.