Macau will have a new chief executive taking over in December after the election committee voted to appoint former top judge Sam Hou Fai. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

The Asian gambling hub Macau has a new Chief Executive. Former judge Sam Hou Fai received 394 out of 398 votes from the election committee in a one-horse race. He is the first-ever chief executive for the special administrative region to be born on mainland China, with the role usually going to somebody from the island.

Backers of Sam expressed the need for someone with a legal background to take control of the gambling hub. Previous chief executives have often had links to business people in the region, leading to questions of potential collusion.

the “highest honor” of his life

The 62-year-old said the appointment is the “highest honor” of his life, and he vowed to help diversify the region’s economy, maintain national sovereignty, and continue developing the region.

He will officially take over in December during the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of Macau moving away from being a Portuguese colony. Sam was the top judge for almost this entire period, only stepping away in August when he threw his name in the hat for the chief executive position.

He has expressed some strong views about gambling in Macau, calling the sector’s expansion “barbaric” when he announced his candidacy. He subsequently clarified his comments and said he would not be looking to shrink or shut down the industry if he took over.