Chief Executive of Macau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region
Emblem of Macau
Incumbent Sam Hou Fai since 20 December 2024
Style	Chief Executive (特首, Chefe do Executivo) (informal) The Honourable (尊貴的, Sua Excelência) (formal)
Residence	Macau Government Headquarters
Nominator	Election Committee
Appointer	Central People's Government (Decree signed by Premier)
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Macau Basic Law
Inaugural holder	Edmund Ho
Formation	20 December 1999; 25 years ago (1999-12-20)
Website	gce.gov.mo

The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region is like the main leader or "head of government" for Macau. Macau is a special area in China called a Special Administrative Region.

This important job took the place of the Governor of Macau, who used to lead Macau when it was a part of Portugal. The rules for the Chief Executive are written in a special document called the Macau Basic Law. This law says the Chief Executive is the leader of Macau and represents the region. They are also responsible to the main government of China.

The person holding this position right now is Sam Hou Fai. Their office is in the Macau Government Headquarters. This building used to be where the Portuguese Governor worked.

History of the Chief Executive Role

This important job was created on March 31, 1993. It was officially started by China's main law-making body, the 8th National People's Congress. The role officially began on December 20, 1999, when Macau became a Special Administrative Region of China.

How the Chief Executive is Chosen

The Chief Executive is chosen through an election or special meetings held in Macau. After being chosen, they must be officially approved by China's main government, called the Central People's Government. The Premier of China signs the final approval.

A Chief Executive serves for five years. They can serve for a maximum of two terms in a row.

Who Can Be Chief Executive?

To become the Chief Executive, a person needs to meet certain requirements:

• They must be at least 40 years old.
• They must be a permanent resident of Macau.
• They must be a Chinese citizen.
• They cannot have the right to live in any other country besides China. If they do, they must give it up before starting the job.
• They must have lived in Macau for a certain period.
• They must be registered to vote and have the right to run in elections.

What Powers Does the Chief Executive Have?

The Chief Executive has many important responsibilities and powers, as explained in Macau's Basic Law:

• They lead the government of Macau.
• They make sure that Macau's Basic Law and other laws are followed.
• They sign new laws passed by the Legislative Council and announce them.
• They approve the government's budget and report it to China's main government.
• They decide on government plans and issue official orders.
• They create and announce administrative rules.
• They choose important government officials, like department secretaries and the head of police. They then suggest these people to China's main government for approval. They can also suggest removing these officials.
• They appoint some members of the Legislative Council, which helps make laws.
• They choose or remove members of the Executive Council, which advises the Chief Executive.
• They appoint or remove judges and public prosecutors.
• They choose or remove other public officials.
• They carry out instructions from China's main government on certain matters.
• They handle foreign affairs and other tasks for Macau, as allowed by China.
• They approve new proposals about money for the Legislative Council.
• They decide if government officials need to speak or give evidence to the Legislative Council.
• They give out medals and awards in Macau.
• They can pardon people who have committed crimes or reduce their punishments.
• They handle complaints and requests from the public.

When a Chief Executive Can Resign

A Chief Executive can resign from their position in a few specific situations:

• If they become seriously ill or for other reasons, they can no longer do their job.
• If they refuse to sign a bill passed by the Legislative Council twice, and the new Council passes it again, but they still refuse to sign it.
• If the Legislative Council refuses to pass a budget or another important bill, and the newly elected Council still refuses to pass it.

If the Chief Executive resigns, there are rules for temporarily assigning someone else to the role.

List of Chief Executives

№	Portrait	Name Chinese name (Born–Died)	Term of office Duration in years and days		Election	Political alignment	Term	Government (supporting parties)	Appointer (Premier)	Ref.
1		Edmund Ho 何厚鏵 (born 1955)	20 December 1999	19 December 2009	1999	Pro-Beijing	1	Ho E. I (UPP)	Zhu Rongji
					2004		2	Ho E. II (UPP • UIEM • UIPM • CCCAE)	Wen Jiabao
			10 years and 0 days
2		Fernando Chui 崔世安 (born 1957)	20 December 2009	19 December 2019	2009		3	Chui I (UPP • UIEM • UIPM • ACUM)
					2014		4	Chui II (UPP • UIEM • UIPM • ACUM • UE)	Li Keqiang
			10 years and 0 days
3		Ho Iat Seng 賀一誠 (born 1957)	20 December 2019	20 December 2024	2019		5	Ho I. (TBD)
			10 years and 0 days
4		Sam Hou Fai 岑浩輝) (born 1957)	20 December 2024	Incumbent	2024		6	Sam I. (TBD)	Li Qiang
			182 days

Executive Council

The Executive Council of Macau is a group of people who advise the Chief Executive. They help the Chief Executive make important decisions for Macau.

See also

In Spanish: Jefe Ejecutivo de Macao para niños