Chui Sai On, who won the third-term chief executive election of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), speaks to the media, in Macao, south China, July 26, 2009. The election was held in Macao Sunday. [Wong Pun Keung/Xinhua]

Chui Sai On won the third-term chief executive (CE) election of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Sunday, of which he was the only candidate.

A total of 296 votes were cast by the 297 present members of the CE Election Committee, and Chui won 282 valid votes, the CE Electoral Affairs Committee, which oversees the election, announced after the voting procedure.

The election was held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome this morning. By the SAR Law, the SAR's new CE is elected within the 300-member CE Election Committee.

Photo taken on July 26, 2009 shows the venue of chief executive (CE) election of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), in Macao, south China. Chui Sai On won the third-term chief executive election of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Sunday. [Wong Pun Keung/Xinhua]

Chui said at a press conference after the election that he is pleased to see that he was elected with majority votes, and he respects the choice of the committee members. Some 14 members cast abstention votes.

Jos Pereira Coutinho, a local lawmaker, was the only committee member who did not cast his ballot. He said this was "a way" to express his opinion about the election.

The number of votes won by Chui was lower than the incumbent CE Ho Hau Wah as he gained 296 votes in the second-term CE election held in 2004.

Chui also said that he will soon start preparing his new administration and he will devote himself to serving the people of Macao. However, he did not answer questions concerning any new change he may bring to the SAR government.

A member of the chief executive (CE) Election Committee casts her vote in Macao, south China, July 26, 2009. Chui Sai On won the third-term chief executive (CE) election of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Sunday. [Wong Pun Keung/Xinhua]

Born in Macao in 1957, Chui has been twice appointed as the SAR's Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture ever since the establishment of the Macao SAR in 1999. He holds a bachelor degree in Community Health from California State University, and a master's degree and PhD of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma.

Despite winning the election, Chui still needs the appointment of China's central government to officially become the SAR's next chief executive, according to the SAR's Basic Law. The term of the incumbent CE Ho Hau Wah will end on Dec. 19 this year, after which the new CE will begin his five-year term in office.

Photo take on July 26, 2009 shows a screen displaying the result of the Macao chief executive election in Macao, south China.[Wong Pun Keung/Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2009)