Former judge seeks job as Macau government chief: Gambling-based economy must be diversified

“It also stems from the original ambition to work together for a better future for Macau and to enable the people of Macau to have a better life.”

Sam stressed that the city depends on a gambling industry dominated by six casino operators and stressed that the city needs to diversify its economic structure.

“There were times when [the gaming industry] “The economy has developed in an uncontrolled manner and has expanded wildly. This not only puts a strain on our society's resources and the workforce in every respect, but also affects the career choices and career development of our young people,” he said.

“The dominance of a single industry is unfavourable to Macau’s long-term development and has very serious negative consequences.”

Macau's six casino concessions were renewed in December 2022. The new terms require operators to make major financial commitments regarding non-gambling elements.

While Sam is not expected to announce his full election manifesto until next month, after the two-week nomination period, he said his key economic policy goals would include strengthening Macau's ties with Portuguese-speaking countries and Southeast Asia.

The aspiring city leader was also asked how he plans to ease the pressure on the city's crisis-hit small and medium-sized businesses.

“We need to look at how we can change the business model and the business approach and how we can innovate business methods because we cannot change the overall situation of society,” he said.

“It's very difficult. All we can do is serve the trend and follow it to grow and improve.”

He also said it was important that Macau's health system be able to respond efficiently to social needs, but did not outline any action plans on this or other vital issues.

Born in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province in 1962, Sam became a lawyer on the mainland before moving to Macau in the 1980s.

He later studied law in Portugal and returned to the city in 1993, where he became a judge four years later. In December 1999, when the casino center returned to Chinese sovereignty, he was appointed president of the city's highest court.

The experienced judge first signalled his interest in running in last Thursday's election, shortly after incumbent chairman Ho Iat-seng said he would not run for a second term, citing unspecified health concerns.

A day later, Sam submitted his resignation, which took effect on Wednesday of this week.

At the press conference, he said it took him six days to discuss his decision to run for chairman, discuss his decision with his family, resign from his previous post and set up his campaign office.

Sam stressed that he has lived in the city for almost 40 years and “knows Macau as well as many famous people”.

He also argued that it was normal for residents not to know him well, saying the lack of public presence of a judge in a community as close-knit as Macau was a testament to the favorable environment for the rule of law in the city.

“Because of the nature of my work, I have always taken the initiative to learn things and contact people from all walks of life. I think I know Macau well enough,” he said.

Regarding his leadership qualities, he compared the task of leading Macau's judiciary to leading a “comprehensive and compact administration”.

Observers have expressed concerns about Sam's lack of track record outside the judiciary and hope that the next president will be more attentive to public opinion given Ho's unpopular tenure.

Macau's next head of government will be elected on October 13 by a 400-member electoral committee; the nomination phase runs from Thursday to September 12.

To secure a place in the election, a candidate must receive at least 66 nominations, and some analysts believe it will be a close race.