Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has announced that he will not seek reelection for a second and final five-year term, citing health reasons for his decision. Ho, who assumed office in December 2019, took a medical leave in mid-June for treatment of an undisclosed illness and extended his leave before returning to office in early August.
In a government release, Ho expressed his deep commitment to Macau but acknowledged that his health has not fully recovered. “I have profound feelings for Macau and have done my utmost for Macau’s development, but due to the fact that my health has not been fully restored, for the sake of Macau’s long-term development and from the perspective of the overall situation, I have decided not to participate in the election for the sixth-term chief executive,” Ho said. He pledged his full support to the next chief executive and the Macau SAR Government in continuing their governance under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.
Macau remains the only region under Chinese jurisdiction where casino gambling is permitted. The chief executive position, determined every five years by a 400-member election committee largely composed of pro-Beijing figures, saw Ho nominated in October 2019, succeeding Fernando Chui.
Ho’s term has been marked by significant challenges, including the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic just as he took office. His administration managed three years of stringent lockdowns and intermittent closures due to China’s “zero-COVID” policy, which lasted until late 2022. Ho also oversaw the decline of VIP junket groups that facilitated high-roller gambling from mainland China, following directives from Chinese authorities to reduce Macau’s dependency on casino revenue.
Under Ho’s leadership, the Macau SAR Government renewed the gaming licenses of the region’s six major casino operators in December 2022. The new 10-year licenses required nearly $18 billion in collective investments in nongaming projects, aiming to pivot the industry toward mass market and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) business. This shift aligns with China’s broader concerns over national security risks posed by the financial flow from the mainland through Macau’s casinos. The crackdown on illicit activities was underscored by the conviction and 18-year prison sentence of Suncity Group founder Alvin Chau for illegal gambling and criminal association.
Attention now turns to who will succeed Ho as Macau’s chief executive. Eligible candidates must be Chinese citizens aged 40 or older and permanent residents of Macau without residency status in another country. Jorge Chiang, a businessman and president of the Macau Lotus Chamber of Commerce, announced his candidacy last month, but the current president and chief justice of Macau’s Court of Final Appeal, Sam Hou Fai, is considered a strong contender.
Candidacy declarations are open from August 29 to September 12, with the election committee set to vote on October 13.
