Sam Hou-fai, who just resigned from his long-held position as head of Macao's top court, announced his candidacy on Wednesday for special administrative region chief executive, promising to improve governance efficiency and promote economic diversification.

At a news conference, Sam said his decision was driven by a commitment to uphold the "one country, two systems" principle in Macao and ensure the city's stability and prosperity. He also expressed a desire to improve the lives of Macao's residents.

The election for Macao's next chief executive will take place on Oct 13, with the nomination period running from Thursday to Sept 12. Current Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng, who has been in office since 2019, announced last week that he would not seek a second term due to health reasons.

Sam pledged to leverage Macao's strengths under the "one country, two systems" framework and deepen ties with overseas regions, particularly Portuguese-speaking countries. He also vowed to promote economic diversification, using the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as a key area for developing emerging industries and integrating into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

He highlighted the need for reforms to enhance governance efficiency and improve the government's decision-making capacity, emphasizing the importance of civil servants being more community-focused.

"Macao's development faces many challenges amid changing internal and external environments," Sam said. "By running for chief executive, I hope to unite all walks of life in the city to build a more prosperous and harmonious community and contribute to the nation's development."

Born in Guangdong province in 1962, Sam moved to Macao in the 1980s and has worked in the city's judicial sector for nearly 40 years. He was appointed by the central government as president of Macao's Court of Final Appeal in 1999, a position he held until his resignation took effect on Wednesday.

Macao law prohibits current principal officials and members of the judiciary from running for chief executive.

Citing his extensive experience in the city, Sam said he believes he has a deep understanding of the city and is confident he will be recognized as "a native of Macao".

Sam has set up his election office and aims to secure the support of members of the Chief Executive Election Committee during the nomination period. The 400-member committee, which reflects Macao's various sectors, will elect the next chief executive. Candidates must obtain nominations from at least 66 members to be eligible for the leadership race.

Sam has already garnered support from local political and business leaders, including Kou Hoi-in, president of the Legislative Assembly of Macao, and Chui Sai-cheong, president of the Macao Chamber of Commerce.

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