ANKARA 

Sam Hou Fai was elected Sunday as the new chief executive of China's Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR), securing an overwhelming majority, according to China's state-run Xinhua News.

Sam secured 394 votes out of 398 valid ballots cast, announced Song Man Lei, president of the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election. His appointment will be formally confirmed by the Central People’s Government, making him the sixth person to hold the office of Chief Executive in Macau.

Under Macau’s Chief Executive Election Law, an election is considered valid if two-thirds of the 400-member election committee participate in voting. A candidate must secure over half of the total committee members’ votes—at least 200—to be elected.

The chief executive of Macau serves a five-year term and can be re-elected once.