The Court of Final Appeal in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Wednesday (Sept. 1) confirmed the result of the Election Committee's ballot for Macao's second chief executive, which was held on Sunday.

The court received no appeal during the judicial appeal period relating to incumbent Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah's victory in the election for a second term with 296 votes in favor and three abstentions and one absence from the 300-member Election Committee.

Ho will need an appointment by the Chinese central government to become the second chief executive of the Macao SAR under the Basic Law. His first five-year term will expire on Dec. 19.

Jose Chu, chairman of the Electoral Affairs Committee said that the election proceeded smoothly. In the next stage, the committee will audit the spending of the election budget.

In line with the Chief Executive Election Law, each chief executive candidate can have a campaign budget of 3.15 million patacas (393,750 US dollars) for the election.

Editor: Olivia