Xi Jinping calls on Macau’s next chief executive to unite sectors as they meet in Beijing

Macau Chief Executive-elect Sam Hou-fai received his formal appointment letter from Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday, with President Xi Jinping witnessing the event and expressing hopes the new leader would unite all sectors of the casino hub.

Sam, Macau’s first leader born on mainland China, is set to take office on December 20 after he ran unopposed in the election on October 13.

He was appointed by the State Council last week and left for a three-day visit to Beijing on Thursday, according to the Macau government.

Sam was received by Xi on Friday in the Fujian Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to Macau media.

Witnessed by Xi, Li issued the State Council’s decree, officially appointing Sam as the chief executive for the sixth term of the Macau government.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted Xi as noting Sam had served as the head of the Macau Court of Final Appeal for a long time and shown his “firm commitment to loving the country and loving Macau”.