Sam Hou Fai elected chief executive-designate of Macau

Former judge Sam Hou Fai was elected chief executive-designate of China's Macau, the government said on Sunday, setting him up to be the leader of the casino-dominated area next to Hong Kong.

Sam received 394 votes out of 398 ballots cast in an election that lasted around one hour and 35 minutes on Sunday, according to a statement on the government's website.

In his election speech, Sam said his basic guideline would be the comprehensive, accurate and unswerving implementation of China's "one country, two systems" principle, which has allowed different legal and government structures in the former colonies of Hong Kong and Macau.

The appointment of Sam, born in May 1962 in Zhongshan city in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, to a five-year term as chief executive must be approved by China's central government.