Former judge Sam Hou Fai has been elected as the Chief Executive of Macau, securing an overwhelming 394 out of 398 votes cast in the election held on Sunday.

Former Court of Final Appeal president has support from legal sector heavyweights, but questions remain about line-up for ministerial team Macau's only chief executive candidate was a little-known figure in the gaming hub before announcing his bid for the job in August,

Hong Kong's leader John Lee has congratulated Sam Hou-fai on becoming chief executive-elect of Macau after running uncontested.

After being elected, Sam Hou Fai, who ran for the sixth term of the Chief Executive in Macau, stated that he will regard safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests as his top principle,

Sam is set to become the first Macau chief executive to be born in mainland China and also the first to be fluent in Portuguese.

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.