Macau, China, Oct. 2, 2025 (Lusa) - Macau Government Leader Sam Hou Fai said he still plans to visit Portugal and Spain in the first half of next year, according to media reports in the semi-autonomous Chinese region.
The announcement was made on Thursday following a ceremony to celebrate China's National Day on Wednesday.
Radio Macau reported that Sam Hou Fai "anticipates that official visits to Portugal and Spain will be possible in the first half of next year."
The trip, which was initially scheduled for mid-September, has been postponed.
Sam Hou Fai is "actively" preparing and coordinating the visit and "is confident that the relevant preparations will be completed in the first half of next year."
The head of the government also revealed that, since taking office in December, "Portugal has always been the first destination he considered for a visit," and that he has been making "preparations and communicating with the Portuguese government."
However, the trip "has not been possible" so far due to "urgent matters" of the semi-autonomous regional government, Sam Hou Fai added.
On Monday, the Macau leader appointed the current Secretary for Administration and Justice, André Cheong Weng Chon, as an MP to the Legislative Assembly.
On Wednesday, Sam Hou Fai told reporters that André Cheong's appointment was intended to "promote healthy interaction and communication" between the executive and legislative bodies during policy formulation and analysis and parliamentary debates, according to the Chinese newspaper Cheng Pou.
André Cheong thanked the head of the government for his trust: "I will make full use of my previous experience in public administration and legal affairs to better promote positive interaction between the executive and legislative bodies, and I will strive to do a good job in the Legislative Assembly."
When asked by journalists whether he would become the speaker of the Legislative Assembly (i.e. parliament), Cheong recalled that, "according to the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly, the speaker is elected by all MPs through established procedures."
Cheong added that, "regardless of the position he will hold in the Legislative Assembly, he will devote all his efforts to the work" of the local parliament.
Political commentator Sonny Lo Shiu-Hing described Cheong's appointment to Lusa as "a strategic move, because it is unprecedented. I have never seen a secretary, after 1999, be transferred to the Legislative Assembly [AL]".
"The relationship between the Executive and the Legislative in Macau will be strengthened," argues Sonny Lo, with one more MP to "bridge the communication gap" between the AL and the Executive Council.
This body, which assists Sam Hou Fai in decision-making and drafting laws and regulations, will now have three MPs among its members, the political analyst recalled.
Song Pek Kei, the second most voted MP in the 14 September elections, and the MP chosen by indirect suffrage, Ip Sio Kai, are also part of the Executive Council, whose spokesperson is currently André Cheong.
Two weeks ago, Macao residents directly elected 14 of the 33 MPs. Another 12 were chosen by indirect suffrage through associations.
Sam Hou Fai appointed the remaining seven MPs, six of whom are new faces, including Kou Ngon Seng, director-general of the Macao Strategic Development Research Centre, a government think tank.
Other names include the president of the Superior Council of Advocacy, Lei Wun Kong, and the director of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Polytechnic University, Lam Fat Iam.
The Parliament will also include the president and founder of the Macau Live Broadcasting Association, Wong Ka Lon, and Chao Ka Chong, leader of local technology company BoardWare Intelligence.
The only MP to retain his seat among the nominees is the director of Pui Ching Secondary School, Kou Kam Fai.
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