Macao Special Administrative Region ( SAR) Chief Executive (CE) Ho Hau Wah Thursday extended his " wholehearted gratefulness" to his administration's outgoing Social Affairs and Culture Secretary Chui Sai On, who has resigned to runfor Macao's top job, in "full acknowledgement" of his contributions to Macao.

China's central government Thursday approved Chui Sai On's move to step down from his current post as a legitimate way to seek nomination for the office of the SAR's next chief executive. By law, the SAR's government and judicial officials who intend to run for the Chief Executive must resign or retire from their posts before the start of the nomination process.

During his tenure as one of the SAR government's five policy secretary, Chui has made effective achievements in areas he had responsibility for, including public health, education, culture, sports, tourism, and social welfare, Ho said in a press statement released on Thursday.

Chui has witnessed the UNESCO inscribe the Historic Center of Macao on its World Cultural Heritage List in 2005, and supervised the 4th East Asian Games in Macao the same year, which was the first large international sports event ever held here.

Chui was the first political heavyweight in Macao to declare his bid for the office of the SAR's third CE, the election of which will take place on July 26 this year.

Given the current CE and his administration's term will come to an end on Dec. 19, 2009, Ho said he will take charge of Chui's government portfolio, instead of nominating another person to takeover his post.

As it is stated in the SAR's Chief Executive Election Law, Macao's new CE will be elected within the 300-member CE Election Committee, of which some 254 members of the committee were elected by representatives of the respective socio-economic sectors, while46 others were chosen from local eminent political, business and religious figures.

To become eligible candidates, one should acquire nominations from at least 50 members of the 300-member CE Election Committee, according to the law.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2009)