The chief executive (CE) election of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) started Sunday morning and the only candidate Chui Sai On is expected to be elected as the SAR's next CE.

In accordance with the Chief Executive Election Law, the SAR's third-term CE will be elected within the 300-member CE Election Committee and the candidate should obtain more than 150 votes to be elected as Macao's new leader.

The election was held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.

Born in Macao in 1957, Chui has been twice appointed as the SAR 's Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture ever since the establishment of the Macao SAR in 1999. He was also the best educated among Macao's top-ranking officials, as he holds a bachelor degree in Community Health from California State University, and a master's degree and PhD of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma, the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2009)