The Court of Final Appeal of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has confirmed the ballot result of the SAR's third chief executive (CE) election, in which sole candidate Chui Sai On was elected as the new CE, according to the announcement Monday published on the SAR's Official Gazette.

A total of 296 votes were cast by the 297 present members of the 300-strong CE Election Committee, within which Macao's new CE was elected on July 26. Chui won 282 valid votes, or 95.27 percent, of all the effective ballots cast.

The Court said in the announcement that it received no appeal during the judicial appeal period after the ballot results were released, as a result of which, Chui was officially declared the winner of the CE election.

In spite of the confirmation of the Court, Chui still needs the appointment by China's central government to become the new CE of the Macao SAR, according to the Basic Law, the SAR's mini-constitution.

The term of the incumbent CE Ho Hau Wah will end in Dec. 19 this year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2009)