Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai had a meeting with all members of the outgoing Legislative Assembly (AL) on Friday, acknowledging that the outstanding achievements that the legislature has made over the past four years have laid a solid foundation for the upcoming new four-year legislative term, according to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) on Friday night.
The statement did not mention where the meeting was held.
The 33-member Legislative Assembly comprises 14 deputies directly elected by universal suffrage, 12 deputies indirectly elected by association representatives and seven deputies appointed by the chief executive after the direct and indirect elections.
The legislature has its two-month summer recess every year between the middle of August and the middle of October. The current four-year legislative term, which started on October 16, 2021, will officially end on October 15 this year. After its normal operation ended on Friday (August 15, 2025), the legislature is now on its two-month summer recess.
The direct and indirect legislative elections for the upcoming new four-year term will take place on September 14. Sam is slated to appoint seven members to the legislature some time after the elections. The new, eighth term of the Macau Special Administrative Region’s (MSAR) Legislative Assembly will start on October 16.
Delivering a speech during Friday’s meeting, Sam said that the seventh-term Legislative Assembly has been committed to upholding the constitutional order established by the nation’s Constitution and the MSAR Basic Law and ensuring the effective and smooth operation of Macau’s executive-led system established by the MSAR Basic Law.
According to the statement, Sam also acknowledged the outgoing legislature’s consistent support for, cooperation with, and supervision of the government in exercising law-based governance, as well as its commitment to exercising the functions and powers conferred by the MSAR Basic Law and overcoming all difficulties, while praising it for making outstanding achievements.
Sam said that the significant achievements made by the seventh-term Legislative Assembly mark a new stage in the MSAR’s legislative work, laying a solid foundation for the upcoming new term of the legislature.
According to the statement, Sam expressed his gratitude to the legislature’s outgoing president Kou Hoi In, outgoing vice-president Chui Sai Cheong, and all the other legislators for their exceptional contributions to the MSAR and their support for his government.
The current government headed by Sam took office on December 20 last year.
Modernisation of legal system
Sam said that the legislative work of the seventh-term Legislative Assembly has further modernised the MSAR’s legal system, pointing out that 86 bills have been passed during its four-year term, covering areas such as improving the local legal system for safeguarding national security, enhancing governance capabilities, promoting the city’s appropriate economic diversification, improving residents’ well-being, and improving the legislature’s operational mechanism and legislators’ rights and obligations.
Sam said that the seventh-term Legislative Assembly has also remained committed to fulfilling its statutory functions and duties to monitor the government’s work, acknowledging that the legislators have maintained close ties with various sectors of civil society and members of the general public and raised constructive opinions and suggestions to the government. The chief executive said that both the legislature’s representativeness and professionalism have been continuously elevated.
3 important insights into legislature’s future work
According to the statement, Sam also outlined three important lessons and insights from the successful operation of the seventh-term Legislative Assembly.
First, Sam said, the “patriots governing Macau” principle must be firmly implemented to ensure the correct direction of the legislature’s work.
Second, Sam said, there must be a clear division of duties and responsibilities between Macau’s executive and the legislative organs so as to ensure the smooth operation of its executive-led system.
Third, Sam said, the legislature must continuously improve the efficiency and quality of its legislative process so as to guarantee a robust legal framework for Macau’s development, safeguarding the city’s rule of law and its reputation.
According to the statement, Sam also underlined that his government has steadily advanced its policy agenda, achieving a good start and important milestones, which would not have been possible without the seventh-term Legislative Assembly’s cooperation and strong support, he said.
Sam pledged that the government will continue to strengthen its collaboration with the city’s legislative and judicial organs.
Sam also noted that the direct and indirect elections for the new, eighth term of the Legislative Assembly will be held next month, the first to be held under the newly revised Legislative Assembly Election Law, adding that the elections will be an important political event in the MSAR.
Sam underlined the government’s commitment to organising the elections in strict adherence with the provisions listed in the Legislative Assembly Election Law and other relevant laws, with the aim of ensuring that next month’s direct and indirect elections will be held in a fair, impartial and clean manner.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai addresses Friday’s meeting with all members of the outgoing Legislative Assembly (AL). – Photo: GCS
