According to sources, Macau’s next Secretary for Economy and Finance will be O Lam, the current Vice-President of the Municipal Councils.
Her apparent appointment comes after Sam Hou Fai, the former President of the Court of Final Appeal, was recently announced as the sixth Chief Executive of Macau, to take office on 20 December.
There are also rumors that the makeup of his government team will include five Secretaries of Departments and key officials from the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) and Commission of Audit (CA).
Sources close to the matter have told IAG that O Lam is likely to be named Secretary for Economy and Finance because of her extensive experience in government service.
O Lam, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Finance and Economics from Jinan University and an International MBA from The American Graduate School of Business in Switzerland, joined the Sports Bureau in 2000 and served as the Director of Sports Development and Under Secretary for Sports. She was an advisor to the Chief Executive’s Office, Director of the Chief Executive’s Office and Secretary General of the Executive Council from 2009 to 2019, and served as the Deputy Chairman of the Urban Services Department in 2020.
She is a descendant of Or Cheng Ping, the founder of Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited, the largest petroleum products supplier in Macau.
Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance has long played a significant role in the development of the city’s gaming industry, with responsibilities including granting permission – or denying – requests around the location and the increasing or decreasing of the number of gaming tables and gaming machines on the casino floor. The Secretary also issues, renews and cancels junket licenses, while the city’s regulator – the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) – operates under the Secretary for Economy and Finance.
Other rumored appointments, which could be made public next week, include incumbent Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, becoming the new Secretary for Administration and Justice.
Sónia Chan Hoi Fan, who was the Secretary for Administration and Justice from 2014 to 2019, is in line to be appointed Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, while the incumbent Director of the Public Works Bureau, Lam Wai Hou, is set to become Secretary for Transportation and Public Works and incumbent Commissioner of the CCAC, Chan Tsz King, the Secretary for Security.
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