André Cheong to step down as ExCo spokesman effective Thursday

The current Secretary for Administration and Justice, André Cheong, will transition to a member of the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, having presided over his final press conference as Executive Council spokesperson last Friday, where he stressed the legal obligation for civil servants to participate in the Legislative Assembly elections.

Cheong will be sworn in this week as a member of the eighth-term Legislative Assembly, officially appointed by Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai. His position as Secretary for Administration and Justice will be filled by the current Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak.

At last Friday’s Executive Council (ExCo) press conference, Cheong, as spokesperson, noted that the transition with Wong is progressing smoothly in terms of work plans and personnel arrangements, describing the process as “very smooth.”

He also expressed confidence in the future performance of the Secretary for Administration and Justice’s portfolio under Wong’s leadership, specifically highlighting Wong’s management during Typhoon Ragasa.

“Everyone knows that Secretary Wong possesses extensive administrative experience, profound legal expertise, and outstanding leadership and coordination abilities,” Cheong stated.

“His coordination of the civil protection management team during Typhoon Ragasa is a prime example. I am confident that under Secretary Wong’s leadership, the portfolio of the Secretary for Administration and Justice will achieve even greater success.”

Breaking from the precedent set by the previous four administrations, where non-official members held the position, Cheong was formally appointed as the ExCo spokesperson in 2020 by former Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng.

He was reappointed by current Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai in January this year, having served as spokesperson for over five years.

During his tenure, he introduced or reviewed more than 350 bills and draft administrative regulations in ExCo meetings. Reflecting on his experience, Cheong stated, “The role of Executive Council spokesperson has been extremely important to me and has left a profound impression.”

Expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him by the two chief executives in appointing and reappointing him to the role of Executive Council spokesperson, Cheong emphasized that “major policies of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government are often advanced through legislative amendments or the enactment of new laws and communicated to the public through the Executive Council spokesperson.”

Later this week, Cheong will officially transition to his role in the Legislative Assembly. He reaffirmed his commitment, stating, “I hope to fully leverage my work experience within the SAR government – whether in administrative management, legal coordination, or other areas – to better facilitate constructive interaction between the executive and legislative branches, thereby continuously improving Macau’s legal system.”

Cheong also emphasized his intention to maintain close communication with the SAR government through the Legislative Assembly, ensuring he promptly understands the government’s legislative planning, projects, and direction, while diligently deliberating on bills submitted by the government.

Meanwhile, at Friday’s press conference, Cheong addressed media inquiries regarding the government’s involvement in the mid-September Legislative Assembly elections. He criticized the outlet for failing to adhere to established protocols by raising questions unrelated to the drafted bills introduced during the ExCo press conference.

Nevertheless, he cited the relevant election law to emphasize that all voters exercise their civic rights and fulfill their civic duties through voting.

Cheong further emphasized that, in accordance with the provisions of Macau’s Legislative Assembly Election Law and the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Legislative Assembly Election’s guidance, the SAR government and the Chief Executive’s advocacy for civil servants’ voting participation are lawful actions.

He said that, as citizens and voters, civil servants should actively exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations as stipulated by law.