Beijing loyalists vote to endorse former top judge as Macao's next leader

MACAO — Macao's former top judge, Sam Hou Fai, was chosen as the Chinese casino hub's next leader in a largely ceremonial election on Sunday, setting him up to become the city's first chief executive born in mainland China. Almost the entire election committee stacked with Beijing loyalists — 394 of 398 — voted for Sam, the sole candidate, in a departure from the long-standing custom of having chief executives who were born in the former Portuguese colony, typically from influential business families.