Edmund Ho

Edmund Ho Hau Wah, GCIH (zh-tp|t=何厚鏵|p=Hé Hòuhuá; born March 13 1955 in Macau with family roots in Panyu, Guangdong) is the Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) of the People's Republic of China.

Edmund Ho was made Chief Executive-elect on May 15 1999 by the Selection Committee for the Chief Executive of the MSAR. He was appointed Chief Executive-designate on May 20 of the same year by the Premier of the State Council, Zhu Rongji, and was formally sworn in as Chief Executive at a special ceremony marking the establishment of the MSAR on December 20 1999.

Born in Macau and married with a son and daughter, Ho is the son of the late community leader of Macau and businessman, Ho Yin (何賢) and Chan Keng (陳瓊).

Education

After completing his primary education, Ho went to study in Canada in 1969. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration from York University in 1978, and qualified as a chartered accountant and certified auditor in 1981. After working for a couple of years in an accounting firm in India, he was transferred to the U.S. in 1982.

Career in Business

Ho returned to Macau and started himself on a business and political career in 1983, dedicating himself to social activities and community services. His business interests ranged from accounting, finance and banking, insurance, public transportation, mass media, technology, land development to public utilities and he assumed various positions as auditor with KPMG Peat Marwick, Executive Director and General Manager of [http://www.taifungbank.com Tai Fung Bank] , Chairman of the Macau Urban Transport Company Ltd (Transmac), Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of [http://www.macau-airport.gov.mo Macau International Airport Company] (CAM), Vice-Chairman of the General Assembly of [http://www.airmacau.com.mo Air Macau Company Ltd] ., Chairman of the Board of the MASC Ogden Aviation Services, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of Teledifusão de Macau S.A. (Macau Television Company) etc.

Politics

Ho's political career began in 1986, when he became a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Two years later, he was elected deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC). He was elected to the Standing Committee of both the eighth and ninth NPC.

Ho then joined the local legislature in 1988, and was Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Macau for 11 consecutive years (1988-1999).

Ho had been involved in the preparatory work for Macau's return to the People’s Republic of China ever since the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau came into effect. He was appointed Vice-President of the Drafting Committee of the Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) of the People's Republic of China in 1988. The following year, he became Vice-President of the Consultative Committee of the Basic Law of the MSAR. He was appointed Vice-President of the Preparatory Committee of the MSAR in 1998. Ho was also Convenor of the Land Fund Investment Commission of the MSAR of the PRC.

Over the years, Ho had been leader of a number of industrial, financial, educational, charity or sports institutions and associations. He had been Chairman of Macau Association of Banks since its founding in 1985, Vice-President of the Macau Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Vice-President of the Economic Council of the Macau Government, Vice-Chairman of the Kiang Wu Hospital Board of Charity, Vice-Chairman of the Tung Sin Tong Charitable Institution, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of Macau, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jinan University, Guangzhou, President of the Executive Committee of the Macau Olympic Committee, and President of the Macau Golf Association.

External links

* [http://www.macau.gov.mo/show_resume1.phtml?id=14 Biography from the government website]