An ex-judge from mainland China is set to take Macao's top job. What's at stake for the casino hub?

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Some 400 pro-establishment electors are set to approve the sole candidate for Macao’s chief executive job on Sunday, making him the Chinese casino hub ’s first leader born in mainland China. While his official resume does not give a reason, former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San said Sam was an official sent by China to Macao to research the city’s law. When Macao returned to China’s rule in 1999, Sam was appointed the city’s top judge, a role he served in for nearly 25 years before resigning in August to prepare for the election. As chief judge, Sam dealt with a number of politically sensitive cases, including rejecting an appeal filed by Au to a police ban on a vigil commemorating China’s bloody 1989 military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests.