I sincerely look forward to building with you a closer co-operative relationship to enhance development in Hong Kong, Macau as well as the whole Pearl River delta region.'

Chui met community and business groups and residents in the run-up to Sunday's vote which analysts said was intended to give a semblance of public participation in the selection when little actually existed.

While the new leader is likely to steer Macau's economy away from its over reliance on the gambling industry, there have been concerns about Chui's lack of new policies.

Macau logistics association chairman Victor Lei said Chui promised to support the transport and logistics sector at a meeting earlier in July. Lei added: 'He did not say exactly what policies. But we are holding out hope that there will be measures to help our sector.'

University of Macau assistant professor Eilo Yu Wing-yat added that criticism of Chui had receded recently. 'It seems that society is slowly coming to accept the inevitable result of the election,' he said.