Former Macau top judge Sam Hou-fai on Sunday won the SAR's Chief Executive election, receiving all but six votes from a 400-strong election committee.

Electoral authorities said there were four blank ballots cast, with no invalid votes. Two members were absent.

Sam, 62, is from Zhongshan in Guangdong, making him the first Macau leader born in mainland China. He graduated from Peking University's law school and moved to Macau in 1986.

The CE-elect described the victory as the highest honour of his life, saying he's humbled and excited. He added that he’s fully prepared to devote himself to serving the city that he "deeply loves".

"Right now, Macau is welcoming the best period for development. Let's grasp the opportunities and meet the challenges, work hard together and reform. We strive for development and prosperity, and build our homes in a better way together," Sam said in his acceptance speech.

"We contribute Macau's power for our national rejuvenation and the building of a strong nation... I stand here today, full of emotions. Because my life's path has always shared the same fate with the country, and Macau."

Sam added that he will unswervingly uphold One Country, Two Systems; and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests to promote a diversified economic development.

The CE-elect, who's due to take office in December, had served as the chief judge at Macau's top court since the SAR was established in 1999. He resigned in August this year to run in the election.

The outgoing Chief Executive, Ho Iat-seng, announced in August that he wasn't seeking another term because his health "hadn't fully recovered".

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee congratulated Sam for his victory, describing the two SARs as engines of regional development as core cities in the Greater Bay Area.

"I have every confidence in working closely with Mr Sam in the future to achieve complementarity and mutual benefits for Hong Kong and [Macau], giving full play to the cities' strengths to serve the country's needs," Lee said in a statement.