Former President of the Legislative Assembly of Macao (2017–2025). A long-serving lawmaker with roots in education and the labour-union movement, he led legislation on welfare, labour rights, and Basic Law interpretation across two terms.

In a Macao Legislative Assembly long shaped by business networks, he took the President's chair from a different route — one that began in the labour-union movement.

Kou Hoi Vai was President of the Legislative Assembly of Macao (2017–2025). A long-serving legislator with roots in education and the labour-union movement, he led legislation on welfare, labour rights, and Basic Law follow-on legislation across two terms.

Profile

  • Chinese Name: 高開賢
  • English Name: Kou Hoi Vai (also romanised "Kou Hoi In")
  • Region: Macao
  • Domains: Politics
  • Industry: Legislation · Labour unions · Education
  • Subject type: Official

Principal Roles

  • President, Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR (2017–2025)
  • Member, Legislative Assembly of Macao (since the 1990s)
  • Core figure in the Macao Federation of Trade Unions

Career

I. Education and union background

Kou began his career in education in Macao and was deeply involved in the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, advocating for labour groups for many years.

II. Legislator

Elected to the Legislative Assembly from the 1990s, he served across the transition period and multiple post-handover terms, becoming intimately familiar with labour, social-security, education, and land legislation.

III. President of the Legislative Assembly (2017–2025)

He was elected President of the Legislative Assembly by his peers in 2017 and re-elected for a second term. Across his two terms he led legislation on welfare, labour rights, and Basic Law follow-on laws. He stepped down in 2025, succeeded by André Cheong Weng Chon.

Key Achievements

  • First labour-background President of the Legislative Assembly of Macao
  • Led legislation on welfare and labour rights across two terms
  • Built a stable working relationship between the Assembly and the Chief Executive's office

Contribution to Macao

In a chamber long dominated by business networks, Kou Hoi Vai represented the voices of labour and educators. As President he steered legislation on social security, minimum wage, occupational safety, and Basic Law follow-on laws — keeping labour groups inside the institutional conversation and shaping much of Macao's 2020s social-policy framework.