Chan was born in Macau in June 1954. She was educated in Macau holding a master's degree in Business Administration. In July 1993, she attended a one-year programme in Chinese Language and Public Administration in Beijing. She is fluent in various languages including Chinese, Portuguese, English and Italian.
She has been with the Macau civil service since 1983 having served in various positions:
Division Chief, Division of Textile Negotiations 1983–1985
Macau Liaison Office in Brussels
Division Chief, Division of Quotas Control 1987–1995
Deputy Director of Economic Services Department 1995–1998
Director of Economic Services Department 1998–1999
Secretary-general of the Economic Committee 1993
Secretary to the Presidium of the Center for the Transfer of Productivity and Science and Technology 1998–1999
member of the Standing Committee of the Consultative Committee for the Basic Law of MSAR
Vice-chairman of the Economic Committee of the Macau Government
Chairman of the General Committee of the Center for the Transfer of Productivity and Science and Technology
Council member of the Association of the Basic Law of MSAR
