What’s new: The Communist Party of China’s new office overseeing Hong Kong and Macao affairs has its first director, according to a government statement released Tuesday.
Xia Baolong, 70, chaired a meeting Tuesday of the Hong Kong-Macao work office of the party’s Central Committee in his capacity as director, according to a statement published by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO), which was replaced by the new office.
Zhou Ji, deputy party chief of Central China’s Henan province, has been promoted to executive deputy director of the new office, according to the statement. Yang Wanming and Wang Linggui, deputy heads of HKMAO, now hold similar deputy positions in the new office.
The background: The work office was established during the latest round of institutional reforms initiated in March by the party’s Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet.
The office was formed on the basis of HKMAO and answers directly to the Central Committee, the party’s top leadership. Its tasks include implementing the “one country, two systems” policy and maintaining national security.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)
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