The Hong Kong and Macao work office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee made its first public appearance on Tuesday, marking the completion of the top office responsible for overseeing affairs in the two special administrative regions (SARs). Chaired by Xia Baolong, director of the office, the meeting signifies the establishment of a unified leadership and decision-making mechanism for the Party’s work in Hong Kong and Macao.
During the meeting, the leadership team of the office was introduced. Zhou Ji, who previously served as the deputy governor of Henan Province and head of the Party commission overseeing law enforcement, was appointed to manage day-to-day operations. Zheng Yanxiong and Zheng Xincong, directors of the central government’s liaison offices in Hong Kong and Macao respectively, were named deputy directors of the office. Yang Wanming and Wang Linggui also assumed roles as deputy directors.
The newly formed office will operate as a working body of the CPC Central Committee while retaining the name of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, as outlined in the reform plan unveiled in March. Experts view this restructuring as a means to fully implement the central government’s governance over the two SARs and uphold the One Country, Two Systems principle. The plan aims to integrate the development of Hong Kong and Macao into the broader national development agenda.
Louis Chen, a member of the Election Committee and general secretary of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation, emphasized that the unified leadership and decision-making mechanism between the office and local institutions in Hong Kong and Macao will foster coordination and operate in a unified manner. This alignment ensures that the CPC Central Committee’s leadership over Hong Kong affairs will bolster the city’s prosperity, safeguard national security, and align its development plans with those of the country.
According to Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, the official announcement of the office’s members demonstrates their capability to fulfill the CPC Central Committee’s work requirements. These responsibilities include conducting investigations and research, safeguarding national security, integrating Hong Kong into the country’s overall development, addressing underlying issues, and responding to international challenges.
The establishment of the Hong Kong and Macao work office with its unified leadership and decision-making structure signals the CPC’s commitment to ensuring effective governance, promoting stability, and aligning the SARs’ development with the nation’s goals.