Mainland China executive vice-premier made Beijing’s top official for Hong Kong and Macau affairs
- Ding Xuexiang appointed as top official but present head of ministerial-level office to stay on and help transition
- Xia Baolong to remain to assist Ding after body’s recent elevation to central leadership level
Chinese Executive Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang has been appointed as Beijing’s top official for Hong Kong and Macau affairs, but sources say Xia Baolong, the present head of the ministerial-level office, will stay on to ensure a smooth transition after its recent elevation to central party leadership level.
The decision came just days after Beijing announced the restructuring of its top office overseeing Hong Kong affairs so it would answer to the Communist Party’s central leadership instead of the State Council.
Analysts said the move had underlined the city’s importance to the country’s development plans.
Sources familiar with the shake-up said Ding, 60, the sixth-ranked Politburo Standing Committee member, would take over from Han Zheng as the new leader of the party’s Central Leading Group of Hong Kong and Macau Works, the de facto highest decision-making body on policy for the two special administrative regions.
Han completed a vice-premiership term recently and was appointed vice-president at China’s national parliamentary session earlier this month.