Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen will probably meet Xi Jinping, the new Politburo Standing Committee member in charge of Hong Kong and Macau affairs, when he pays a duty visit to Beijing before the end of the year, a source close to Beijing says.
Mr Tsang's visit was disclosed by State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan in the capital yesterday when he was asked who would take over Hong Kong's affairs from Vice-President Zeng Qinghong who stepped down from the Politburo at the party congress last month.
No formal announcement has yet been made on Mr Xi's new portfolio. A Beijing-friendly source said Mr Xi chaired the party's working group that oversees Hong Kong and Macau affairs last week and was stepping up efforts to acquaint himself with the situations in the two places.
A Hong Kong government spokesman said details of Mr Tsang's visit had not been finalised. Another source said the trip might be held as soon as the end of this month or early next month.
The source said Mr Tsang would meet state leaders, including President Hu Jintao , Premier Wen Jiabao and Mr Zeng. Mr Tsang would also meet Mr Xi, but not officially, during his Beijing trip.
It is widely expected Mr Xi will take over from Mr Hu in 2012. The fact that he would be in charge of Hong Kong and Macau affairs is seen as a reflection of the importance attached by the central government to the two cities.