New head for HK-Macau institute as Beijing shuffles top city officials
Beijing has been busy reshuffling the top officials in charge of Hong Kong affairs.
It appointed Zhao Guangting as the director of the Institute of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs. This comes as Liao Hui has been replaced by Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Guangya as the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
Zhao, 63, succeeded Zhu Yucheng, who retired as the institute's director early this year. Zhu, a former vice-director of Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong branch, remains as a senior adviser to the institute.
Xinhua's branch in Hong Kong - the de facto Chinese embassy in Hong Kong before 1997 - was the predecessor of the central government's liaison office in the city.
Zhao retired as secretary-general of the liaison office early this year.
Dr Ray Yep Kin-man, a political scientist at City University, said the establishment of the institute in 2003 attracted the attention of politicians and the media.
'But the factors leading to its establishment at the time have gradually faded out following the passage of the electoral reform package in June,' he said, 'I believe the institute will adopt a relatively low profile in future.'
However, the institute is expected to keep a watchful eye on the path to the eventual attainment of universal suffrage in Hong Kong as promised for 2017 and 2020.
A person close to Zhao said he was well versed in Hong Kong affairs after working at the liaison office and the Xinhua branch for 15 years..
Zhao was the head of the publicity, culture and sports department of the liaison office before he was promoted to secretary-general of the office in 2003.
He kept a low profile and seldom made public comments on Hong Kong affairs.
The institute's deputy director Rao Geping confirmed Zhao's appointment, which Beijing has yet to announce.
Zhao, who took up office in July, could not be reached for comment.
The institute was set up by the central government in December 2003, five months after the 500,000-strong July 1 march forced the Hong Kong government to shelve the controversial national security legislation.
One of its primary tasks is to study and plot strategy on Hong Kong's constitutional development. It also played a crucial role in canvassing views of various sectors about the proposal for the 2012 elections.
The institute is attached to the Development Research Centre of the State Council.
Lau Nai-keung, a member of the Basic Law Committee, said the apparent high profile of the institute in the past few years was partly related to Zhu's background.
Zhu, 72, was a classmate of former vice-president Zeng Qinghong's at a Beijing middle school for the children of senior mainland officials. Zhu was believed to report directly to Zeng, who oversaw Hong Kong affairs before his retirement in 2007, when he served as institute director.
