Beijing policy on Hong Kong remains the same after reshuffle
New men in top jobs are quick to clarify that ‘one country, two systems’ remains the leading principle and there will be no change in direction
With so much happening on the political horizon in Hong Kong and on the mainland, the last thing the city needs is uncertainty. In a welcome step, the new leaders of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) and the central government liaison office have swiftly dispelled speculation that their latest personnel reshuffle signals a change in Beijing policy on city affairs.
The two bodies have different functions and roles. The liaison office is primarily responsible for exchanges with different sectors and mainland bodies in the city, while the HKMAO assists the premier in handling affairs related to Hong Kong and Macau, conducts relevant research and coordinates official contacts between the two cities and the mainland. Whether the new chiefs have work styles different from their predecessors remains to be seen, but the two bodies share a common goal – to implement Beijing’s policies in accordance with one country, two systems.