Xi Jinping will still keep tabs on Hong Kong

Xi Jinping has become the first top mainland leader to enter office with first-hand experience in dealing with Hong Kong and Macau, a portfolio he will still oversee until at least March.

The once-a-decade leadership reshuffle that elevated Xi produced a seven-member ruling body without any official assigned to oversee the special administrative regions previously ruled as European colonies. Li Yuanchao , widely tipped to acquire the portfolio from Xi, failed to make it on the Politburo's elite Standing Committee.

While the result could cause some to wonder whether Beijing has diminished Hong Kong's importance, analysts said such speculation would be unfounded. The final Standing Committee included an unprecedented number of party officials with strong Hong Kong connections.

Xi, who has been tasked with overseeing the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau since 2007, will continue in the role until the National People's Congress in March, said Jiang Shigong , a former central liaison office researcher who is now a professor at Peking University.

Of the six other Standing Committee members, two have experience in handling Hong Kong affairs. Both Zhang Dejiang and Zhang Gaoli regularly met Hong Kong officials during their time in Guangdong.

Zhang Dejiang served as Guangdong party secretary between 2002 and 2007. Zhang Gaoli was Shenzhen party secretary from 1997 to 2001.

"It's true that we now have more top leaders who have experience and understanding of Hong Kong affairs," said Jiang, "But the personnel reshuffle is less important than the overall policy. The overall policy has been set and will not change."