Beijing ‘likely to send senior police official to head national security office in Hong Kong’
- It is being set up under controversial new legislation that is expected to be passed on Tuesday
- Assistant public security minister Chen Siyuan seen as front runner, while other potential candidates include Liu Yuejin and Meng Qingfeng
Beijing will likely name a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security who is familiar with foreign intelligence agencies to head its new national security office in Hong Kong, according to sources and observers.
According to state news agency Xinhua, Li Fei, head of the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People’s Congress, reported amendments to the draft law at a meeting of the legislature on Sunday. The controversial law – targeting secession, subversion, terrorism and “collusion with foreign and external forces” to endanger national security – is expected to be passed by the Standing Committee of China’s legislature on Tuesday at the close of the three-day meeting.
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A source familiar with the situation in Hong Kong said that since the new office would report directly to the Communist Party’s Central National Security Commission, it would be headed by “a senior security official with solid experience of Hong Kong matters and who understands the rules of engagement with foreign intelligence agencies”.
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A mainland expert on Hong Kong affairs said knowledge of the city, as well as Macau and Taiwan, would also be an important factor in making the selection.
“This official must have in-depth knowledge of Hong Kong matters and understand how they are linked to issues like Taiwan and foreign relations. They’ll need to have a helicopter view on these matters,” said the expert who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to comment on the issue.