Beijing’s top office for Hong Kong affairs given expanded to-do list after upgrade, including improving accountability system for city leader

Improving the accountability system under which the city leader answers to central authorities is among newly listed responsibilities for Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong affairs, it has emerged.

The office, which was earlier upgraded to a higher-level outfit reporting directly to the Communist Party, has also been tasked with facilitating patriotic education and safeguarding national security.

Observers on Friday said the expanded list of 11 major duties shown on the revamped website of the Hong Kong and Macau Work Office, which reports to the party’s Central Committee, signalled Beijing’s determination to exercise its “comprehensive jurisdiction” over the city.

The 11 responsibilities – almost double the number listed for the previous office – include new items such as helping Hong Kong and Macau strengthen education on the constitution, the Basic Law, and national security law, as well as on Chinese history and culture, to enhance residents’ “national consciousness and patriotic spirit”.

Other new tasks include implementing legal and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security in Hong Kong, proposing measures to improve the city leader’s accountability system with Beijing, and managing local journalists and media groups based in mainland China.

The office also has similar duties to when it came under the State Council, such as implementation of the “one country, two systems” governing principle and offering advice over legal amendments concerning Hong Kong and Macau.

Under the office’s upgrade, 10 bureaus focusing on different areas have been set up. One is tasked with coordinating with Hong Kong authorities in safeguarding national security, while some others are responsible for facilitating exchanges on political, economic, cultural, educational and legal aspects.