https://www.scmp.com/rss/524406/feed Zhou Ji is the current Director of Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong, appointed in May 2023, and also serves as National Security Adviser to the HKSAR Committee for Safeguarding National Security. He previously held significant roles as Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, demonstrating deep familiarity with national policies on Hong Kong. His career includes extensive local government experience in Hubei and Henan provinces, and corporate directorships,... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Emily Hung Emily Hung Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has called on the alumni of the prestigious Tsinghua University to help the city better serve national development with their patriotism, pragmatism and global networks. Adding to the remarks by the director of the central government’s liaison office on Sunday, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu also expressed hope that more of the university’s graduates would assist the city in becoming an international education hub and promoting high-quality national... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352288/tsinghua-university-alumni-can-help-hong-kong-serve-nation-liaison-office-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352288/tsinghua-university-alumni-can-help-hong-kong-serve-nation-liaison-office-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 15:08:25 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Jeffie Lam Matthew Cheng,Jeffie Lam Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged businesspeople to serve as the “main force” driving the city’s economic development by investing in innovation and the Northern Metropolis megaproject, calling on them to demonstrate their patriotism through “concrete actions”. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, also reminded Hongkongers to remain vigilant for national security threats and be adequately prepared for risks arising from current geopolitical tensions,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350115/show-patriotism-through-concrete-actions-xia-baolong-tells-hong-kong-businesspeople?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350115/show-patriotism-through-concrete-actions-xia-baolong-tells-hong-kong-businesspeople?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:34:57 +0000 Denise Tsang,Fiona Sun Denise Tsang,Fiona Sun Safeguarding national security is crucial for Hong Kong to fully implement the “one country, two systems” governing principle and ensure the city’s stability, which will aid its development and attract foreign investors. That was the key takeaway from a high-level meeting hosted by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Saturday to discuss a white paper issued by Beijing earlier this week, only the third such report released by the State Council on local affairs since 2014. The document focused on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343584/protecting-national-security-seen-key-hong-kongs-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343584/protecting-national-security-seen-key-hong-kongs-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 10:37:37 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng The head of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has called on the city to focus on economic progress, proactively align with national development and strengthen the executive-led governance model. Office director Zhou Ji made the remarks on Wednesday at a reception to celebrate the coming Lunar New Year, highlighting Beijing’s expectations for Hong Kong in keeping with the country’s 15th five-year plan. He also urged Hongkongers to overcome adversity by embracing the “Lion Rock Spirit” and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342414/hong-kong-must-be-reformer-not-complacent-idler-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342414/hong-kong-must-be-reformer-not-complacent-idler-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:52:56 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A UN agency and a charity established by former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying have agreed to strengthen collaboration on public health projects, following talks in Switzerland. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, met GX Foundation chairman Leung and CEO Emily Chan Ying-yang in Geneva, the charity said in a social media post on Tuesday. “Both parties held in-depth discussions [on Monday] on the various medical and public health projects GX is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339703/who-ex-hong-kong-leader-cy-leungs-charity-pledge-boost-health-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339703/who-ex-hong-kong-leader-cy-leungs-charity-pledge-boost-health-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:24:36 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu A series of consequential political developments and controversies made 2025 a significant year for Hong Kong. Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s company CK Hutchison Holdings was caught in the crossfire of US-China tensions over a deal to sell its Panama Canal ports, which was eventually put on hold under pressure from Beijing. Locally, the city held its second Legislative Council election under Beijing’s “patriots-only” overhaul, with the voter turnout slightly surpassing the previous record... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338338/jimmy-lai-verdict-and-panama-port-saga-what-shaped-hong-kongs-2025-political-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338338/jimmy-lai-verdict-and-panama-port-saga-what-shaped-hong-kongs-2025-political-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:33:59 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Beijing has appointed a former executive of a state-owned shipping giant, which is eyeing a major stake in Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison’s stalled global ports sale, as a deputy director at its liaison office in the city. Zhang Yong, who previously served as executive vice-president of the Cosco Shipping Group, will replace Qi Bin, who was appointed in November 2024, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Wednesday. The liaison office’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338252/cosco-executive-zhang-yong-appointed-deputy-beijings-liaison-office-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338252/cosco-executive-zhang-yong-appointed-deputy-beijings-liaison-office-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 04:59:28 +0000 Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Construction has begun on a bridge linking technology parks in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Monday inaugurated the city’s side of the major cross-border innovation hub. At the opening ceremony for the Hong Kong side of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, Lee said the bridge would help open up the area’s transport network, promote the flow of people and strengthen innovation ties between the cities. He said the bridge... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3337362/bridge-connecting-hong-kong-shenzhen-parks-hetao-cooperation-zone-launched?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3337362/bridge-connecting-hong-kong-shenzhen-parks-hetao-cooperation-zone-launched?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:48:27 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial High-quality development is by no means just a buzzword when China charts its economic and social growth strategies in the next five years. It became the guiding principle for the state as well as Hong Kong’s next stage of advancement after Beijing set the tone for policymaking at the fourth plenum of the Communist Party’s Central Committee. The city has received the clearest directions yet as senior mainland officials expounded the spirit of the plenum in a recent government seminar. It should... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3336012/way-ahead-clear-hong-kong-under-beijings-new-development-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3336012/way-ahead-clear-hong-kong-under-beijings-new-development-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters Hong Kong began a three-day official mourning period on Saturday for victims of the city’s deadliest blaze in decades as residents queued at the site of the tragedy and various halls to pay their respects, penning tributes and laying flowers. For the first time since the fire broke out on Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the death toll remained at 128 on Saturday. No further human remains were recovered, while about 150 people remained “unreachable”, according to police. Graft-busters... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334642/hong-kong-begins-3-days-mourning-more-arrests-made-over-deadly-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334642/hong-kong-begins-3-days-mourning-more-arrests-made-over-deadly-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:59:59 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A blaze that cannot be contained in one tower is a nightmare scenario for a high-rise city. In an extreme case, it can spread to companion towers like a firestorm. It happened to Hong Kong on Wednesday night. The catastrophic consequences of the city’s deadliest fire in decades are still being counted in the numbers of dead, injured, missing and homeless after the Tai Po public housing estate inferno. Our first thoughts must be with the grieving families. President Xi Jinping, on Wednesday... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334407/community-effort-needed-help-survivors-and-those-who-lost-loved-ones-tai-po-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334407/community-effort-needed-help-survivors-and-those-who-lost-loved-ones-tai-po-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong should focus on developing hi-tech industries that meet the country’s needs, while stepping up efforts to attract global talent and strengthening collaboration with top universities to become an innovation and technology (I&T) hub, a Beijing official has said. Hou Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also said at a high-level seminar in Hong Kong on Tuesday that the city’s Northern Metropolis megaproject had a “bright future”. Zhou Ji, Beijing’s top representative in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3334042/real-investments-reflect-global-communitys-confidence-hong-kong-zhou-ji?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3334042/real-investments-reflect-global-communitys-confidence-hong-kong-zhou-ji?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:09:18 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The president of mainland China’s premier science institution will host a seminar in Hong Kong next week to “study and implement” the spirit of the fourth plenum, which sets the tone for the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee’s policymaking over the next five years. A Hong Kong government spokesman said on Thursday that the seminar, to be held next Tuesday, would promote the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the party’s 20th Central Committee among various sectors of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333551/chinas-top-science-academy-chief-promote-plenums-spirit-hong-kong-seminar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333551/chinas-top-science-academy-chief-promote-plenums-spirit-hong-kong-seminar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:25:35 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has pledged to support the city’s integration into national development plans while stressing the importance of studying and applying the “spirit” of the country’s recent political leadership meeting, which will shape policymaking over the next five years. The head of the central government’s liaison office, Zhou Ji, conveyed on Saturday the guiding ideology of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and laid... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330400/beijings-liaison-office-vows-help-hong-kong-efforts-national-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3330400/beijings-liaison-office-vows-help-hong-kong-efforts-national-development?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 23:00:17 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Hong Kong’s leader marked 25 days until the National Games by presenting the city’s flag to members of the 600-strong delegation that will go up against some of China’s best next month. In a ceremony at Kowloon Park Sports Centre on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu handed the flag to Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, who is the head of the city’s squad. Highlighting the importance of the Games, Lee said in a post on his official Facebook page that... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3329144/hong-kong-leader-john-lee-presents-flag-national-games-team-winners-get-hk750000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3329144/hong-kong-leader-john-lee-presents-flag-national-games-team-winners-get-hk750000?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:26:36 +0000 Jess Ma,Matthew Cheng Jess Ma,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to “eliminate bottlenecks” and shorten the time needed to realise economic gains to ensure that residents from all walks of life can benefit from the city’s development. Speaking at this year’s National Day reception on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also vowed to continually enhance the city’s national security laws to safeguard economic development while promising to ensure the coming Legislative Council election would be held in a fair and orderly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327480/hong-kong-leader-vows-get-rid-bottlenecks-speed-economic-gains-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327480/hong-kong-leader-vows-get-rid-bottlenecks-speed-economic-gains-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:28:14 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, marking the end of the Sino-Japanese war and the global fight against fascism, we look at the effects of the conflict and its aftermath, and how they continue to affect China’s place in the world. In the third part of a series, the Post looks at Hong Kong’s experience and one veteran’s call for the people’s sacrifices to be remembered. Lam Chun witnessed the brutality of war up close in Japanese-occupied Hong Kong when she was just eight years... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323729/keeping-light-shining-dark-days-japanese-occupation-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323729/keeping-light-shining-dark-days-japanese-occupation-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:30:12 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung The chief of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has called on the city to tell the stories of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression “well” to strengthen young residents’ sense of national identity. Zhou Ji, director of the central government’s liaison office, also said on Friday that Hongkongers should carry forward the “great spirit” of the war to unite “positive forces” for the development of the city under the banner of patriotism. Zhou made the remarks as he officiated at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3322833/liaison-office-chief-hong-kong-urges-city-recount-war-resistance-well?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3322833/liaison-office-chief-hong-kong-urges-city-recount-war-resistance-well?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:48:03 +0000 Willa Wu,Mike Chan Willa Wu,Mike Chan Hong Kong joined its National Games co-hosts in starting the event’s 100-day countdown on Saturday, with the city’s leader saying the focus will be on creating “an unforgettable experience” for anyone attending. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led the local ceremony at the Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O, which went ahead despite the city getting its second black rainstorm warning in a week. Lee later headed across the border to take part in an event in Shenzhen, which followed earlier activities in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320532/hong-kong-ready-co-host-national-games-john-lee-says-100-days-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320532/hong-kong-ready-co-host-national-games-john-lee-says-100-days-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 07:59:09 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng Beijing has appointed Xu Qifang, a former Communist Party personnel official, to the second-most senior position in the top body managing Hong Kong and Macau affairs. Xu, 60, the former deputy chief of the party’s Organisation Department has become the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, according to several sources. The sources said Xu would be promoted from deputy ministerial to full ministerial rank. As the office’s executive director, Xu reports to director... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316942/beijing-taps-personnel-veteran-xu-qifang-hong-kong-and-macau-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316942/beijing-taps-personnel-veteran-xu-qifang-hong-kong-and-macau-post?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:00:32 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China was marked yesterday with ceremony, celebration and much-needed contemplation of the challenges that lie ahead. Hong Kong is at a critical stage of its development. The city has steadily emerged from the anti-government protests of 2019 and the pandemic. A new chapter has begun. Now, it is about seizing opportunities. The word on everyone’s lips is reform. Beijing’s liaison office chief, Zhou Ji, set the tone, calling on the city to move with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3316538/bold-reform-hong-kong-can-embark-new-chapter-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3316538/bold-reform-hong-kong-can-embark-new-chapter-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 23:15:11 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung The former head of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has been appointed the No 2 official on a special committee under the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s legislature. Zheng Yanxiong was named vice-chairman of the NPC Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee, according to a statement issued on Friday after a meeting of the NPC Standing Committee, China’s top legislative body. The statement said the decision was made after the endorsement of a resolution. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316126/ex-liaison-office-chief-hong-kong-takes-no-2-spot-npc-special-committee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316126/ex-liaison-office-chief-hong-kong-takes-no-2-spot-npc-special-committee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:52:55 +0000