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Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO)

The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) is a governmental body, now also known as the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office under the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee, with its headquarters in Beijing. It is dedicated to overseeing and coordinating policies related to Hong Kong and Macau, implementing the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. Its key activities include conducting research, facilitating official exchanges, promoting economic and cultural cooperation, and safeguarding national security. The HKMAO’s recent elevation underscores the increasing national importance of the Special Administrative Regions.

The flags of China and Hong Kong. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong politics

‘Hong Kong has lived up to expectations,’ Beijing says in new year message

City leader John Lee vows to deepen reform and seize opportunities in online post, following President Xi Jinping’s wishes for the city.

2 Jan 2026 - 12:34AM

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Hong Kong Bar Association backs making bid-rigging a crime after deadly fire

18 Dec 2025 - 10:27PM

Jimmy Lai trial

Jimmy Lai’s conviction in Hong Kong becomes flashpoint between China, West

16 Dec 2025 - 1:25AM

Hong Kong politics

Bar Association is first Hong Kong delegation to visit Beijing after fire, poll

15-member delegation expected to hold meetings with Basic Law Committee, Ministry of Justice and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

11 Dec 2025 - 3:44PM

Chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet will lead the annual visit for the first time since being elected in January. Photo: Edmond So

Legislative Council election 2025

Tackling aftermath of deadly Hong Kong blaze among first tasks for new lawmakers

Election turnout rate of 31.9 per cent slightly higher than in 2021, with city leader saying poll will have profound impact on reforms after Tai Po fire.

8 Dec 2025 - 11:24PM

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Hong Kong begins 3 days of mourning as more arrests made over deadly blaze

Death toll remains at 128 while about 150 people are still ‘unreachable’, police say.

1 Dec 2025 - 5:50PMvideocam

Hong Kong housing

Editorial | Hong Kong must stay united on long road to recovery from Tai Po fire tragedy

In addition to comforting individuals and rebuilding homes, the city will need to come together to overcome the collective trauma it has faced.

29 Nov 2025 - 7:15AM

Students offer hot water and soft drinks to the residents of Wang Fuk Court in the open area of Kwong Fuk Estate on the night of November 27. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Editorial | Community effort needed to help survivors and those who lost loved ones in fire

Along with support from Beijing and the local government, all Hongkongers must quickly unite and help in any way they can.

28 Nov 2025 - 8:56AM

Hong Kong politics

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs meets HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery

But Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office does not reveal what was discussed in meeting between Xia Baolong and HSBC chief in Beijing.

21 Nov 2025 - 8:20PM

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong receives 41 million visitors in first 10 months of 2025, a 12% jump

Among visitors, 31.44 million came from mainland China – nearly 77 per cent of all arrivals – while 9.62 million were foreign tourists.

17 Nov 2025 - 5:20PM

Tourists gather at the Blue House Cluster in Wan Chai for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Hong Kong welcomed 9.62 million foreign tourists in the first 10 months of 2025. Photo: Sun Yeung

Legislative Council election 2025

Debate welcome at Hong Kong’s Legco election forums, but no smearing: Eric Chan

City’s No 2 official says government-run forums, other efforts aim to elect high-quality candidates without ‘mudslinging and back-stabbing’.

14 Nov 2025 - 11:54PM

(From left) Candidates Chris Ip, Janet Lee, Christine Fong, Cheung Mei-hung and Chan Chi-ho attend a forum for the New Territories South East constituency. Photo: Edmond So

Legislative Council election 2025

Editorial | Legco hopefuls must make the coming weeks count

The authorities and future lawmakers have an opportunity to garner wider public recognition and support for the revamped governance model.

8 Nov 2025 - 7:15AM

Hong Kong politics

As I see it | Turnover among Hong Kong legislators should not be surprising

The revamped electoral system is designed to attract patriotic but also professional people to Legco. Beijing has zero reason to interfere with the coming election.

5 Nov 2025 - 9:30AM

Hong Kong politics

Tougher races in Hong Kong Legco poll amid uncertainty: Beijing office

Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office reposts commentary stressing there is no ‘blessing list’ and that candidates cannot win by ‘lying flat’.

4 Nov 2025 - 1:15PM

A poster for the 2025 Legislative Council election, on display in Admiralty. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Hong Kong needs a Legco that can help it navigate challenging times ahead

The large number of legislators not seeking re-election marks a shift towards identifying those with the expertise the city and country need at the current moment.

25 Oct 2025 - 7:15AM

Lawmakers attend one of the final sessions of the current term in the chamber of the Legislative Council in Admiralty on October 22. A number of lawmakers have announced they will not run in the coming Legco election. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong politics

Deputy director of Beijing office overseeing Hong Kong meets media delegation

New deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong also joins meeting a day after taking up post.

13 Oct 2025 - 12:15AM

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Hong Kong must look beyond age in selecting ‘capable’ lawmakers

Amid the push for an improved Legislative Council, considering age as a metric for public service distracts from more practical considerations.

6 Oct 2025 - 9:30AM

My Take

My Take | Singapore did right by throwing out Hong Kong fugitive Nathan Law

The times when the US could manipulate opposition figures to destabilise governments in East Asia are long gone. How disappointing that all that investment has gone to waste.

6 Oct 2025 - 9:17AM

Former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Nathan Law in London on August 18, 2023. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong politics

China Daily senior editor to helm publicity efforts at Hong Kong liaison office

As office’s deputy director, Sun Shangwu will help Beijing engage better with English-speaking world and improve mainland, Hong Kong narratives.

3 Oct 2025 - 6:55PM

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Will Hong Kong government’s more hands-on approach to development pay off?

As a number of economic initiatives mark significant anniversaries, it is worth looking back on the development strategy of a previous era.

28 Jul 2025 - 9:30AM

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong visit by No 2 man at Beijing office linked to megaproject: analysts

Xu Qifang, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, made first official visit to the city last week.

27 Jul 2025 - 6:03PM

Under the Northern Metropolis plan, areas at the border with mainland China will be turned into an economic powerhouse and a housing hub. Photo: May Tse

MTR Corporation

Editorial | Northern Metropolis rail links must be completed on time as pledged

The adoption of mainland rail standards and other breakthroughs will help, but it’s up to the government and MTR to ensure progress.

10 Jul 2025 - 7:15AM

An aerial view of the site for Kwu Tung MTR station, part of the Northern Link railway. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong transport

‘Using mainland Chinese standards for Hong Kong rail project can cut costs by 30%’

Highways Department also says cost of first phase of Northern Link is HK$31.4 billion and construction set to begin in 2027.

9 Jul 2025 - 11:53PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Why investor confidence is key to acing Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis ‘test’

Megaproject near border with mainland is a measure of city’s governance capability in Beijing’s eyes, analyst says.

9 Jul 2025 - 8:30AM

Hong Kong transport

Major rail links in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis to be completed 2 years early

Deal between MTR Corp and government involves HK$39.05 billion in financing from land premiums and gives momentum to project.

9 Jul 2025 - 1:18AM

The railway project will complement the development of the Northern Metropolis, which aims to turn 30,000 hectares of land into a new engine for economic growth. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong tourism

Meet the Hong Kong tour guide offering visitors an Anthony Bourdain-style trip

Angel Lau encourages travellers to step beyond the city’s glitzy side and sample lesser-known locations showcasing its true essence.

30 Jun 2025 - 1:38PMvideocam

Originally a jewellery maker, Angel Lau shifted to giving tours full-time after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Connor Mycroft

Hong Kong national security law

What’s next after 5 years of national security law in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has put economic development and livelihood issues at the top of the agenda since the return to stability.

26 Jun 2025 - 4:53PM

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Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO)

‘Hong Kong has lived up to expectations,’ Beijing says in new year message

City leader John Lee vows to deepen reform and seize opportunities in online post, following President Xi Jinping’s wishes for the city.

Hong Kong Bar Association backs making bid-rigging a crime after deadly fire

Jimmy Lai’s conviction in Hong Kong becomes flashpoint between China, West

Bar Association is first Hong Kong delegation to visit Beijing after fire, poll

15-member delegation expected to hold meetings with Basic Law Committee, Ministry of Justice and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

Tackling aftermath of deadly Hong Kong blaze among first tasks for new lawmakers

Election turnout rate of 31.9 per cent slightly higher than in 2021, with city leader saying poll will have profound impact on reforms after Tai Po fire.

Hong Kong begins 3 days of mourning as more arrests made over deadly blaze

Death toll remains at 128 while about 150 people are still ‘unreachable’, police say.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Editorial | Hong Kong must stay united on long road to recovery from Tai Po fire tragedy

In addition to comforting individuals and rebuilding homes, the city will need to come together to overcome the collective trauma it has faced.

Editorial | Community effort needed to help survivors and those who lost loved ones in fire

Along with support from Beijing and the local government, all Hongkongers must quickly unite and help in any way they can.

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs meets HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery

But Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office does not reveal what was discussed in meeting between Xia Baolong and HSBC chief in Beijing.

Hong Kong receives 41 million visitors in first 10 months of 2025, a 12% jump

Among visitors, 31.44 million came from mainland China – nearly 77 per cent of all arrivals – while 9.62 million were foreign tourists.

Debate welcome at Hong Kong’s Legco election forums, but no smearing: Eric Chan

City’s No 2 official says government-run forums, other efforts aim to elect high-quality candidates without ‘mudslinging and back-stabbing’.

Editorial | Legco hopefuls must make the coming weeks count

The authorities and future lawmakers have an opportunity to garner wider public recognition and support for the revamped governance model.

As I see it | Turnover among Hong Kong legislators should not be surprising

The revamped electoral system is designed to attract patriotic but also professional people to Legco. Beijing has zero reason to interfere with the coming election.

Tougher races in Hong Kong Legco poll amid uncertainty: Beijing office

Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office reposts commentary stressing there is no ‘blessing list’ and that candidates cannot win by ‘lying flat’.

Editorial | Hong Kong needs a Legco that can help it navigate challenging times ahead

The large number of legislators not seeking re-election marks a shift towards identifying those with the expertise the city and country need at the current moment.

Deputy director of Beijing office overseeing Hong Kong meets media delegation

New deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong also joins meeting a day after taking up post.

Opinion | Hong Kong must look beyond age in selecting ‘capable’ lawmakers

Amid the push for an improved Legislative Council, considering age as a metric for public service distracts from more practical considerations.

My Take | Singapore did right by throwing out Hong Kong fugitive Nathan Law

The times when the US could manipulate opposition figures to destabilise governments in East Asia are long gone. How disappointing that all that investment has gone to waste.

China Daily senior editor to helm publicity efforts at Hong Kong liaison office

As office’s deputy director, Sun Shangwu will help Beijing engage better with English-speaking world and improve mainland, Hong Kong narratives.

Opinion | Will Hong Kong government’s more hands-on approach to development pay off?

As a number of economic initiatives mark significant anniversaries, it is worth looking back on the development strategy of a previous era.

Hong Kong visit by No 2 man at Beijing office linked to megaproject: analysts

Xu Qifang, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, made first official visit to the city last week.

Editorial | Northern Metropolis rail links must be completed on time as pledged

The adoption of mainland rail standards and other breakthroughs will help, but it’s up to the government and MTR to ensure progress.

‘Using mainland Chinese standards for Hong Kong rail project can cut costs by 30%’

Highways Department also says cost of first phase of Northern Link is HK$31.4 billion and construction set to begin in 2027.

Why investor confidence is key to acing Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis ‘test’

Megaproject near border with mainland is a measure of city’s governance capability in Beijing’s eyes, analyst says.

Major rail links in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis to be completed 2 years early

Deal between MTR Corp and government involves HK$39.05 billion in financing from land premiums and gives momentum to project.

Meet the Hong Kong tour guide offering visitors an Anthony Bourdain-style trip

Angel Lau encourages travellers to step beyond the city’s glitzy side and sample lesser-known locations showcasing its true essence.

What’s next after 5 years of national security law in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong has put economic development and livelihood issues at the top of the agenda since the return to stability.

Editorial | Hong Kong must stay united on long road to recovery from Tai Po fire tragedy