Latest news with #XuQifang
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong visit by deputy director of Beijing office linked to megaproject: analysts
A recent visit to Hong Kong by the new executive deputy director of the central government's top office for the city's affairs was likely to have been to check on the progress of the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment, political analysts have said. Advertisement Xu Qifang, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), made his first official visit to the city last week following his appointment earlier this month. According to a statement from the office, Xu led a team to Hong Kong and Macau to carry out research, meet officials from both cities and conduct on-site inspections of the Northern Metropolis and Hengqin cooperation zone, across from Macau. It was believed to be Xu's first visit to Hong Kong since he was appointed earlier in July, taking over from Zhou Ji, who was made the director of Beijing's liaison office in the city. Xu Qifang was appointed to the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office this month. Photo: Xinhua Veteran political commentator Sonny Lo Shiu-hing said on Sunday that he believed Xu had 'several objectives' in coming to the city beyond the standard courtesy visit one would expect from an official being appointed to the role.
South China Morning Post
04-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Beijing taps personnel veteran Xu Qifang for Hong Kong and Macau post
Beijing has appointed Xu Qifang, a former Communist Party personnel official, to the second-most senior position in its top body managing Hong Kong and Macau affairs. Advertisement Xu, 60, the former deputy chief of the party's Organisation Department has become the executive deputy director of the Central Committee's Hong Kong and Macau Work 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 Xia Baolong , who oversees the office's daily operations. '[Xu] has reported to work at the Hong Kong and Macau Work Office. Senior officials in the office have met with him,' said one source who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. He has been a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, since 2023. Advertisement Xu fills the vacancy left by Zhou Ji , who was parachuted south to become the director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong after former liaison office chief Zheng Yanxiong was abruptly removed at the end of May after two years in the position. At the end of June, Beijing announced Zheng's appointment as deputy director of the National People's Congress' Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee, confirming an earlier report by the Post.
