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.
“[Xu] has reported to work at the Hong Kong and Macau [Affairs 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.
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.
