CE's statement on appointment of CPG Liaison Office Director
On the State Council's appointment of Mr Zhou Ji as the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG) and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSC), and the removal of Mr Zheng Yanxiong as the Director of the LOCPG, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and National Security Adviser of the NSC, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, issued the following statement on May 30:
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and I warmly welcome Mr Zhou's assumption of his new posts, and express our sincere gratitude to Mr Zheng for his contribution to the HKSAR in his office as the Director of the LOCPG, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and National Security Adviser of the NSC.
Since July 2023, Mr Zhou has been serving as the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, directly participating in the management and co-ordination of Hong Kong affairs. He is well acquainted with the national policies on Hong Kong. Last year, he led a delegation to Hong Kong for an inspection visit to co-ordinate the implementation of the Central Government's policies benefitting Hong Kong and convey the Central Government's strong support for Hong Kong's development and care for Hong Kong people. Mr Zhou has previously held such positions as Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, as well as Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee and Vice Governor of Henan Province, possessing extensive experience in policy-making and local governance.
I sincerely thank the Central Government for its care and support for the HKSAR. I am fully confident that Mr Zhou will lead the LOCPG in continuing its support to the HKSAR Government's governance in accordance with the law, working together with us in fully, faithfully and resolutely implementing the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy. We will together maintain the constitutional order of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law and implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong". I am also confident that Mr Zhou will lead the LOCPG in its continued co-operation with the HKSAR Government of promoting the HKSAR's proactive alignment with national strategies, creating new momentum and advantages for Hong Kong's economic development, promoting Hong Kong's transition from stability to prosperity through innovation and invention, and making greater contribution to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The HKSAR Government and I are also deeply grateful to Mr Zheng for steadfastly upholding the "one country, two systems" principle on issues such as safeguarding national security and maintaining the HKSAR's constitutional order in his tenure of over two years. During his office, Mr Zheng fully supported the HKSAR Government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility and historic mission of enacting local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which entered into force on March 23, 2024, has strengthened Hong Kong's legal regime in safeguarding national security.
Before serving as the Director of the LOCPG, Mr Zheng was the first Head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, leading the Office to perform its mandate of safeguarding national security in accordance with the law. Mr Zheng has all along held the issues of providing a better living and working environment for the people of Hong Kong, youth development, and Hong Kong's leverage of the opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area close to his heart. The HKSAR Government and I would like to express our gratitude to him.
