HK, Macau Affairs Office boss leaves national position

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong & Macau Affairs Office, has left his post at the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
Xia had just been appointed to the SARs’ affairs office in February of this year. On Tuesday, a CPPCC vote decided that Xia will no longer be Secretary-General of CPPCC. However, he retains his position as vice-chairman of the organization.
Since Xia started his job at the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, he has not made any public appearances.
According to a news report by Hong Kong media, only on April 23 did Xia meet with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, in Shenzhen, to discuss matters related to Hong Kong’s legislative council election, which is expected to be held this September, and the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law in Hong Kong. Article 23 stipulates that Hong Kong “shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the central government.”
Li Bin, deputy head of the National Health Commission, will succeed Xia as the new CPPCC secretary-general.
Some media analysis, including from the South China Morning Post, is speculating that Xia will focus more on Hong Kong affairs as a result of the role change.
Xia is a former close aide to President Xi Jinping and served as Communist Party chief of Zhejiang province during the crackdown on Christian churches.
Xia is one of the highest state-level leaders managing the SARs’ affairs office. He has an extensive background in the tenure of important positions within the Chinese Communist Government.
The rare appointment of such a senior official potentially signals a permanent overhaul in how Beijing manages the former British colony. The Communist Party issued a communique late last year signaling an intention of greater intervention in Hong Kong’s affairs, from education to how the city picks its leader. JZ