Latest news with #ZhengYanxiong
South China Morning Post
27-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Ex-liaison office chief in Hong Kong takes No 2 spot on NPC special committee
The former head of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong has been appointed the No 2 official on a special committee under the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's legislature. Advertisement Zheng Yanxiong was named vice-chairman of the NPC Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee, according to a statement issued on Friday after a meeting of the NPC Standing Committee, China's top legislative body. The statement said that a decision was made after the endorsement of a resolution. In January 2023, Zheng was appointed as the director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong. He was replaced by Zhou Ji, who had served as executive deputy director of the central government's top office for the city's affairs, in May of this year. The NPC directs the work of 10 special committees, which fall under the leadership of the standing committee when the country's legislature is not in session. Advertisement Each special committee is composed of a chairman, several vice-chairmen and other members.
South China Morning Post
04-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Former liaison chief in Hong Kong to assume role in National People's Congress
Beijing's former liaison office chief in Hong Kong, Zheng Yanxiong, has returned to the nation's capital and is expected to take up a senior role in the country's top legislative body, the Post has learned. Two sources familiar with the matter said Zheng, who was abruptly removed as director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong on May 31, will be appointed Executive Deputy Director of the National People's Congress Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee. This means he will continue to hold his rank as a full minister. One source said Zheng had arrived in Beijing as of yesterday and reported to work with the NPC. The source, who declined to be named, said Zheng's appointment would be formally endorsed at the NPC Standing Committee's meeting in the second half of this month. A second source, who also asked to remain anonymous to discuss the matter freely, said Zheng sent a small poem to many pro-Beijing politicians he had worked with in Hong Kong before his departure.
Japan Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Hong Kong leader calls sudden removal of top China official 'normal'
Hong Kong's leader John Lee said on Tuesday that China's recent removal of its top representative in the city, known for his hard-line policies on national security, had been a "normal" personnel change. In a surprise development, China announced late on Friday that Zheng Yanxiong, the director of China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong — Beijing's main representative office in the city with powerful oversight over local affairs — had been "removed" from his post. He was replaced by Zhou Ji, a senior official with the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on the State Council.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hong Kong leader says sudden removal of China's top official in the city was "normal"
By James Pomfret and Clare Jim HONG KONG (Reuters) -Hong Kong's leader said on Tuesday that China's recent removal of its top representative in the city, known for his hardline policies on national security, had been a "normal" personnel change. In a surprise development, China announced late on Friday that Zheng Yanxiong, the director of China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong - Beijing's main representative office in the city with powerful oversight over local affairs - had been "removed" from his post. He was replaced by Zhou Ji, a senior official with the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on the State Council. Zheng, who played a key role in the crackdown on Hong Kong's democratic movement in recent years, was also stripped of his role as China's national security adviser on a committee overseeing national security in Hong Kong. No explanation by Beijing or Chinese state media was given for the change. According to a person with knowledge of the matter, Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison's proposed sale of its global port network to a consortium initially led by U.S. firm Blackrock had caught senior Chinese leaders "by surprise" as they had not been informed beforehand and Zheng was partly blamed for that. The person, who has spoken with the liaison office, declined to be identified as the discussions were confidential. The Liaison Office gave no immediate response to faxed questions from Reuters. Zheng had served in the post since January 2023 and while the position has no fixed term, his tenure was shorter than predecessors including Luo Huining and Zhang Xiaoming. "The change of the Liaison office director is I believe, as with all changes of officials, very normal," Lee told reporters during a weekly briefing, without being drawn on reasons for the reshuffle. "Director Zheng has spent around 5 years (in Hong Kong). Hong Kong was going through a transition period of chaos to order," Lee said, referring to the months-long pro-democracy protests that erupted across Hong Kong in 2019 while adding that he looked forward to working with Zhou. CK Hutchison's ports deal has been criticised in Chinese state media as "betraying" China's interests and bowing to U.S. political pressure. The conglomerate, controlled by tycoon Li Ka-shing, agreed in March to sell the majority of its $22.8 billion global ports business, including assets along the strategically significant Panama Canal, to the consortium. The consortium is now being led by another member - Terminal Investment Limited, which is majority-owned by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte's family-run MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. The deal is still being negotiated. Asked whether Zheng's removal reflected a pivot by Beijing towards economic development from national security, Lee said Hong Kong still needed to pursue both. "Hong Kong faces a stage where development and safety must be addressed at the same time because any development must have a safe environment." China promulgated a powerful national security law in 2020, arresting scores of opposition democrats and activists, shuttering liberal media outlets and civil society groups and punishing free speech with sedition - moves that have drawn international criticism.
CNA
03-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Hong Kong leader says sudden removal of China's top official in the city was 'normal'
HONG KONG: Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, said on Tuesday (Jun 3) that China's recent removal of its top representative in the city, known for his hardline policies on national security, had been a "normal" personnel change. In a surprise development, China announced late on Friday that Zheng Yanxiong, the director of China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong - Beijing's main representative office in the city with powerful oversight over local affairs - had been "removed" from his post. He was replaced by Zhou Ji, a senior official with the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on the State Council. Zheng, who played a key role in the crackdown on Hong Kong's democratic movement in recent years, was also stripped of his role as China's national security adviser on a committee overseeing national security in Hong Kong. No explanation by Beijing or Chinese state media was given for the change. According to a person with knowledge of the matter, Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison's proposed sale of its global port network to a consortium initially led by US firm Blackrock had caught senior Chinese leaders "by surprise" as they had not been informed beforehand and Zheng was partly blamed for that. The person, who has spoken with the liaison office, declined to be identified as the discussions were confidential. The Liaison Office gave no immediate response to faxed questions from Reuters. Zheng had served in the post since January 2023 and while the position has no fixed term, his tenure was shorter than predecessors including Luo Huining and Zhang Xiaoming. "The change of the Liaison office director is I believe, as with all changes of officials, very normal," Lee told reporters during a weekly briefing, without being drawn on reasons for the reshuffle. "Director Zheng has spent around 5 years (in Hong Kong). Hong Kong was going through a transition period of chaos to order," Lee said, referring to the months-long pro-democracy protests that erupted across Hong Kong in 2019 while adding that he looked forward to working with Zhou. CK Hutchison's ports deal has been criticised in Chinese state media as "betraying" China's interests and bowing to US political pressure. The conglomerate, controlled by tycoon Li Ka-shing, agreed in March to sell the majority of its US$22.8 billion global ports business, including assets along the strategically significant Panama Canal, to the consortium. The consortium is now being led by another member – Terminal Investment Limited, which is majority-owned by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte's family-run MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. The deal is still being negotiated. Asked whether Zheng's removal reflected a pivot by Beijing towards economic development from national security, Lee said Hong Kong still needed to pursue both. "Hong Kong faces a stage where development and safety must be addressed at the same time because any development must have a safe environment." China promulgated a powerful national security law in 2020, arresting scores of opposition democrats and activists, shuttering liberal media outlets and civil society groups and punishing free speech with sedition – moves that have drawn international criticism.
