The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council is an administrative agency of the
State Council of the People's Republic of China
The State Council, constitutionally synonymous with the Central People's Government since 1954 (particularly in relation to local governments), is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the p ...
responsible for promoting cooperation and coordination of political, economic and cultural ties between
Mainland China
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...
and the Chinese
Special Administrative Regions
The special administrative regions (SAR) of the People's Republic of China are one of the provincial-level administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China directly under the control of its Central People's Government (State Co ...
of
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
and
Macau
Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a pop ...
.
Its head office is in
Xicheng District, Beijing
Xicheng District () is a district of Beijing. Xicheng District spans , covering the western half of the old city (largely inside the 2nd Ring Road - the eastern half is Dongcheng District, Beijing, Dongcheng District), and has 706,691 inhabitant ...
.
Administration
The agency was established in 1978, and has been headed by the Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. There are deputy directors which assist the director in running the office.
The agency answers to the State Council of the People's Republic of China as well as the
Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs
The Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs () is an internal policy coordination group of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the State Council of the People's Republic of China, reporting to the CCP Poli ...
of the
Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victoriou ...
.
Primary Functions
The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) is an administrative agency of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It is mainly responsible for promoting cooperation and coordination of political, economic, and cultural ties between Mainland China and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
According t
Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council The agency’s main functions are:
* To conduct research on various aspects of Hong Kong and Macao;
* To plan and coordinate the official contacts between different mainland departments and localities - and also with the HKSAR and MCSAR;
* To maintain contact with the Chief Executive and government of the HKSAR - and of the MCSAR;
* To promote and coordinate cooperation and exchanges in fields such as economics, science, technology, education and culture between the mainland and the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao;
* To examine applications, approve and issue ravel documents for public servants heading to HK and Macao;
* To participate the management of service export to and mainland companies in HK and Macao;
* To promote the Basic Laws of HKSAR and MCSAR, as well as the principles and policies of the central government concerning HK and Macao.
Ho (2020)posited the importance of understanding the differences in the roles of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and those of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Both organisations’ nature dictates the developments in Hong Kong and the smooth functioning of “one country, two systems” (OCTS) policy.
According t
Ho (2020) HKMAO do not possess the authority or executive power with which they can intervene in Hong Kong affairs. On the contrary, the executive branch of the central government of the PRC is made up of 26 constituent departments of the State Council, comprising 21 ministries, such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Security; three commissions such as the Commission on Development and Reform and the Commission on Health; the central bank, the People’s Bank of China; and the National Audit Office. Overall, these units can formulate and implement policies. Hence, HKMAO have the right to express concerns, but does not constitute to an intervention in the internal affairs of Hong Kong and Macau.
List of directors
Current director Xia Baolong also holds the position of Vice Chairman of the
, becoming the highest-ranking official to hold the office in a decade.
Zhang Xiaoming was replaced by Xia and became deputy director of the office.
The office's Deputy Director, from December 2018, is
Deng Zhonghua
Deng Zhonghua (; September 1961) is a Chinese government official. He was appointed as the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) in 2018.
In June 2020, Deng said that Beijing would reserve the right to handle "rare" cas ...
, a lawyer, born 1961. Deng replaced Feng Wei, born September 1957 and seen by the Hong Kong
democratic camp as someone they could talk with. His retirement was delayed by a year so that he could handle Beijing's concerns about
'independence' advocates in Hong Kong.
In March 2022, Wang Linggui replaced Deng Zhonghua as a deputy director, leaving a total of 5 deputy directors after the expected departure of Song Zhe.
Notably in 2020, the appointment of Xia Baolong over Zhang Xiaoming was seen as a stunning reshuffle within the HKMAO. Pao noted that Zhang Xiaoming, the original director of HKMAO, wa
demoted and re-appointed as the deputy director responsible for the daily operationswith his ministerial rank intact.
Xia Baolong
Xia Baolong (; born 2 December 1952) is a Chinese politician. Originally from Tianjin, Xia began his political career in the Communist Youth League. He served as the vice mayor of Tianjin, governor and Communist Party Secretary of Zhejiang provi ...
, the current director of HKMAO, also holds the position of Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, thus, becoming one of the most highest-ranked official in the office for the past 10 years. According t
Zheng and Xie (2020) Beijing has for the first time placed a state leader, Xia Baolong, in charge of the cabinet-level office that oversees the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau.
This move has not only strengthened the central government’s direct supervision over the implementation of its policies in Hong Kong and Macau, reduced incumbent chief Zhang Xiaoming’s authority in an unexpected demotion, but also a countermeasure to ensure civil obedience after months of social turmoil and anti-government protests in Hong Kong. Pao also posited that the leadership change was a significant move that aimed to upgrade the status of the HKMAO – now led by a director at deputy national level and three deputy directors at ministerial level. Cheng Yan — a columnist who wrote a commentary published on Orangenews.hk — also argued that these changes were parts of a proactive reform of the “one country, two systems” principle, and urged the Hong Kong society to take initiative to act in concert with China’s development and safeguard the “one country, two systems” principle in the city.
Department structure
* Department of Secretary and Administration
* Department of General Affairs
* Department of Policy and Research
* Department of Liaison
* Department of Exchange and Cooperation
* Department of Law
* Institutional Party Committee (Department of Personnel)
From June 2017, discipline inspection within the office is handled by Pan Shengzhou.
Internal Bureaucracy
The internal bureaucracy of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council adheres to the following hierarchical structure:
As of 2019, the internal bureaucracy of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office was expanded upon to include the departments of National Security Affairs and Propaganda.
External Bureaucracy
The external bureaucracy of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office operates in accordance with the principle of
Nomenklatura
The ''nomenklatura'' ( rus, номенклату́ра, p=nəmʲɪnklɐˈturə, a=ru-номенклатура.ogg; from la, nomenclatura) were a category of people within the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries who held various key admi ...
, with positions under this system assigned under the criteria of reliability, political attitude, qualifications and administrative ability by the bureaucracy of the
Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victoriou ...
.
Whilst subordinate to the
Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victoriou ...
, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office also is subject to the authority of the Party’s Central Foreign Affairs
Leading Small Group within the decision making process.
Within this system, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office has the status of a governmental agency, maintaining authority below that of the Central Committee alongside other ministries such as the
Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Communications,
Ministry of Commerce A Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry or variations is a ministry that is concerned with a nation's trade, industry and commerce.
Notable examples are:
List
*Algeria: Ministry of Industry and M ...
, and the
Ministry of State Security.
Subordinate to these agencies is the structural economic bureaucracy, including the institutions of the
Bank of China
The Bank of China (BOC; ) is a Chinese majority state-owned commercial bank headquartered in Beijing and the fourth largest bank in the world.
The Bank of China was founded in 1912 by the Republican government as China's central bank, repl ...
,
People’s Bank of China
The People's Bank of China (officially PBC or informally PBOC; ) is the central bank of the People's Republic of China, responsible for carrying out monetary policy and regulation of financial institutions in mainland China, as determined by ...
and the state-owned enterprise of
Everbright.
Ranked below are the party agencies including the Hong Kong and Macau Work Committee, which is directly subordinate to the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
(Image) Structure of the
Communist Party’s Nomenklatura in Hong Kong
The elected party as a result of the
Legislative Elections
A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...
in Hong Kong is also classed as formally subordinate to the authority of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
Relationship with the Hong Kong and Macau Work Committee
The subordinate relationship between the Hong Kong and Macau Work Committee and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office is one previously influenced by controversy.
This was a result of the chain of command, in which the individual bureaucratic rank of state council minister, the head of the Hong Kong and Macau Work Committee, Xu Jiadun, was equal to that of Ji Pengfei, the head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. This allowed Xu to consequently bypass the authority of the Office, and discuss affairs directly with the Central Foreign Affairs Leading Small Group. As of 1990, the Work Committee was downgraded and tighter control of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office was reinforced as to resolve the issue.
Statements on Western Influence
The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has issued statements in response to Western countries’ remarks on the political mechanisms in Hong Kong.
On 20 December 2021, G7, European Union (EU) and Five Eyes members issued public remarks to criticize the Legislative Council election. They described the electoral system as ‘Beijing’s strategy to ensure only “patriots” hold office and criticized the low turnout rate. Foreign ministers of the G7 and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell also issued a joint statement which said that ‘ democratic elements are eroded’ in Hong Kong. On the same day, the HKMAO issued a statement in rebuttal. Spokesman for the office said that western countries ‘disguised their interference in local affairs and purpose of destroying Hong Kong’s prosperity’ by claiming care and concerns over Hong Kong’s democratic development. The spokesman also said in the same statement that western countries have always offered a political platform for the anti-China gangs, incited them and provided capital support to them to organize illegal movements.
On 9 May 2022, G7 issued a press statement which expressed “grave concern over the selection process” of Hong Kong’s new leader and described it as “part of an ongoing assault on political pluralism and fundamental freedoms”. The European Union (EU) has also expressed regrets on ‘ the violation of democratic principles and political pluralism’ in the chief executive(CE) election on 8 May, with EU’s top diplomat Josep Borell claiming it as ‘another step in the dismantling of the one country, two systems principle’.
In response to these remarks, the HKMAO on the same day issued a statement defending the CE election. The spokesman for the office criticized the G7 and EU for ‘blatantly smearing Hong Kong’s election and meddling in Hong Kong issues and China’s domestic affairs’, ‘ignoring the facts that Hong Kong’s CE election was held in accordance with the laws and principles of fairness and impartiality, election results have commanded people’s respect and support and the atmosphere in Hong Kong society was united and delightful’. The spokesman for the office also asked western countries not to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.
In face of western countries’ resolutions and sanctions imposed on Hong Kong, the HKMAO has also issued statements in rebuttal.
On 19 November 2021, the United States passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, a federal law that provides for sanctions relating to undermining fundamental freedoms and autonomy in Hong Kong and requires annual reports on Hong Kong autonomy to be made. On 20 November 2021, Yang Guang from the office made the remark that the US has ‘ignored China’s multiple objection, blatantly interfered in China’s internal affairs, contravened internal laws and principles of international relations and displayed dominance in the ugliest sense.’
On 20 January 2022, European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the deterioration of human rights in Hong Kong, including severe restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of association and press freedom. European lawmakers also urged the European Commission and EU member states to impose sanctions on the city’s top officials and proposed a review of Hong Kong’s status at the World Trade Organization (WTO). On 21 January 2022, the HKMAO issued a statement describing the resolution as ‘ a rubbish paper’ a “smear on its democracy and freedom”. Spokesman for the office said that European countries were ‘trying to interfere in China’s internal affairs by pointing fingers at and derogating Hong Kong affairs’. The spokesman also remarked that China has ‘moved away from the era of national humiliation’ and ‘will not allow any blatant interference of local affairs.’
Controversy
The scope of power enjoyed by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office concerning local affairs was in controversy.
In April 2020, the HKMAO expressed approval of the Court of Appeal judgment upholding the constitutionality of the Emergency Regulations Ordinance and disapproval of certain current affairs in the Legislative Council. In another strongly-worded statement released by the Liaison Office, the HKMAO was recognised as one of ‘China’s top bodies overseeing the city’s affairs ‘ that ‘is authorized by the central authorities to handle Hong Kong affairs’. The statement added that the HKMAO is entitled to supervise affairs in Hong Kong and make statements on issues on Hong Kong’s relationship with Beijing, ranging from the “correct” implementation of the Basic Law to matters pertaining to the overall interests of society.
Controversies as to whether the remarks made by the HKMAO constitute the violation of article 22 of the Basic Law had been stirred up. Article 22(1) of the Basic Law provides that: “No department of the Central People's Government and no province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government may interfere in the affairs which the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region administers on its own in accordance with this Law.’ The Hong Kong Bar Association issued a statement describing the public comments issued by the HKMAO as an exercise of public authority, which had already contravened article 22(1).
In response to such controversies, spokesman for the HKMAO said it is “inaccurate” to say the liaison office is bound by article 22 of the Basic Law. The local government had also issued a statement responding to media enquiries. In the statement, the government referred to article 22(2) of the Basic Law to explain the legal basis of HKMAO. It added that the office was entrusted with authority and responsibility to represent the Central government to express views and exercise supervisory power on major issues including those concerning the relations between the Central Government and the accurate implementation of the Basic Law. Therefore, the public remarks made by the HKMAO were legitimate and in accordance with the Basic Law.
In another public comment released by Professor Ho Lok Sang ,Head of the Department of Economics and Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies at Lingnan University, the general public shall not ‘misunderstand the roles of the HKMAO’ He noted that difference between intervening in Hong Kong’s internal affairs and expressing concern over some troubling developments shall be drawn and whether an act committed by the HKMAO constitutes an intervention of the Basic Law shall be assessed by“When there is a substantive impact on the actual operation of the political system.”
The HKMAO issued a statement against pro-democracy figures who organized primaries for the Hong Kong
Legislative Council in 2020, saying that it was "an unlawful manipulation of Hong Kong elections" and a "blatant challenge" to the
Basic Law, despite the Basic Law's Article 68 stating that the ultimate goal is to have universal suffrage for all members of the Legislative Council.
In September 2022, deputy director Huang Liuquan, claimed that it was "inappropriate" to call a 113,000 people leaving Hong Kong in the last year as an emigration wave, and also said claims that the National Security Law "mainlandised" the city were inaccurate.
The decrease in population was 1.6% from a year earlier, the largest drop since record keeping started in 1961.
Huang said "Hong Kong's population drop is caused by various factors and there is no way to suggest that it is a result of an emigration wave."
See also
*
Central Coordination Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs
The Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs () is an internal policy coordination group of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the State Council of the People's Republic of China, reporting to the CCP Poli ...
*
Hong Kong Affairs Adviser
Hong Kong Affairs Advisers () were appointed by the Chinese government after the last Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten carried out his electoral reform in the British Hong Kong, in the eve of the handover of the sovereignty of the city-state fr ...
*
*
*
Taiwan Affairs Office
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council is an administrative agency under the State Council of Mainland China. It is responsible for setting and implementing guidelines and policies related to the Republic of China (Taiwan), as stipulate ...
References
External links
Website of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office
* "Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council". ''english.www.gov.cn''. Retrieved 16 May 2022
* Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. (n.d). Retrieved on 14 May 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_and_Macau_Affairs_Office#List_of_directors Ho, L.S. (April 21, 2020). Understanding the roles of the HKMAO and Liaison Office. China Daily. Retrieved on 14 May 2022.
https://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/a/128157 Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. (September 12, 2014). Retrieved on 14 May 2022.
http://english.www.gov.cn/state_council/2014/10/01/content_281474991090982.htm Hong Kong elections Spark G7, EU, Five eyes condemnation. South China Morning Post. (2021, December 21). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3160478/us-sanctions-five-chinese-officials-saying-hong-kong-elections G7 foreign ministers' statement on Hong Kong legislative elections. G7 Foreign Ministers' statement on Hong Kong Legislative elections , EEAS Website. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/g7-foreign-ministers-statement-hong-kong-legislative-elections_en 国务院港澳事务办公室:国务院港澳办负责人就《"一国两制"下香港的民主发展》白皮书答记者问. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.hmo.gov.cn/xwzx/zwyw/202112/t20211220_23050.html Lew, L. (2022, May 9). G7 expresses concern over Hong Kong leader's election. Time. Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://time.com/6174800/g7-hong-kong-leaders-election/ Hong Kong's chief executive election a 'violation of democratic principles': Eu. South China Morning Post. (2022, May 8). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3176985/eu-slams-selection-john-lee-hong-kongs-chief-executive-violation 国务院港澳事务办公室:国务院港澳办发言人:美西方少数国家的聒噪阻挡不了香港由治及兴的发展大势. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.hmo.gov.cn/xwzx/xwfb/xwfb_child/202205/t20220509_23321.html 張詩夢. (n.d.). 國務院港澳辦強烈抗議和譴責美國國會參議院通過"香港人權與民主法案". 國務院港澳辦強烈抗議和譴責美國國會參議院通過"香港人權與民主法案" - 中華人民共和國國防部. Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
http://www.mod.gov.cn/big5/topnews/2019-11/20/content_4855266.htm Texts adopted - digital services act ***I - Thursday, 20 January 2022. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0014_EN.html 国务院港澳事务办公室:国务院港澳办发言人:欧洲议会所谓涉港决议是废纸一张、笑话一个. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
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https://hongkongfp.com/2020/04/19/govt-edits-press-release-overnight-after-contradicting-beijing-on-constitutional-status-of-its-hong-kong-office/ The law of the people’s republic of china (“PRC”) on safeguarding ... (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.hkba.org/sites/default/files/20200701%20HKBA%20statement%20on%20Safeguarding%20National%20%20Security%20in%20HKSAR.pdf News, V. O. A. (2020, April 18). China top office in Hong Kong declares itself not bound by basic law. VOA. Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.voanews.com/amp/east-asia-pacific_china-top-office-hong-kong-declares-itself-not-bound-basic-law/6187786.html Understanding the roles of the HKMAO and Liaison Office. chinadailyhk. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2022, from
https://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/a/128157
{{Authority control
State Council of the People's Republic of China
Government agencies of China
1978 establishments in China
Government agencies established in 1978