New leadership candidates for Research Departments in Hong Kong and Macao Studies

Former deputy director of the Hong Kong Liaison Office, Yang Jianping, and former deputy director He Delong of the Hong Kong and Macau Research Institute are among the candidates to lead eight new research departments of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, according to sources.

This initiative follows the association's proposal in 2023 to establish these eight departments, aimed at addressing the functions of the eight bureaus under the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, which encompass politics, economy, culture, education and youth affairs, foreign affairs, and public opinion research.

The decision to formally create the research departments came just one day after Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, officiated at a seminar organized by the association in Beijing on January 9 this year.

Vice president of the association, Tam Yiu-chung, confirmed the establishment of relevant working groups and said that a list of candidates for department leaders has been prepared, although he did not provide further details.

Tam added that the research departments will align closely with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office to offer suggestions, and a work plan is currently being drafted. 

Sources indicate that the candidates hail from the mainland, including former officials from the city’s liaison office and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. 

Also, some members in each department will be drawn from Hong Kong and Macau to facilitate connections with relevant stakeholders.

(Ayra Wang)