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Two Sessions 2023
Hong KongPolitics

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: Beijing’s political reshuffle is good news for Hong Kong, analysts say

  • New executive vice-premier in Beijing, Ding Xuexiang, poised to take over oversight role for Hong Kong and Macau
  • Peng Qinghua, a former Beijing envoy to Hong Kong, becomes a deputy chairman of the national legislature and is expected to bring benefits to city

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New Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang (left) after the closing session of the National People’s Congress in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE
Willa Wu
A changing of the guard in mainland China’s corridors of power in favour of younger delegates and officials with closer ties to Hong Kong has underlined Beijing’s commitment to the city’s development, political analysts said after the annual “two sessions” parliamentary gatherings concluded.
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Seasoned observers said one notable change was the leadership overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs after Ding Xuexiang, 60, succeeded Han Zheng as executive vice-premier.

Ding is widely tipped to also take over the oversight role for the two special administrative regions as Han used to head the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, a top body of the Chinese Communist Party.

Peng Qinghua, a former Beijing envoy to Hong Kong, who became a deputy chairman of the country’s national legislature at the annual “two sessions” parliamentary meeting in Beijing. Photo: Simon Song
Peng Qinghua, a former Beijing envoy to Hong Kong, who became a deputy chairman of the country’s national legislature at the annual “two sessions” parliamentary meeting in Beijing. Photo: Simon Song
Ding, the sixth-highest official in the Politburo Standing Committee, the country’s top decision-making body, has had close links with Hong Kong, including participation in meetings when the city’s leaders delivered their annual work reports, as well as accompanying President Xi Jinping on visits to Hong Kong.

“As the executive vice-premier, the first among four vice-premiers, Ding will be better able to coordinate and mobilise ministries to uphold the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and guide the city to move forward,” Professor Lau Siu-kai, a consultant at the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said.

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Xi Jinping stresses party leadership as parliament draws to close

Xi Jinping stresses party leadership as parliament draws to close

Political commentator Johnny Lau Yui-siu said Ding was “good at implementing what has been ordered” and that he had “gained a high degree of trust” from Xi.

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