Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has welcomed the appointment of Zhou Ji as the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and national security adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, replacing Zheng Yanxiong.

In a statement issued early on Saturday, Lee also expressed his sincere gratitude to Zheng for his contributions to the city.

Since July 2023, Zhou has been serving as the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, directly participating in the management and coordination of Hong Kong affairs, said the CE.

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Pointing out that he is well acquainted with the national policies on Hong Kong, Lee said Zhou led a delegation last year to Hong Kong for an inspection visit to coordinate the implementation of the central government's policies benefitting Hong Kong and convey the central government's strong support for Hong Kong's development and care for Hong Kong people.

He has previously held such positions as a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, a member of the Standing Committee and deputy secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, and vice governor of Henan province, possessing extensive experience in policymaking and local governance, added the CE.

Thanking the central government for its care and support for the HKSAR, he said, “I am fully confident that Mr Zhou will lead the liaison office in continuing its support to the HKSAR government's governance in accordance with the law, working together with us in fully, faithfully and resolutely implementing the principles of ‘one country, two systems’, ‘Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong’ and a high degree of autonomy.”

“We will together maintain the constitutional order of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law and implement the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’.”

Lee expressed his confidence that Zhou will lead the liaison office in its continued cooperation with the HKSAR government of promoting the city’s proactive alignment with national strategies, creating new momentum and advantages for Hong Kong's economic development, promoting the SAR’s transition from stability to prosperity through innovation and invention, and making greater contribution to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The CE said he is deeply grateful to Zheng for steadfastly upholding the "one country, two systems" principle on issues such as safeguarding national security and maintaining the HKSAR's constitutional order in his tenure of over two years.

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“During his office, Mr Zheng fully supported the HKSAR government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility and historic mission of enacting local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law,” he added.