The Communist Party of China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection member Li Gang, currently a vice-director and spokesman for the central government’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong, will become Beijing’s top representative in Macau early next year, Hong Kong media reported at the weekend.
The South China Morning Post quoted “Beijing sources” as confirming the appointment.
The English-language daily said the appointment was in recognition of the 57-year old official’s work in Hong Kong.
Li is one of the 130 members of the of the party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection who were elected at last month’s 18th CPC National Congress. He was re-elected as a member of the commission.
The commission is tasked with rooting out corruption and malfeasance among party cadres. It is headed by Wang Qishan, who is also a member of the Politburo Standing Committee.
Li currently holds the rank of a vice-minister. As director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau he would have the rank of a minister.
Analysts pointed out to The Macau Post Daily that in the past the heads of the liaison offices in Hong Kong and Macau were usually Central Committee members but that Li’s membership of the party’s Discipline Inspection Commission was acceptable since the Central Committee and Discipline Inspection Commission are on the same level in the party’s hierarchy.
Current Liaison Office Director Bai Zhijian said last week that he was ready for orders from the nation’s new leadership on what his new duties would be.
Bai, aged 64, has headed the office since 2002. He also said that he was not re-elected as a member of the CPC Central Committee last month due to his age.
The Liaison Office in Macau has four vice directors – Xu Ze, Gao Yan, Li Benjun and Chen Qiming. (macaunews)
