Wang Zhimin

Summary

Wang Zhimin (Chinese: 王志民; pinyin: Wáng Zhìmín; born 8 August 1957) is a Chinese politician, a member of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and vice president of the Central Institute for Party History and Literature Research. He was the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong and Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao.

Wang Zhimin
王志民
Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong
In office
22 September 2017 – 4 January 2020
PremierLi Keqiang
LeaderZhang DejiangHan Zheng
Preceded byZhang Xiaoming
Succeeded byLuo Huining
Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macau
In office
20 July 2016 – 22 September 2017
PremierLi Keqiang
LeaderZhang Dejiang
Preceded byLi Gang
Succeeded byZheng Xiaosong
Personal details
Born (1957-08-08) 8 August 1957 (age 66)
Xianyou County, Fujian, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
ResidenceHong Kong
Alma materFujian Normal University
OccupationPolitician

Biography edit

With a family root in Fujian, Wang was educated at the Fujian Normal University and became a member of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). From 1992 to 1998, he served at the New China News Agency Hong Kong Branch. In 1998, he returned to Fujian to serve as the assistant to the Mayor of Xiamen and other bureaux when Xi Jinping, later becoming General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, was the Governor of Fujian. In 2006, he became the Deputy Secretary-general of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong until 2015 when he became Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. From 2016 to 2017, he was the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macau.

In 2017, he replaced Zhang Xiaoming to become the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong.[1] In January 2020 he was dismissed and replaced by Luo Huining,[2] reportedly for misleading the leadership in Beijing about the extent of support for the ongoing protests in Hong Kong and for thus failing to foresee the opposition win by the Pro-democracy camp and localist camp in the 2019 local elections.[3][4] After he dismissed, he was appointed as the vice President of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee in ministerial level.[5]

Controversies edit

In April 2018, Wang said in a speech that Hong Kong residents needed to respect and understand the Chinese constitution, as it is the "root and foundation" of its future following the amendment of Article 1 of the Chinese constitution to denote the CCP leadership as "the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics". Targeting the pro-democrats' slogan of calling for the end of "one party dictatorship" since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. Wang said "If you oppose this system, you are overturning our one country, two systems. This is a crime committed against Hong Kong people. It will not bring blessings to Hong Kong, but calamity."[6]

References edit

  1. ^ "【小明升官】習總心腹王志民 出掌港中聯辦". 蘋果日報. 2017-09-22.
  2. ^ "China replaces top envoy to Hong Kong: state media". RTÉ. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020. "Wang Zhimin has been dismissed from his position as head of the Liaison Office" for Hong Kong affairs and was replaced by Luo Huining, state broadcaster CCTV said, without giving details.
  3. ^ "Liaison office chief misled Beijing over HK: analyst". RTHK. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Wang Zhimin had to pay the price: Tanya Chan". RTHK. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. ^ "卸任香港中联办主任后,王志民回京履新". bjd.com.cn. 2020-01-09.
  6. ^ "Calling for an end to communist rule in China 'is a crime against Hong Kong'". South China Morning Post. 6 April 2018.
Government offices
Preceded by
Li Gang
Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macau
2016–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong
2017–2020
Succeeded by