China boosts cadres in Hong Kong by 100, as Beijing tightens supervision of city, media report

Great Wall Pan Asia Holdings

29/01/2021 02:32

HONG KONG, Jan 29 (Reuters) - China sent an extra 100 cadres
to work in its top Hong Kong office in the past year to make
sure the city was ruled by patriots, the South China Morning
Post said on Friday.
    Beijing has imposed a tighter grip on the Asian financial
hub in the past year, imposing new security laws and arresting
political opponents.
    The Post, citing unnamed sources, said the Hong Kong Liaison
Office's expanded responsibilities included tighter supervision
and policy implementation in the semiautonomous city.
    The new cadres were also tasked with helping contain the
coronavirus, build bridges with young people who have shown
their anger towards Beijing in often-violent 2019 protests and
to identify long-term governance challenges, the report said.
    One mainland China source cited in the report said about 200
new cadres were transferred in the past year, partly to replace
others in jobs on rotation. That resulted in a net increase of
100 staff. The total staff numbers remain unknown.
    Many of the new arrivals had been selected for their skills
in areas such as social media and because they were "ready to
start afresh" in Hong Kong, the source told the paper.
    A second source close to the Liaison Office told the paper
the cadres had all attended briefings, including on disciplinary
issues, in the neighbouring mainland tech hub of Shenzhen before
they arrived in Hong Kong. 
    "The disciplinary reminder is important because the liaison
office now promotes a down-to-earth working style and following
(Communist Party discipline) is a top priority," the source was
quoted as saying.
    They were also vaccinated against COVID-19 while in
Shenzhen. 
    China has signaled a more hands-on approach on Hong Kong
affairs early last year when it replaced the heads of the
Liaison Office in the city and of the Hong Kong and Macau
Affairs Office on the mainland.

 (Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Michael Perry)
 ((donny.kwok@thomsonreuters.com; +852 2843 6470; Reuters
Messaging: donny.kwok.reuters.com@reuters.net))