China names new liaison director for Hong Kong

Bloomberg

China appointed a new top liaison official for Hong Kong, replacing the former director amid months of protests in the financial hub.
Luo Huining will take over from Wang Zhimin as the Hong Kong liaison office director, the government said in a two-sentence statement that didn’t elaborate on the changes.
Wang was former director of China’s liaison office in Macau before he was appointed the top representative in Hong Kong in 2017. Luo served as Shanxi party secretary from 2016 until November last year. He was made deputy chairman of the financial and economic committee of the National People’s Congress a month later.
Hong Kong has been gripped by more than six months of often-violent protests by activists demanding greater autonomy from Beijing.
China’s government has consistently backed Chief Executive Carrie Lam, including on a visit to Beijing she made to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-December.
Wang last month didn’t respond to a Reuters report that he could be replaced.
“Me, my team and colleagues in the China Liaison office will continue to perform faithfully the duties granted by the central government,” Wang said then.
With support for the protesters undiminished after months of violent unrest, speculation of Wang’s removal from the position has been growing, particularly after pro-government candidates suffered a resounding defeat in Hong Kong district council elections in November.