China has replaced the head of its Hong Kong liaison office. China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on its website late on Saturday that Wang Zhimin, who had held the post since 2017, was replaced by Luo Huining, who for a brief tenure beginning November 2019 was the top official of China's ruling Communist Party in the northern province of Shanxi.
Huining said early on Monday that he is familiar with the matter of Hong Kong and the situation in the city. The new liaison office chief praised the contribution that Hong Kong makes to China's modernization, claiming that Beijing is the city's strongest supporter, according to Reuters.
Huining expressed his hope that the preeminent Asian financial hub would gradually return to what he characterized as the right path, stressing that the "one country, two systems" framework is to Hong Kong's advantage.
The Chinese senior official also expressed hope that the rule of law would prevail under the efforts of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
Beijing has repeatedly claimed that the ongoing situation in Hong Kong is a result of foreign interference in China’s domestic affairs. President Xi Jinping’s administration in Beijing has stressed that it fully supports the actions of the city authority and security forces.