Xia Baolong

Xia Baolong
Name	Xia Baolong
Native name	夏宝龙
Office	Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office
Term start	13 February 2020
1blankname	Premier
1namedata	Li Keqiang
Office2	Communist Party Secretary of Zhejiang
Term start2	December 2012
Term end2	April 2017
1blankname2	Governor
1namedata2	Li Qiang, Che Jun
Predecessor2	Zhao Hongzhu
Successor2	Che Jun
Birth date	1 December 1952
Birth place	Tianjin, China
Party	Chinese Communist Party (1973–present)
Alma mater	Peking University
Hanziname	夏宝龙

Xia Baolong is a senior Chinese Communist Party official serving as the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council since 2020. A member of the 19th and 20th Central Committees, his career has been defined by long service in Zhejiang province and a subsequent pivotal role overseeing Hong Kong and Macao policy. His tenure has coincided with significant political changes in Hong Kong, including the implementation of the Hong Kong national security law.

Early life and education

Born in Tianjin in December 1952, he began his working life in the early 1970s. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1973, a critical step for his future political trajectory. For his higher education, he attended the prestigious Peking University, where he studied law, providing a foundational understanding of the Chinese legal system. His early career included positions in his native Tianjin, such as within the local Youth League system, before he transitioned to roles in Zhejiang.

Career in Zhejiang

His political career became deeply intertwined with Zhejiang province, where he served for over two decades. He held numerous local leadership posts, including as Mayor and later Party Secretary of the provincial capital, Hangzhou. In December 2012, he was elevated to the role of Communist Party Secretary of Zhejiang, the top political office in the province, succeeding Zhao Hongzhu. During his tenure, he worked closely with governors Li Qiang and later Che Jun, focusing on provincial economic development and implementing policies from the central leadership under Xi Jinping.

National political roles

Following his service in Zhejiang, he was appointed a Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in 2018, a senior advisory role. His most significant national appointment came in February 2020, when he was named the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and concurrently a Deputy Director of the Central Leading Group for Hong Kong and Macao Affairs. This placed him at the forefront of Beijing's policy towards the Special Administrative Regions.

Hong Kong and Macao affairs

As director, he has been a key architect and enforcer of Beijing's hardened stance towards Hong Kong. His office played a central role in coordinating the imposition of the Hong Kong national security law in 2020. He has consistently emphasized the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and supported electoral reforms to ensure this outcome. His tenure has also involved overseeing the integration of Hong Kong and Macao into national development strategies like the Greater Bay Area, while firmly opposing what he terms foreign interference, particularly from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Controversies and criticism

His leadership of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has drawn significant international criticism. Western governments, including the U.S. State Department and the UK Foreign Office, have sanctioned him for his role in implementing policies they argue undermine Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms. Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and international human rights groups like Human Rights Watch have condemned his office's actions. Supporters, however, argue his work is necessary to uphold national sovereignty and stability.

Personal life

He is married to Feng Xiaoyue. Details about his family life and personal interests are kept private, consistent with the general discretion maintained by senior Chinese Communist Party officials. His career progression reflects a model of a loyal party cadre who advanced through provincial governance before assuming a critical central role in national territorial affairs.

Category:Chinese Communist Party politicians from Tianjin Category:Members of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Category:Members of the 20th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party