Hong Kong Liaison Office
The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (中央人民政府駐香港特別行政區聯絡辦公室) was established on January 18, 2000, succeeding the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch that operated since 1947. Also known as the Hong Kong Work Committee of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party under a “one institution with two names” system, the office serves as Beijing’s representative in Hong Kong and coordinates pro-Beijing candidates, mobilizes supporters for “patriotic” political parties, and orchestrates electoral campaigns. Critics have alleged that the office interferes in the affairs of Hong Kong against stipulations in the territory’s Basic Law that “no department of the Central People’s Government and no province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government may interfere in the affairs which the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.” The office, and state media, have strenuously denied accusations of interference, arguing it has the power to “supervise” and that it is not bound by the Basic Law. The office controls pro-Beijing media including Ta Kung Pao (大公报), Wen Wei Po (文汇报), and Commercial Daily (商报) through subsidiary Guangdong New Culture Development.
