{"id":1533747,"date":"2024-03-04T20:15:09","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T20:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/news\/china\/hong-kong-former-rep-03042024151450.html"},"modified":"2024-03-04T20:15:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T20:15:09","slug":"china-fires-outspoken-former-hong-kong-envoy-from-top-advisory-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2024\/03\/04\/china-fires-outspoken-former-hong-kong-envoy-from-top-advisory-role\/","title":{"rendered":"China fires outspoken former Hong Kong envoy from top advisory role"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n
Zhang Xiaoming, Beijing's outspoken former representative in Hong Kong at the time of the 2019 protest movement, has been removed from his post at a political advisory body.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While state broadcaster CCTV reported that Zhang has been removed from the post of deputy secretary general of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, it was unclear whether he is accused of any wrongdoing.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n State media continued on Monday to refer to Zhang as \"comrade,\" indicating that he remains a Communist Party member.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n CCTV gave no reason for Zhang's removal at the age of 61, four years short of the official retirement age of 65, and he remains a rank-and-file member of the Conference, <\/span>appearing on the rostrum<\/span><\/a> during Monday's opening ceremony.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several pro-China figures in Hong Kong declined to comment on Zhang's departure when contacted by RFA Cantonese on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, political sources cited by the Singapore-based pro-China <\/span>Lianhe Zaobao<\/span><\/i> newspaper said Zhang could be on his way to another job, rather than being fired in some kind of disgrace.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n China\u2019s government has removed a number of ministerial-level officials from their posts in recent months without explanation, including <\/span>former foreign minister Qin Gang<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>former defense minister Li Shangfu<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hardliner<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Hong Kong, Zhang is largely remembered as a hardliner who flagged a number of repressive policies shortly before they were implemented. He was apparently sidelined in favor of Xia Baolong in 2020, possibly to take the fall for the <\/span>2019 protest movement<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2013, Zhang said a march demanding fully democratic elections proved that the freedoms guaranteed under the handover agreement <\/span>were still intact<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n