The State Council on Friday appointed Zhou Ji as the director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, replacing Zheng Yanxiong.

In a statement, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said Zhou will also serve as the national security advisor of the SAR's Committee for Safeguarding National Security, a position also formerly held by Zheng.

Zhou, 61, has been an executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office since 2023.

Zheng, also 61, had headed the liaison office since 2023.