Deng Zhonghua Explained

Deng Zhonghua (; September 1961) is a Chinese government official. He was appointed as the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) in 2018.

In June 2020, Deng said that Beijing would reserve the right to handle "rare" cases involving the National Security Law.^[1]

Early life

Deng Zhonghua was born in September 1961, in Changsha, Hunan.^[2]

Career

In 1986, Deng started his public career in China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA) Office of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, and was eventually promoted to serve as the head of the legal team.

In 2000, Deng was appointed as the deputy consul-general of the Consulate-General in Melbourne. In 2004, he returned to the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Department of the MFA and was eventually appointed as its head. In 2011, he was appointed as the Director-General of the Department of Frontiers and Seas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this period, he participated in the work of sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea, including the Sino-Philippine negotiations during the Scarborough Shoal standoff.^{[3] [4]}

In 2017, Deng was transferred to the Chinese Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, managing the inspection team for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. In 2018, Deng Zhonghua returned to the field of Hong Kong and Macao affairs, becoming the deputy director of the deputy director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, while being promoted to be a member of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Hong Kong national security law

See main article: 2020 Hong Kong national security law. On 9 November 2020, Deng was sanctioned by the United States under Executive Order 13936 for his role in implementing the Hong Kong national security law.^{[5] [6] [7]}

On 17 March 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken submitted an updated report to the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, and again named Deng as one of the 24 people "whose actions have reduced Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy".^{[8] [9] [10]}

Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies

Deng left the HKMAO in 2022 and started his position as president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies.^[11]

External links

• Resume of Deng Zhonghua at Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council (in Chinese)

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2020-06-15. Beijing reserves right to handle 'rare' Hong Kong national security law cases. 2021-02-01. South China Morning Post. en.
2. Web site: 2020-06-16. 港版国安法：邓中华提北京保留司法权引起新争议. 2021-07-01. BBC News 中文. zh-hans.
3. Web site: The MFA Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs Lodges Representations to the Philippines on the Intention of the Philippines to Bring the Dispute over Huangyan Island Territorial Sovereignty to International Arbitration. 2021-07-01. pg.china-embassy.org.
4. Book: Shicun Wu. Arbitration Concerning the South China Sea: Philippines versus China. Keyuan Zou. 2 March 2016. Routledge. 978-1-317-17988-7.
5. News: Brunnstrom. Humeyra Pamuk, David. 2020-11-10. U.S. imposes sanctions on four Chinese officials over Hong Kong crackdown. en. Reuters. 2021-02-26.
6. News: 2020-11-09. U.S. announces sanctions on four Chinese nationals over Hong Kong. en. Reuters. 2021-02-26.
7. Web site: Syria Designations; Syria-related Designations; Hong Kong-related Designations U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2021-02-26. home.treasury.gov.
8. Web site: 2021-03-17. US imposes new sanctions against 14 officials over Hong Kong electoral overhaul. 2021-03-17. South China Morning Post. en.
9. Web site: 2021-03-17. Hong Kong Autonomy Act Update. 2021-03-17. U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau. en-US.
10. Web site: Update to Report on Identification of Foreign Persons Involved in the Erosion of the Obligations of China Under the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law. 2021-03-17. United States Department of State. en.
11. Web site: Greater Bay among top international bay areas: FS - RTHK . 2022-09-07 . news.rthk.hk . en-gb.