Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Guangya has been appointed minister of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. He replaces 68-year-old Liao Hui, who had headed the office since 1997.

Wang, 60, has been in diplomatic service for 30 years. He was first named vice minister of foreign affairs in 1999 and from 2003 to 2008, he served as China's permanent representative to the UN. Since completing his UN tenure, he had served as the vice minister of foreign affairs, responsible for executive affairs and policy planning.

Wang used to be involved in Hong Kong affairs as a member of the Committee for Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Wang studied at the Student Center of British Council, Wales Atlantic United College and the London School of Economics in the UK from 1972 to 1975. He completed advanced studies at Johns Hopkins University in 1982.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council is an organ assisting the premier with affairs relevant to Hong Kong and Macao. It was established in 1978.