Wang Guangya
Encyclopedia
Wang Guangya born March 1950 in Jiangsu Province People's Republic of China
, is a Chinese diplomat
who is currently Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
. A career diplomat, Wang was previously Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. He served as Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China
to the United Nations
from 2003 to 2008.
in the United Kingdom
. He is a graduate from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University
in 1982.
for the month of February 2004. On 3 May 2006, when Britain
and France
introduced a U.N. Security Council resolution insisting Iran end its nuclear program, Wang commented, "I don't think this draft as it stands now will produce good results. I think it's tougher than expected."
According to a September 2006 profile of Wang in The New York Times Magazine
, he was considered the top contender for the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in 2007.
In October 2010 he became the second director of the Hong Kong and Macau affairs office. There have only been two directors for the affairs office. Wang spents most of his time in Beijing. Though he did make a three day visit to HK in 2011 to address the Home Ownership Scheme
issue. His working style is very different compared to the previous director Liao Hui who kept silent from public and worked in mystery the 13 years he was in charge of HK.
was a worker who defended the victims of the 2008 Chinese milk scandal
. On December 29, 2010 Wang Guangya said that because of the One country, two systems
Hong Kong should not interfere with the issue. He then made a controversial statement "well water (HK) should not pollute the river water (China)" (井水不犯河水). Pro-Beijing member Ip Kwok-him then tried to defend the director by saying that HK citizens were only concerned about mainland affairs, and that they do care about One country two systems as well as the mainland justice system. Chief Secretary for Administration
Henry Tang
was asked to interpret what the water-river statement meant. He only smiled and did not answer. The phrase was first used by former President
Jiang Zemin
in December 1989 when he met the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
. He previously said "Well water should not pollute river water, river water should not pollute well water."
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, is a Chinese diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who is currently Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
State Council of the People's Republic of China
The State Council of the People's Republic of China , which is largely synonymous with the Central People's Government after 1954, is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the Premier and includes the heads of each governmental department and agency...
. A career diplomat, Wang was previously Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. He served as Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 2003 to 2008.
Education
Wang studied at Student Center of British Council, Wales Atlantic United College and London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is a graduate from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1982.
Career
Wang was appointed Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 25 August 2003. He was President of the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
for the month of February 2004. On 3 May 2006, when Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
introduced a U.N. Security Council resolution insisting Iran end its nuclear program, Wang commented, "I don't think this draft as it stands now will produce good results. I think it's tougher than expected."
According to a September 2006 profile of Wang in The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
, he was considered the top contender for the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in 2007.
In October 2010 he became the second director of the Hong Kong and Macau affairs office. There have only been two directors for the affairs office. Wang spents most of his time in Beijing. Though he did make a three day visit to HK in 2011 to address the Home Ownership Scheme
Home Ownership Scheme
The Home Ownership Scheme is a subsidized-sale programme of public housing in Hong Kong managed by the Hong Kong Housing Authority...
issue. His working style is very different compared to the previous director Liao Hui who kept silent from public and worked in mystery the 13 years he was in charge of HK.
One country two systems comment
Zhao LianhaiZhao Lianhai
Zhao Lianhai is a Chinese dissident and former food safety worker who became an activist for parents of children harmed during the 2008 Chinese milk scandal. In 2010 he was sentenced to 2½ years imprisonment for 'disturbing social order'....
was a worker who defended the victims of the 2008 Chinese milk scandal
2008 Chinese milk scandal
The 2008 Chinese milk scandal was a food safety incident in the People's Republic of China, involving milk and infant formula, and other food materials and components, adulterated with melamine....
. On December 29, 2010 Wang Guangya said that because of the One country, two systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
Hong Kong should not interfere with the issue. He then made a controversial statement "well water (HK) should not pollute the river water (China)" (井水不犯河水). Pro-Beijing member Ip Kwok-him then tried to defend the director by saying that HK citizens were only concerned about mainland affairs, and that they do care about One country two systems as well as the mainland justice system. Chief Secretary for Administration
Chief Secretary for Administration
The Chief Secretary for Administration , commonly known as Chief Secretary and abbreviated as CS, is the second highest position of the Hong Kong Government...
Henry Tang
Henry Tang
Henry Tang Ying-yen, GBM, GBS, JP was the Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong until his resignation in September 2011. He is a candidate in the Hong Kong Chief Executive election of 2012, and believed to be preferred by Beijing....
was asked to interpret what the water-river statement meant. He only smiled and did not answer. The phrase was first used by former President
President of the People's Republic of China
The President of the People's Republic of China is a ceremonial office and a part of State organs under the National People's Congress and it is the head of state of the People's Republic of China . The office was created by the 1982 Constitution...
Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin is a former Chinese politician, who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1989 to 2002, as President of the People's Republic of China from 1993 to 2003, and as Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2005...
in December 1989 when he met the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. He previously said "Well water should not pollute river water, river water should not pollute well water."
External links
- Wang Guangya biography @ China Vitae, the web's largest online database of China VIPs
- Biography
- Princeton University speech in April 2004
- University of Chicago speech in April 2006 at the University of Chicago's "China and the Future of the World" conference