Beijing has replaced its top representative in Hong Kong, parachuting in a high-ranking veteran with no experience working in the Asian financial hub in the first major reshuffle since protests began more than six months ago.

China’s State Council announced on Saturday that 62-year-old Wang Zhimin, who had worked his way up the ranks of China’s Hong Kong bureaucracy over a decade before becoming head of its Liaison Office in 2017, has been succeeded by Luo Huining, who was previously boss of the northern province of Shanxi and higher in the Communist party hierarchy than Mr Wang.

Mr Luo‘s appointment marks the first time that anyone without direct experience of Hong Kong has been appointed to the top Communist party position in the territory. The Liaison Office reports to China’s State Council and is the vehicle through which Beijing can influence policy in the semi-autonomous territory.