The 49 year-old has worked at the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office for 26 years, and had been one of its deputy directors.

Mr Zhang is also a member of the Basic Law Committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

A brief dispatch from Xinhua announced the appointment.

It also said Peng Qinghua, and deputy director Li Gang will no longer serve in their previous positions.

Earlier media reports had said Mr Peng would become the Communist Party Secretary of Guangxi, while Mr Li was set to become the new head of the Macau Affairs Office.