On October 13, 1998 the Hong Kong SAR Government announced that Bowen Leung Po-Wing will be the first Head of the HKSAR office in Beijing. His major duty will be to help communication and improve working relations between the HKSAR and the Central and municipal governments. He will start his new job in November 1998.

Bowen Leung (66) is currently the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands. He was the private secretary to Governor Chris Patten between 1992 and 1995.