Li Hong-zhong, former Party chief of Shenzhen, was appointed vice- and acting governor of Hubei Province by the provincial legislative body yesterday.

Li, born in 1956, was appointed at the 30th session of the Standing Committee of the Hubei Provincial People's Congress.

He will serve as acting mayor before the full governorship is decided by vote at the provincial people's congress meeting to be held early next year.

The provincial legislature yesterday also approved the resignation of former Hubei governor Luo Qingquan. Luo was named Party chief of Hubei by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October.

Li, of Han nationality, is a native of Changle, Shandong Province. He graduated from the history department of Jilin University and joined the CPC in 1976.

Li began his career with the Shenyang city government in Liaoning Province and later moved to Huizhou in Guangdong Province, where he was named vice-mayor and later mayor.

Li then served as the vice-governor of Guangdong from 2001 to 2003, and was later appointed deputy Party chief, Party chief and mayor of Shenzhen.

Li is also an alternate member to the 16th and 17th CPC Central Committee.

The change is part of a broad reshuffle of top positions after the 17th CPC National Congress.
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(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2007)