China's central government appointed Deng Bingqiang as secretary for security on Friday in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law.

Deng joined the Hong Kong police force as a probationary inspector in June 1987. He was promoted to police chief superintendent in 2012 and commissioner of police in 2019.

(Photo: Chinanews.com)

The US government last year extended sanctions on a dozen officials on the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong including Deng.

"It is my duty and honor to safeguard the security of the country and Hong Kong," Deng said. “Foreign sanctions against me mean almost nothing to me. I will continue to concentrate on my duty.”