A top central government representative in Hong Kong urged the Democratic Party, during a historic meeting with party leaders yesterday, to make a 'responsible decision' to help move the political system forward.
The call by Li Gang, deputy director of the central government's liaison office, came after the first meeting between the Democrats and Beijing since the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. It was made at the first press conference by chiefs of the liaison office or its predecessor, the Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong branch, since 1985.
Li said the meeting had been arranged because the party had adopted a 'rational and pragmatic' attitude in seeking a dialogue on political reform. But the Democrats said there were still huge differences between them and Beijing, and threatened to veto the Hong Kong government's proposal for the 2012 elections if the central government fails to make substantial concessions.
Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan said Li had promised to convey their views to the central government.
The high-level talks sparked fears in political circles that the liaison office was now blatantly interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and acting as if it was the city's 'second governing team' after the SAR government.
Li sat down with Ho, Democratic Party vice-chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing and executive committee member Cheung Man-kwong for 135 minutes at the liaison office headquarters in Western.
