Mainland trip for pan-democrats to have dialogue with Beijing on reform 'may be possible'

Talks between Beijing and pan-democrats ahead of a key legislative vote on electoral reform may be possible as a senior government official is said to be exploring the feasibility of arranging a mainland trip for all lawmakers.

Pan-democratic lawmakers are not optimistic, however, describing the revelation as merely a government tactic to "test the waters" to see how keen they are on dialogue.

They said neither Hong Kong officials nor messengers for Beijing had spoken to them about it, although the Legislative Council had only weeks to go before voting on the government's reform proposal in summer.

The possibility of a dialogue was held out by lawmaker Wong Kwok-kin, of the Beijing-loyalist Federation of Trade Unions.

"A senior government official has consulted several pro-establishment lawmakers recently on whether we would agree to a visit by all 70 lawmakers to the mainland," Wong said.

"It doesn't look like a random suggestion. I believe that official came to us with some kind of endorsement," though the person did not reveal details about the timing or the names of Beijing officials who might meet them.

Legco is expected to vote late next month on the model for the 2017 chief executive poll. The government's plan adheres strictly to Beijing's ruling that only two or three candidates who win majority support from a nominating committee will contest the race. Talks to thrash out differences over the plan could have taken place last month when Basic Law Committee chairman Li Fei visited the city, but a joint pledge by all 27 pan-democratic legislators to vote down the package unless the ruling was scrapped, followed by Li's cancellation of the trip, put paid to that. The government is short of at least four votes for Legco to pass its package.