Top Beijing official for Hong Kong claims pan-democrats can become ‘constructive force’ in restless city
Wang Guangya’s comments for July 1 article also address local political figures’ mainland travel issues
The man who oversees a key mainland institution on Hong Kong matters has described the city as undergoing a “restless period” with independence advocates emerging but expressed confidence they will fade from the scene and a new generation of politicians will “mature”.
In a rare gesture, he called them “part of the establishment from the Basic Law perspective” because they were members of the legislature laid down in the mini-constitution.
“We are actively resolving some problems of the pan-democrats relating to the mainland. We hope the pan-democrats become a constructive force [for Hong Kong],” he said.
While Wang did not specify the “problems”, it is widely understood in political circles to be the issuance of home-return permits to the pan-democrats, many of whom lost their papers after their support of the Tiananmen Square student movement of 1989.
The director, who is due to retire soon, struck this conciliatory tone towards the city’s pro-democracy figures in an interview with pro-Beijing magazine Bauhinia. The article’s publication today coincides with the 19th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover.
