Create mechanism to discuss cross-border issues, says former Hong Kong Democratic Party lawmaker
Cheung Man-kwong was commenting on moderate views expressed by senior Beijing official Feng Wei, who forecast that young radicals would enter Legco in September
A former Democratic Party lawmaker who engaged in secret talks with a top Beijing official on electoral reform has called on the central government to set up a mechanism to discuss cross-border issues.
Cheung Man-kwong said he appreciated the pragmatic tone of Feng Wei, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, in an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post earlier this month.
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“I believe his remarks indicate the central government is adopting a more conciliatory approach towards Hong Kong and it’s not just a tactic ahead of the Legislative Council elections in September,” Cheung said. “Beijing will strive to prevent a further split in Hong Kong society.”
Feng said in the interview he was fully prepared to accept the reality of several young radicals winning Legislative Council seats in the elections, but expected them to mature politically over time.
He added the central government was also analysing the reasons for the rise of radicalism and the tendency of protesters to resort to violent means to achieve their ends.
He also stressed that advocates of separatism and Hong Kong independence were a minority who did not represent the mainstream.