Business elite and pro-Beijing politicians meet officials from mainland’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Shenzhen to rally support for SAR’s prosperity and stability
- About 500 figures from Hong Kong attended meeting, which called for pro-establishment camp to organise rallies to demonstrate city’s ‘positive energy’
- Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong to crowdfund to help those affected by protests
About 500 business leaders and pro-Beijing politicians were in Shenzhen on Wednesday to hear Beijing officials call for support in safeguarding Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.
Among them were Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce chairman Aron Harilela, Sun Hung Kai Properties executive director Adam Kwok Kai-fai, Executive Council members Bernard Chan, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, former justice secretary Elsie Leung Oi-sie, former Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office deputy director Huang Liuquan and spokeswoman Xu Luying.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing chief executive Charles Li Xiaojia, chief executive of HSBC Asia-Pacific Peter Wong Tung-shun, former Wharf Holdings chairman Peter Woo Kwong-ching, and former police chief Andy Tsang Wai-hung also attended as local delegates to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPCCC).
But former Hong Kong leaders and CPPCC vice-chairmen Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying were not there. Also missing were a number of other prominent CPPCC delegates, including tycoon Li Ka-shing’s son Victor Li Tzar-kuoi and Henderson Land’s Peter Lee Ka-kit.
At the meeting, Zhang Xiaoming, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said the city’s most urgent task was to stop violence and urged the pro-government camp to “have no fears and stand up”, using different ways to confront as to safeguard the rule of law and restore stability.
Wang Zhimin, director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, further urged the delegation to organise rallies to demonstrate the “positive energy” of the city, citing the success of the two previous ones supporting the government and police on June 30 and July 20.
“We hope you will all be persistent in improving things with young people,” he added.
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Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said the party would mobilise public support by organising different activities, and it would set up a platform connecting all those affected by the recent protests.
“We would want to set up a fund through crowdfunding, as to assist those innocent civilians who have been affected by the recent spate of protests,” Lee said.
“Many citizens are angry about the situation but do not dare to raise their voices. I believe a platform would help their voices be heard.”
Ip Kwok-Him, an executive councillor, said the fund would help people whose livelihoods have been affected, referring to reports of a van driver whose vehicle was vandalised after he clashed with protesters.
The DAB is viewed as the most resourceful party in the city. In a single fundraising dinner in 2016, the party raised more than HK$60 million (US$7.65 million).
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But pan-democrat lawmaker Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung believed the party’s planned crowdfunding drive was less about raising finances than a tactic to mobilise public support.
“I am worried that the tactic of stirring up struggles between people will encourage clashes with protesters,” he said.
