Hong Kong tycoons prepare to talk business with Hu Jintao
Hong Kong's tycoons are expected to meet President Hu Jintao today as an unprecedented autumn 'delegation season' reaches its climax.
The tycoons, including Li Ka-shing and Henry Fok Ying-tung, are making their first formal call on the new leadership. They are also expected to meet officials from the State Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce.
Zou Zhekai, deputy-director of the central government's Joint Liaison Office, said the reception was not unusual and he played down suggestions they were getting special treatment. 'All delegations were received by the state leaders,' he said.
Tsang Hin-chi, another of the tycoons and a Standing Committee member of the National People's Congress, said the meeting was meant to be a gesture of support for Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.
A stream of delegations from Hong Kong has visited Beijing this month, including members of the Liberal Party and the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong. But they were received only by Vice-President Zeng Qinghong.
Mr Fok, head of the delegation as vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said it was natural for the business sector to visit Beijing and meet state leaders.
Many tycoons, including Mr Fok and Lim Por-yen, the former boss of Asia Television, are being accompanied by their children, prompting reports they are grooming a new generation with close ties to the leadership.
Matthew Lim Kin-hong, son of Mr Lim, said he had come to learn to be a 'patriot'. Chiang Chen, chairman of the Chen Hsong Group, said: 'We mainly come here to talk about business. There is no other political motive.'
His daughter, Chiang Lai-yuen, and his son, Chiang Chi-kin, are also in the delegation.
On arrival in the capital, Mr Li vowed to do whatever he could to help boost Hong Hong's economy and ease the city's unemployment problem - even if it meant some unprofitable investments.
'As a Chinese living in Hong Kong, I really wish Hong Kong well,' Mr Li said.
Asked whether the central government should give more support, Mr Li said the measures introduced by Beijing in the past few months, including the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and a scheme to allow mainlanders to visit Hong Kong as individual travellers, had had a positive impact.
