Beijing's policy man back home after discreet visit
The head of a central government think-tank on Hong Kong affairs has visited the city to assess the political situation.
Zhu Yucheng, director of the newly established Hong Kong and Macau Research Institute, arrived in Hong Kong at the beginning of this month and stayed until early this week, sources told the South China Morning Post.
They said Mr Zhu met pro-Beijing figures, businessmen and academics. It is believed to be his first visit to the city as head of the think-tank, which is charged with plotting strategies for constitutional reform in Hong Kong. Mr Zhu, 66, was formerly vice-director of Xinhua's Hong Kong branch, the predecessor of the central government's liaison office in the city.
Beijing set up the think-tank in December, shortly after President Hu Jintao told Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa the central government was 'very much concerned' with Hong Kong's political development.
The think-tank operates under the State Council's Development Research Centre, an indication of its high-level status and authority.
Besides Mr Zhu, its key members are Qin Xiao, chairman of China Merchants Group, and Wang Xiaoqiang, a prominent mainland academic who taught at Hong Kong universities.
The creation of the think-tank is seen partly as a reaction to the July 1 march and the embarrassing setback for the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong in the district council elections in November.
DAB chairman Ma Lik said institutions focusing on Hong Kong affairs had mushroomed on the mainland recently.
'It underscores the importance attached by the central government to the Hong Kong question,' Mr Ma said.
