Democrats wish they could meet the people
Some visiting legislators worship with Guangzhou Catholics, but others only see students who can't speak openly
They had the chance to play. Some found time to pray. What the pro-democracy visitors lacked on their maiden trip to Guangdong was enough free time to meet the locals.
With most legislators still in bed after a day of busy day of sightseeing on Sunday, an unlikely trio rose at dawn yesterday and set out for Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in Guangzhou's Shamian district.
Attending Mass in a mainland church with mainland Catholics during a business trip might be a routine for Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, but for Democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming, a devout Catholic but barred from visiting the mainland for 16 years, it was a dream come true.
'I felt so good. I have never been to this church before,' said Mr Lee, accompanied by colleague Andrew Cheng Kar-foo.
'I hope our next destination is Beijing,' he said.
Mr Tsang was deep in prayer throughout the Mass at the tranquil 19th-century church where the homily reminded the faithful that whoever wanted to be a leader first had to serve the common good.
Mr Lee, who is godfather to Mr Tsang's son and whose son is the chief executive's godson, said his church visit reminded him that many of his fellow Catholics are still being arrested for practising their faith.
Other democrats enjoyed yum cha in the neighbourhood, several played badminton with children, and two went for a run on the Pearl River promenade.
'I could smell the wonderful scent of fish,' said unionist Leung Yiu-chung, who ran for 10km with Kwok Ka-ki.
But all the lawmakers said they had had little interaction with local residents.
At Zhongshan University, students rushed to greet the legislators and talked to them under the watchful eyes of mainland security officials.
One student was quickly grabbed and pushed away by security officers when the topic of why the democrats had been barred from entering the mainland was raised.
Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing-tat said it was a shame mainland students were not allowed independent thought despite being part of the academic community.
'They said even in the university, they cannot get access to the website of the Hong Kong government, not to say the homepage of the Democratic Party. This curbing of freedom is unhealthy,' he said.
Lee Cheuk-yan, who was asked by students about Hong Kong Disneyland's alleged non-compliance with local laws, said he was amazed at the interest mainland students had in Hong Kong.
'It was a pity that we didn't have more chances to meet the real locals.
'I believe their impression of us was confined to seeing a convoy of coaches. There was not enough real interaction,' Mr Lee said.
