Beijing representatives miss reception after urgent recall
Beijing's top man in Hong Kong failed to attend a reception yesterday hosted by civil service unions because he and other senior colleagues rushed back to the mainland to attend special meetings.
Gao Siren, director of the central government's liaison office, was invited to a reception hosted by eight civil service unions to mark National Day. But he was absent from the reception.
A source said Mr Gao was discussing the city's affairs with the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing.
Poon Wai-ming, chairman of the Senior Government Officers Association, said they were informed by the liaison office several days ago that Mr Gao and several other officials from the office could not attend because they had to take part in meetings.
The association is one of the unions that hosted the reception.
Yang Linsheng, deputy secretary general of the social work department of the liaison office, said Mr Gao and several deputy directors were on a 'business trip' to Beijing.
There has been speculation that David Lie Tai-chong, a Liberal Party member close to Beijing, is seeking to wrest control of the party following its electoral defeats.
