Beijing's top man on Hong Kong affairs, Wang Guangya, has called for reconciliation and urged Hongkongers to rally behind chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying.
The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office made his remarks in Beijing yesterday while speaking to a 160-member delegation of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions.
Wang's statement - hours before Leung's own duty call on the capital - made him the first central government official to weigh in on the March 25 election, which had split the pro-establishment camp.
Wang acknowledged there were 'complications and setbacks' during the election, but said Leung's victory after just one round of voting showed Hongkongers' 'recognition, trust and hopes' in the former Executive Council convenor.
'Since there were multiple candidates, there were different groups and individuals voicing their support for different candidates,' Wang said. 'This is normal in an election.
'Now that the ballot is over, everyone should look forward and put aside the differences that arose during the election.'