Guangdong governor downplays Occupy impact, saying protests only caused a 'ripple'
Zhu Xiaodan downplays protest movement's effect on Hong Kong's relationship with the mainland
Guangdong Governor Zhu Xiaodan on Monday played down the impact of the Occupy protests on the relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland, saying the campaign had only caused a "ripple".
He also said he would promote more exchanges between mainland youth and their counterparts in Hong Kong.
Zhu, who is a member of the Communist Party's Central Committee, was speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Guangdong People's Congress yesterday.
"I think it was only a ripple. It will not affect the relations between the mainland and Hong Kong," Zhu told reporters who had asked him if the campaign had affected the mainland's ties with Hong Kong.
He did not elaborate, but said he would like to see more exchanges between young people.
"There used to be exchanges between young people," Zhu said.
"I think we should continue to promote more of these kinds of exchanges, say, students to students, teachers to teachers, and young professionals to young professionals. It is our hope that more Hong Kong young people can come to Guangdong and the mainland to visit."