Ronny Tong think tank Path of Democracy mulls visit to Beijing

The think tank founded by moderate lawmaker Ronny Tong Ka-wah is considering a visit to Beijing later this year to meet a semi-official think tank.

Ivan Chu Siu-lun, a member of Tong's group, Path of Democracy, and also of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, which is close to Beijing, said he was "actively pushing" for the meeting.

"As a think tank, I think it makes sense for us to interact with the scholars of the association and discuss how to implement democracy under 'one country, two systems'," he told the South China Morning Post.

Chu said the visit was still being planned and it could happen in December, when the think tank could meet the association's leaders, who were mostly mainland academics. Chen Zuoer, former deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, is the chairman.

Tong suggested looking at the possibility "if the atmosphere was right", but said the trip idea was at a very preliminary stage.

Tong set up the group with political scholars and others last month in a bid to seek "a third path" in achieving democracy. The former Civic Party member lamented that the pan-democrats' uncompromising approach was not helpful in solving reform problems with Beijing.