Hong Kong's pan-democratic politicians open to engaging with Beijing after Democratic Party talks with key official
Communication would grant officials more than just one-sided views, politicians say
Political parties in the pan-democratic camp have voiced an open attitude to seizing communication opportunities with Beijing after members of one of their own, the Democratic Party, met a key mainland official this week to discuss Hong Kong governance and political reform.
Wednesday's meeting between five leaders and up-and-coming stars of the Democrats and Feng Wei, deputy director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, is seen as a sign of Beijing offering an olive branch to the camp after pan-democrats voted down the government's reform plan in June.
Two days after the talks, Democrat chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing briefed her allies, Civic Party leader Alan Leong Kah-kit and Labour Party lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan, on the closed-door exchange with Feng.
Leong said yesterday his party would also welcome communication. "This is no problem, especially if the central government is willing to correct itself and does not listen to opinions from just one side." A regular communication channel could be set up with Beijing, his party colleague Dennis Kwok suggested.