Beijing’s offer to lift Hong Kong pan-democrats’ travel ban sign of its two-pronged tactic
Conciliatory gesture to traditional pan-democrats shows differences in central government’s approach towards them and city’s independence advocates
Beijing’s conciliatory gesture to grant travel documents to pan-democrats banned from entering the mainland is a sign of its two-pronged approach towards traditional pan-democrats and independence advocates, according to a mainland expert familiar with the city’s affairs.
“Compared with advocates of independence and self-determination for Hong Kong, the central government and traditional pan-democrats share more common ground,” said the expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It is understood Beijing had been studying ways to resolve the long-standing travel ban issue, an obstacle to improving its ties with pan-democrats for more than two decades, before the row over Hong Kong independence erupted in the middle of the year.
Hongkongers require home-return permits to enter the mainland. These are issued to Hong Kong permanent identity card holders with Chinese nationality.
The mainland expert’s comments came a day after the Hong Kong government officially confirmed the olive branch offer. The city’s government said in a statement on Wednesday night that it had been informed opposition politicians whose home-return permits were revoked would now be granted the documents required to enter the mainland.
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s administration received the confirmation from the central government four hours after pro-establishment group Silent Majority for Hong Kong quoted the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Wang Guangya as saying the entry curbs on pan-democrats would be lifted.