THE Chief Secretary's secret visit to China should not be seen as a 'magic key' to the deadlocks over Hong Kong's transition, a leading pro-mainland politician said yesterday.
Tam Yiu-chung, vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, said Anson Chan Fang On-sang's recent meeting with senior Chinese officials indicated an improvement in Sino-British and Sino-Hong Kong ties.
But he said that although squabbles could diminish as a result, a trouble-free transition to Chinese rule could not be expected.
China would dismantle the three-tier political structure when it resumed sovereignty in 1997. 'It would be naive to think the [political] 'through-train' is still possible,' said Mr Tam.
But Liberal Party chairman Allen Lee Peng-fei said Mrs Chan's visit had made it clear nothing was impossible in politics.
Common interest and political will were the major factors which allowed the visit to take place.