The Democratic Party should not be discriminated against if it took part in the National People's Congress selection, a mainland legal expert said.
Xu Chongde of the People's University said the Democrats should be able to sit on the NPC through local selection.
It was of great importance that delegates to the NPC could represent the SAR, Professor Xu said.
'The Democrats represent a considerable segment of society. Their voices should be represented in the NPC.' Some pro-Beijing politicians have said the Democrats, who had burnt copies of the Basic Law at protests, should not be allowed on the NPC. Professor Xu said such disputes were history and the Democrats had not broken the law.
'As long as it [the Democratic Party] is a legal body, it should be able to participate in the election.
'There is no political vetting of the background of successful candidates,' he said.
