The new director of the Beijing Liaison Office, Gao Siren, should try to 'break the ice' and make more contact with pro-democracy figures, according to Democratic Party legislator Fred Li Wah-ming.
Mr Li said he was yet to have dealings with Mr Gao, who has been in Hong Kong as deputy director for the past four years.
'I hope that he will boldly try to break the ice by taking steps to have more contact with the democrats,' Mr Li said.
Mr Gao, 58, has succeeded Jiang Enzhu, 63, as Liaison Office head. It is the first time since 1989 Beijing has not appointed a career diplomat to the post.
Mr Gao previously was deputy secretary of the Guangdong provincial committee of the Communist Party.
Last week, Mr Jiang was named vice-chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, replacing Zeng Jianhui.
