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An invitation from the central government for Hong Kong's pro-Beijing figures to visit the capital to shore up support for the Tung administration will further divide society, according to pro-democracy lawmakers.

Political analysts say the move is mainly aimed at ensuring stability by asking the pro-Beijing camp not to relinquish support for Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.

The South China Morning Post reported  yesterday that dozens of Hong Kong professionals and politicians had been invited by the central government for talks over the next two months in the wake of a street march by 500,000 people on July 1.

It is understood they will meet officials responsible for Hong Kong affairs and may be received by state leaders during the trip.

Officials are believed to be seeking to pacify the pro-Beijing camp, some of whom have voiced dissatisfaction with Mr Tung.

Unionist legislator Lee Cheuk-yan, of the Civil Human Rights Front, which organised the historic march, said society would be further split if pro-Beijing members were asked to bolster support for Mr Tung.

'The image of the pro-Beijing camp is already very poor in Hong Kong. Now, they [the central government] ask them to support him, the result would be even worse,' Mr Lee said.

'It will further polarise the society into two camps.'

Democratic Party legislator Cheung Man-kwong said it was no use asking people to support Mr Tung if the public opposed his policies.

'During the Article 23 debate, the pro-government camp strongly supported him. But at the end, 500,000 people were forced to take to the streets,' Mr Cheung said.

But Ip Kwok-him, vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, said it was inaccurate for the pro-democracy camp to say the invitation would cause further divisions as they had also been divisive.

'When the consultation paper on Article 23 legislation was first released last year, they started carrying out marches and rallies, which have divided society,' Mr Ip said.

Political analyst Ivan Choy Chi-keung of City University said it was normal for China's leaders to ask the pro-Beijing camp to back the Tung administration.

Li Pang-kwong, associate professor of politics at Lingnan University, said the invitation was made to prepare for possible political storms, including the Hong Kong government's future handling of the Article 23 legislation and expected changes to the Legislative Council after next year's election.



Beijing's bid to bolster Tung may backfire,  lawmakers claim