HK deputies urge NPC to initiate tougher action

Three Hong Kong deputies to the NPC yesterday urged the central government to toughen its stance over the disputed islands.

In a letter to the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Ma Lik, Ip Kwok-him and Yeung Yiu-chung requested that it instruct relevant mainland government departments to crack down on actions that violate mainland sovereignty over the islands.

The three deputies, who are all members of the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, are among 36 deputies from Hong Kong in the legislature.

They called on the leadership to urge the Japanese government to release the seven mainland activists who were arrested after landing on the disputed islands.

Mr Ma, the party's chairman, said they were angry that Japan had infringed mainland sovereignty.

'The central government should take actions which are stronger than diplomatic protests and negotiations to show it is willing to defend its sovereignty,' he said. 'South Korea has been more determined in protesting against Japan over issues such as territorial disputes.'