Mainland official adds pro-democracy camp 'would have chance' to cross border A senior mainland official yesterday called on Hong Kong people to 'correctly exercise' their rights to protest and warned against creating 'fierce emotions' in society. Yang Wenchang , commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, also said that 'anybody would have a chance to go to the mainland' when asked whether members of the pro-democracy camp would be able to do so. His comments came amid rumours that the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong has been contacting pro-democracy lawmakers in the past couple of days after conciliatory remarks by Vice-President Zeng Qinghong during an official visit to Tunisia this week. Mr Zeng said Hong Kong people could use all forms of expression to fight for democracy, but he said that they should act for the benefit of 'one country, two systems', as well as the prosperity of the city. The central government has also reacted positively to a goodwill motion moved by Democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming on Wednesday and passed unanimously by legislators. Xinhua quoted a spokesman of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong as welcoming the motion, saying the door for a dialogue with the democrats was open. Yesterday, when asked about the forthcoming July 1 march, Mr Yang said: 'According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong people have the right to protest and march, but this right should be correctly exercised. 'On the one hand, people have to express their demands reasonably and rationally, but they also have to avoid creating fierce emotions in society.' Mr Yang said the condition for communication was that both sides should be calm. 'They have to sit down to talk. Communication is not just shaking hands,' he said. Responding to recent calls for democrats barred from the mainland to have their home-return permits restored, Mr Yang said: 'I think anybody would have the chance to go to the mainland.' Meanwhile, tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun said there were likely to be fewer people at this year's July 1 march as the economy and property market had improved.
