A senior mainland official yesterday said he hoped tomorrow's march would reflect Hong Kong people's aspirations for stability and prosperity. Zou Zhekai, deputy director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong, said he believed people in the city would treasure the seventh anniversary of the handover. 'I hope the July 1 march will demonstrate Hong Kong compatriots' pursuit of stability, prosperity and [economic] development, which represents the city's mainstream opinions,' he said. Speaking after attending a luncheon hosted by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen said going out to protest was a form of expression, and the government welcomed Hong Kong people expressing their views in any way they wished. 'We will respect those views and we will listen to those views very carefully,' he said. 'I think this is the beauty of a diverse community where people have different views and we are able to be as accommodating as possible.' Executive Councillor Leung Chun-ying said the march should not intensify the contradictions between Hong Kong and the central government. He stressed that the slogan 'Return power to the people' had specific historical meaning and it was inappropriate for the marchers to insist on chanting this. Wong Kwan-yu, of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, said the group would mobilise students from pro-Beijing schools to take part in activities celebrating the anniversary. A group of businessmen plans to organise a meditation session, entitled God bless Hong Kong, on July 17 to call for soul-searching about the future of Hong Kong. Organising committee convenor She Kai-biu urged Hong Kong people to consider how to maintain the social harmony he said was vital to the city's future.
