DAB, echoing Beijing, labels some as inappropriate, but democrats disagree
Two political parties yesterday defended the slogans chanted by marchers on Thursday, after Beijing criticised some as improper.
Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said Hong Kong people enjoyed freedom of expression and should not be too concerned about the slogans as long as they were considerate to others.
But the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) echoed Beijing's view that some slogans chanted during the march were inappropriate.
Xinhua quoted a leading official of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong as saying: 'Some posters and slogans put up by some organisers of the rally are improper and go against the common wishes of Hong Kong residents seeking stability, development and harmony.'
Although the report, issued late on Thursday, did not refer to any particular slogan, Xu Chongde, a mainland drafter of the Basic Law, told the South China Morning Post that he believed the liaison official was referring to slogans such as 'Return power to the people'.
Professor Xu said the remarks of the liaison office were just sincere advice to the organisers of Thursday's march, but not strong criticism.
