Filmmaker and pro-democracy activist John Shum Kin-fun yesterday asserted his political independence as he continued his first visit to the mainland in 15 years.
Mr Shum, currently in Shanghai with his wife, denied reports that his 10-day trip had been arranged in return for agreeing to support Timothy Fok Tsun-ting in his bid for re-election in September in the functional constituency for sports, performing arts, culture and publication. Mr Fok is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Mr Shum said: 'This mainland trip has nothing to do with me offering my support for the re-election of Mr Fok.'
He praised Mr Fok for lobbying energetically for the performing arts sector and said he did support him in general terms. But '[that] does not mean I will stop supporting my friends in the pro-democracy camp, such as Leung Yiu-chung and Lau Chin-shek', he said.
He reiterated his call for Beijing to allow other activists to visit the mainland, saying it would help heal the rift between them.
Mr Shum worked with student activists targeted in the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.