Democrats cross the border ... but fail to bridge the divide

It was the largest group of democrats since 1989 to cross the border, meet mainland officials and air their views on Hong Kong affairs. But the two sides neither shook hands nor changed each other's opinions.

Fourteen democrats - including some previously banned from the mainland - were among the 200 people invited to attend a seminar in Shenzhen yesterday afternoon. Seven even got front-row seats. The democrats travelled to the city to express their views on the NPC Standing Committee's upcoming interpretation of the Basic Law over the term of the next chief executive.

Their opposition to the interpretation put them in the minority. But 10 of the 30 who spoke at the three-hour meeting came from the pro-democracy camp.

Qiao Xiaoyang , deputy secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee, said it was not possible to shake hands with all 200 participants. Instead, the top NPC official stood up and made a rallying gesture with his hands in greeting to those attending.