The long-awaited visit by Hong Kong legislators to Guangdong ended with virtually all parties hailing it as a success. Certainly the central government, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and the pan-democratic camp all have reason to view the trip in a positive light.
From Beijing's viewpoint, the political atmosphere in Hong Kong is likely to be much more harmonious in the future. It is as if a boil had been lanced: the invitation to the democrats to visit the mainland is having a therapeutic effect on all concerned.
The chief executive, in the meantime, is seen as the man of the hour who brought about reconciliation between Beijing and Hong Kong's democrats, after 16 years of estrangement. And the democrats are beside themselves with joy over finally getting the chance to present their views on June 4, and constitutional development in Hong Kong, to Guangdong Party Secretary Zhang Dejiang , a Politburo member.
On a personal level, more than 10 members of the democratic camp were able to visit the mainland for the first time since 1989, and their joy was palpable. Some members, such as Martin Lee Chu-ming and Lee Cheuk-yan, were aggrieved that they were deprived of the right to return to their homeland for so long. Still, the predominant feeling was exhilaration that they were finally able, once again, to step on mainland soil.
Anonymous sources suggest that Beijing is unhappy with the democrats for having brought up the issue of Tiananmen Square, but all signs are that mainland officials, by and large, are quite happy with the trip.
It was inevitable that June 4 would be raised, since that was the issue that kept the democrats from the mainland for so long. The question was how to manage the discussion about June 4.
Although Mr Zhang was probably unhappy to be the one forced to defend the crushing of student demonstrators in 1989, indications are that he was prepared and handled it reasonably well - remaining calm, asserting the party line and saying that there was little point in discussing the issue since there was no common ground.
