Democrat issued 10-year home-return permit

A Democratic Party member whose home-return permit was confiscated nine years ago has been given a 10-year permit as some pro-democracy district councillors previously barred from entering the mainland look set to pay a visit in the next few months.

John Tse Wing-ling, vice-chairman of Wan Chai District Council, was given a one-off home-return permit in May to join a delegation of district council chairmen and vice-chairmen to Beijing.

But last week Dr Tse, a member of the Democratic Party and chairman of City University's staff association, was given a 10-year permit, allowing him to join a trip by the Federation of Hong Kong Higher Education Staff Associations to the capital which began last Wednesday and ended on Sunday.

The lifting of the ban is seen as a further move by Beijing to improve ties with the pro-democracy camp following last month's ice-breaking trip by 59 lawmakers to the Pearl River Delta.

Dr Tse's home-return permit was confiscated in 1996 when he travelled to Beijing with a delegation carrying a petition against the establishment of the provisional legislative council.

'The fact that I was given a permanent permit is linked to the central government's initiative to facilitate a harmonious atmosphere in Hong Kong,' he said. 'I'm confident other democrats will get back their home-return permits in the near future.'

Dr Tse said last week's delegation to Beijing had met mainland officials including Chen Zuoer , deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. 'Mr Chen emphasised the importance of promoting harmony in Hong Kong.'