Civic Party legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah yesterday said he was not encouraging people in Hong Kong to go on a general strike when commenting earlier on possible action to take if Beijing rules out introducing universal suffrage by 2012.
But he remained confident that people would not accept anything short of an unequivocal promise by the National People's Congress Standing Committee on full democracy by 2017.
During a forum held by the pan-democratic camp on Tuesday, Mr Tong said 'the tables would be turned' if Beijing rules out the 2012 date without giving a clear democratisation timetable, suggesting people in various trades could start a general strike in Hong Kong in protest. He also suggested lawmakers could snub Legco meetings as a way of protesting.
But Mr Tong yesterday said he was only describing possibilities radicals could consider if the relatively mild actions pan-democrats have taken so far achieved no results. They have taken turns to stage a relay hunger strike since Sunday ahead of the NPC decision tomorrow.
