While the debate over an NPC office in Hong Kong continues, a fresh perspective seems to be emerging from the current debate.

It stems from suggestions that the work of the Hong Kong deputies is entering a new era, with the first signs of change coming in the election last Friday.

The entry of elite figures close to the administration, such as Executive Council members Laura Cha Shih May-lung and Bernard Chan, and ex-ICAC commissioner Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, signals profound changes in the interface between the 'two systems' of Hong Kong and the mainland.

And for the first time, 20 candidates took questions from election panel members and the public on issues such as democracy, education and the jailed journalist Ching Cheong. The questions came last week during an election forum organised by Professional Commons, a pan-democratic group. The two-hour session was broadcast live on a 24-hour news channel.

In one significant move, some newly elected deputies pledged in vote-canvassing and post-victory speeches to improve the transparency and accountability of their work.

Priscilla Lau Pui-king, an expert on the mainland's economy at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and an NPC deputy since 1998, said: 'Changes are in the air. Expectations have been raised. If delegates fail to deliver results, they will not be able to get re-elected ... The participation of new faces will have a positive impact on the whole NPC delegation. This is a good thing.'

Professor Lau said the participation of more elite figures from the political establishment in the national legislature would bring about profound changes in mainland-Hong Kong relations.

Her comments refer to new members such as Mrs Cha and Mr Chan, and legislators such as Miriam Lau Kin-yee.

'True, Hong Kong deputies to the NPC are not supposed to interfere with Hong Kong affairs under 'one country, two systems'.

In reality, the two systems need not be totally demarcated,' she said.

'It seems to me the Hong Kong government is also keen to have certain people from establishment [institutions] such as Exco sit on the NPC. Such linkage will greatly boost mutual understanding, co-ordination and communications between Beijing and Hong Kong.'

The veteran deputy, who was re-elected for another five-year term, rejected the notion that their hands were tied because of alleged ambiguities over the role of the NPC in the city. She said their powers and responsibilities, such as supervision of the central government's work, had been clearly stipulated under the NPC law and the Chinese constitution.

'There's a lack of understanding in society, even among some Hong Kong deputies, on what the NPC should and could do. Much indeed can be done by NPC deputies under the present law,' she said.

Professor Lau said she had not yet heard any new angles in the old argument for an independent office for Hong Kong NPC deputies. 'Unless the problem of fears about creating another power centre is resolved, it is unrealistic to talk about the setting up of an independent NPC office here,' she said.

Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, a local delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference who sat on the presidium of last week's NPC election, said he did not anticipate drastic changes to the presence of the NPC.

'We shouldn't expect too much only because some 'younger and more professional' delegates have got in. This is, after all, a mainland body at the national level and it will not be possible for these delegates to materially alter the way it has operated,' he said. 'Even in Hong Kong, more interaction with the general public will be good for the image of NPC deputies only. Donald Tsang [Yam-kuen] and the liaison office will not allow it to become another power base within Hong Kong ... and it will not, simply because there will never be sufficient resources to support these delegates, who are

all part-timers.'

Allen Lee Peng-fei, who has strongly advocated the idea of an NPC office since he was elected

as a delegate in 1998, said concerns about a second power centre were unnecessary. 'We are talking about a work office for all delegates to handle matters such as complaints and requests for assistance from the public, not an office for each deputy. Deputies should also know clearly what they should and should not do,' he said.

'I'm afraid the new deputies will feel disappointed and dispirited if the present undesirable situation remains unchanged ... Many people were against the office idea before. Now, more people have begun to recognise the role and work of NPC members.

'Some new deputies would also like to increase the transparency of their work. Ideas such as open meetings will be on their agenda. Some people may feel reluctant to do so. [But] like it or not, this is the shape of things to come,' said Mr Lee, who has decided not to seek re-election.

Executive councillor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said he supported setting up a joint office for the NPC delegates, which he said would help 'mainstream' the work and function of the Hong Kong NPC members. The emergence of a batch of new faces that people were familiar with would also bring the whole delegation closer to society, he said.

He said the role of NPC deputies would always be peripheral if Hong Kong people were concerned only about issues that directly affected their interests. As mainland developments had become more relevant to Hong Kong and as integration took place, Professor Cheung said he was convinced people would see the need for better understanding of, and engagement with, mainland policies.

'The work of Hong Kong NPC deputies has entered a new phase. They can play the role of forming a mainstream view in society on certain mainland issues, and put it forward to the central authorities for consideration,' he said.

'Through the process, there will be greater interactions between the deputies and society. Society will accept the role and work of the Hong Kong delegates when they are seen as a body that reflects the mainstream views of society.'

Professor Cheung, who is president of the Hong Kong Institute of Education, said it was clear Beijing would like to see changes in the functioning of the Hong Kong deputies. The enlivened NPC election campaign, he said, showed election culture was also changing.

'Electing Hong Kong deputies to NPC by universal suffrage looks unlikely in the next 10 years. But there will more positive, incremental changes ... How the new Hong Kong delegates work will be vitally important,' he said.

Bernard Chan, who also sits on Exco and the Legislative Council, has sensed the changing times, but said there were still complex feelings towards the NPC deputies.

'I was surprised when some pro-democratic academics on the Election Committee told us to strengthen our role. I'm worried there will be a new battlefield when we do so,' he said. 'As expectations grow, there is also a danger we may not be able to deliver due to practical difficulties. The idea of a Hong Kong office is a case in point. It's simple if it is only an office to receive complaints. What if the cases hinge upon the grey area [of jurisdiction] between the Hong Kong and mainland governments? How can we direct the Hong Kong government to do something?

'There are things we can do that do not require the consent of Beijing, such as the setting up of a website to increase transparency of our work. That's not controversial,' Mr Chan said. 'I won't be too ambitious. The important thing for deputies like us, whom people know better, is to engage more people in our work. After all, we are only 36 out of 2,970 delegates in the NPC.'