Zhang Dejiang won’t express preference for chief executive election during Hong Kong visit

Zhang Dejiang is expected to meet people from various sectors during his visit to Hong Kong next month, but the state leader overseeing the city’s affairs is unlikely to say his preference for next year’s chief executive election, mainland officials have said.

The remarks came as a Hong Kong police source told the Post that all Emergency Unit vehicles were loaded with tear gas rounds to handle unforeseeable protests.

Wong Kwok-kin, a lawmaker from the Federation of Trade Unions, believed one of the aims of Zhang’s trip was to pacify the city’s business sector, which he said is at odds with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

Zhang will be the first state leader to come to Hong Kong since 2012, and will deliver a keynote speech at the Belt and Road Summit on May 18.

During previous visits by state leaders, representatives from various sectors, including pro-establishment lawmakers, local delegates to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference were invited to meet them.