Zhang Dejiang unlikely to touch on Hong Kong independence during visit, says source from mainland China
State leader, who will be in city from May 17 to 19, expected to avoid thorny issues to focus on economic development
The state leader overseeing the city’s affairs is unlikely to have a separate meeting with pan-democratic lawmakers or be drawn into discussing issues like Hong Kong independence during his three-day visit later this month, mainland sources said.
A police source warned the force might use riot control agent “water jet pack”, also known as “liquefied tear gas” in Chinese, to suppress any violent protests or mobs during Zhang Dejiang’s visit.
Zhang, who chairs the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, will arrive in Hong Kong on May 17.
A mainland source familiar with the visit said Zhang would stay at the Grand Hyatt in Wan Chai and would return to the mainland on May 19.
“Zhang is unlikely to touch on controversial issues like Hong Kong independence as the focus of his trip will be the city’s economic development,” the source said.
In a similar vein, a person close to the Hong Kong government said: “The state leader should be smart enough not to touch on thorny issues like Hong Kong independence, so as not to distract from the main theme of his trip.”
The mainland source said officials from central government departments, such as the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Commerce, arrived in Hong Kong a few days ago to prepare for the visit.
Zhang, who will be the first state leader to visit Hong Kong since 2012, will deliver a keynote speech at the Belt and Road Summit held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on May 18.
“Zhang will attend a dinner hosted by the Hong Kong government on May 18 evening and deliver a courtesy speech at the event,” the source said.
Business and community leaders, lawmakers and local delegates to the NPC and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference will be invited to attend the dinner.
There will be an “exchange session” between Zhang and Hong Kong officials.
But the state leader is unlikely to meet lawmakers, including the pan-democrats, in a separate meeting during his trip, the source said.
“His itinerary has yet to be finalised, but it is unlikely he will visit families this time,” the person said.
Another mainland source said Zhang will not reveal the central government’s preference for the chief executive election scheduled for March next year.
A mainland government source said an important objective of Zhang’s trip is to help Beijing prepare for President Xi Jinping’s expected visit next year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the handover.
The source also said Zhang was likely to fly to Shenzhen and travelled to Hong Kong by car, as it will be “safer and more convenient” than landing at the Hong Kong airport.
The police source said “water jet pack” is like rain when the pepper-based solution is pumped out. It has a longer effective range than ordinary pepper spray,” the source told the Post.
“Its debut during Occupy Central protests in 2014 has shown the chemical could effectively lower mobility of protestors during confrontation. ,” the source said.
Additional reporting by Tony Cheung
