Three events planned for Hong Kong lawmakers to deepen ties with mainland China, but pro-democrat says he has ‘more important things to do’

Legislative Council president Andrew Leung reveals plans for series of meetings in Hong Kong and across border

But NeoDemocrats legislator Gary Fan says he will not attend lunch with liaison office in February

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Legco president Andrew Leung (left), Wang Zhimin, the director of the liaison office during a tour of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council complex. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 7:00am, 3 Jan 2019Updated: 9:48am, 3 Jan 2019

The president of Hong Kong’s legislature has said there will be three events this year when the city’s lawmakers could deepen ties with mainland China, but one pro-democracy politician said he had “more important things to do”.

During a filming session at public broadcaster RTHK on Wednesday, Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen told his predecessor, Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, that some lawmakers expect to meet officers from Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong next month.

After visiting Legco last April, the office’s head, Wang Zhimin, has invited all lawmakers to lunch on February 19.

“The location has not been confirmed, I don’t know the details,” Leung said.

Andrew Leung revealed that the city’s lawmakers will have the chance to deepen ties with mainland China at three events this year. Photo: Dickson Lee

Leung said lawmakers would not have to limit themselves to discussing politics, and could also discuss societal issues with Chinese officers.