Kenneth Lau
Friday, August 28, 2015
A deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has met with Democratic Party leaders in a surprise ice-breaking lunch in Admiralty.
Feng Wei, with his two assistants, met party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai- hing, vice-chairmen Lo Kin-hei and Andrew Wan Siu-kin, chief executive Lam Cheuk-ting and lawmaker Wu Chi- wai.
The ice-breaker, their first meeting since pan-democrats defeated Beijing's framework for the 2017 chief executive elections, was held at the Chiuchow Garden in Hutchison House on Wednesday, and lasted 2 1/2 hours.
When asked why she did not notify the party's central committee and other pan-democrats about the meeting with Feng in advance, Lau said the deputy director wanted to keep it low profile.
"Beijing didn't want to publicize the meeting," she said. "If we insisted on publicizing it before the meeting, the meeting would not be happening."
Lau studied for her master's degree in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science while Feng studied law in the same school.
Feng called Lau "classmate" although she is more senior than him.
Lau said the atmosphere was "usual, no problem" and that they were practising Putonghua.
She denied the meeting was closed- door negotiations.
Feng, who was working in the Liaison Office as the head of its legal department, also met the Democratic Party at a political reform meeting in 2010. The Democratic Party's central committee met last night to explain the mee
At a press briefing, Lau said: "We've always wanted to tell [the central government] in a face-to-face dialogue. Indeed, we are not asking for interference but there is a big problem now.
"The central government should know the public's anger and we can't miss the chance to reflect the reality."
They also reflected to the central government that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is not an appropriate leader of Hong Kong, she said.
Lo said he had explained young people's anger and opinions.
Lau urged the central government to invite other pan democrats and listen to them, rather than only listen to pro- establishment people to prevent misunderstanding of Hong Kong's situation.
Lau said the meeting idea was raised by former secretary for justice Elsie Leung Oi-see before the Legislative Council vote on political reform.
Lau rejected the meeting and about two weeks later, Leung again raised the issue. Lau agreed.
They did not say when they will meet again.
When asked if she was worried about the district council election after the meeting with Beijing officials, Lau said: "We are always being attacked by people. But we are not afraid of that. I have fought for my seat since 1991. We have to do our work well to win public support.
"If someone want to smear us, we will absolutely fight back," she said.
Helena Wong Pik-wan, who first alerted Hong Kong about the lead in water contamination at public housing estates, was also invited but she went on vacation on Wednesday as she was too tired from the issue.
kenneth.lau@singtaonewscorp.com
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=160675&sid=45086673&con_type=3&d_str=20150828&fc=8
