Democrats join Civic Party and Labour Party in rebuffing city leader’s invitation, hinting at little sign of improvement in the relationship between Leung and the pan-democratic camp
TONY CHEUNG AND JEFFIE LAM
UPDATED : Monday, 30 May, 2016, 8:29pm
Democrat Emily Lau said yesterday morning that none of her colleagues would join the dinner as they believed there was much they could do over dinner at Government House Photo: Dickson Lee
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s dinner for all but two lawmakers yesterday night was set to become just another gathering with the pro-establishment camp as all the pan-democrats intended to boycott it.
Democratic Party leader Emily Lau Wai-hing said none of her colleagues believed there was much they could do over a dinner.
“It is also a political gesture [towards Leung],” she added.
The Democrats were the latest to confirm their absence, after Civic Party and Labour Party previously questioned the meaning of the gathering and decided not to accept the invitation.
It showed there was little sign of improvement in the relationship between Leung and the pan-democratic camp, even after four of them had a groundbreaking meeting with Zhang Dejiang (張德江) during the state leader’s visit to the city from May 17 to 19.
In a rare interview with TVB
on Sunday, Leung shunned the suggestion society had become more polarised under his reign, and highlighted the praise he earned from Beijing loyalists who recently met Zhang.
Lau said the Democrats were still open to communication with government officials, citing their previous meeting with Leung.
The gathering last night was supposed to be the first time Leung, who took office almost four years ago, had dinner with lawmakers from across the political spectrum at his Government House residence.
The invitation was sent on May 4 to 68 lawmakers – all but League of Social Democrats’ “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung and independent legislator Wong Yuk-man.
The office explained “Long Hair” Leung had previously created a disturbance at a Lunar New Year reception with the chief executive, and Wong was not invited because Leung Chun-ying had testified in his common assault trial.
Civic Party’s Alan Leong Kah-kit previously said even though all lawmakers from his party have been invited, they would not attend the dinner. Labour Party lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan said her party would not accept the invitation because she “has nothing to discuss with Leung”.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1959546/pan-democrats-find-dinner-round-hong-kong-chief-executive
