Pro-democracy MPs' visit to China hints at change

HONG Kong's pro-democracy MPs crossed the border into mainland China yesterday for an unprecedented visit that may signal a new strategy by Beijing that could see it stop snubbing politicians once branded traitors to the motherland.

All 60 members of Hong Kong's legislature were invited for a two-day tour of neighbouring Guangdong province.

Between sightseeing and visits to officials, pro-democracy politicians were allowed to speak to reporters and call for more political freedom.

However, Emily Lau MP said she was disappointed that Zhang Dejiang, the provincial Communist Party secretary, declined to debate democracy and China's crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.