"I want universal suffrage" banner welcomes Zhang Dejiang to Hong Kong
The chairman of the National People’s Congress, who also heads the party's leading group on Hong Kong and Macau affairs, arrived in the former British colony today. He is the highest ranking mainland official to visit Hong Kong since 2012. Pro-democracy advocates welcome him with a huge banner calling for universal suffrage. A former Guangdong governor, Zhang said he came to see, listen, and talk. Security seize journalists’ umbrellas, symbol of the 2014 protests.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – The Hong Kong government’s tight security around the visit of mainland Communist leader Zhang Dejiang has not worked as expected.
A giant yellow banner bearing the words ‘I want genuine universal suffrage’ was draped on Beacon Hill as a welcome sign for Zhang, chairman of the National People’s Congress and head of the party's leading group on Hong Kong and Macau affairs.
“This is a souvenir from the League of Social Democrats to Zhang Dejiang,” the League said in a Facebook post. “The purpose is to show Hongkongers’ determination in pursuing democracy and freedom. This is to tell the visiting state leaders that they cannot pretend to be blind.”
Beacon Hill is located in the Lion Rock Country Park, which became one of the symbols of the ‘Occupy Central’ movement that stood up to the government for months, demanding universal suffrage.
In 2014, at the height of the protest, a group of rock climbers hung a large yellow banner with the same message: ‘I want real universal suffrage’.
Many in the city associate “Lion Rock spirit” with striving for a better life, as embodied in the 1970s RTHK drama Under the Lion Rock and its title song.
Zhang Dejiang is the first state leader from mainland China to visit Hong Kong since then-president Hu Jintao in 2012.
With a reputation as an "iron-fisted enforcer", Zhang, 69, chairs the National People's Congress, China's parliament, and is the mainland’s third highest political official after President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
During his three-day visit, Zhang will attend a forum on "One Belt, One Road", as well as hold a number of meetings.
As he arrived in the city, the airport security did everything to avoid politically embarrassing situations.
Security reportedly took away many journalists’ umbrellas, and a 40 by 40cm yellow towel brought by one reporter to cover his camera lens. Umbrellas and yellow are closely associated with recent anti-mainland protest.
After he landed, Zhang gave a conciliatory speech.
“First of all, please would our friends in the media help convey President Xi Jinping’s warm regards and well wishes for the people of Hong Kong. I notice that my trip to Hong Kong has attracted wide attention,” he said. “The weather is nice today,” he added. “The weather is very good in both Beijing and Hong Kong.
After briefly mentioning his years as Guangdong governor, he explained that his visit had three goals. “First, seeing. I plan to see Hong Kong’s new changes after all these years, see old and new friends, and see the lives of Hong Kong residents. [. . .]
“Second, listening. I will listen to the chief executive and the SAR* government regarding their work, and to all sectors of society about what recommendations and requirements they have about implementing the principles of ‘one country two systems’. [. . .]
“Third, speaking. At the one belt one road summit organised by the Hong Kong government tomorrow I will give a keynote address.” [. . .]
* Special Autonomous Region.
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