Global Times recently published an editorial discussing the Hong Kong trip of Zhang Dejiang, who is the Standing Committee Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress. Zhang’s itinerary included a meeting with the opposition members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. This was the first time the HK Opposition has had a direct face-to-face meeting with a member of the top Communist leadership from the Mainland. The critical message from the Opposition members was their strong dissatisfaction with the sitting Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying; They asked very clearly that the central government replace him. Another topic was to allow Opposition members to enter the Mainland. The whole meeting was calm and peaceful, which was unusual. The Global Times editorial also, unusually, positioned the HK Opposition as “insiders” of the HK established political system. The editorial further commented that the Opposition in the Legislative Council should be considered a part of the “special establishment camp,” which is more welcome as compared to those who ignore the Hong Kong Basic Law.
Source: Global Times, May 19, 2016
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2016-05/8948562.html