Among the 12 pan-democrats in the group is a member of the League of Social Democrats, who is expected to call for a vindication of the June 4th movement, even though the trip is designed to discuss environmental and development affairs.

This will be the largest group of legislators to visit Guangdong since 2005, when all 60 members went.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam- kuen welcomed the latest Guangdong invitation, and said he hopes to lead all 60 legislators to Sichuan, where they may see the results of the reconstruction work to which Hong Kong has donated large sums of money.

A source said the government has helped convince Guangdong to include pan-democrats in the invitation.

Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok- sing said Guangdong has invited members of the environmental affairs and economic development panels to visit the province from May 15 to 18. With Jasper Tsang as leader, the group will comprise 37 lawmakers, including 12 from the pan-democrat camp.

The six without home return permits - Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan, vice-chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing, party members Andrew To Kun-sun, Lee Wing-tat, Andrew Cheng Kar-foo, and independent Cyd Ho Sau-lan - will get one-time visit passes.

The LSD's Albert Chan Wai-yip said he would discuss with other members how best to bring up the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.

Albert Ho and Cyd Ho said they too may touch on the subject.

Jasper Tsang said lawmakers are fully aware of the official purpose of the visit, and he has no intentions to control their speeches or behavior.

"The schedule of this visit has nothing to do with June 4. I will also try my best to organize more visits should other panels find them necessary," he said.

During a 2005 visit, "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung of the LSD shouted slogans calling for the vindication of June 4 protesters during a meeting with the former Guangdong provincial party committee secretary, Zhang Dejiang.

Since then, Guangdong authorities have been wary of Hong Kong legislators, which explains why there have been no large-scale delegations over the past three years, the source said. Next month's delegation will visit Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Nansha and Zhuhai.