Pan-democrats need to 'embrace change'

The pan-democratic camp has to embrace changes in the political landscape and refrain from cutting ties with the Communist Party, said National People's Congress Standing Committee delegate Tam Yiu-chung.

Speaking in a television interview yesterday, Tam said state leaders had warned Hong Kong to still be aware of "anti-China disruptors," but said this was not targeted at the pan-democrats.

However, he also said: "I would not tell [the pan-democrats] what to do, but they should be careful if they have toed the central government's bottom line.

"The communist party has close ties with the state in the constitution, and I don't think the pan-democratic camp should cut ties with the party," Tam added.

Tam further said the government has no fixed schedule for writing up the legislation of the Basic Law's Article 23, which is understandable as the new government had just taken office.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king said the party has yet to decide on taking part in a Legco by-election to fill in for the four lawmakers who have become ministers.

"The DAB would seize every chance to participate in elections," she said, "but we need to discuss internally and collaborate with other parties if necessary, as we have always been doing in all elections."