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China invites HK student views on future government

HONG KONG: China extended a surprise last minute invitation to Hong Kong's fiercely-critical student union on Saturday to testify before an opinion-taking panel that convened in the British colony this weekend.

A student spokesman said the Federation of Students strongly opposes China's plans to dissolve Hong Kong's elected legislature when it resumes control of the British colony at midnight on June 30, 1997.

A teachers' union which expressed similar views was last week barred from attending the closed-door consultations.

Two student representatives would attend on Sunday, the second and final day of the closed-door consultation session conducted by Beijing's handpicked Preparatory Committee.

A Preparatory Committee sub-group is seeking views on how to choose a selection committee which will in turn select the first post-colonial leader and provisional legislature slated to replace the existing chamber.

"Our position is we are against the establishment of the provisional legislature," a Federation of Students member told reporters.

The federation advocates that Hong Kong's future chief executive and legislature should be directly elected.

Five university vice chancellors from Hong Kong sit on the Preparatory Committee.-Reuter