China Allows Visit by Democracy Advocates From Hong Kong

By KEITH BRADSHER - The New York Times

HONG KONG, Sept. 25 - Hong Kong's chief executive led all but one member of the city's legislature across the border to mainland China today, starting a two-day trip that marks the first time Beijing authorities have let in prominent Hong Kong advocates of democracy since the Tiananmen Square killings on June 4, 1989.

The lawmakers' trip marks the latest in a series of steps by the Chinese government to placate critics here who want greater democracy. Democracy advocates have long criticized Beijing, but agreed to the trip here without conditions.

The visit produced a heated discussion late this evening in Guangzhou over events in Tiananmen Square at a closed-door meeting between Hong Kong lawmakers and a powerful member of China's Politburo, said Ronny Tong, a former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association who is now a pro-democracy lawmaker and attended the meeting.

The lawmakers met Zhang Dejiang, one of the 23 members of the Chinese Communist Party's ruling Politburo and the party secretary for Guangdong province, which abuts Hong Kong and includes some of China's wealthiest cities.

"The last hour was questions; at least four democrats stood up and asked quite pointed questions, and there was a fiery exchange," said Mr. Tong, a member of the Article 45 Concern Group in the legislature. "The government officials steadfastly refused that there would be a revision on June 4."

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