During talks on 25 August 2003 in Shenzhen with Hong Kong delegates to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), LIU Yan-dong, director of the United Front Work Department, made comments about the 500,000-strong mass protest on July 1, followed those by other officials in the past month who said the demonstration was not aimed at the central government.

 

It was quoted that Ms LIU said the demonstrators who took part on July 1 protest were patriotic and that those who wanted to cause chaos in the city were in the minority.

 

After the discussions, independent legislator and CPPCC delegate Eric Li Ka-cheung reported that Ms Liu had said she understood that those who demonstrated on July 1 were patriotic and loved Hong Kong. Those who wanted to make trouble were a minority.

 

Another delegate, TAM Yiu-chung, said Ms LIU had outlined four guiding principles on Hong Kong. These included firm implementation of the one country, two systems policy, full support for Mr Tung's leadership, economic recovery and stability.

 

Another delegate said Ms LIU also called on the delegates to be more outspoken in issues conducive to general situation; to give more constructive proposals and to act things conducive to general situation.