Hongkongers are eager to see topics of mutual concern and common interests between Hong Kong and Guangdong will top the agenda of the lawmakers' Guangdong tour this Sunday, the Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) said yesterday.

DAB veteran and Vice-Chairman Lau Kong-wah expected that during the two-day visit, which is initiated by Chief Executive Donald Tsang, Hong Kong and the mainland can work out detailed and concrete arrangements for resolving issues of common interest.

Lau said: "Although we don't believe that solutions can be drawn up to resolve all problems like magic simply by making the tour, we do hope that the trip can bear fruit and yield some concrete results.

"The PRD tour signifies a platform to be built to foster further frequent exchanges and visits between the Legislative Council (LegCo) and mainland authorities."

"It is possible that LegCo members in various panels can meet and exchange with mainland officials separately to have thorough discussions on their concerned issues and LegCo members can even visit all mainland provinces to gain a better understanding of our motherland's developments."

Lau said DAB will employ a pragmatic attitude in joining the tour, raising some important livelihood issues concerning people of both regions when meeting Guangdong Party Secretary Zhang Dejiang and Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua during the trip.

DAB will suggest to Guangdong's leading officials such measures as putting into effect point-to-point notification mechanism to regulate the quality of food entering Hong Kong, guaranteeing the personal safety of local citizens in the region and stepping up co-operation to keep sources of pollution in check.

The party will also propose the mapping of plans for Guangdong-Hong Kong comprehensive economic co-operation, enhancement of traffic safety for Hong Kong tourists on the mainland and revision of the deal on mainland water supplies to Hong Kong.

Lau stressed that it would be inappropriate to discuss about Hong Kong's constitutional reform on the occasion.

"All local political parties could have an attitude of mutual understanding and accommodation to discuss SAR's constitutional reform with state leaders in Beijing but not on this fact-finding tour. As such, we can put in all our whole-hearted dedications in handling with practical and livelihoods' issues and work out positive outcomes.

"It is crucial to create a more favourable and harmonious atmosphere to advance further exchanges and interaction based on the principle of rational discussion," he said.

Majority concerns

Also, the party's survey showed the majority of citizens ranked food safety, law and order as well as air quality as the three most pressing issues to be dealt with during the PRD tour. The issue of constitutional reform ranked in fourth.

Of some 500 citizens interviewed, about 55 per cent said the tour can help resolve their concerned livelihood issues.

Up to 48 per cent of them said the tour will help boost LegCo's credibility and image, while 65 per cent said they are eager to see the PRD tour pave the way for 60-strong lawmakers to visit Beijing.

In another press conference yesterday, the Democratic Party said it will raise, among others, the issues of food safety and law and order during the meeting with Guangdong officials.

Democratic Party Chairman Lee Wing-tat said he hoped that the PRD tour will be a platform for future trips to other mainland provinces and even to Beijing.

Editor: Yan