HONG KONG, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong wound up a three-day trip to Hong Kong Monday, leaving business leaders pleased and democrats disappointed with his visit.
The main purpose of his trip was to attend Monday's opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. Zeng also visited a racecourse and inspected facilities for the 2008 Olympics equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong.
He also visited a nursing home and had tea with a family in their home, events that were broadcast on local television.
Zeng made time to visit with local tycoons, financial and business leaders, but declined to meet local legislators, despite inviting all 60 of them to dinner Sunday night. It was the first time for democrats to be included in an invitation from a top Chinese leader.
Democrats asked Chief Executive Donald Tsang to deliver a letter to Zeng calling on the central government to retract its decision against universal suffrage for Hong Kong in 2007, review its position on the June 4, 1989 crackdown and release detained Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong.
Demonstrators raised the same themes outside Zeng's hotel and banquet venues, while veteran protester-turned-legislator Leung Kwok-hung shouted his protest inside the banquet hall, resulting in his removal.
