Only three pan-democrats have been selected as part of a Hong Kong delegation invited to Beijing to watch the World War II victory day parade on Thursday.
Former Civic Party member Ronny Tong, Democratic Party vice-chairman Tik Chi-yuen and independent lawmaker Joseph Lee were among a Hong Kong delegation of 296 people attending the event.
The list of attendees complied by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s office was released on Tuesday night.
The group headed by Leung were set to depart for the capital on Wednesday morning. Beijing’s liaison chief in Hong Kong, Zhang Xiaoming, accompanied the group.
The delegation will take part in activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the allied victory in World War II, including a military parade and an entertainment gala.
The list also included senior government officials such as Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, Secretary for Education Eddie Ng Hak-kim and Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok.
Pro-establishment lawmakers Starry Lee Wai-king, James Tien, Ann Chiang Lai-wan, Christopher Chung Shu-kun, Legislative Council President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing were also invited.
Others on the list include Charles Li, chief executive of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEx), as well as business tycoons Allan Zeman and Richard Li.
The group will head back to Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon.
Ronny Tong quit Civic Party, which he co-founded, and gave up his Legislative Council seat in June to set up a think tank, Path of Democracy. The decision came after he showed differences with the party over the government’s political reform bill.
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam will be Acting Chief Executive Wednesday morning before she heads to Beijing later in the day. Financial Secretary John Tsang will then take on the duty from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning, according to a government release.
