Pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong urged Beijing yesterday to open talks on democratic reforms, saying peace overtures from China were not enough to heal political tensions in the city. Beijing angered many Hong Kong people recently when it spurned calls for more democracy, ruling out universal suffrage any time soon. But fearing a backlash against pro-China candidates in legislative elections in September, it has since tried to mend fences and take a more conciliatory stance.

It invited democracy legislators to an unprecedented armed forces parade in the city on Sunday, complete with tanks and helicopters, but a handful of lawmakers refused to attend.

“I’m in favour of a dialogue with the Chinese authorities, but this is not a dialogue and I don’t think they had a chance to talk to anyone,” said lawmaker Emily Lau, who did not show up.

“If there’s an invitation for a dialogue, I will be happy to attend,” she told Reuters. Leung Yiu-chung, another no-show lawmaker, also called for discussion. “If we’re talking about communication, it has nothing to do with such ceremonies (as the military parade),” said Leung, a trades unionist and a very popular figure with the grassroots. “We must talk, be ready to understand and make compromises.”

<B>Face-to-face talks</B>

Beijing has said it would consider face-to-face talks with the democrats, but that would mean officially recognising pro-democracy parties as a political force within China, a huge step for the Communist party.

Even if direct talks occur, political analysts said neither side was likely to change its basic position.

Although China has said it will not allow full direct elections in Hong Kong in 2007, democracy forces here have not given up that demand in their election platforms. “We want political reforms and it won’t be acceptable if Beijing continues to ignore that. On the other hand, we must also address Beijing’s worries, both sides must give way,” Leung said. “Beijing can’t give us nothing, give us zero.”

China, which took back this former British colony in 1997, fears that the city’s calls for democracy will spread to the mainland, or even escalate into a movement for independence.

It tried stifling these aspirations by verbally attacking key democracy figures earlier this year, but that alienated more people and the popularity ratings of Chinese leaders and their supporters in Hong Kong soon plummeted.

For the first time, democracy candidates have a chance at winning majority control of the 60-member legislature in September – something Beijing will not want to see.

Political say Sunday’s display of military might was aimed at bolstering a sense of Chinese patriotism and helping pro-China candidates in the elections. Although Beijing appears less hostile, its relationship with democracy lawmakers cannot be said to have improved, Leung said. “We have to see how we communicate in future and if we can cooperate,” Leung said. Lau said the political mood in Hong Kong can hardly be described as good. She received a phone call two weeks ago from an unidentified man threatening to chop off her head and hang it outside the legislative council building.

“I’m not saying that the Chinese authorities asked him to call me but it’s just that the atmosphere is very tense for me and my staff,” she said, adding that she has since installed a surveillance camera outside one of her offices. Police have offered her protection but she declined.