n September 25, 2007, six businessmen representing a group concerned about investment rights of Hong Kong businessmen in Mainland China went to the Zhongnanhai government complex in Beijing to appeal for the protection of those rights. They asked to meet with China’s President, Hu Jintao, and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, but were taken away by police and detained in a hotel instead.
According to the Hong Kong SAR’s Liaison office in Beijing, the office can do nothing because [the arrest] is related to the “one country, two systems” policy.
The Concerned Group for Investment Rights of Hong Kong Businessmen in Mainland China was founded on May 20, 2007. The group represents over 100 Hong Kong businessmen and women. The group is concerned about the unfair treatment of Hong Kong businessmen and women when investing in China under the “one country, two systems” policy. The group strives to pursue better ways to solve these problems. The group thinks that the Hong Kong government acts as a postman when it comes to complaints and lawsuits about judicial corruption and injustice in Mainland China.
According to Lu Weiping, one of two female group members, the group traveled to Beijing on June 25, 2007 to petition the government. They were told to expect an answer in July. However, they did not receive any reply. The group hopes to receive an answer from the President or the Prime Minister since all of the businessmen they represent have pending legal cases in Mainland China.
Cai Meiying, another delegate, invested 30 million Hong Kong dollars in real estate in Yantai City, Shandong Province, but the land was confiscated by the local government and construction was stopped. In 1992, She lost all of her investment.
Cai Meiying told the reporter that she was very disappointed with the Hong Kong government which did not provide any help to them. Instead, Lin Jingfu, an official from Hong Kong SAR’s Liaison office in Beijing tried to dissuade them from petitioning.
