Many in Hong Kong applauded the government's decision to allow Chinese-born American professor Li Shaomin's (
Li, 44, returned to Hong Kong with his wife and daughter late Monday, five days after he flew to the US following his conviction and deportation from China. He was found guilty of damaging Chinese national security and spying for Taiwan, but no evidence against him has been publicly released.
At the airport, immigration officers quizzed him for nearly five hours before granting Li, his wife Amy Liu and their eight-year-old daughter Diana entry.
Political observers said yesterday that they were surprised but welcomed the gesture. The case is seen a test of the arrangement, dubbed "one country, two systems," meant to guarantee a wide measure of local autonomy after Britain returned its former colony to China four years ago.
"I think it's a good thing but I don't believe Hong Kong could have made the decision without Beijing's blessing," said Allen Lee, a political commentator and a deputy to the National People's Congress. "For such an important issue that's related to the national security, Hong Kong wouldn't have bypassed Beijing."
Pro-democracy lawmaker James To, who is deputy chairman of the local legislature's security panel, said he believed Hong Kong had reached an agreement with Beijing over the sensitive issue.
"To a certain extent, it's an affirmation of the `one country two systems' principle," To said.
The Hong Kong government has declined to comment directly on the decision to let Li return. The territory's No. 2 official, Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang, said yesterday that officials have always acted in accordance with the law on such issues.
"But more importantly, we do not allow or welcome anyone in Hong Kong to carry out espionage activities that will compromise Hong Kong's and the nation's interest," Tsang told reporters.
Beijing's hands-off policy has enabled a number of activists and dissidents exiled from the mainland to continue living in Hong Kong even after it reverted to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.
Not everyone was pleased about Li's return. A Hong Kong delegate to the Chinese National People's Congress, Ma Lik, said the move was against the national interest.
"Any regional government has the responsibility to safeguard the nation's interest," Ma said. "I don't think the `one country, two systems' principle is meant to be implemented like this."
Local television footage showed a man shouting outside Li's apartment building.
"Shouldn't let him back into Hong Kong! That's violating China's sovereignty!" shouted the man, who hid his face behind a newspaper featuring a photo of Li Shaomin.
Repeated phone calls to Li's residence went unanswered.
Yesterday's newspapers pictured Li looking relaxed and happy as he emerged into the arrivals hall with his family at his side.
"I feel great. I feel home. I am glad that I can finally sleep in my own bed at home after the five month ordeal," he told the South China Morning Post.
"I think they [the government] made the right decision."
Li earned a doctorate in sociology from Princeton University in 1988 and became an American citizen in 1995. He had lived in Hong Kong until the Chinese authorities arrested him in the border city of Shenzhen on Feb. 25.
Li has said he did not want to become a symbol of the struggle for human rights in China.
Li's employer, City University, has kept Li on its payroll but declined comment on whether he would be allowed to keep his position as a professor of marketing.
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