A Hong Kong lawmaker said Friday that the Mainland and Hong Kong should launch more exchange programs to promote mutual understanding and integration.

Speaking at a luncheon, Jeffrey Lam, member of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference ( CPPCC) and also LegCo representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, said exchange programs will help ease the tension between people from Hong Kong and the Mainland.

He blamed the current tension between the two sides mainly on media, "bad news travels fast in a long way," Lam said, adding " the Internet sometimes made the situation worse."

While acknowledging that people from Hong Kong and the Mainland have vastly different lifestyle, he said "social and economic ties between Hong Kong and the Mainland are getting closer and closer... We should not look at mainlanders as strangers from outer space."

Anthony Wu, member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, who was also invited to speak at the luncheon, shared with Lam's view, saying the two sides should enhance exchanges and communication.