By Lin Meilian

A group of activists from Hong Kong planned to establish a friendship association to promote Tibetan culture, but they did not support Tibetan independence.

However, they still fear that they could be labeled as separatists after the South China Morning Post featured them in an article yesterday, according to a leading activist.

“We used the report to test the public reaction as Tibet is a sensitive topic in Hong Kong, but we are afraid of being misunderstood and labeled as separatists,” James Lung Wai-man, one of the founders of the Tibetan-Chinese Friendship Association, told the Global Times yesterday.

Lung also serves as chairman of the Southern Democratic Alliance, a pro-democracy political party launched in Hong Kong five years ago.

He said that they made the decision to establish such an association after meeting with the Dalai Lama in March.

The association includes eight Tibetans and 12 Hong Kongers and is working to get approval from the Hong Kong government. If approved, it would be the first time people from Hong Kong have initiated a relationship with the Dalai Lama, Lung said. He declined to discuss the backgrounds of the association's members.

“Promoting Tibetan culture doesn't mean we support Tibetan independence. We are seeking to set up something similar to Hong Kong's ‘one country, two systems' in Tibet,” he said.

Lung said he is very “stubborn” that the committee must include at least one Tibetan.”

Lung voiced optimism about getting approval from the Hong Kong government to set up the association. However, the self-funding, unlicensed association is still looking to build its social support.

Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan, who received an email invitation from the association, declined to participate, the South China Morning Post said.

“Hong Kongers show great interest in Tibetan culture, yet they are very stupid. If we don't do it carefully in the right way, they may think we want to split the country,” Lung said.

To win people's trust, they will plan to launch a culture-promoting program, which involves starting an information center in Hong Kong to display books on Tibet.

The HK government and China's Central People's Government Liaison Office in Hong Kong declined to comment.

Xiong Kunxin, a professor of ethnic studies at Minzu University of China, expressed concern. “Given the location and limited membership, the association cannot represent all the Han people and Tibetans,” Xiong told the Global Times yesterday.

“It is OK if they want to promote Tibetan culture, but actions speak louder than words, so we'll see if they are trustworthy,” he added.

Lung said he fears being misunderstood, not negative comments. “All comments are welcome. People need to get to know us better,” he said.