City Beat | Xi Jinping believes Hong Kong will achieve its distant goal by walking steadily
Saying often heard in Sino-US relations is now applied by president to the course of ‘one country, two systems’ formula
Xi’s visit, without doubt, unveiled the clearest picture from Beijing yet as to where its future policy for Hong Kong is headed.
Speculation was rife and expectations were high regarding what the president was bringing along with him – more carrot or stick, in light of the current tensions between the city and the mainland. The answer, of course, still depends on who is talking and from which perspective.
One thing is for sure, though: the message comes right from the top and Hong Kong has heard it straight from the horse’s mouth that there is a “red line” when it comes to undermining China’s sovereignty. The pan-democrats and others can no longer dismiss it, as they have similar warnings in the past, as the exaggerated personal views of some hardliners at Beijing’s liaison office here or across the border rather than a reflection of the president’s own thinking.
