Hu Jintao will touch down at Chek Lap Kok airport tomorrow to a choreographed orgy of obsequious fawning from Hong Kong officials backed by a chorus of servile whimpering from the city's business grandees.
The impression that the president's handlers are aiming for is of a benevolent emperor descending from the clouds to secure the economic future of an undeserving local citizenry by dispensing life-saving financial favours.
In an attempt to build expectations, Beijing yesterday trailed some of the goodies it has in store. According to Xinhua, the central government will introduce a suite of new measures to promote yuan trading in Hong Kong that will 'further enrich' the city's offshore market.
And lest anyone fails to appreciate this generosity, Beijing's offer of largesse comes backed with a hint of steel. On Tuesday, there was a steep sell-off in Macau casino shares after a local newspaper warned that Beijing could slap visa limits on visitors to the territory and cap the amount of cash that mainland gamblers were allowed to withdraw once they got there.
For observers in Hong Kong, the implied message is clear: the gifts Beijing gives, Beijing can take away again. So if you want to continue to bask in Mr Hu's favour, be on your best behaviour. Otherwise you may be consigned to the outer darkness.
Yet this carefully constructed image of a Hong Kong dependent on handouts from Beijing for its livelihood is completely misleading.