In terms of word length, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has never backed away from the topic of 'national education' in his policy addresses. The 2007 policy address has a total of 130 paragraphs while this year's speech contained 137 paragraphs.
By comparison, electoral arrangements for 2012 was given a one-paragraph treatment in his latest speech, while clean fuels and healthcare reform each got two paragraphs.
Mr Tsang's relatively lengthy remarks on the issue, however, failed to conceal a lack of thought-provoking ideas and substantive initiatives about how Hong Kong should promote understanding of the fast-developing nation.
That Mr Tsang had to make reference to an increase in the number of students taking mainland study trips - from 5,000 to 37,000 - as the only substantive initiative speaks something about the dearth of ideas and approach.
This is despite the fact the development of China is entering a new phase this year and next in symbolic, if not substantive, terms.
This year, which marks the 30th anniversary of China's open and reform policy, saw Beijing host the Olympic Games - the first time on Chinese soil - and Chinese astronauts staging a spacewalk during the Shenzhou-VII mission.