Zhang emphasised the need to achieve the maximum social effect, or the maximal common divisor, whenever promoting Beijing’s policies in Hong Kong. Methods and language “acceptable” to locals must be used, he added, while urging mutual respect be strengthened by “thinking what the other side thinks”. 

Amid many of the recent reminders or warnings on the city’s obligation to protect the interests of “one country” so as to maintain “two systems”, Zhang struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone. It was regarded as a sign of Beijing’s concern about being seen as too high-handed in its involvement in the city’s internal affairs – something that has been very much resisted and criticised locally.

However, a deeper dive into Zhang’s speech would suggest it was nothing more than a reiteration of Beijing’s long-time policy – only that he himself this time was promoting what could be a more “acceptable” approach. 

Zhang was smart enough to pick this occasion to reveal Beijing’s latest “guidelines”, while praising the Hong Kong-Sichuan joint efforts as a showcase of good cross-border cooperation. 

And to make things easier in future, the current party chief of Sichuan, Peng Qinghua, was Zhang’s predecessor in Hong Kong.

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But the underlying message is also clear enough: Beijing expects the same reciprocal understanding and goodwill from Hong Kong, while national interests should not be undermined.

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And, last but not least, Zhang ended his speech by promising his office would offer “guidance and assistance” in all policy-related matters in future Hong Kong-Sichuan cooperation. 

Understandably, Beijing’s “guidance and assistance” won’t be confined to Sichuan projects only. What is more important is preventing “guidance” from turning into “interference” – and a way out is to always put yourself in others’ shoes.