City Beat | Hong Kong must always remember that Xi Jinping looks beyond the city to the world stage
Chinese president’s visit should remind Hongkongers that they need to look beyond their own borders and develop a a world vision in a fast-changing world
However, it’s also because of the Liaoning that Hongkongers, including the city’s new leadership, can now get a better idea of how special they can be in Beijing’s eye. That’s even though what happens here, good or bad, is not really going to affect Beijing – or Xi – too much in terms of China’s role on the world stage.
Understandably, it was Xi, in his capacity as the head of China’s armed forces, who personally approved the Liaoning battle group’s voyage to Hong Kong. It was also Xi who gave the green light to allow the public on board the carrier for the first time ever. Mainlanders have yet to be given the same opportunity.
Political pundits understandably concluded that this was an education in patriotism for Hongkongers, but there’s more to it than just that.