SO what was Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen up to during his two-hour stopover in Hong Kong last week? After all, the last time he came through, a year earlier, Mr Qian never ventured beyond the VIP lounge at Kai Tak, and his presence was kept so secret that the territory only found out about it through a passing remark in the Legislative Council many months later.
In marked contrast, last week government officials were on the tarmac to greet the Vice-Premier. Xinhua (the New China News Agency) even issued a press bulletin announcing his brief visit to their Happy Valley headquarters.
But, despite such striking differences, Chinese and Hong Kong officials have insisted that no political significance should be attached to his visit there last Wednesday.
Perhaps Mr Qian simply wanted to change his clothes. Certainly it would be wrong to suggest there was any hidden agenda in the shape of secret discussions with Hong Kong officials.
Yet it would be equally wrong to assume nothing of significance was discussed during Mr Qian's two hours with local Xinhua director Zhou Nan and his key aides. If he'd simply wanted to say hello, there would have been no need to venture beyond the airport.
However, it may not have escaped the Vice-Premier's attention that Xinhua has yet to catch on to the new spirit of Sino-British conciliation following the signing of the Court of Final Appeal accord and Financial Support Agreements for the new airport.
While Mr Qian has taken the initiative to foster warmer relations - warmly greeting Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang during her recent trip to Beijing, and stressing how she was 'welcome back in China anytime' - Mr Zhou has not felt able to invite Mrs Chan to a return dinner, more than a year after she hosted a banquet for him.
