The visit by Vice-President Zeng Qinghong beginning today may be better remembered as a milestone in Hong Kong's relations with the mainland than for the showpiece event of his stay - the grand opening of Disneyland on Monday.
The priceless publicity he will generate for a tourist attraction pitched at mainland visitors is welcome. But the first visit of its kind by a state leader since the massive July 1 protest rally in 2003 may mean more to Hong Kong's future.
The message has gone out that Mr Zeng, the top official responsible for Hong Kong affairs, wants as much contact with the people as possible. He has already agreed to dine with all legislators at a welcome dinner hosted by the chief executive tomorrow night.
The dinner event is not quite as symbolic as the central government's approval of a tour of the Pearl River Delta by all legislators at the end of this month, including democrats banned from the mainland since 1989. But it is concrete evidence of Beijing's strategy to engage with a wider range of opinion.
The end of the long-standing ban on many of the democrats removed an obstacle to the development of better relations with the pro-democracy camp. Tomorrow night's dinner for all lawmakers marks an important new turn on the road to reconciliation. The benefits cut both ways. It helps boost the standing of new Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, and could also help smooth the path for the government's plans for limited constitutional reform that falls short of the democrats' demands for early universal suffrage.
It also provides the pro-democracy camp with a chance to play a more meaningful role in shaping Hong Kong's future.