In politics, body language can speak volumes - even more so when it is expected but does not occur. The subtle shift can send a powerful message.
In Beijing, there was a 'fight' among Hong Kong political heavyweights for front seats in a conference room. The scramble was all about being the first to shake hands with the central government's top man in charge of Hong Kong affairs, Vice-President Xi Jinping, China's likely next leader.
A Xi handshake was not about courtesy for the Hong Kong delegates at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Die-hard supporters of Henry Tang Ying-yan and Leung Chun-ying - the leading candidates for Hong Kong chief executive - thought whoever got the first hand shake from Xi would be seen as securing Beijing's blessing for their candidate. Both sides expected a 'strong hint' from Xi.
The handshake was there, but the hint was of a different kind. Xi first shook the hand of Lew Mon-hung, who sat at the very front. It caused a stir, for Lew is a vocal supporter of Leung. But Xi soon shook hands with Peter Woo Kwong-ching, chairman of Wharf, who nominated Tang. It was anyone's guess who was more favoured, especially since Tang's supporters accused Lew of 'deliberately occupying the front seat'.
In the meeting, Xi was tight-lipped on the mud-slinging chief executive race. Instead, he called for 'unity and harmony', referring to an old Chinese saying 'when brothers are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal'. Xi sent a message that day, but it was not the one expected.
Two days later, Chen Mingyi, deputy head of the CPPCC's Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan affairs committee, delivered a straightforward one. He criticised the composition of Hong Kong CPPCC's delegation, saying the proportion of delegates with business backgrounds was 'too high' at almost 90 per cent.
'Since Hong Kong is to embrace universal suffrage in 2017,' he said, 'there is a need to allow a greater variety of voices from outside business, such as professionals from the science and technology, health and media industries'.
