Below the Lion Rock: Hong Kong liaison office director latest official to cite classic song's lyrics

Zhang Xiaoming, Beijing’s top representative in Hong Kong, is not the first political figure to recite lyrics of the classic Canto-pop song Below the Lion Rock to help him make a point.

Zhang ended a speech to 40 pro-establishment lawmakers yesterday – at their first meeting following the rejection of the government’s political reform proposal last week – by citing the lyrics to call for differences to be put aside for the pursuit of ideals. Only eight pro-establishment lawmakers voted for the proposal after a botched walkout amid apparent splits in the camp highlighted by leaked WhatsApp messages of the camp’s communications.

“Help each other on the same boat below the Lion Rock, let go of our differences and seek common grounds” and “Set aside our discord, pursue our goals together”, were part of Zhang’s recital.

The same lines were recited by then premier Zhu Rongji in 2002 during a speech he made at Hong Kong’s Government House, calling for solidarity among different sectors.

In March the same year, then-financial secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung used the lyrics to conclude his maiden budget speech, and later sang the song at a discussion with university students to rousing applause.

WATCH: Roman Tam sings Below the Lion Rock