‘Don’t miss the boat’: Xi warns Hong Kong of lost opportunities with Cantonese phrase

Chinese president says the city at 20 has grown exuberant like a tree, and he recalls its first phase of colonial rule as ‘humiliating’

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President Xi Jinping makes a toast during a banquet in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:45pm, 1 Jul 2017Updated: 5:57pm, 25 Jun 2018

Chinese President Xi Jinping struck a solemn tone in his final speech before leaving Hong Kong on Saturday, except for one moment when he slipped in a colloquial Cantonese phrase.

“As a saying in Hong Kong goes: ‘After leaving Suzhou, one will find it hard to get a boat ride’,” Xi told a 2,000-strong crowd after leading the inauguration of Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor as the city’s new leader at the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

His reference to the ancient canal town near Shanghai, where people relied on boats rather than other forms of transport to conduct business, drew scattered laughter in the hall.

Xi smiled and continued: “This means an opportunity missed is an opportunity lost. It is important to cherish the opportunity, seize it and focus your energy on Hong Kong’s development.”

Xi also likened Hong Kong – 20 years after its return to Chinese sovereignty – to “a man entering adulthood at the age of 20” according to Chinese tradition. Citing an ancient poem, he said the city had “grown exuberant like a bamboo or a pine tree”.

‘Don’t miss the boat’: Xi warns Hong Kong of lost opportunities with Cantonese phrase

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chinese president says the city at 20 has grown exuberant like a tree, and he recalls its first phase of colonial rule as ‘humiliating’

Chinese president says the city at 20 has grown exuberant like a tree, and he recalls its first phase of colonial rule as ‘humiliating’