Opinion | Two appointments, one policy paper and a clock strikes nine
Xi Jinping's softer side has been on show but several political moves sound the note of change in Beijing's pampering approach to Hong Kong
He hugged babies. He was public about his love for his wife. He spoke without party jargon. Vice-President Xi Jinping has displayed a liberal image.
Yet, any expectations of him being soft on Hong Kong will be proven very wrong.
While his predecessors were seen to "pamper" Hong Kong, the new leadership is going for a more formal, if not rigid, approach that will allow little leverage for Hong Kong.
As the saying goes "once the clock strikes nine, mother is no longer going to woo you into bed with stories and songs. The lights are out and the door is shut. You should sleep or face the whip."
The tightening grip is reflected in Beijing's latest appointments to two key Hong Kong-related posts and a recently released policy paper.
The first is the appointment of Zhang Xiaoming - a Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) veteran - to head the central government's liaison office in the city. Bickering between the two offices - each with its own backers in Beijing and Hong Kong - is no secret in Hong Kong's corridors of power. "Beijing said no. Which Beijing are you talking about?" as the saying goes.
