Not wanting to miss out on the fun and games, I pushed my cynicism aside, squeezed myself into my pinstripes and took myself down to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the ridiculously early start.
Of course the event had all the things you’d expect from this type of shindig in Hong Kong: red carpet, giant "first time ever" banners, champagne, dumplings, a large gong, and speeches from the HK chief executive CY Leung and CEO of the Hong Kong Exchange Charles Li. Part children’s birthday party, part state occasion.
But in what was perhaps a not-so-subtle reminder of where the power lies in this relationship, the video screen beaming in images of Shanghai’s launch ceremony showed an altogether more luxurious affair. They had confetti and lots of beautiful ladies in cheongsams handing out celebratory flutes of champagne (not that any of it was drunk, of course — ah, the waste!). Shanghai’s gong had a big red bow on it.
And conveniently, of course, the Shanghai speeches overran, forcing those of us in Hong Kong to spend a good chunk of time just sitting there watching until they finished.
The symbolism was clear — Hong Kong is a mere spectator while China charges ahead.