Jintao in Hong Kong for handover ceremony

Saturday, June 30, 2012 - Hong Kong—Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday urged Hong Kong’s restive people to embrace the motherland as he visited the financial citadel for the 15th anniversary of its return to rule by Beijing. Hu, whose three-day visit is his last as president before a key leadership reshuffle in Beijing, will preside over the inauguration of Leung Chun-ying as the city’s next chief executive on Sunday.

But while he vowed to “walk more” and “see more” in Hong Kong, the first order of business on Hu’s trip was a parade in front of the massed ranks of China’s secretive military garrison. The president stood to attention in an open-top vehicle, microphones arrayed in front of him, as he moved down the line of People’s Liberation Army personnel, tanks and missile launchers in Hong Kong’s remote New Territories.

“Thank you for your efforts comrades!” Hu, wearing a green uniform, shouted. The PLA members answered with a cry of “serve the people!” A huge banner aloft read “Love the motherland, love Hong Kong”.—AFP