Hong Kong remained as it always had been.
It was as if last year’s joint declaration had caused no ripples at all.
In truth, the emigration tide that began in the early ’80s hadn’t really stopped until the 1997 handover.
Many in the entertainment industry had wanted to emigrate — some had truly left, some had failed to.
Years later, when you interviewed them, they all said the same thing: they had confidence in the mainland, so they stayed.
Everyone writes their own history.
The afternoon sun was bright.
Chen Qi flew in from Shanghai and walked out of Kai Tak Airport, expecting either Gu Weili or Jiang Zhiqiang to pick him up.
Instead he saw a face he hadn’t expected.
“Comrade Chen Qi!”
Li Weiguo stood at attention and snapped a salute.
Chen Qi blinked, then broke into a delighted smile. “You’re all right?”
“For the moment, we’re all right. I came to pick you up.”
“Good, get in the car and tell me on the way.”
He ushered Xiao Mo and Xiao Yang into the Mazda.