CHINA: China's triumphant Olympic gold medallists did what every other mainland tourist does when they arrived in Hong Kong yesterday - they went shopping for gold jewellery writes Clifford Coonan in Beijing.
The central government was keen to whip up a bit of national pride ahead of legislative elections in the troublesome former British colony this weekend, and Beijing sent the athletes on a celebratory tour to show that the motherland has Hong Kong's best interests at heart.
Popular sentiment has turned against Beijing after the communist leadership ruled out direct elections for Hong Kong any time soon, prompting half-a-million people to demonstrate on July 1st for more democracy.
Certainly the mainland's stars of Athens could do no wrong in Hong Kong. The 50 gold medallists were mobbed by thousands of fans everywhere they went.
"They are the pride of Hong Kong. They are the pride of the mainland," said the territory's beleaguered chief executive, Mr Tung Chee-hwa, as the visitors arrived earlier this week. China won 32 gold medals at the Olympics in Athens, and a total 50 athletes were given gold medals.
The elections on Sunday are expected to be more closely fought than usual.
Many people in Hong Kong are angry because they feel Beijing had broken its promise to allow Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy, which is guaranteed under the territory's Basic Law.
However, the Democratic Party, which holds 11 seats in the 60-seat Legislative Council, has been damaged by sleaze in recent weeks.
The Democrats are not expected to oust the pro-Beijing loyalists, who have controlled the legislature since the handover in 1997 because of an electoral system geared in Beijing's favour.