It’s a summer of anniversaries for Dongguan’s near neighbor, Hong Kong. Earlier this year, it was announced that Xi Jinping would personally review troops at the PLA’s Hong Kong garrison as part of the ceremonies commemorating the 20th anniversary of the island’s handover to China. Xi would not be the first sitting leader to travel to Hong Kong. Hu Jintao made the trip twice and Jiang Zemin visited in 2002, but the anniversary – and Xi’s visit -- will no doubt focus attention on the historical relationship between the “Special Autonomous Region” and Beijing.
How the British ended up with Hong Kong in the first place is a classic example of what happens when the boss lets mid-level management show initiative.