A whirlwind visit to Hong Kong by mainland Chinese Olympians who were warmly embraced by residents has shown the “comfortable” coexistence of local and national identities in a new political atmosphere, experts have said.
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An education sector representative on Monday also said the visit was a “soft but powerful” approach to promoting patriotism among young people.
The 65-member delegation ended their six-day visit to Hong Kong and Macau on Monday, using the trip to showcase their athletic prowess and encourage residents to chase their dreams.
In Hong Kong, thousands of supporters waited outside each venue the delegation visited from Thursday to Saturday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Olympians.
“The interaction between mainland athletes and Hong Kong residents suggests an increasing overlap of local and national Chinese identities, representing a harmonious coexistence of these dual identities [among Hongkongers],” veteran political commentator Sonny Lo Shiu-hing said.