In a visit that resembled that of Premier Wen Jiabao last year, senior party official Liu Yandong presented a new image of the Beijing leadership to Hong Kong.
On her first official trip, Ms Liu hugged children and mingled with the elderly during her five-day stay.
The rest of the schedule for the director of the Communist Party's United Front Work Department was packed with wining and dining pro-Beijing figures and the business and professional sectors.
Speaking as softly and candidly as Mr Wen, Ms Liu propounded a familiar and consistent theme: unity and harmony, more efforts to revitalise the economy and less bickering about politics.
She steered clear of controversy and avoided harsh rhetoric about sensitive issues such as independence and patriotism. Questioned by journalists about the controversy surrounding the departure of radio talk-show host Allen Lee Peng-fei, she stuck to the official line on freedom of speech.
Economic data released last week was further proof that the economy has turned around.
Given her close links to Hong Kong affairs, Ms Liu must have observed feelings of hostility, mistrust and tension running through society and between Hong Kong and Beijing in the past.