It was somehow extraordinarily touching to hear someone connected with the organisation of the Beijing Olympics speaking proudly of how people had learned the kind of manners – in driving, queuing etc etc that visitors from the outside world would expect to see. Given the behaviour of the British abroad, why should the Chinese care about our opinion of them?
Prince Charles got into trouble with his comments on the Chinese hierarchy at the handover of Hong Kong. Watching on tv I myself felt a distinct shock- albeit a small one – at the sight of them all lined up wearing smart, dark, western lounge suits, shirts & ties.
But that one small thing told me that something seismic was going on
