It seems to me that he always characterized Hong Kong as a stalling tactic. He likely bought himself months or even years of time by exploiting the diplomatic s

It seems to me that he always characterized Hong Kong as a stalling tactic. He likely bought himself months or even years of time by exploiting the diplomatic situation and legal red tape. It turns out he only needed a few days. That's not a sign that he's in trouble - it's a sign that he's leaving an appropriate amount of leeway in his plans.