If you weren't confused before, you will be now. Beijing has helpfully pointed out that patriots can be democrats despite saying for weeks that patriots could not be democrats.

``We have emphasised that the main body of Hong Kong rulers must be patriotic. But we did not say that they [Hong Kong rulers] must not be democrats, nor did we say that democrats cannot be rulers of Hong Kong,'' Xu (Chongde - a drafter of the Basic Law) said...``We did not say that all democrats are unpatriotic. We need to analyse them one by one. There are patriots, as well as non-patriots, in the democratic camp,'' he said.

The legal expert also expounded on a statement made by Deng Xiaoping concerning the composition of Hong Kong's rulers.

In 1984, when the late paramount leader met Hong Kong and Macau compatriots, he said: ``The administrators [in the post-1997 period] will be elected by the people there [Hong Kong]. The principle that patriots should form the main body of Hong Kong rulers, does not strictly require that 100 per cent of them are patriots.''

Asked whether this means that non-patriots could have a role in governing Hong Kong, Xu said: ``Of course, it'd better [if they are] patriots. But, as long as the main body of Hong Kong rulers is assured to be patriots, it won't matter [about the others].''

``Voters should judge who are patriots and who are not,'' Xu said. ``The central government is confident that six million people in Hong Kong can judge by themselves.