Recent remarks by Chinese officials on the setting up of a provisional legislature, and over Hong Kong civil servants' loyalty to the new masters have caused alarm and consternation. The barrage of petulant statements and subsequent retractions indicates disarray within the Chinese camp.
Uncouth statements such as asking Governor Chris Patten to jump into the sea to recover the key for dialogue show the Chinese are spiteful and petty. The Chinese are blinded by hatred for Mr Patten and will continue to attack him even if that means harming the interests of Hong Kong.
During the latest saga, Frederick Fung Kin-kee, chairman of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL) and a member of the Preparatory Committee (PC), surprised many Hong Kong people when he emerged as the only PC member to vote against the proposal to set up a provisional legislature.
Ten days before the PC vote, I accused the ADPL of deceiving Hong Kong people by passing themselves off as democrats while helping to defend the Chinese Government's undemocratic policies.
Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Lu Ping, reacted angrily to Mr Fung's vote by declaring that he would not be eligible to sit on the provisional legislature or on the 400-member selection committee. Mr Lu's remark caused uproar in Hong Kong and was promptly retracted, with the excuse that it was his 'personal opinion'.
Then came the bombshell that Hong Kong Government officials not only have to publicly contradict the Governor by declaring their support for the provisional legislature, but have to resign later this year if they are picked to serve in the Special Administrative Region government.
Sensing the foul public mood, the Chinese also withdrew the threat about civil servants having to declare their support for the provisional legislature.