YOUR correspondent C. Wong (South China Morning Post, March 24), compared Chris Patten's actions over electoral reform, to a man throwing down a banana skin and then watching someone slip on it. I see things in a different light.

I see China as being the man who has thrown down a banana skin (the Basic Law), waiting to see Hongkong step on it after 1997.

China has ensured that parts of the Basic Law are vague and hoped to use that vagueness to its advantage after it took over. All that Mr Patten has done, is to get there first. I do not care what Chris Patten's real motives are. Democracy is good and he is giving us a glimpse of democracy.