There has been talk from some in Hong Kong that being part of the Diaoyus movement is a good way to illustrate that Hongkongers have always been patriotic.

They also condemned Beijing officials and local delegates of the National People's Congress for criticising Hongkongers as unpatriotic. This is untrue. No official or local NPC delegate has ever said this, and the chief executive has said most Hong Kong people are patriotic. Premier Wen Jiabao has asked Hong Kong people to consider the long-term prosperity, stability and interests of residents, and to work together.

Only a handful of legislators and party leaders have been labelled 'unpatriotic'. This untruth shows that some Hongkongers do not listen to different views and turn a deaf ear to any opinion expressed by Beijing.